just installed GIAC, not so impressed

[DDR2]

perhaps i set the bar high for myself and was expecting a considerable difference in how hard the car pulls so maybe that's why i'm not as "wow'ed" by the upgrade as i thought i would be. not really disappointed but just thought it'd pull harder than it feels. it's the only upgrade to the engine and i have plans for downpipes and exhaust. but was expecting more out of the chip itself. it's on pump gas only, not race.

a friend of mine who runs a shop checked my car out about a month ago, said it's in good shape. didn't find any leaks or anything. he's an expert on subarus and hondas, not so much audis so could there be anything else wrong?

[mholme]

perhaps i set the bar high for myself and was expecting a considerable difference in how hard the car pulls so maybe that's why i'm not as "wow'ed" by the upgrade as i thought i would be. not really disappointed but just thought it'd pull harder than it feels. it's the only upgrade to the engine and i have plans for downpipes and exhaust. but was expecting more out of the chip itself. it's on pump gas only, not race.

a friend of mine who runs a shop checked my car out about a month ago, said it's in good shape. didn't find any leaks or anything. he's an expert on subarus and hondas, not so much audis so could there be anything else wrong?

hmmm that's odd...chipped vs non chipped should be pretty night and day..You have a boost gauge? When I finally got a chip, every shift, I was like "oh my damn..!"

[AudiSportB5S4]

yeah as advised get yourself a boost gauge if you dont already have one to see what your boosting to....a turboback exhaust will help some for sure free up some extra horsepower you can also upgrade intercoolers and add methanol injection but of course that all comes later on haha

[obviouspro]

Ya probably have a small leak or something. I laughed like a little girl my first pull after putting in my GIAC, made a huge difference. Sadly I'm used to it now.

[BlackS4TT(Josh)]

Your car was probably already chipped. The transition from stock chip to GIAC-X is not subtle.

[OldYella]

I was/am in the same boat when i chipped. I figured there would be a bigger difference. I guess its just the fact that 70hp is a big number. I was a bit disappointed that the powerband didnt change really it just made a hell of a lot more up top.

[SoEvoL]

From my brothers old stock S4 to mine, theres a huge difference. Even just a chip you should feel it unless your car has some issue like a boost leak or something else causing it to pull power.

[DDR2]

thanks for the replies. a couple of you got me really wondering. like if my car was already chipped when i bought it. i was told it wasn't. and didnt' have a whole of time in a B5 S4 prior to this one to figure it out when i test drove. anyone in the bay area with a stock S4 i can ride in to compare? i'm kinda thinkin there's a leak then.

i guess a boost gauge is in my near future. what psi should a chipped S4 be at? and stock? thanks again

[WMi_S4]

thanks for the replies. a couple of you got me really wondering. like if my car was already chipped when i bought it. i was told it wasn't. and didnt' have a whole of time in a B5 S4 prior to this one to figure it out when i test drove. anyone in the bay area with a stock S4 i can ride in to compare? i'm kinda thinkin there's a leak then.

i guess a boost gauge is in my near future. what psi should a chipped S4 be at? and stock? thanks again

Stock is 7-9 psi (maybe spike at 10) GIAC is 17-19 psi depending on X or XR APR is like 15-16 psi hope this helps

[mholme]

I believe stock should be at the most 9psi. When I had GIAC-X running 93 octane, I was seeing upwards of 19psi...fast...

[WMi_S4]

I believe stock should be at the most 9psi. When I had GIAC-X running 93 octane, I was seeing upwards of 19psi...fast...

same here, i was giving conservative estimates....

[skunkoncrunk]

thanks for the replies. a couple of you got me really wondering. like if my car was already chipped when i bought it. i was told it wasn't. and didnt' have a whole of time in a B5 S4 prior to this one to figure it out when i test drove. anyone in the bay area with a stock S4 i can ride in to compare? i'm kinda thinkin there's a leak then.

i guess a boost gauge is in my near future. what psi should a chipped S4 be at? and stock? thanks again

Where in the Bay are you?

[JayyyyyC]

I'm stock with a turbo back exhaust, and I punch 10 consistently. I do have an exhaust leak though.

[one4eyes]

thanks for the replies. a couple of you got me really wondering. like if my car was already chipped when i bought it. i was told it wasn't. and didnt' have a whole of time in a B5 S4 prior to this one to figure it out when i test drove. anyone in the bay area with a stock S4 i can ride in to compare? i'm kinda thinkin there's a leak then.

i guess a boost gauge is in my near future. what psi should a chipped S4 be at? and stock? thanks again

I'm in the Bay Area also.....510

[highPSI-S4]

thanks for the replies. a couple of you got me really wondering. like if my car was already chipped when i bought it. i was told it wasn't. and didnt' have a whole of time in a B5 S4 prior to this one to figure it out when i test drove. anyone in the bay area with a stock S4 i can ride in to compare? i'm kinda thinkin there's a leak then.

i guess a boost gauge is in my near future. what psi should a chipped S4 be at? and stock? thanks again

Another thing is, do you have aftermarket DV's? Besides a boost gauge that should be your first mod before a chip. Supposedly the stock dv's can't handle boost beyond 15psi, aleast that's what i gathered from this forum back in 2005 when i joined.
When i got mine chipped i couldn't stop smiling or keep my foot out the gas.

[CruzS4]

yea, when i got my GIAC chip it was absolutely night and day... pressure test for boost leaks, and definitely make a boost gauge your next mod. like others have said i'm used to the power now but it took a month or so

[mholme]

Another thing is, do you have aftermarket DV's? Besides a boost gauge that should be your first mod before a chip. Supposedly the stock dv's can't handle boost beyond 15psi

Good point with the diverter valves. A stock ecu will mask a lot of boost issues, like diverter valves and tbb, only exposed after chipping.

[TheDarkness]

When I bought my car, I didn't know I had an APR chip in it. I did a little test one day, about 2 months after I bought the car, and realized it was in stock mode. Bam, 100 more pounds of torque. I poopied a little my pantalones.

[RudyH]

Ya probably have a small leak or something. I laughed like a little girl my first pull after putting in my GIAC, made a huge difference. Sadly I'm used to it now.

When I came out of the parking lot after getting my car chipped, it was a cool winter day - I remember it vividly. Cause the car jetted like a bat out of hell in comparison to stock. Made me pull over a second and recollect that 'I wasn't in Kansas anymore'.

Definately agree, check for small boost leak and EGT sensors.

[veggiemonster]

i have stock dvs and a tbb and xr and i hit 21

[veggiemonster]

ill sell you my vent guage if you trade me. pm if interested

[qwks4]

Not sure about GIAC, but my APR chip made my S4 feel like another car!

[GramCracker]

My APR chip made me go "HOLY SHIT" every shift. The car just keeps pulling and pulling. It still amazes me every time I drive.

[mholme]

i have stock dvs and a tbb and xr and i hit 21

Not for long!

[Sleeeper X]

Ya probably have a small leak or something. I laughed like a little girl my first pull after putting in my GIAC, made a huge difference. Sadly I'm used to it now.

You said it. Going from stock to chipped is the biggest jump you will ever do. Every mod after that you don't even notice. I'm terrible when it comes to speed. When I went stage3 from stage3- I didn't really notice any "massive" power gains. Greg thought i blew an inter cooler hose or something then I floor it and he's like Tom, your in the wrong seat. Your car is fast.

PS, When I first chipped my car...... on that tank of gas......... i averaged........13.4MPG!!!!! Yeah.... i couldn't stop speeding.

[WMi_S4]

i have stock dvs and a tbb and xr and i hit 21

ur dumb /end

[StuntManMike]

same dyno same day

stock 205hp
giac x 280 hp

the difference is night and day. if you do not feel a huge diff there is a problem.

unfortunately you get used to the power and now I am looking to go stage 3

[DDR2]

i'm in fremont for those asking where i'm at. pm me. i'm out of town thisi weekend though so we can arrange something a later time.

[DzeticVR]

hmmm that's odd...chipped vs non chipped should be pretty night and day..You have a boost gauge? When I finally got a chip, every shift, I was like "oh my damn..!"

I agree. When I installed my GiacX I couldnt believe the difference, Im boosting 18-19 compared to stock 7-8

[Alex/AWE]

Do you have a Vag-Com? If so, run some logs to check your requested vs actual boost and see what you can come up with.

I would also go have a chat with your GIAC dealer. Make sure the flash went through ok.

[KompMan420]

+eleventy-billion on the VAG-COM! Best investment you'll make into the car.

I too laughed like a lil school girl after the initial flash.

[obviouspro]

Ya now that I think about it I had to change my DV's a few day's after because they blew after installing my GIAC. You may want to check your DV's and TBB.

[lnferno]

When I got my GIAC chip almost 5 years ago, I remember it making a WORLD of difference. Dayum....almost 5 years ago...hehe

[obijohn22]

maybe he has a multiple tune ECU, and he is in stock mode. that sounds dumb but no one has brought that up. it's just one more thing to check. my GIAC tune was a HUGE improvement over stock.

[Bee Five]

Not sure about GIAC, but my APR chip made my S4 feel like another car!

Same here !

I purchased my S4 with a UUC exhaust and was really impressed after the APR chip upgrade. Then the piggie pipes(gutted stock downpipes) came afterward, while not as night and day like the chip upgrade I immediately noticed how much faster the turbos spooled and the car felt much stronger overall. Your turbos will be louder after the dp install too, the whistling sounds very much like the 18 wheeler trucks. It's my favorite soundtrack while driving!

Now only if I can muster the strength to fill up my car with 101 octane gas and try out my race program . . .

[StuntManMike]

do it bee five. the race program in my car was a very noticable difference.

[revhards4]

dang, I remember my first pull after the GIAC X and I was shocked...the car should've cam like that from the factory instead of its wimpy 250hp