GIAC Tuned ECU Question

**Euromike** · 01-20-2009 09:16 AM

I bought an ECU on the zine not too long ago with a GIAC chip installed already. The dude said it came out of his A4 2.8 30v Quattro, and the numbers on the front of the ecu matched the numbers on my ecu exactly. So i bought it, tossed it in, and it doesnt work! the car wont start. Even if i leave the ignition on for awhile and come back, no dice. no CEL either.

I have talked to a few people, and they are saying it was probably programmed for tiptronic, or FWD when my car is a 5 speed quattro. Do you guys agree that this is the issue? And is there any way i can get it reprogrammed to work in my car? THANKS!

**dextrek** · 01-20-2009 09:22 AM

Since it's 2.8 v6 you won't see too much gain in power...but ask the seller for the serial # for the flash then take that to the dealer for reflash for manual. They'll prolly charge you for the labor.

**Euromike** · 01-20-2009 06:40 PM

if anyone can do this for me i would be willing to pay!

**zrowcool** · 01-20-2009 07:17 PM

the fact that its tip or FWD wont make any difference at all on whether it would work or not. Quattro system is mechanical only and cant be altered via ECU. A tip ecu will work in a manual car and vice versa. I think either the ECU is fried or the fact that its a 2.8 in your 1.8 is the issue. GIAC would be the only one who can reflash it and you would need the original VIN for the vehicle it came from when it was first purchased. they charge 50bucks to reflash in nyc but you need the vin number

**Euromike** · 01-20-2009 07:34 PM

yea theres no way i can get the VIN. am i SOL on this thing?

**kevin12** · 01-20-2009 08:00 PM

In the soft code of the ecu there is a group of numbers that tells the ecu what your car is like tip/man or fwd/quattro all you have to due is change the numbers via vag com and it will work fine. I had to recode my ecu as well cause I bought off here too. I did exactly what I just said and it went from running like shit to working perfect just because the transmission code was wrong.

**B5A4Kevin** · 01-20-2009 08:06 PM

^^ yup yup. try recoding it first. if that doesnt work, it is most likely fried.

**mike-2ptzero** · 01-21-2009 08:38 AM

If you do not get a CEL when you first turn the key on with this ECU installed the issue is that the ecu is not working at all.

**Euromike** · 01-21-2009 09:06 AM

Okay, i guess the ECU is fried. Another question. Im pretty good with the soldering iron, If i were to solder the socket and the chip onto my current ECU board would it work? is there another component to the giac chip systems other than that one chip i could just pop right on my ecu?

**mike-2ptzero** · 01-21-2009 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by SantorianA4

Okay, i guess the ECU is fried. Another question. Im pretty good with the soldering iron, If i were to solder the socket and the chip onto my current ECU board would it work? is there another component to the giac chip systems other than that one chip i could just pop right on my ecu?

Well you might want to check the soldering on the ecu with the chip, could be that one of the solder points on the pins could have popped off.

**97a41.8t** · 01-27-2009 02:51 PM

Open the ECU and make sure the chip is socketed right. You can't just use a soldering iron to solder the GIAC Chip. Also, turn the GIAC Chip around and the encrypter board. It may be turned around, you'll know when it works if you hear the fuel pump working.