Denied ECU for tune

**turbojayc** · 06-10-2016 07:58 PM

Going in for a Unitronic Stage 2+ Pulley tune on Tuesday. Just wondering if anyone has ever had their ECU denied a tune, because it's "unavailable". My ECU was "unavailable" for a GIAC tune, but in all fairness GIAC doesn't even say they have a tune on their site for the 3.0T SQ5 engine, only the Q5. So now I've moved on to Uni (who does advertise an SQ5 tune) all nervous a tune won't be available. Long gone the days where you just when in and got tuned.

Anyone else ever run into this situation?

**LINDW4LL** · 06-10-2016 08:05 PM

Yes, there are many ECU box codes for each model, even within the same model year, so it's not uncommon for the companies to get a request for a box that they haven't seen yet, especially on a newer car.

I know if this happens with APR, they will have their engineers write a file ASAP (often happens same or next day). They don't need to write the whole tune, just port their existing SQ code to the new ECU code, so to speak. Very easy.

**ThunderDent** · 06-10-2016 08:19 PM

Happened to me on my old Q5 with APR. they didn't know it until they opened the ECU up and had it on counter with laptop.
It took APR several hours to get it done (around 4 or so).

**turbojayc** · 06-10-2016 09:01 PM

Thanks guys. So sounds like there is a workaround. Never heard of this issue and would just suck if I couldn't get a tune.

**SQive** · 06-10-2016 09:55 PM

I had to wait a couple of weeks before APR released my ECU-specific tune.
Of course, you can remove the ECU and send it in to them, but then you're without a car for about a week.

**q5 dave** · 06-13-2016 12:33 PM

Yup happened to me twice. Bummer but well worth the wait

**turbojayc** · 06-13-2016 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by q5 dave

Yup happened to me twice. Bummer but well worth the wait

What tune?

**kinkade** · 06-13-2016 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by turbojayc

What tune?

I have 2015 sq5 with Giac stage2 tune and I am very happy with results. Have you spoken to Austin @ Giac ?

**q5 dave** · 06-13-2016 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by turbojayc

What tune?

GIAC/Emmanueledesigns stage 2. Wait was a bummer but they had the file ready next morning

**turbojayc** · 06-13-2016 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by q5 dave

GIAC/Emmanueledesigns stage 2. Wait was a bummer but they had the file ready next morning

Next morning, that I can deal with. lol..

Anyways, GIAC won't even get back to me, either will the shop I go to who carries their tune so for that I've given up on GIAC. Unitronic (dealer), is 5 mins away from my house a reputable indy shop. That's where I am going tomorrow to hopefully get my stage 2 tuned with pulley.

**turrifik** · 06-13-2016 06:29 PM

I'm also in Toronto.Where are you getting it done? Good luck & let us know how it turns out.

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**turbojayc** · 06-13-2016 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by turrifik

I'm also in Toronto.Where are you getting it done? Good luck & let us know how it turns out.

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SEM Motorsports. Will do, fingers crossed they can do my ECU and I don'e have to wait.

**q5 dave** · 06-13-2016 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by turbojayc

Next morning, that I can deal with. lol..

Anyways, GIAC won't even get back to me, either will the shop I go to who carries their tune so for that I've given up on GIAC. Unitronic (dealer), is 5 mins away from my house a reputable indy shop. That's where I am going tomorrow to hopefully get my stage 2 tuned with pulley.

Oh no.. Anyway goodluck, keep us updated

Edit: Make sure they first scan the ecu and confirm a box specific file is available before working.

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**turbojayc** · 06-14-2016 08:00 AM

Uni tune is AVAILBALE!! Currently flashing and then pulley install. Today is a good day (just don't think about TD1) lol.

**sszyma** · 06-14-2016 08:55 AM

TD1 is a myth! Flash and move on, why would you want to hold back the engines potential :) I also have the uni tune. The SQ5 uses a simos ECU which doesn't change box codes as frequently as the 2.0tfsi ecu does.

**turbojayc** · 06-14-2016 04:46 PM

Tune is in and it feels fantastic to have my 450HP back. (had Chipwerke for a couple of months but got rid of it)

Car drives unbelievable, super quick and smooth as butter. No jerkiness at all and in fact in Sport Dynamic mode it drives better then stock. Very happy with the flash and I'm very excited to go for a nice long cruise.

**turrifik** · 06-14-2016 07:15 PM

Good stuff. We should meet up some time so that you can help me dispose of some income on a tune.
What may you go with Uni vs APR? Did you get uniconnect?

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**turbojayc** · 06-15-2016 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by turrifik

Good stuff. We should meet up some time so that you can help me dispose of some income on a tune.
What may you go with Uni vs APR? Did you get uniconnect?

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We could try, but you'll want it. Maybe just skip the test drive and go right to SEM.

I chose Uni as their closest dealer is literally 5 mins away from my house and they are also a reputable shop. I've also heard really good things about their tune and they seem to be overlooked. APR, and this is just what I read always has updates, people get CEL's etc etc etc. Also, I find APR ridiculously priced for Stage 2. So I decided on Uni and I'm very happy. Also, I can get the Uniconnect cable for switching back to stock in my own garage.

**turrifik** · 06-15-2016 07:18 PM

Can you switch to a 91 octane map 'on the fly' with uniconnect if 93 isn't available?

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**turbojayc** · 06-15-2016 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by turrifik

Can you switch to a 91 octane map 'on the fly' with uniconnect if 93 isn't available?

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No, but apparently if you have to use lower then 93 octane its supposed to be ok. I have put nothing but Ultra 94 in since the day I got my car.

**turrifik** · 06-18-2016 09:05 AM

[QUOTE=turbojayc;11691825]No, but apparently if you have to use lower then 93 octane its supposed to be ok. /QUOTE]

I wonder if the guys who log can chime in on this. I drive to secluded places for work and 93 won't always be available.

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**riceboy22** · 06-18-2016 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by turrifik

I wonder if the guys who log can chime in on this. I drive to secluded places for work and 93 won't always be available.

It will pull back timing once it detects knock, but that's not the kind of thing you want happening on a regular basis. If your tune is running optimally, tuners generally seem to aim for a couple degrees of timing pull on average fuel. Mine pulls a few degrees. If you run crappy gas you'll get a lot more pull than that (like 10+ degrees). My understanding is that the ECU pulls back timing pretty aggressively when it detects bad knock, so it's not like it just dials itself back to the 91 tune level. You also don't want your ECU constantly trying to react and compensate for lower quality gas than it's expecting. It's better to just run the 91 tune then.