Plug & Play installation – State of the art technology

Extremely sophisticated in tech and function

OEM like performance improvement

Software optimization as the key

(1) The motorizations shown here are all based on the same engine block.

Nowadays, car manufacturers build just a few base engines and differentiate the power output via the electronic control unit: the same hardware, but with different software. We at RaceChip are absolute experts in car tuning software. The data from the ECU is read by our tuning software and individually optimized. This way, you can enjoy a performance upgrade of up to 30%. We use only the available power reserves and stay within tolerances, which are important to maintain your engine’s long-term endurance. Existing engine protection systems remain fully intact.

Simple. Tested. Safe. RaceChip.

Complex technology. Simple installation.

Install RaceChip yourself in just a few minutes

The RaceChip Plug & Drive system: you can install all of our car tuning software modules easily and without specialist knowledge or tools. You only need 10-15 minutes. See for yourself the installation steps for an exemplary car model. You’ll receive car model-specific installation instructions with each RaceChip, and there are installation videos for many car models in our database.

installation_guide_diesel

installation_guide_petrol

Step 1 | Preparation

First, open the bonnet and remove the engine cover as shown in the example for the VW Passat (B8) 2.0 TDI with 100kW.

Step 2 | Locating the connection in the engine bay

Once the wiring harness is connected, the engine setup should look like the image below. The RaceChip wiring harness is connected to the sensors at the points marked A and B.

Step 3 | Connection to the common rail sensor (A)

First, the connection to the common rail sensor (A) needs to be made. Pull out the plug by its sensor. Note: only pull on the plug, never the cable.

Step 4 | Common rail sensor (A)

Here you can see the disconected plug of the common rail sensor (A), as well as the corresponding mating part on the wiring harness of your chip.

Step 5 | Connecting the wiring harness

Now connect the disconnecting plug (A) to the corresponding socket on the wiring harness. Make sure that the plugs have engaged

Step 6 | Connection to the common rail sensor (A)

Connect the second plug of this wiring harness arm to the common rail sensor (A) so that it engages.

Step 7 | Connection to the turbo-boost pressure sensor (B)

Next, the connection to the turbo-boost pressure sensor (B) needs to be made. Pull out the plug by its sensor.

Step 8 | Turbo-boost pressure sensor (B)

The image above shows the disconnected plug of the turbo-boost pressure sensor (B), as well as the section of the RaceChip wiring harness that has not yet been used.

Step 9 | Connecting the wiring harness

Connect the disconnected plug (B) to the corresponding socket on the RaceChip wiring harness. Ensure that the plugs engage properly.

Step 10 | Connection to the turbo-boost pressure sensor (B)

Connect the remaining plug on the wiring harness to turbo-boost pressure sensor (B). Push it into the mating piece so that it engages.

Step 11 | Connecting the RaceChip

Your engine is about to get more power. Connect the RaceChip GTS to the FCI connector of the wiring harness.

Final steps

Secure the cable and the RaceChip at a suitable point in your engine bay and then fasten the cover. All done! Now have fun driving!

Here’s how our chip tuning products work

Optimising common rail turbo diesels – an explanation

Modern, turbo-charged diesel engines use sensors to collect, monitor and transmit important information to the electronic control unit (ECU). Then, based on the data measurements, the ECU sends commands to various engine components like the fuel injection system.This is precisely where RaceChip common rail tuning comes into play. Our supplementary control unit directly reads the information from common rail pressure and turbo-charge pressure sensors like fuel injection pressure, fuel injection quantity, injection frequency and turbo-charge pressure. The signals are optimised in real time by our optimisation software and then transmitted to your vehicle’s ECU. At the same time, the ECU adjusts all of the other relevant parameters in the engine to the new, optimised values. The decisive advantage is that the manufacturer’s ECU always has full control over all of the engine control parameters.Signal optimisation leads to an increase in the fuel injection quantity, injection pressure and – to a slight extent – the turbo-charge pressure. This increases the fuel compression along with the energy released through combustion. The increased fuel injection quantity further supports this effect.The engine’s overall efficiency factor and power potential increases significantly. For you, this means more power and a whole new level of driving experience.

Optimising turbo-charged petrol engines – an explanation

Modern Otto and petrol engines use sensors to collect and monitor a variety of parameters during operation. The data flows to an ECU and is processed there. Fuel injection quantity, boost pressure and air mass are the decisive factors in RaceChip performance improvement.To improve the performance of super-charged petrol direct injection engines (regardless whether with turbo-chargers or compressors), our chiptuning module must read and revise the relevant parameters. We use data from the boost pressure sensor, the intake manifold pressure sensor and air mass sensor. The chiptuning software module processes in real time and then transmits the optimised data to the corresponding control sensors in your vehicle. The result is a considerable power boost you can feel – by increasing the boost pressure, adjusting the fuel injection angle, and slightly increasing the fuel injection quantity.To increase the boost pressure, the turbine RPM is increased within a range defined by us, which increases your engines efficiency level. This provides more air for the engine, which allows the ignition timing to be adjusted more precisely and makes combustion in the cylinder more effective. Because more air is available for combustion, the fuel injection quantity must be increased somewhat for the ideal fuel-air mix in the combustion chamber.More power and higher efficiency levels for your engine are the results of this precisely fine-tuned interplay between many factors. In doing so, all of the relevant engine data is continually collected and tested for plausibility in real time.Because the integrated safety systems in your engine always maintain control with RaceChip car tuning software, they can kick in if variations ever occur. This ensures that you and your engine are always on the safe side.

Optimisation isn’t just plain old optimisation

Box and OBD tuning in comparison

In general, two approaches to electronic performance tuning can be distinguished: (1) Performance tuning by directly accessing and reprogramming the engine control unit (ECU), also called on-board diagnostics (OBD) tuning, and (2) optimization with auxiliary control devices also referred to as performance chips, tuning chips, tuning boxes, piggybacks, power chips or power boxes.

Direct ECU tuning and remapping

Performance improvements are achieved by optimizing the electronic signals. This is done via the OBD2 port (also used to read the engine’s error memory) or by breaking into the ECU and adjusting or overwriting the manufacturer’s software itself, usually referred to as remapping or ECU flashing. In other words, it actively intrudes into the manufacturer’s configuration. This remapping technology can be used in all engines with electronic engine controls.

  • Manufacturer’s hardware and software are actively and usually permanently changed.
  • Manufacturer’s software is changed or completely overwritten thereby often deactivating the protection systems.
  • Painstaking installation by a fitter without any performance improvement benefits.
  • Reversion can be done with considerable effort and costs. The change will always remain detectable.

Optimisation with auxiliary control device

Performance improvements are achieved by optimizing the engine’s electronic control signals. The auxiliary control device (a kind of mini-computer) is placed between the engine controls and sensors, which enables performance upgrades of up to 30% using RaceChip’s tuning software. This engine tuning technology can be used in all modern diesel and turbo-charged petrol engines.

  • Does not change manufacturer’s
    hardware or software.
  • All engine protection systems remain intact. Performance is optimized only within the power reserves.
  • Simple DIY installation without any special tools in just 10-15 minutes.
  • Car can be reverted back to
    series condition.