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Old 08-14-2002, 09:30 PM   #1
WRblue'02
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Default How is your TXS chip? Any pinging?

How's your TXS Stage 1? I get what I believe is pinging. I have been using the unichip and the ABC (Installed Professionally).

My TXS saga is as follows:
I got pinging as me and my installer were setting the boost initally. The pinging is in the lower to middle rpm range 2500~3500 usually with WOT, but not always. The stock boost gauge read @~.1 MPa in 4th. Went and got some better(?), or at least different, gas. The pinging subsided.
The next couple of days I increased my boost level with ABC to .11. Everything is great.
A short time later, I get more pinging.
The battle with pinging has raged on for a few months now. The boost has never hit above .11 in 4th. I am constantly altering the boost level.


I have been running conservative boost levels ~.1 occasionally .11 MPa in 4th gear peak since this weekend. There has been no pinging since last week. All of a sudden today, the same symptoms returned I drove around a little checking the boost in 4th. There wasn't any pinging during the test today, but on the way home I got more detonation in 1st and 2nd

So I am thinking that heatsoak is meeting the PITA method of manual boost control (in conjunction with the Unichip boost tapering) and that it is going to shorten the life of my engine.

What are my options?

I am thinking colder plugs, maybe an AVC-R, an air/water intercooler if necessary (if I can keep it from freezing in the winter).

Any opinions?
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Old 08-14-2002, 09:52 PM   #2
DjRez4
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Sounds like an altitude problem to me. There have been a few instances of the unichip doing strange things at altitude since it was tuned at sea level. TXS should be your first phone call in this situation. They might have some high altitude maps by now, but who knows. In the mean time, run lower boost.
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Old 08-14-2002, 11:00 PM   #3
davidm_sh
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Just to let you know I had my car dyno-Cobb-unichip tuned in Dallas (sea level) to about 11.5-10.9:1 A/F when under full boost. THen I came up here and I started detonating on hot days. After getting my wideband I confirmed that I was running about 12.5-11.9:1 = I leaned out a WHOLE point which would DEFINITLY cause you to detonate.

And I was even custom tuned so the chances of your car being even leaner are greater I would say. I would get a hold of someone with some DDash software and log the front 02 sensor along with watching knock, and knock corrected timing to see if you are in fact detonating. I am sure SOMEONE up in Denver area with a WRX has the software?
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Old 08-14-2002, 11:28 PM   #4
MAD REX
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I was experiencing detonation with my stage 1 chip

I recently got stage 2 plus some extra goodies, got the chip remapped told them about the knock and they fixed it.

My chip says Stage 2 + 15% whatever that means
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Old 08-15-2002, 11:50 AM   #5
wrxlvr
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I haven't seen many people with chips and heavy mods have much luck with the chip up here.

Altitude is a factor.
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Old 08-15-2002, 03:42 PM   #6
WRblue'02
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Thanks everyone!

I am willing to accept that the problem is due to our altitude.

I thought that since the air is less dense that the turbo might be out of the most efficient range trying to create .11 MPa of boost.
But that would not make a lean condition, right? What about the altitude (air density) would cause the lean condition?

Anyway, I will most likely send the chip back for a remap as soon as Bret gets back into town to take it off. Unless I can get the same power increase from an uppipe and a turboback. Should I just ditch my unichip now? I do enjoy the increase in power that I get now, when the chip is running ok that is, I would hate to give that up. Would I get the same power increase from an up-pipe and a turboback?

I have no other mods, and I don't plan on adding anything other than exhaust (at least until I can afford a hardend gearset and installation).

Thanks again.

More input would be appreciated.
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Old 08-15-2002, 04:35 PM   #7
MAD REX
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The chip is very easy to take out

Takes 5 minutes

I'd be happy to help if you need it
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Old 08-15-2002, 05:51 PM   #8
stimpy
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I don't know about TXS, but Shiv at Vishnu recommended that I run no more than the factory boost levels I saw before the MBC. In my case, that's right around 1.0 kg/cm2.

-Jon
www.nothingserious.net
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Old 08-15-2002, 05:59 PM   #9
WRblue'02
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MAD REX- I would like to take you up on that. I'll PM you tonight. Does the ABC need to be taken off? I watched Subetek put the chip and abc in, but I don't trust myself.


Stock boost levels? I was only seeing .08MPa, by my calcs that is less than 12 PSI How much power could there be with a chip and stock boost levels? Maybe 10 hp? Seems like an exhaust/uppipe is a much better way to spend money at this altitude if that is the case.
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Old 08-15-2002, 06:06 PM   #10
stimpy
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My car felt a helluva lot faster at .85kg/cm2 than stock. Although, the Stage 0 is a much different approach so your mileage will vary.

You are pinging though, so something is obviously being taken too far for what you have.

-Jon
www.nothingserious.net
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Old 08-15-2002, 06:11 PM   #11
WRblue'02
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Stimpy, I didn't mean to imply that nothing is wrong. I merely meant to say that I think your up-pipe and pulley may have given you alot of what you're feeling. I could very well be wrong.

I do appreciate your input, in fact I am going to go turn down my boost another pound right now.
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Old 08-15-2002, 06:15 PM   #12
MAD REX
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You can leave the ABC on there

It's basically a bleeder type MBC
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Old 08-15-2002, 09:00 PM   #13
davidm_sh
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Just another little tid-bit of information. But when I lowered my boost I actually got just a little bit leaner up to a point say from 17 down to 15. I never tried going lower boost becuase that would just be terrible .

BUT Cobb tunes off of TPS where as Shiv tunes of off MAF and MAP sensor so I "would assume" that if you simply turn down your boost settings you will either A) Get richer A/F or B) might maintain the same A/F but at a lower boost level you will have less chance of detonating.

Does noone up in Denver or Nearby Colorado areas have the DeltaDash software? Becuase that could tell you a WHOLE lot about what is going on with your car. Since i know that Shiv tunes timing VERY conservatively I would bet your A/F is just going to lean.
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Old 08-15-2002, 10:19 PM   #14
WRblue'02
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The Delta Dash is a great piece of equipment. And it is good advice to use it. However I don't want to spend $1000 for a piece of equipment that I wouldn't know what to do with in the first place. I also I don't want to have to ask anyone if they will use thier $1000 toy to help me figure out what is wrong. If they were a mechanic that was charging me for thier time, sure. But otherwise I feel like I would be taking advantage.

It is a TXS chip not a Vishnu Chip. Like you, I have avoided turning my boost down. I got the chip in early June and I have had detonation (at the pinging level) off and on since then. I am geting worried however. I don't want to cause an abnormal amount of wear, compared to a chipped car with no detonation. I will call TXS tomorrow. I am going to order and up-pipe from them, since Shiv does not seem to have high altitude maps. But, then again, Harvey's map seems to be a great map, so who knows.
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Old 08-15-2002, 10:44 PM   #15
ToddStratton
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Definitely call TXS. Also, taking the chip out would only take you 20-25 minutes if you've never done it before. I can do it in about 7-10 start to finish now (taking out the little screws takes the longest).

Although I'm sure some folks are sick of me saying this, but I live up around 9200ft and I haven't noticed any problems with my setup. (TXS stage 2.75 -- pulleys and uppipe and colder plugs) Actually, it pulls pretty darn good up here. I keep the 4th gear boost to about 1.05-1.1 kg/cm^2 and everything seems happy.

I also run the Farm Crest 93 octane, so that may help. I've got 32K miles now (about 25 with the unichip, although mostly at stage 1) and have experienced no problems with it. A few people were reporting misfires when they used it, but it is hard to say if there was any real causation.

I'll be getting the Delta Dash s/w in a month or so (it is not $1000, more like 300 or something).

On a seperate note, I thought I had an exhaust leak after I installed the uppipe and downpipe, but Braden went for a ride and told me it was just the noise of the turbo! Guess I should have ridden in a modded car first.

TRS
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Old 08-15-2002, 10:58 PM   #16
WRblue'02
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I stand corrected. I guess I will go with a stage 2. I do want an up-pipe, though. I am thinking an uppipe, exhaust with the stock muffler, samco hoses, and colder plugs. I might as well do as much as I can with this remap. I don't want to have to do it again in 3-4 months.

BTW what does your boost level translate to in PSI or MPa?
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Old 08-15-2002, 11:19 PM   #17
ToddStratton
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According to this site: http://www.sciencemadesimple.net/EASYpressure.html

1.1 kg/cm^2 = 15.65 psi = 0.1079 MPa

Guess I'll play with raising the boost a little since TXS recommends 16.5 psi (1.16 kg/cm^2) in fourth gear.

I also have a dual boost controller setup which allows me to use the ABC/unichip boost curve and then switch to a ball and spring MBC for a little more grunt. All with a cabin mounted switch! Makes for a mess of vacuum tubes, though.

TRS
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Old 08-16-2002, 12:34 AM   #18
wrx_fun
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I just got the DeltaDash last week from Vivid ($315 including freight). I got it for just the reason you are all talking about. I have the Vishnu Stage 0 and sometimes I am getting some wierd pulsations during medium acceleration so I want to try and plot it and see if anything is unusual.

I haven't had much time to play with it, but it is really easy to run and save the data, you use the rear defroster button to start and stop the recording of data.

I'm up north.
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Old 08-20-2002, 10:37 PM   #19
WRblue'02
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I took my unichip and abc off today. I am stock once more. I got a little more pinging today, so I decided I could't wait any longer. I don't know if I'll re-install the unichip. I have been reading about the #4 piston failing after just this sort of pinging.

Thanks to everyone who has offered their assisstance for the uninstall or the datalogging. You all are very generous. Maybe I can solicit your time and equipment on another occasion.

I am thinking of a scooby sport downpipe, a perrin gen. 3 up-pipe, and a prodrive muffler instead. Any opinions on this set-up? Will the perrin resistor interfere with the scoobysport cel fix?

Thanks again everyone,

Dennis
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Old 08-20-2002, 11:29 PM   #20
ToddStratton
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Too bad about your unichip. I am very happy with my Turboxs exhaust and scoobysport muffler. I think the SS downpipe, perrin uppipe and prodrive muffler would be fine. I've heard good things about the Prodrive piece.

But...have you heard a scoobysport muffler? My personal favorite!
Good luck.

TRS
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Old 08-21-2002, 12:59 AM   #21
WRblue'02
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How do you rate the sound in terms of loudness and droning or buzzing in the cabin?

I did consider the scoobysport (SS) muffler, but it is quite loud with the resonator chamber removed (judging by the clips on the site). I have had VERY loud cars before, and I want to try to be as subtle as possible.
I prefer the look of the Prodrive, when compared to Scoobysport's handmade look.
In addition the prodrive is about $100 cheaper.

I have seriously considered the SS stage 1 (up-pipe and downpipe) but, I want 1/2 in. flanges and 321 stainless. The SS up-pipe would probably be fine, but after my unichip I want to be able to feel confident in my parts.

Thanks for the suggestion!
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Old 08-21-2002, 08:29 PM   #22
Ski Man
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Unhappy

It's up to you, but Mark is very easy and good to work with. I and several others worked with him last year to get a good setup for altitude. I have since added 15K miles with no problems even when pushing limits at over 12,000 feet. (I love high mountain passes!)

You never did say if you got the high altitude mapping. If you have, the Unichip's probably bad, if not, it's probably your problem - but Mark will most likely take care of either situation.
Seems like it'd be worth a toll free call.
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Old 08-22-2002, 01:03 AM   #23
WRblue'02
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I have heard of thier good customer service rep.... But, I ordered my chip directly from them, I asked about problems with high altitude, and they told me that I would be fine.
If they were aware of the problem enough to make special maps, you think that they would have sent me the right map in the first place.

My second concern is that TXS claims 300hp for stage 2. If the high altitude maps are only for stage 2, then I will have to pass. I want to see the transmission prove itself a little more before I go above the recommended 280hp (AVS Sport and ScoobySport). According to ScoobySport an up-pipe/downpipe/muffler combination can be about 260hp. That should satisfy my need for speed, for a while.

Detonation can make you paranoid.
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Old 08-23-2002, 01:10 AM   #24
PunksWRX
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I have a Stage 2 Unichip (with high altitude 91 octane map) with a Knock-Link installed to monitor detonation and have noticed something. Very occassionally when in second gear under hard accelleration I get knock that will light up the Knock Link (set for maximum sensitivity). It is very inconsistent though and I haven't been able to attribute it to any particular reason such a heatsoak, outside temperature, etc. 98% of the time there is no knock whatsoever, but on those infrequent occassions it's as if the ECU either loses control of timing or advances timing to the point where knock rears it's ugly head. Maybe the fueling goes lean for a bit. I just don't know. I'm pretty conservative on the boost running about 14.5 to 15.5 which is a lb. under what stage 2 boost setpoint.

As far as the Perrin uppipe I'd recommend passing on it. Ever since mine was installed I have battled an ongoing small leak. Suby Sports has replaced gaskets to no avail. It's not a bad leak but seems to get worse with time. As many are now discovering an uppipe with a flex joint is probably the best way to go if you want to avoid uppipe leaks. I really want this MRT piece:



Punk
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Old 08-23-2002, 06:51 PM   #25
WRblue'02
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Thanks for the recommendation Punk. I am fond of the mrt pipe as well.

I called TXS today, there are no longer any high altitude maps. Phil said that the high altitude remap was only for more boost, and that their solution is the abc now. We will see what they say about the chip. I will be disappointed if they tell me that nothing is wrong with the chip. My car runs great without the chip. I didn't realize how much timing was being pulled. It actually feels stronger on the low end.
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