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Philslandy



Member Since: 10 Sep 2013
Location: Eifel
Posts: 156

Germany 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
ECU Tuning TD5
Unfortunatly my knowledge about ECU Tuning is very Little...
I am quite sure, that tons of threads have been written about map Tuning - but can`t read them all. Rolling with laughter
Actually i have on my Defender MY 2002/TD5 110 a Tuning Box from Matzker/Cologne (Germany) that is plugged in before the ECU.
It seams to be better to have the Tuning file directly on the ECU?
It drives fine in my opinion, had it now for plus/minus 100.000 kms.
But, i was told from different People, that this Kind of Tuning isn`t to recommend - unfortunatly it has cost me quite much Money Rolling Eyes
I don`t intend to go fast with my Landy, but i`d like it to run smooth, be able to overtake, have enough power when a hill apears and important, don`t want to harm my engine.
My Landy is intended for Long travelling, just to try to discribe it right Thumbs Up
I was also thinking about getting a second ECU for travel in case of issues...

Fellows, i would be very gratefull for your precious advices Thumbs Up
Chhers Philip
Post #512704 10th Mar 2016 7:52am
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Lambley



Member Since: 20 Apr 2013
Location: Mid Devon
Posts: 1435

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
Hi Philip,
I'm no expert on tuning but have tried both plug in and ecu tunes, by far the best is the ecu tune. Ive got a 'tune-my-diesel' chip fitted to my wife's Shogun, it's very basic, it does make a difference to the fuel economy and add a small amount of power, if turned up too high it tends to smoke more, and can purge on tick over, it's ok, but only ok. A plug in device 'fools' the ecu and squirts extra fuel in when you put your foot down. Some are better than others, some cheap ones simply contain a couple of resisters.
The thing about a good ecu tune is that YOU decide how much power, where you'd like the torque curve to be, how you'd like the drivability to improve etc, then a good tuner should be able to input that info. Every engine is slightly different, some have low or high miles, some run rich, some lean, different climates, state of tune (EGR removed, filters etc) all of which should be taken into consideration.
I went to Alive (sponsor on here) and had excellent results, my fuel economy is better, more power and low down torque, much nicer to drive. Then about 18 months later I visited again for a check-up, partly because I'd changed the ratios in the transfer box, Gary checked everything over, recommend a new MAF sensor, fitted one, then tweeked the tune slightly. Again - an improvement. There's several sponsors on here that will do a postal service, much better than the plug in option.
Lambley
Post #512715 10th Mar 2016 8:31am
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dave18



Member Since: 11 Jul 2015
Location: Gorleston, Great Yarmouth
Posts: 497

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Portofino Red
Best advice would be call Gary at Alive Tuning, there is less than a handfull of people who properly tune the Td5 and he is the top dog along with some one else but cant remember their name, Generic chips are crap. Gary will only tune once he is happy the engine is sound. so if the MAF or injector loom is faulty he will tell you rather than botch it.
Post #512784 10th Mar 2016 12:03pm
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kzycnn



Member Since: 24 Apr 2009
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 277

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Oslo Blue
Hi Philip

Some plug in modules are quite crude and just tweak the fuel - more fuel = more power.

I agree with the others - you ideally need to tune the ECU. My TD5 was tuned by Pete Bell at BAS (probably the other guy Dave18 was referring to). Prior to that, it had an Austrian plug-in module fitted (SteinBauer) - the tune by Pete is far superior

Tony
Post #512804 10th Mar 2016 1:16pm
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Screbble



Member Since: 26 Apr 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2107

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
Lambley wrote:
Hi Philip,
I'm no expert on tuning but have tried both plug in and ecu tunes, by far the best is the ecu tune. Ive got a 'tune-my-diesel' chip fitted to my wife's Shogun, it's very basic, it does make a difference to the fuel economy and add a small amount of power, if turned up too high it tends to smoke more, and can purge on tick over, it's ok, but only ok. A plug in device 'fools' the ecu and squirts extra fuel in when you put your foot down. Some are better than others, some cheap ones simply contain a couple of resisters.
The thing about a good ecu tune is that YOU decide how much power, where you'd like the torque curve to be, how you'd like the drivability to improve etc, then a good tuner should be able to input that info. Every engine is slightly different, some have low or high miles, some run rich, some lean, different climates, state of tune (EGR removed, filters etc) all of which should be taken into consideration.
I went to Alive (sponsor on here) and had excellent results, my fuel economy is better, more power and low down torque, much nicer to drive. Then about 18 months later I visited again for a check-up, partly because I'd changed the ratios in the transfer box, Gary checked everything over, recommend a new MAF sensor, fitted one, then tweeked the tune slightly. Again - an improvement. There's several sponsors on here that will do a postal service, much better than the plug in option.
Lambley


Lambley, which stage did you go for if you don't mind me asking?
What sort of information do you provide to obtain the 'best fit?'
Is it just a case of explaining your typical driving style/conditions, or do you actually 'play about' with tuning options before finalising?
Apologies for sounding a bit thick! Rolling with laughter
Post #513014 10th Mar 2016 10:06pm
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Lambley



Member Since: 20 Apr 2013
Location: Mid Devon
Posts: 1435

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
I had a kind of in-between stage 1-2, I've done some mods myself, EGR removed, bigger intercooler, silicon hoses etc, the usual stuff, then I went to see Gary at Alive, explained I didn't drive fast, just wanted more torque, better mid range driveability, not out and out bhp, we aimed for around 150 / 160 bhp, I didn't want to put the engine under stress, just make it nicer to drive. It's the torque that matters, not the bhp.
Gary did his stuff, checked everything over, then we went for a test drive, then back to base for a chat. Then another slight tweek, another test drive to make sure I was happy, which I was.
On the 2nd visit18 months later, I asked Gary if it was possible to lose the initial surge of low down power on pulling away, seems a strange thing to ask for maybe, but I don't boot it from the lights, he did just that, it lost the jerkiness in first gear, made it smoother. During that visit Gary recommended a new MAF sensor which he fitted too. He only charged me for a 'tweek' as I was there less than an hour.
It's a case of explaining what you want out of a tune, some tuners will say they can get 200bhp easy! Don't listen to them, just go to somebody who knows what they're doing and tell them what you'd like to improve, I get 3 mpg better fuel economy, an extra dollop of grunt, all of which make it much nicer to drive.
Post #513042 10th Mar 2016 10:50pm
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Screbble



Member Since: 26 Apr 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2107

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
Thanks Lambley, very helpful.

I intend to visit Gary this year (pocket money allowing) and go for a stage 1.

I don't 'boot' it but it'd be good to talk him through how I drive and what I'd like - obviously with his experience and input guiding the outcome.

Thanks for your pointers Thumbs Up
Post #513046 10th Mar 2016 10:57pm
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Philslandy



Member Since: 10 Sep 2013
Location: Eifel
Posts: 156

Germany 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Thanks for your postings!
I have quite the same expectations like you Lambley Thumbs Up
I have also done all the modifications that Lambley did...
Problem for me would be, that These specialists are all in Britain - i would have to combine it with a nice trip Rolling with laughter
Would somebody have a link for me?
One Thing i want to Change for better is the junction between snorkel and air filter box - i feel there is a need to breed much better
Post #513070 11th Mar 2016 6:32am
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Lambley



Member Since: 20 Apr 2013
Location: Mid Devon
Posts: 1435

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
Here's the link, Gary does a postal service, if your mods are similar to mine you could ask him to put my map onto your ecu, just an idea.....

I took my mates Defender ecu with me on my 2nd visit and described everything he wanted, more torque and low down pull but not jerky as he often pulls horse boxes, he was equally as pleased with the results.

http://www.alivetuning.com/
Post #513350 11th Mar 2016 8:20pm
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roel



Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

Netherlands 2003 Defender 90 Td5 PU Caledonian Blue
I agree that a GOOD ecu tune is better then any plug in boxes, however you can also get Bad ecu tunes.
There are good tuning boxes and Matzker is one off them. The wrong ones changes data from sensors and let the ecu think more fuel needs to be pumped in. The better ones like Maztker and PSI just ad some fuel by keeping the injectors open a little longer.'
Why is this better then changing data from sensors? because all safe guards that standard are build in the ecu keep working.

A ECU tune does more or less the same It also injects more fuel with the same engine parameters.
The nice thing with a box is you can switch it off if you want it. I have a PSI powerbox.
I made a 3 way switch. Off- ON - On only at full throttle. And the last one works great as I have it at MR Zulu setting and it smokes a little. I could go a setting back, but why if I only use it at full throttle. Mr. Green Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)
Post #513412 11th Mar 2016 11:19pm
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sandu



Member Since: 30 Jan 2015
Location: Chisinau
Posts: 11

Moldova 2000 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
if you were to choose the TUNER

which one you would go with and why?
1. Alive
2. BAS
3. Matzker
4. IRB
5. other LR DEF 110 TD5, 2000.
LR DISCO-2 TD5, 2001.
ARB Difflocks, front + rear.
Ashcroft CV Joints + Halfshafts..
Transferbox 1.410 ratio.
Warn M12000 + Warn 9.5xp
BFG KM2 255/85R16
Maxxis Creepy Crawler 255/85R16
Post #519084 29th Mar 2016 9:40pm
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Fatboy Slim



Member Since: 04 Feb 2008
Location: Bridgend
Posts: 1006

Wales 
JE engineering
Post #519114 30th Mar 2016 6:06am
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sandu



Member Since: 30 Jan 2015
Location: Chisinau
Posts: 11

Moldova 2000 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
they don't offer to change the turbocharger though

I wonder how much is decreased the engine reliability and lifetime? LR DEF 110 TD5, 2000.
LR DISCO-2 TD5, 2001.
ARB Difflocks, front + rear.
Ashcroft CV Joints + Halfshafts..
Transferbox 1.410 ratio.
Warn M12000 + Warn 9.5xp
BFG KM2 255/85R16
Maxxis Creepy Crawler 255/85R16
Post #519123 30th Mar 2016 6:51am
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Fatboy Slim



Member Since: 04 Feb 2008
Location: Bridgend
Posts: 1006

Wales 
Well my last vehicle is on over 300,000 miles most of it towing 3.5t so I'd say fairly reliable Laughing

Remapped by JE at 48,000m serck intercooler de-cat and EGR removed.
Post #519224 30th Mar 2016 1:34pm
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roel



Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

Netherlands 2003 Defender 90 Td5 PU Caledonian Blue
sandu wrote:
they don't offer to change the turbocharger though

I wonder how much is decreased the engine reliability and lifetime?


The tuning does do bad things to your engine, it the driving style that hurts. Twisted Evil Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)
Post #519643 31st Mar 2016 4:19pm
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