Chiptuning - car tuning; how everything changed in the '90s
Indeed, in the '90s, everything changed in terms of engine chiptuning in cars. You probably have already grasped the reason, but let's take a look at the fundamental steps and how the advent of electronics opened new doors to tuners.
Fuel systems in Diesel and gasoline engines until the '80s
Until the late '80s and the early '90s, Diesel engines used injection systems based on mechanical rotary injection pumps and, less frequently, inline mechanical injection pumps. These pumps utilized centrifugal elements for idle speed control, maximum speed control, and injection timing control. Gasoline engines, on the other hand, employed carburetor fuel systems, ranging from simple single-barrel carburetors to intermediate dual-barrel carburetors and more sporty configurations with multiple carburetors. During those years, except for a few cases of "electronic ignition" (which became standard in the '90s), everything was mechanically controlled, including fuel supply (diesel or gasoline) and potential supercharging.
The advent of electronic injection
At a certain point, electronic injection (indirect) was introduced in gasoline engines, initially with mechanical injection systems and later with electronic injection. In the '90s, the transition occurred, and cars with gasoline engines were marketed with either carburettors or electronic injection (in some cases, with single-point injection, later replaced by multi-point injection). Diesel engines (increasingly turbocharged) were still equipped with mechanical injection pumps, but the first Diesels with electronic injection control also appeared. Examples include BMW (with its 524td and later 525tds), Audi (introducing electronic control in rotary injection pumps for 4 and 5-cylinder engines), and, to mention an Italian example, VM introducing its first Turbotronic version installed on Alfa Romeo, Jeep, and other well-known automotive brands.
Chiptuning - car tuning from the '90s onwards
Then? It was a crescendo of electronic usage, both in Otto cycle and turbocharged Diesel engines. For gasoline engines, sequential multi-point electronic injection became widespread, along with electronic ignition control (often with single coils for each spark plug), electronic variable valve timing control, electronic supercharging pressure control, and more. For Diesels, electronic control expanded from rotary and inline injection pumps to systems with injector-pumps and radial piston injection pumps, culminating in the advent of common-rail technology that dominated Diesel injection systems worldwide. Simultaneously, electronic control of supercharging became prevalent for both wastegate-equipped and variable-geometry turbos, and control systems for exhaust gas treatment (EGR, CAT, FAP, DPF, etc.) emerged, along with electronic control of intake manifold geometry and variable valve timing. In short, electronics became an integral and indispensable part of every engine in utility vehicles, sedans, SUVs, vans, sports cars, and luxury cars.
All in one electronic control unit; the ECU
All these controls were integrated into increasingly complex digital electronic units with higher computing capabilities. Every car has had an Engine Control Unit (ECU) for decades, containing various memory types storing engine management data, microprocessors, and I/O interfaces for reading various input signals from engine sensors and controlling various actuators acting on the engine. For technology enthusiasts, some functions and sensors/actuators connected to the ECU control system can be mentioned:
Engine Sensors
Air temperature sensor
Engine temperature sensor
Gasoline (or diesel) temperature sensor
Exhaust gas temperature sensor
Atmospheric pressure sensor
Turbo pressure sensor (if present)
Intake manifold pressure sensor
Engine phase sensor
Engine speed sensor
Injection pressure sensor
Inlet air mass sensor
Vehicle speed sensor
Accelerator pedal position sensor
Clutch engagement sensor
Brake engagement sensor
Exhaust backpressure sensor
Lambda sensor
Engine oil temperature sensor
Engine Actuators
Injectors (electromagnetic or piezoelectric)
EGR actuation modulator
Throttle body actuation modulator
Fuel (or diesel) pressure modulator
Variable intake manifold geometry modulator
Variable turbocharger geometry modulator (if present)
Wastegate actuation modulator (if present)
Flow control modulator (on multi-stage supercharging)
Cooling system control modulator
Exhaust system sound valve control modulator (if present)
Chiptuning - car tuning today
It is evident that today, chiptuning possibilities are numerous, thanks to the widespread presence of electronics in controlling all engine functions. We have discussed various aspects of electronic control that has covered practically all functions of Diesel and gasoline engines since the '90s. Over the years, our company has developed many intelligent solutions for increasing power and torque in almost all cars on the global market. Specifically, you can rely on:
CHIPBOX® DIESEL is a programmable additional control unit for all turbo diesel engines, capable of providing significant power increases while fully respecting the engine. Through proper fuel and turbo pressure management, you can increase power by up to 30%. CHIPBOX® is easy to install, and you can even do it yourself with the provided kit, already programmed for your car, complete with quick installation wiring and an illustrated manual, without making any modifications to the engine system.
CHIPBOX® BENZINA is a programmable additional control unit for all turbocharged gasoline engines. Thanks to proper fuel and turbo pressure management, you can increase power by up to 30%. If you are torn between increasing power and reducing consumption, know that with the CHIPBOX® additional module, you can have both. Through injection optimization and improved torque, you can shift to higher gears earlier and drive with fewer gear changes, saving up to 10% on fuel.
CHIPBOX® CONNECT, now with CHIPBOX® CONNECT, you can increase engine power and optimize your car's acceleration directly from your smartphone! Simply download the free application, connect to CHIPBOX® CONNECT from your smartphone, choose from various settings, or adjust the power with a simple touch, easily and instantly. CHIPBOX® CONNECT is delivered already mapped for your car, but you can customize the mapping by modifying the control unit or by connecting to CHIPBOX® directly from your smartphone. You can select different power levels directly from your phone. Choose between CITY, SPORT, RACE, or PLUS settings, or slide the cursor to manage power.
PEDALBOOSTER® TOUCH. Do you want to increase accelerator pedal power by up to 100% with a simple touch? Choose the Pedalbooster® Touch additional module! PEDALBOOSTER® is the additional control unit for the accelerator pedal developed to improve acceleration and eliminate throttle valve delay, greatly enhancing driving pleasure. The additional module connects in minutes directly to the electronic accelerator pedal via original connectors, making you "feel" more connected to the car when driving. With the PEDALBOOSTER® TOUCH accelerator pedal module, make your car more responsive and lively according to your driving style.
PEDALBOOSTER® CONNECT. With the PEDALBOOSTER® CONNECT additional module, you can increase accelerator pedal power by up to 100% directly from your smartphone! When you purchase your control unit, choose PEDALBOOSTER® CONNECT, allowing you to synchronize the additional module with your smartphone via Bluetooth to customize the pedal response at any time using the convenient graphical interface. Forget about cables and worries, enjoy the new dedicated App! This additional module increases the accelerator pedal response speed, reducing delay caused by natural human movement. With PEDALBOOSTER® CONNECT, you can connect to the control unit directly from your phone via Bluetooth without having to intervene on the pedal every time. It also allows you to easily customize the pedal response according to your driving style using the slider as you like.
EVC-SPORT®. Do you want to achieve a more powerful sound for your car? EVC-SPORT® ensures maximum sound control, allowing you to adjust the exhaust valve directly from the remote control. For true sports car enthusiasts, Seletron has created EVC SPORT®, the additional control unit that interfaces directly with the exhaust valve. By installing it on your vehicle, you can electronically control the opening and closing of the exhaust valve for a more powerful sound. The EVC-SPORT® additional control unit comes with a wireless remote control to choose, while comfortably seated at the wheel, whether to open the exhaust valve or let the exhaust valves be controlled by the ECU in automatic mode. Installation is straightforward thanks to Seletron's original connectors, allowing you to achieve the best result from the sports exhaust without making modifications to the system. With the EVC-SPORT® additional control unit, you can open the exhaust valve at any time and with an immediate effect. The sound of your car will be more intense even at idle or low revs.
XPF EMULATOR OPF-GPF. An electronic device designed to allow the installation of a sports exhaust in cars equipped with OPF (Otto Particulate Filters) or GPF (Gasoline Particulate Filters). The XPF Emulator works by connecting to the car's factory sensors via a dedicated wiring harness. The XPF Emulator sends correct reference signals to the Engine Control Unit (ECU), simulating the perfect operation of the engine, allowing the removal of the OPF-GPF without triggering warning lights or unwanted anomalies. This device offers a solution for those who want a more powerful and personalized sound from their sports exhaust without complex electronic modifications that may not be possible in some cases, such as blocking original ECUs. The XPF Emulator is designed to be compatible with a wide range of car models and provides a convenient and affordable alternative to achieve a better driving experience with a sports exhaust.
As you can see, we offer a solution for any chiptuning needs you may have. Whether you are looking for an increase in power, torque, and performance, we have the additional control unit for you, whether you have a Diesel or gasoline car. Do you want to increase driving pleasure by making the engine more responsive to accelerator commands? PEDALBOOSTER® is waiting for you! Do you want to monitor your engine's performance from your smartphone? Our CONNECT technology is waiting for you to manage engine delivery with simple touches on your smartphone screen. If you're looking for more excitement in driving by unleashing the exhaust sound of your sports car, EVC-SPORT® is the one for you. If you want to eliminate the limits associated with Diesel and gasoline particulate filters, you can rely on XPF EMULATOR OPF-GPF technology, the only effective and trouble-free solution for those who want to modify the exhaust system without triggering warning lights.
Search for your car model in our catalog and see which kits are available for tuning your car > https://seletron.com/en/shop/
Remember that all Diesel and gasoline power enhancement kits we offer are easy to install and require no mechanical or electronic modifications; everything can be returned to stock conditions without leaving a trace. Also, note that the car's factory ECU is not physically tampered with or violated through software rewriting (commonly called ECU remapping). Installation is done through simple insertion of original connectors included in all our additional control units. The kits are made in Italy, come with our official SELETRON warranty, and have TUV Austria certification, further evidence of the quality of the enhancement kits offered.
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