chipped" '87 5ktqa

Thu Nov 7 09:03:16 EST 2002

I am one of those "cheap" Audi nuts who have R/Z mod. I also have tunable
wastegate spring and I've seen 2.0 Bar on my dashboard mounted auxiliary
gauge. I did this mod two and half years ago, use 94 octane gas only and can
report no problems of any kind related to this mod. In fact, the car drives
wonderfully and I enjoy every minute behind the wheel. Granted, I drive in
the city and my frequent high boost bursts don't last more than few seconds.
By the time I reach max boost I am in "jail" zone of my speedometer
(remember, it's city).
Just for the record.
Efraim Gavrilovich
1988 5KTQ 346,000km (215K mi), 1.8 Bar
1990 90 126,000km (78K mi) - this one is for sale. It's "plain Jane" bright
red automatic.
Vancouver, Canada

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Myers" <robert at s-cars.org>
To: <sneekerz at attbi.com>; <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 7:30 AM
Subject: Re: chipped" '87 5ktqa

> --
> [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
> Steve,
>
> If you have seen 1.7 on the stock in-dash gauge then you likely don't have
> the zener/resistor mod.  With this mod the gauge output is clamped to a
> maximum of about 1.4 bar.  Any boost levels about this simply are not
known
> about by the ECU.
>
> The only way to tell for sure is to pull the IC and open it up.  Look at
> the pressure transducer (PT) mount.  Look for one "pin" to be a resistor
> rather than just a straight through wire.  Also look for a small zener
> diode soldered between this "resistor pin" and another pin four or five
> pins away from the resistor.  If these are present then you have the z/r
> mod.  The PT is on a small daughterboard above the main board and has a
> hose attached to it.
>
> Now, as far as safe boost levels with this mod, I have heard several
> stories of engine melt-down (so to speak).  But these have just been
> stories.  I have seen no evidence of "This happened to me" type reports.
I
> ran the z/r mod on a 1989 200tq with a MAC-11c ECU.  This car also had the
> Timmerman shrapnel-knob.  I adjusted the knob such that the maximum boost
> was kept below 19 psig (that is about 2.4 bar on the stock gauge if it
were
> capable of reading that level -which it isn't).  I ran the car this way
for
> nearly 60K miles with no hint of boost related troubles (other than a
blown
> Michelin Man hose and an end popped off the intercooler, of course, both
> easily solved problems).  I then sold the car to another list member who
> put a lot more miles on it.  He has since sold it to another Audi nut who
> is still driving it (according to a report I received within the last
> week).  I tend to discount these "reports" of serious damage.  Perhaps I
> was just lucky.  Perhaps not.
>
> Yes, there are concerns about the mod.  Probably first among them is
> concern over excessively lean mixtures (the ECU doesn't "know about" how
> high the boost level actually is and therefore meters out only enough fuel
> for what it "thinks" is there resulting in a lean mixture.  Lean = hot as
> far as combustion temperatures relate.  This could lead to burnt valves
and
> pistons, etc..  IME, this appears not to be a problem.  Perhaps I was just
> lucky.
>
> Believe me, the difference between 1.4 bar and 2.3 bar in a 10 valve I-5
is
> absolutely HUGE!!!  Huge as in, "Holy Moley, Batman!!"  Your passengers
may
> be looking for a dry towel for their seats after their first experience
> with a quick burst.  :-)
>
> The main advantage of the z/r mod is that it is VERY inexpensive.  Less
> than $5 for parts plus perhaps an hour or so for doing the ECU
> desolder/solder operation.  The main disadvantage is the potential for
> possible engine damage.  My experience leads me to discount the damage
> reports, however, YMMV.
>
> Oh.  Don't try this on a car with a slushbox.   The tranny won't stand up
> to the added power.
>
>
> At 02:44 PM 11/7/2002 +0000, sneekerz at attbi.com wrote:
>
> >Ben (and others):
> >
> >I also have a "chipped" 5ktqa. I've always assumed it's
> >the resistor/diode upgrade, so keep the adjustable
> >wastegate close to stock settings, hoping that keeps my
> >schrapnel-potential lower. How does one find out for
> >sure? My boost reads higher than the 1.4bar mentioned
> >when the schrapnel-knob is cranked higher, I've seen as
> >high as 1.7, but never kept it there for fear of
> >meltdown. You mention opening up the ecu, would it be
> >obvious? I assume a real chip would have the name of the
> >company on it, would the resistor/diode be obvious as
> >well?
> >
> >steve
> >'86 5ktqa
> >'86 4kcsq
> >kent, wa
> >Message: 10
> >From: Ben Swann <bswann at worldnet.att.net>
> >Reply-To: "bswann at worldnet.att.net" <bswann at worldnet.att.net>
> >To: "'c21john at qwest.net'" <c21john at qwest.net>
> >Cc: "'quattro at audifans.com'" <quattro at audifans.com>
> >Subject: chipped" '87 5ktqa
> >Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 03:45:43 -0500
> >Organization: Swann Family
> >
> >John,
> >
> >Sounds like you have the "resistor" mod being used in conjunction with
some
> >means of obtaining the boost, like schrapnel knob or heavier wastegate
> >spring.  See: http://www.homestead.com/ben_swann/boostin.html for details
> >on this.
> >
> >I have long since downplayed it's use in lieu of the economical QLCC
chip,
> >which provides a greater margin of safety and is a real chip.
> >
> >The only real way to be sure is to open the ECU up and see what's inside.
> >
> >On the note about the purchase, if the car is doing fine, then it's a
> >keeper.  I have done a lot with my '87 avant, and the TCO is still under
> >$8k in over 4 years including purchase price.
> >
> >Ben
> >
> >
> >
> >---
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>
> Bob
> *****
>   Robert L. Myers   304-574-2372
>   Rt. 4, Box 57,  Fayetteville, WV 25840 USA   WV tag Q SHIP
>   '95 urS6  Cashmere Grey - der Wunderwagen    ICQ 22170244
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> *****
> --
>
>