Sprint Booster

[Telsown]

Hi all,

My recent purchase of my 2017 Audi A3 2.0l sportback Quattro has been very eventful. A couple of recalls have now been updated. This was coupled with a complimentary ‘Health check’. Plus a courtesy car, all FOC (Free of charge). Get in!!!! And yes this was at an Audi main dealership of course in Bury St Edmunds.

(1) ECU Update 24GP relating to the Lambda value (of which I’m sure you are aware of) which measures oxygen levels in the engine emissions.

(2) Gearbox Update 34L4 relating to TCM (transmission control module). This software relates to enhance an in-vehicle alert should a problem arise within the auxiliary hydraulic pump.

Carrying on from all that.

As much as I am enjoying my new toy, what is a bit of a pain, (for me anyhow) is the fly-by-wire throttle response turbo-lag. I’m so used to much older vehicles with a cable, hence instant acceleration.

I cannot even ‘drive through it’ although to be fair, when sport dynamic mode is selected it tends to improve matters somewhat. So does fuel consumption unfortunately!!

Which brings me onto the subject (which I’m sure you have your own take) of the ‘Sprint Booster’. It’s one of those situations (is it too good to be true) situations.

Of course, I’m only looking at what I want to see and no more  I want one, Now! 

So now you all have the opportunity to burst my bubble. So don’t hold back. Do your worst!? I cannot sleep until I have the big picture. 

Thanks in anticipation.

Terry 

I’ve seen it here:

https://www.rtecshop.co.uk/sprint-booster-for-audi-a3-all-engines/prod_29036.html

 

[Steve Q]

I'd advise against st this kind of thing as all it's doing is tricking the ECU into thinking the conditions it's assessing are different to what they actually are. 

You'd be better with a proper remap done on a rolling road. 

[cliffcoggin]

If you believe the performance to be sluggish you would be better advised to have it checked before throwing money at an unproven gadget.

[Steve Q]

Cliff does raise a very good point. You should get a diagnostic check to see if any fault codes flag up 

[Telsown]

Thanks to you all,

This is why I joined the club.

So I can get, ‘The voice/s of reason’.

A re-map it is then, maybe.

Thanks again.

Terry

[Stevey Y]

1 hour ago, Telsown said:

Hi all,

My recent purchase of my 2017 Audi A3 2.0l sportback Quattro has been very eventful. A couple of recalls have now been updated. This was coupled with a complimentary ‘Health check’. Plus a courtesy car, all FOC (Free of charge). Get in!!!! And yes this was at an Audi main dealership of course in Bury St Edmunds.

(1) ECU Update 24GP relating to the Lambda value (of which I’m sure you are aware of) which measures oxygen levels in the engine emissions.

(2) Gearbox Update 34L4 relating to TCM (transmission control module). This software relates to enhance an in-vehicle alert should a problem arise within the auxiliary hydraulic pump.

Carrying on from all that.

As much as I am enjoying my new toy, what is a bit of a pain, (for me anyhow) is the fly-by-wire throttle response turbo-lag. I’m so used to much older vehicles with a cable, hence instant acceleration.

I cannot even ‘drive through it’ although to be fair, when sport dynamic mode is selected it tends to improve matters somewhat. So does fuel consumption unfortunately!!

Which brings me onto the subject (which I’m sure you have your own take) of the ‘Sprint Booster’. It’s one of those situations (is it too good to be true) situations.

Of course, I’m only looking at what I want to see and no more  I want one, Now! 

So now you all have the opportunity to burst my bubble. So don’t hold back. Do your worst!? I cannot sleep until I have the big picture. 

Thanks in anticipation.

Terry 

I’ve seen it here:

https://www.rtecshop.co.uk/sprint-booster-for-audi-a3-all-engines/prod_29036.html

 

Hi most of these wonder chips are designed around as Steve stated fooling the ECU, [Dangerous hobby] when you consider the amount of testing during development to achieve the best drivability under all circumstances, as Cliff stated  you may be better served by getting things like the throttle body checked to make sure the butterfly valve is not sticking, the way the world is these days do you think you are going to get something amazing for that sort of money, if you are really keen you will spend three times that for a good solid re map.

Steve.

[Telsown]

Again, solid advice which I will seriously take into consideration. 

That feeling of ‘I want it now’ is gradually diminishing.

Thanks all.

Terry.

[Stevey Y]

9 minutes ago, Telsown said:

Again, solid advice which I will seriously take into consideration. 

That feeling of ‘I want it now’ is gradually diminishing.

Thanks all.

Terry.

Hi my experience of this sort of thing comes from the late eighties when my friend had a water mist injection unit fitted to his car, £300, it was great for the first thousand miles, then not so great when it over injected and cracked two of his pistons, what new engine, needless to say the company that fitted it swore on a stack of bibles it was nothing to do with them.

Steve.

[Telsown]

Thanks again Steve,

I remember those add-ons too. Being 74yrs I remember a lot more besides. Although it didn’t seem to bother us in those days, I feel we were a lot more carefree and accepting. Today, you just seem to know in the back of our mind that everyone wants your money and will promise you the world to get it. Thanks for putting my feet back on the ground.

Oh! For those old days when we could get the tools out and do our mods or whatever to our beloved motor.

I was never happier than when I had a spanner in my hand.

Thanks for your involvement.

Terry

[cliffcoggin]

Consider that if gadgets like this, and also metal pellets in the fuel tank to improve economy, magic oils that improve economy, magnets on the water pipe to prevent scale, were as cheap and effective as the suppliers claim, then they would be fitted as standard in the factory. That fact that such things are not ready fitted is because they either do not work, or any advantages are outweighed by disadvantages such as premature failure.

[Telsown]

Thank you Clifford,

Of course, I know you are right. 

As I’ve alluded to earlier, I think its all about those days when we could tinker with our motor, not fearing we would end up in a worst state. Cars in my day were not fancy but they were robust enough that us home mechanics could attempt the most outlandish repairs (with our trusty Haines manual) and still use for work the next day. 

I guess I’m still hankering for something to do other than keep it clean, of which I do enjoy. But where’s my spanner, lol!!

Thanks again.

Terry

[Stevey Y]

10 minutes ago, Telsown said:

Thank you Clifford,

Of course, I know you are right. 

As I’ve alluded to earlier, I think its all about those days when we could tinker with our motor, not fearing we would end up in a worst state. Cars in my day were not fancy but they were robust enough that us home mechanics could attempt the most outlandish repairs (with our trusty Haines manual) and still use for work the next day. 

I guess I’m still hankering for something to do other than keep it clean, of which I do enjoy. But where’s my spanner, lol!!

Thanks again.

Terry

Hi dont worry about yesterday its an Audi and sooner rather than later it will put a light on, to get the answer you will need a decent diagnostic platform like OBDEleven to find out what's wrong, the final analysis is that you will have to use your spanners and acquire a fair range of male and female torx bits in 1/4 drive and 3/8 drive as well as some hose clip pliers large/small, its all fun.

Steve.

[Telsown]

Hi Steve,

Are you recommending the OBDEleven? As and when I get that light-on.

It so happens that when it was in the dealers garage having the recalls updated, there was a handbrake fault picked up but the handbrake is working mechanically (it holds on a hill) but the car needs plugging in to find what the fault is. I knew of this fault, but it was not a light, just a warning message of sorts. Cannot remember what it actually said though. I’ve not seen the message since getting car home.

They said they didn’t have enough time when it was with them sorting out the FREE recalls. Of course they didn’t!!!???

Wait for it……this will cost me £180 for Diagnostic only??????

You just know they will get their money somehow!!! 

Nothing is ever free, would you agree?

Terry

[cliffcoggin]

1 hour ago, Telsown said:

Cars in my day were not fancy but they were robust enough that us home mechanics could attempt the most outlandish repairs (with our trusty Haines manual) and still use for work the next day. 

Been there, done that. However times have changed and most of us can no longer tinker without a care for economy, emissions, reliability etc. let alone any understanding of what we are doing.

[Stevey Y]

1 hour ago, Telsown said:

Hi Steve,

Are you recommending the OBDEleven? As and when I get that light-on.

It so happens that when it was in the dealers garage having the recalls updated, there was a handbrake fault picked up but the handbrake is working mechanically (it holds on a hill) but the car needs plugging in to find what the fault is. I knew of this fault, but it was not a light, just a warning message of sorts. Cannot remember what it actually said though. I’ve not seen the message since getting car home.

They said they didn’t have enough time when it was with them sorting out the FREE recalls. Of course they didn’t!!!???

Wait for it……this will cost me £180 for Diagnostic only??????

You just know they will get their money somehow!!! 

Nothing is ever free, would you agree?

Terry

Hi Terry yes the OBDEleven is a first class tool for the average Diyer  and at around £100 with a bundle of tokens it will save you a fortune in the long run, you can code pretty much anything on the car that you have replaced, read and clear faults, in fact it will pay for itself a thousand times during your ownership and if you dont quite understand the codes come back here, WIN,WIN. You can even reset your rear handbrake perimeters.

Steve.

[Telsown]

Hi Steve,

I somehow knew when joining the Audi owners club it would be a benefit.

You have just cemented that for me. Thanks.

This time of year I am always looking for ideas to treat myself for Christmas. I bet you can’t guess what that might be…..ho! ho! ho!

What are your thoughts on my cancelling the handbrake diagnostic appointment made for 6th Jan ‘25.

MOT is due end of January too!! Not sure if it has a bearing.

Any particular outlet you would recommend to purchase OBDEleven or are they all same as? I ask that cos you mentioned tokens? Thanks too for inviting me back should I need help.

Terry.

 

[Stevey Y]

14 hours ago, Telsown said:

Hi Steve,

I somehow knew when joining the Audi owners club it would be a benefit.

You have just cemented that for me. Thanks.

This time of year I am always looking for ideas to treat myself for Christmas. I bet you can’t guess what that might be…..ho! ho! ho!

What are your thoughts on my cancelling the handbrake diagnostic appointment made for 6th Jan ‘25.

MOT is due end of January too!! Not sure if it has a bearing.

Any particular outlet you would recommend to purchase OBDEleven or are they all same as? I ask that cos you mentioned tokens? Thanks too for inviting me back should I need help.

Terry.

 

Hi Terry just go on their site as often as not they are doing deals on bundles thats where I bought my Pro kit and you can only buy the tokens from them anyway, the tokens are only really used when you are doing something in depth or you have bought a car that is later with the new SFD incorporated in the software, [thats another story], if you have it you can check the car for codes relating to the handbrake and if you have none its probably the old problem of the pads sticking in the runners, if you have this advice you can do your own service mode take the callipers apart and either clean and put the old pads back or renew them which I suspect is what they want to do, and their prices for pads are eyewatering price wise, but instead go get some nice Brembo pads for about a third of the price on eBay, would suggest Carparts in motion, you can also do things that  the dealer WONT DO like grease the slider pins for the calliper with silicon grease as this is what causes the pads to grip on as well when the sliders are dry and this extends the life of the pads, its the old adage before getting it to go faster, make sure it stops faster.

Steve.

[Telsown]

Good morning Steve,

Thanks for info on OBDEleven.

I’ve been on their website and as you are familiar there are 3 versions: Free, Pro VAG, & Ultimate VAG.

You mentioned you have the Pro, is that what you recommend or would the free version be adequate?

Also, should the FREE be purchased, can you upgrade to pro later? By the way, how much is the Pro and is there an ongoing paid subscription attached to that.

You mention a possible brake pad maintenance or replacement, I have another little story on that…….

Before I purchased the car there were a few issues that I wanted put right to which they said ok to.

What I wasn’t prepared for was the issue of the brakes which came about when they put the car for MOT.

Anyway, to my benefit they replaced discs and pads on all four wheels (a cost to them of £700).

Now, the thing is, I am not aware of the actual problem that was flagged up. So it could be that the issue with the parking brake was part of the overall problem. But not deleted from the on board computer, hence, it was still showing as a live fault. Just a guess really.

Just to point out, I did not purchase the car from the main dealer, rather it was a company called EMG and the particular garage was located at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Opposite the Duxford Air Museum (off M11).

Speak later.

Terry

[Telsown]

Hi Steve,

Update for you. Re: OBDEleven PRO VAG

Special pro pack deal inc 3year subscription 145 euros + p&p from OBD site. 

Turns out they had Black Friday deal, -30%

Now we’re talking. 

Terry.

 

[Stevey Y]

3 hours ago, Telsown said:

Hi Steve,

Update for you. Re: OBDEleven PRO VAG

Special pro pack deal inc 3year subscription 145 euros + p&p from OBD site. 

Turns out they had Black Friday deal, -30%

Now we’re talking. 

Terry.

 

Hi it sounds like what you need, they are all going over to subscription now except for VCDS which inexpensive to buy in the first place, with regards codes the Audis will remember them for years if you dont clear them diagnostically, the systems are complex but have a monocular obsession with old codes.

Steve.

[Stevey Y]

Just now, Stevey Y said:

Hi it sounds like what you need, they are all going over to subscription now except for VCDS which inexpensive to buy in the first place, with regards codes the Audis will remember them for years if you dont clear them diagnostically, the systems are complex but have a monocular obsession with old codes.

Steve.

Sorry VCDS is a lot more expensive.