L322 Chipped?

So I have a new [to me] 2003 Vogue, 3l diesel Auto and it has a strange box under the bonnet, It has no markings and its wire disapears down behind the engine. Its tucked in a little waterproofed bag and strapped to the bulkhead in front of the battery.

Have I been chipped?

Cheers!

Stephen

Looks like some off the tuning boxes you see on fleebay unless its some sort of tracker or black box but you real need to find out what its wired into to be sure.

Looks like a powerbox to me.

Not a chip as such, but same sorta thing.

RangeRoller dt said:

Looks like a powerbox to me.

Not a chip as such, but same sorta thing.

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... Explain please....

A chip is soldered into the cars brain physically.

^^^ thing looks like a ‘plug and play’ type. Sometimes referred to as a ‘piggy-back system’. It can plug in and out (with correct procedure) so you don’t need an expert to install it.

You could always unplug it and see what goes wrong

Like one of these :
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RANGE-RO...122557?hash=item2acc5ab2fd:g:-VoAAOSwi3xcKR2t

Is my guess, what’s it connected to?

RangeRoller dt said:

A chip is soldered into the cars brain physically.

^^^ thing looks like a ‘plug and play’ type. Sometimes referred to as a ‘piggy-back system’. It can plug in and out (with correct procedure) so you don’t need an expert to install it.

You could always unplug it and see what goes wrong

Like one of these :
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RANGE-RO...122557?hash=item2acc5ab2fd:g:-VoAAOSwi3xcKR2t

Click to expand...

Now that sounds like an invitation to spending a whole weekend with my head under the bonet. No thanks!

RangeRoller dt said:

Is my guess, what’s it connected to?

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I havent followed the wire yet but it disapears down the back of the engine ...

If it ain’t broke - don’t fix

They water proofed it up - suggests it’s important

Its a speed-camera triggering device, put there by the police to increase revenues.

DanClarke said:

Its a speed-camera triggering device, put there by the police to increase revenues.

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If I ever fix it enough so I can drive it....

SuffolkCraftsmen said:

If I ever fix it enough so I can drive it....

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This is a fool-proof idea, invented by green oval, so they allow owners , for years to come to say " yep 20 years old and only 5k on the clock"

That looks like a Tuning Box to me, possibly a TDI Tuning Derivative.

Are there any markings/brands/numbers on it?

If the car is running well might be an idea to attend to the rust rather than worry about that item. Maybe one of those things that give you more BHP more Torque and better fuel economy, which is of course impossible but some people will believe anything if you make the item expensive enough.

wammers said:

If the car is running well might be an idea to attend to the rust rather than worry about that item. Maybe one of those things that give you more BHP more Torque and better fuel economy, which is of course impossible but some people will believe anything if you make the item expensive enough.

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Aye 'tis funny, they think the chip which is adding more "power" more fuel etc is going to improve MPG

Henry_b said:

Aye 'tis funny, they think the chip which is adding more "power" more fuel etc is going to improve MPG

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Takes all kinds Henry mate. Some will believe anything. On a long steady speed run on a motorway maybe a couple of MPG better, but normal driving using the extra grunt no chance.

Henry_b said:

Aye 'tis funny, they think the chip which is adding more "power" more fuel etc is going to improve MPG

Click to expand...

wammers said:

Takes all kinds Henry mate. Some will believe anything. On a long steady speed run on a motorway maybe a couple of MPG better, but normal driving using the extra grunt no chance.

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I don't get it myself. Why buy an alnost 3 tonne , vehicle, that already likes to visit petrol stations, then think 'oh I know I'll add something to make it a race car, and improve mpg at the same time" First off it'll never be a race car, if they want to be a boy racer then should've bought something else, and secondly it will, not ,not, not (did I say not) improve mpg, in any way to write home about.
A fool and his money, and all that

gold rover said:

I don't get it myself. Why buy an alnost 3 tonne , vehicle, that already likes to visit petrol stations, then think 'oh I know I'll add something to make it a race car, and improve mpg at the same time" First off it'll never be a race car, if they want to be a boy racer then should've bought something else, and secondly it will, not ,not, not (did I say not) improve mpg, in any way to write home about.
A fool and his money, and all that

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Never got the point of chips.
TBH
The manufacturer has detuned and "set" the power at that level for a reason, in the 3.0 L322's case the weak link is the gearbox.

The M57 is capable of 250hp and well over 450nm without really trying.

Buts it is "set at" 170hp and 405nm IIRC for a reason

The crowd that punch the power up and come here and say Nrr Drrr somefink gone and broked!

Makes eye larf!!