Disco 2 TD5 D2 Superchips 'smokey' chip - can it be tweaked?

Hi all, so I have a TD5 DII facelift 5-speed truck that I lovehatelove. Mostly I love it. Stockholm syndrome I suspect. This is about one aspect I lovehatelove... the power.



It has from a previous owner (I believe, I've yet to split the computer and look - but there is a giant superchips sticker under the hood) a Superchips 'upgrade', which provides really nice power compared to my previous stock auto TD5... apart from one thing - it's great as long as you've got more than 1800RPM going on - anything below that and it produces massive clouds of thick black smoke (worst by far when its cold, but still does it warm)... and it has no power at all, acceleration is almost non-existent... Towing heavy loads is a nightmare, taking off is a nightmare, trying to get into traffic is a nightmare. It seems the only way to take off is to use major clutch slippage and ride it until you get some motion going. And if I put a heavy load on a trailer its almost impossible to get moving without feeling like I'm destroying the clutch... on a hill? No chance at all without low range (very steep hill, just no chance).

I've never driven a stock TD5 manual to know how they perform down low, nor have I driven a chipped auto to know how good they are, so I don't have much to go on comparison-wise but I'm seriously considering doing an auto-swap just to make it driveable as I do often have a horse float or a recovery trailer on the back... so I have some questions.

First of all, yes I googled it. There is a lot of conflicting info and many peoples uninformed opinions out there (and a very interesting site called td5tuning.com full of awesome information that mostly went over my head), so I'd like to get some first-hand experience answers if possible.

1. Are superchips upgrades any good or are they known for smoke (overfuelling?).
2. Is there a better upgrade?
3. Can they be DIY tuned?
   
4. If there is a better commercial upgrade, what is it, where do I get it? How much is it?
5. Can the current map(s) be tweaked, thus keeping the current superchips upgrade and improving it?
6. What do you need to reprogram it, or is it a new chip job
7. If it can be reprogrammed, I understand the Nanocom can do it - what else can? The Nanocom is not cheap in $NZ, and while I understand its the gold standard of computers for a TD5 I've also got to run this purchase past she who must be obeyed.
8. If I go auto, is this all moot since I would need an auto computer (someone suggested a D1 auto would work just fine with the manual computer since its all hydraulic not electronic).
   
9. As a side note, if I am getting a computer for it, it would also want to be able to code new key fobs (and old key fobs) since I only have one key, and one spare key from my spare truck I'd like to make use of - I understand the Foxwell unit says it can, but actually can't (I've emailed them about this asking for confirmation about 10 days ago and had no response).

Ok, so thats a lot of questions and I'm getting a bit off-course there towards the end... but hopefully someone has been through this and has some useful pointers to get better usable low-down power out of the truck...

Cheers, Steve (from down under and slightly to the left)

Take it off. Go and get a proper remap.

Empire tuning
Alive Tuning
IRB
BAS
TD5Inside
Dynachip

Itll run better, faster, more power and lesa smoke.

Nanocom is the best diag kit out there for a TD5 imo.

No low down boost?

I would get it code read first and see if anything well out of range.

I know I might get shot down for this, but I would be tempted to take the engine management box of tricks off and replace it with a standard one, you'd have to get it to talk to the rest of the car and the injector codes entered, but at least you would have a baseline and a way to start sorting out whether/what other problems you have secure in the knowledge that it is not the chip. Then, once the rest of it is OK, put your box of tricks back on and see what happens. If it then runs fine, you know the problem was elsewhere, and you have saved the cost of a re-remap. If not, and you still want the remap you can go ahead and do it. Is there some logic in that or what do you think?

P.S. with a standard map, at least you'd be able to tow and drive normally etc, unless other sensors are well off track.
P.P.S. you haven't mentioned seeing any coloured lights on the dash or anything. Getting the codes read may well help, but I do not know how much they would be affected by your running an upgrade. Another reason for running it as standard for a bit.

Is this superchip a plug in box which fastens onto the ECU loom?
I had one on my Td5 defender when I bought it, they just interfere with the injector signal and dump more fuel into the engine.
Soon took mine off and got rid of it, as people have suggested try the standard map, change the air filter and you may be pleasantly surprised.

bankz5152 said:

Take it off. Go and get a proper remap.

Empire tuning
Alive Tuning
IRB
BAS
TD5Inside
Dynachip

Itll run better, faster, more power and lesa smoke.

Nanocom is the best diag kit out there for a TD5 imo.

Click to expand...

Thanks I'll look into these... And sounds like the nanocom could be the one, despite the cost. Cheers

I'll

Stanleysteamer said:

P.S. with a standard map, at least you'd be able to tow and drive normally etc, unless other sensors are well off track.
P.P.S. you haven't mentioned seeing any coloured lights on the dash or anything. Getting the codes read may well help, but I do not know how much they would be affected by your running an upgrade. Another reason for running it as standard for a bit.

Click to expand...

I'll have to see if I can find one that I could borrow... I doubt I'll find one here though... Most likely be more expensive than its worth though I'd think.

The only dash lights I have currently are the three amigos and an intermittent SRS light... Nothing engine related.

One thing that may or may not be relevant while I think of it, the truck had a brand new turbo fitted by the previous owner.

Cheers

raywin said:

Is this superchip a plug in box which fastens onto the ECU loom?
I had one on my Td5 defender when I bought it, they just interfere with the injector signal and dump more fuel into the engine.
Soon took mine off and got rid of it, as people have suggested try the standard map, change the air filter and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Click to expand...

I think (although I'll need to go looking in daylight) that it's inside the ECU, as the lid on the computer looks like it's been prised off and damaged to get it off. If it was as simple as unplugging it I'd be very surprised... Nothing in this truck is ever easy... Ask me about removing the top nut on the starter motor some time

kiwi_steve said:

I think (although I'll need to go looking in daylight) that it's inside the ECU, as the lid on the computer looks like it's been prised off and damaged to get it off. If it was as simple as unplugging it I'd be very surprised... Nothing in this truck is ever easy... Ask me about removing the top nut on the starter motor some time

Click to expand...

Mine was a little blue box piggybacked onto the harness just next to the red plug which plugs into the ECU, whoever fitted it used scotchlocks to do it.
The reputable companies just load a file into the EPROM of your ECU which has a new engine control map modified to adjust the perfomace, with a Nanocom you can save the map thats already in there and upload a new one,

raywin said:

Mine was a little blue box piggybacked onto the harness just next to the red plug which plugs into the ECU, whoever fitted it used scotchlocks to do it.
The reputable companies just load a file into the EPROM of your ECU which has a new engine control map modified to adjust the perfomace, with a Nanocom you can save the map thats already in there and upload a new one,

Click to expand...

Cheers, I'll check that tomorrow and report back

MJI said:

No low down boost?

I would get it code read first and see if anything well out of range.

Click to expand...

Sorry, I missed this one - thanks for the advice. So if I get it code read, am I just looking for errors or will there be values I should be checking against known-good values? If so is there a lookup table of these values?

Cheers, Steve

Ok, here is the ECU... pulled the lid for a nosey - not a replaceable ECU but I understand the NNN variants are programmable?






On a side note - has anyone got to the point looking for a tool they know they have two of that they just want to kick something really hard? Security torx bits - I have two sets. Took an hour of digging around all over the place to finally find one - I'm damned if I can find the other... and my foot is bloody sore as well.

If this superchips mod is just a piggyback unit somewhere that lengthens the injector pulses is there somewhere else obvious it might be hiding? Or is it likely to be flashed into this one - which leads to other questions like why was the lid prised off? Injector loom problem? Cap replacement maybe?

Another thing - I got 10km/l roughly from my old 2000 TD5 auto... I'm more like 8.5/9km/l in this one, which makes me think the truck is just dumping more fuel into the engine because I would have expected to be able to get better than 10 with a manual if I drive it nice, even with the taller tyres.

Cheers for the advice guys

I dont see anything like the blue box mine had fitted.
The ECU you have is one that can be re mapped by flashing the EPROM, so maybe it has just been re mapped.
Strange that they would have opened up the unit because it can be flashed by plugging into the plug (in the cab in my defender) might be interesting if you could contact either the previous owner or the company whose stickers are on the vehicle.

Also take a look here
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/td5-performance-chip.395/

raywin said:

...might be interesting if you could contact either the previous owner or the company whose stickers are on the vehicle.

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The previous owner was a Pom who was on a working holiday here, I believe he was pretty hard on it since it came to me with all kinds of green mossy stuff growing all over it, bumps, scrapes and broken plastics. All I know is he had the turbo replaced. I have no idea who had it before that, and I don't think that information is available to current owners any more due to privacy laws.

Didnt spend much time on it but I Googled "Superchip TD5" and found this : https://www.superchips.co.uk/search?make=17&model=73&fueltype=2&variant=213
Manybe they can give you some idea of what they do and help you understand why its acting up.

Also try this in answer to your earlier post re values.
http://www.discotd5.com/td5-tuning/airmass

raywin said:

Didnt spend much time on it but I Googled "Superchip TD5" and found this : https://www.superchips.co.uk/search?make=17&model=73&fueltype=2&variant=213
Manybe they can give you some idea of what they do and help you understand why its acting up.

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I'd seen that but hadn't really considered making contact. I may do though, cheers

Stanleysteamer said:

Also try this in answer to your earlier post re values.
http://www.discotd5.com/td5-tuning/airmass

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Yep, I've read quite a bit on that site - I even understood a few words I've donated and look forward to learning a bit more about the inner workings of the ECU... I guess this means I'll have to get a Nanocom now...

kiwi_steve said:

I guess this means I'll have to get a Nanocom now

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that woud be a smart first move if you want to keep the D2 for long ... being facelift nanocom can also help you remap it... get rid of any powerbox unless you fit an \EGT gauge to show you whe to be gentle with thenthrottle or you can end up with a burned out engine... ask me how i know (or better don't ask )

sierrafery said:

kiwi_steve said:

I guess this means I'll have to get a Nanocom now...

Click to expand...

that woud be a smart first move if you want to keep the D2 for long ... being facelift nanocom can also help you remap it...

Click to expand...

Order Summary
------------------------------
Code: NCOM02
Quantity: 1
Description: NANOCOM Evolution for TD5 Discovery II kit
Weight: 665g

Done Hurry up and wait now - will be a couple of weeks I believe.

Just talking this out with you guys has clarified for me that I need to know whats going on inside the donk... and so the computer is the first step. Besides, I have the three amigos at the moment too, so I've got to get that sorted before the next WOF (or before my daughter gets it stuck in the paddock again with a float full of hay because it has no TC ).

sierrafery said:

get rid of any powerbox unless you fit an \EGT gauge to show you whe to be gentle with thenthrottle or you can end up with a burned out engine... ask me how i know (or better don't ask )

Click to expand...

By powerbox do you mean anything dumping more fuel into the engine? An EGT is probably a good idea - I was always put off by the cost, but then I cooked the engine in my first TD5 so in retrospect its not that expensive at all...

Cheers for the advice you guys, its very much appreciated.