RaceChipped - Maruti Swift Diesel

[shibujp]

Been wanting to bump up the performance of my Swift for quite sometime now. After considering various options including a Cosworth remap, I decided to get the RaceChip tuning box from Chiptuning von RaceChip - die Powerbox für sicheres Motor Tuning. Cost including customs came to about 16,500 rupees. Install was a DIY as described below.

The box and packing




Here is a view of the tuning box


the port into which the wiring harness plugs in


Engine cover removed and the common rail sensor location


Closeup of the common rail sensor and the stock connector. The stock connector has a lock which is the yellow piece indicated in the picture. Pull the lock out before attempting to pull out the sensor connector.


Here is the wiring harness supplied by RaceChip.


RaceChip wiring harness connected.


The tuning box location in the engine bay. On the right hand side just in front of the wiper fluid container.


Routing of the wiring harness




NEXT : Onto the driving impressions.
Drive on,
Shibu.

[shibujp]

Initial Impressions
Expecting a punch from the word go, I was a little disappointed at the initial low end power delivery. However I noted two things during my first 20 km test drive.
- the car seemed to power out of curves a bit faster.
- Accelerating in third gear at 2000 rpm, the car was noticeably quick.

Currently
The car has done around 2000km with the chip now and I can say that I am completely satisfied. The power delivery is sweeter and has rounded out the performance very nicely. Especially the in gear acceleration.

In gear performance is what it is all about with the chip. Accelerating from 60 kmph, and pulling at 80 - 100 kph is much quicker and makes overtaking on the two lanes highways here so much easier. The increase in torque can be felt by the lesser number of shifts needed.

Another revelation has been beyond 2500 rpm in 3rd or 4th gear. The Swift has now gained a new breath after the 2800 rpm that goes close to 4000 rpm. Useful when you want those blitzing overtaking moves.

The chip has three settings and I am currently at the lowest.

The improved performance has one down side. The diesel clatter has noticeably increased which I am guessing should be due to increased common rail pressure.

Drive on,
Shibu.

[shibujp]

A note of thanks to two threads that helped me on my decision.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...ford-figo.html (My 89 BHP Ford Figo!)

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...ml#post2010396 (Race Chip (German) for Diesel Cars for Rs. 17,500)

Drive on,
Shibu

[Jaggu]

This is super affordable pricing also! Thanks for sharing, the all important question in India Any changes noticed with FE?

[Naparajito]

Even i use it on my Linea and i'm very impressed with its performance. But i don't know why, suddenly the price has gone up by 4k?!

[Sommos]

Can you please elaborate why you chose "Race Chip" over the others ?
Is there any specific benefit in the RC tuning box that others dont have.
Also what about the FE.

Many thanks for the elaborate procedure with detailed pictures.

[shibujp]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

This is super affordable pricing also! Thanks for sharing, the all important question in India Any changes noticed with FE?

Well, my average used to vary between 16.5 - 17. Now it seems to be consistently above 17 for the last 5 fill-ups with a best of 17.7.

Originally Posted by Sommos

Can you please elaborate why you chose "Race Chip" over the others ?
Is there any specific benefit in the RC tuning box that others dont have.

One of the most attractive aspects was the price. If you get it via a friend in Europe you can have the box for just 9k odd. And I am a dead fan of VFM.

But cheap does usually come with a catch. However the product has been in Europe for some time and the reviews were generally favorable. They do supply chips for Beemers and VAGS whose owners reported favorably.

I had a budget for 17k max. So Pete's was ruled out. I was initially interested in the Cosworth remap. However getting a remap in Trivandrum proved difficult and the fact that on resale of the car I could not sell it unlike a tuning chip shelved this plan.

Drive on,
Shibu.

[kpzen]

Shibujp

Interesting mod at 1lac kms.

Originally Posted by shibujp

The chip has three settings and I am currently at the lowest.

The improved performance has one down side. The diesel clatter has noticeably increased which I am guessing should be due to increased common rail pressure.
.

Yes, the increase is clatter noise is normal.

Keep an eye on the filter. My filter gets dirty pretty fast with the box.
Also with higher settings, do check if its not stressing the filter too much.

In my case, with higher setting of tuning box, the filter almost got sucked in.

[ghpk]

Did you needed any modification to Stock OBD Data in car ?

Originally Posted by Naparajito

Even i use it on my Linea and i'm very impressed with its performance. But i don't know why, suddenly the price has gone up by 4k?!

Price is certainly up by 4k for most things sourced from overseas due to Dollar gone up by 10-12 Rupess in last one year.
That's certainly hurting our economy and imports big time.

[shibujp]

Originally Posted by kpzen

Shibujp
Keep an eye on the filter. My filter gets dirty pretty fast with the box.
Also with higher settings, do check if its not stressing the filter too much.

In my case, with higher setting of tuning box, the filter almost got sucked in.

I am using a stock replacement K&N filter. Did you face the problem with a stock replacement or a conical filter. Asking this because I had a similar thing happen to me when the conical filter on my 800 was starved of air.

Originally Posted by ghpk

Did you needed any modification to Stock OBD Data in car ?


Price is certainly up by 4k for most things sourced from overseas due to Dollar gone up by 10-12 Rupess in last one year.
That's certainly hurting our economy and imports big time.

No I did not make any modifications to the ODB data. Just to clarify I did not go for the Cosworth remap.

Rough price breakup in rupees is as follows :

Cost of box - 9k
Cost of shipping - 2.5k
Customs - 4.75k

Customs was cleared by UPS who were the courier and I issued a draft for the amount on delivery.

Drive on,
Shibu.

[ACMohan]

Great DIY. And explained well with good pictures.
I've been looking for a tuning box with a good VFM.
And can you please explain the terms and conditions of the warranty. And is there any such issues?

Thanks for sharing.

[kpzen]

Originally Posted by shibujp

I am using a stock replacement K&N filter. Did you face the problem with a stock replacement or a conical filter. Asking this because I had a similar thing happen to me when the conical filter on my 800 was starved of air.
.

I have a Green stock replacement filter.

[motomaverick]

Great DIY, i noticed that you did not see any improvement in the initial turbo lag, i guess only a remap can cure that, however, did you try to change the setting to a higher one and check on the initial lag?

[Safari_Beast]

Hello Shibu

I have new swift diesel Zdi , i am thinking of getting the race dynamics box . Does this box give you more kick when RPM hits 2000 .

[shibujp]

Originally Posted by ACMohan

And can you please explain the terms and conditions of the warranty. And is there any such issues?

Thanks for sharing.

If you are referring to the terms and conditions of the warranty of the car, yes, this would affect your warranty if the dealer comes to know of it. The warranty on my car has long expired. Being a performance mod, the warranty on your engine and power train would be most impacted.

Originally Posted by motomaverick

Great DIY, i noticed that you did not see any improvement in the initial turbo lag, i guess only a remap can cure that, however, did you try to change the setting to a higher one and check on the initial lag?

I did check with RaceChip during the initial days if something could be done for more low end punch at the 1500 - 2500 range and they said that they could do it if I shipped the chip back to them.

Yes, I believe a remap would be more effective in curing the initial turbo lag. I do plan to try out the other settings shortly and would provide an update.

Originally Posted by Safari_Beast

Hello Shibu

I have new swift diesel Zdi , i am thinking of getting the race dynamics box . Does this box give you more kick when RPM hits 2000 .

Yes, there is an improvement in the power and a better surge after 2000 rpm. However the power delivery of the new Swift is more linear so it would be different from what I experience.

As I mentioned in my posts below what I am satisfied with is the in gear acceleration.

Drive on,
Shibu.