FAQs
What does AGR do?
Using Specialist equipment I connect to the machines ECU with a laptop computer via the OBD (Onboard Diagnostic) socket, to take a read of the engine management file. The File is then modified and optimised to your requirements, and when complete its reprogrammed to the ECU. On some vehicles it is necessary to physically remove the ECU so that it can be programmed on the bench. Tuning via OBD normally takes around an hour, on the bench slightly longer plus additional time to remove the ECU. I also carry out full diagnostic checks before and after which obviously adds time. The work can be carried out on site or by sending your ECU to me.
Why use AGR?
AGR is my passion, I’ve enjoyed farm contracting with my brother for a long time and always had a strong interest in all thing Tech and Tuning. Being able to bring them all together is what it’s all about for me. I’m Interested in every part of it, all the details and fully understand all the demands and requirements of all agricultural machinery.
Over time I’ve invested heavily in the latest and best suited agricultural mapping equipment along with dealer/engineering level diagnostic equipment and software to ensure I can provide the best when it comes to your requirements, be it a power or economy MAP or one of the delete services it will have been heavily researched and proven before being applied to any machine.
Engine remapping is proportionately inexpensive and delivers significant return on investment especially in the agricultural world.
Engine remapping and software upgrades, when installed properly can achieve great results for any machine. I’m also able to offer the plant equipment which often crosses over into agriculture.
All AGR tuning and ECU remapping is dyno developed and field tested, fully optimising the engines capabilities to your requirements. On most Machines I’m able to offer various levels of power increase up to the safe working limits.
Are AGR remaps safe?
AGR remapping optimises and enhances the power of the engine within safe limits. I work within the high tolerances that’s the vehicle manufacturers always build in, bearing in mind these machines are built to operate all over the world in some of the harshest of environments. A good engine remap from a file writer who understands the specific demands within the ECU will not allow the engine to get close to the manufacturers tested limits and will not remove any of the manufacturers protection software.
Importantly quality tuning companies all offer very similar figures, so be aware of any offering over the top power increases. In reality these claims are either simply false, or they are mapping the ECU outside of the machines safe operating limits, potentially causing failure some time down the line. A good quality ecu remap from a genuine ecu tuner will never get close the limits of component failure.
Why don’t the manufactures produce machines with higher power?
A manufacturer cannot risk selling a vehicle towards its maximum, so engine management calibration is a compromise. Manufacturers have to take into account global differences for fuel quality, operating conditions, and emissions restrictions.
An agricultural engine delivers its power and driveability in a manner that is subject to sales and marketing constraints, It’s important that when compared to its rivals it comes out on top. The large machinery manufacturers marketing departments hold quite an influence when it come to what they think customers will want, so if they demand that figures and info should look a certain way because they believe it gives them a sales advantage, they tend to get what they want - despite opposition from those who actually calibrate the machines ECU.
Does AGR provide warranty?
An engine that is using and AGR map will not have any reliability issues provided it is maintained as the manufacturer intended. In the highly unusual event that there is a problem we will look to resolve the issue and should it be determined that it was caused by the Remap. AGR will offer a 30 day money-back guarantee in the event that you are not satisfied with the work carried out.
What are the benefits of remapping agricultural machinery?
The most effective way to increase the performance of a diesel-engined Machine is to remap the ECU, which does not require any hardware changes and leaves all the existing systems unaffected unless you want to specifically remove something problematic that doesn’t effect the running and reliability of the Machine
The modifications I carry out on engine calibration parameters are direct, and understanding the way each agricultural machine uses its power is extremely important. Remapping will give you exactly what your looking for without compromising the machines life. Although the software changes are seen as complicated, the finished product is the least intrusive way to increase power and/or economy
Once the process has been carried out
Torque delivery is smoother
Torque is adjusted/limited in lower gears to ensure transmission system longevity
PTO engagement is smoother at lower RPM
Boost pressure and air flow are optimised
Torque reduction when shifting gear (for durability) is retained
Regeneration of the diesel particle filter (DPF) is retained (unless DPF delete requested)
Exhaust gas temperatures are correctly calculated and applied
Service intervals are correctly unaffected
The diagnostic system remains unchanged
No increase to NOx, HC, CO, CO2, or soot emissions compared with original
The original calibration file can be reinstalled if required or requested at any time
Do you offer a trial period?
I’m very confident an AGR remap will improve the experience when using any agricultural machine and improve overall fuel usage. I can offer a 30 day period and if you are not happy with the results I will return the machines software to standard and give you a full refund.
If the dealer updates my software, what are my options?
If a dealer overwrites your Machines ECU, I can supply a new remap free of charge, However, there will be a standard call out fee and if this involves removing the ECU, a small labour charge may apply. Either way it will be much cheaper than paying for a new map.
Do you offer Adblue, EGR or DPF Deletes?
Yes, I can offer Adblue, EGR and DPF delete remaps for Machines that will not be used on public roads and highways. For more information please contact me as additional parts may be required for some EGR and DPF deletes.
Do you keep a copy of the original file?
Yes, all original files are kept in secure archival storage, and are available should you ever require your vehicle to be put back to original.
Does a remap effect the manufacturers warranty?
Some very advanced diagnostic equipment may be able to detect a remap, although unlikely in most current agricultural machines. Often main dealers turn a blind eye to high quality remaps.
The official line from most manufacturers is that if a remap were to causes a problem, then the part of the machine affected will not be covered; but this does not mean that they can disregard the entire warranty. If, for example, your vehicle’s control screen failed or a hydraulic leak occurred, they would not be able to void the warranty because of the remap.
What is changed during a remap?
Not all remaps are the same but often an AGR remap will alter the Maps that control the fuel, boost, and torque of the engine by adjusting the fuel rail pressure, injected fuel quantity, boost pressure, torque limits, and sometimes a few other minor tweaks to ensure the correct running of the machinery.
How do diesel tuning boxes work?
I have had these requested before and often they are chosen for new machines to prevent any warranty issues, although they will do the job there are factors to consider. They work by intercepting signals between sensors and the engine management they adjust the actual figures and add an offset to any sensor they are connected to, for example with the injectors the adjusted signals add more fuel, relying on the principal of more diesel means more power... which it does, but there is no control over the amount, with the possibility of breaching safe limits and other vital engine management systems can affected. There is no doubt these have come along way over the years and there are some of higher standards available but there is no substitute for a proper ECU remap where everything is working as it should and the ECU can see the reality of what’s actually going on with every component. It’s worth noting that generally the cheaper the box the more crude they are, All farm machinery is expensive to buy and expensive to repair and downtime is costly, it’s just not worth cutting corners.
Some undesirable effects of tuning boxes can be as below
Trip computer showing improved fuel consumption, when its actually using more fuel
Loose boxes and wiring left within the engine compartment (depending on the fitter)
Gearboxes receive incorrect torque values
The calculation of exhaust gas temperature is incorrect
Diagnostic systems can bring up multiple error codes
Diesel particulate filter regeneration is adversely affected
The calculation of service intervals is incorrect
So why don’t manufacturers tune machines?
This is one of the most common of all tuning questions. The answer is not complicated but there are a few reasons, some more obvious than others.
Vehicle manufactures are put in a tough position, each Machine has to be built suit all operators and all conditions. Everyone has their own preferences and preferred choices but they are all different.
if you’re a large contractor and own a fleet of Tractors you may want an economy tune to help save your fuel, yet another customer may want a power increase to help with the big loads or larger PTO demands. These sorts of changes can only be made once the machine is built and the customer needs something other than ‘off the shelf.’
Many manufactures do offer a version of ECU remapping services –CNH for instance offer boost which is a version of an eco and power meaning it only uses the higher HP available when required/demanded and runs in the lower HP the rest of the time. With AGR’s tuning though, you don’t need a new vehicle to benefit from economy tuning or power tuning, your current software can be modified to perform better.
In addition, many manufacturers offer the same engine in a range of Machines each offering different power levels. This enables customers a choice, taking account of Machine Size performance, cost and economy. This is usually controlled with software just like our tuning, but with AGR you don’t have to decide what you want from new at the dealer, we can MAP your Machine to your needs whenever you requirements are, or whenever your requirements change.
OBD Remapping
Remapping through the OBD port is the most common, efficient and non-intrusive way of tuning., Impressive results are easily achievable without even opening the bonnet. Using dedicated remapping equipment, the machines ECU data can be extracted via the OBD port, once the data has been modified the data can then be rewritten back to the ECU via the same process.
Bench Tuning
It’s not always possible to read the ECU through the OBD port for a number of reasons, the OBD port may be faulty, the machine may not have an OBD port or the ECU may be ‘tune protected’ (A method that stops reading and writing). Bench tuning is the process of removing the ECU from the machine, opening it up and connecting to the internal circuit board of the ECU. Once removed there are different methods of communicating with the ECU and this will depend on the type of ECU and its microprocessor.
Chip Tuning – ‘Chipping’
Early ECU’s contained EEPROM’s (Chips) which stored the map data. To read the data programmed to these chips, it was often necessary de-solder the chip from the board and use a chip reader. The data could then be modified and reloaded on to the chip. Some early ECU’s were often one time programmable meaning that although the data could be extracted from the chip, the new map data could not be programmed back onto it. To get round this, the tuner would program a new chip with the modified data and solder it to the circuit board.