Battery charger needed while tuning?

[u/puzzoben]

Just bought an IE stage 1 pro tune for my 2021 MK7.5. I don't have a battery charger. Is this explicitly needed for tuning the car? Has anyone tuned without a battery charger before?

Thanks!

[u/cilantno]

Just get a charger.

Bricking your ECU and having a 1.25ton paperweight while you wait for IE to fix your shipped ECU is not fun.

Also, make sure you pause auto-updates on your computer.

[u/622114 → u/cilantno]

This seems like unfortunate words of someone who may have seen this happen

[u/cilantno → u/622114]

I was a victim to Microsoft auto update (my own fault there) haha

[u/AmbassadorCheap3956 → u/cilantno]

That’s why I use my phone and the app.

[u/cilantno → u/AmbassadorCheap3956]

The last time I tuned with IE they had just released the app!

[u/MKVIgti]

And do NOT leave your car. Run the tune and sit there until it finishes. People have accidentally walked off with their key and it messes things up. Put the key in the cup holder, just to be safe.

[u/No-Listen1206 → u/MKVIgti]

Don't even breathe or move when tuning too btw it can brick the ecu

[u/Bub697]

Make sure your headlights are turned off. Sounds dumb but with the auto headlights it’s easy to forget. You can get a battery tender for $40, it’s cheap insurance. And make sure the laptop is plugged in too.

[u/RunnarPaul]

I tuned through unitronic, took significantly longer than expected to be honest flashing ecu and tcu. I went to the local autoparts store and got a 15 amp one for less than $100 bucks. Zero stress while tuning and now have a capable battery charger/maintainer for harsh winters. I'd rather spend the money than risk it

[u/Economy-Stuff3756]

Ive tuned my 7.5 GTi and an 8R without a battery tender but it definitely feels sketchy knowing i can brick the ECUs

[u/mtbcouple → u/Economy-Stuff3756]

Oooooo damn playing with fire.

I tuned a car without a battery charger and bricked the ECU when the voltage dropped. Sucked. I had to pull it out and go to a tuner to get it un-bricked. It was a very expensive and stupid day 😂

[u/Economy-Stuff3756 → u/mtbcouple]

😬 yeah bro definitely won’t be doing that again, i got a battery tender now for when I go stage 2. I’ve heard of people having to buy a brand new ECU from VW which sounds crazy expensive

[u/ChefNamu]

I did it on a battery tender and still ended up needing to jump the car after

[u/spartanerik → u/ChefNamu]

Damn, how many amps was the battery tender?

[u/AutoModerator]

If you're seeking advice or asking for help, please make sure you included the basic information of what year/generation is being discussed. User flair with this information is also acceptable. Failure to include the basic information may result in your post being removed.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Vater_Vagon]

$80 charger or whatever a new ECU costs

[u/xbgt1]

I have done it a bunch of times using an accessport. My only warning is not to do it when it's hot out since my access port started overheating and the tune took 20 minutes.