PCM Reflash at Dealer headache

Juice

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We hear that all the time. We are here to help customers. Most of our Techs are 15 plus years with us and they care. Simple formula.
And upper management lets you run an honest shop? That's unheard of...lol
 

86GT351

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And upper management lets you run an honest shop? That's unheard of...lol
OOPS. Was I not supposed to publicly announce that? When we hear about local shops to us pissing people off and turning cars away for no good reason it makes us look bad even though we are doing the right thing.
 

Juice

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OOPS. Was I not supposed to publicly announce that? When we hear about local shops to us pissing people off and turning cars away for no good reason it makes us look bad even though we are doing the right thing.
One off the best advice I have heard many years ago: If you found an honest shop, stick with them. And then I started working as a tech, and understood why. ;)
 

AHaze

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Just a thought: Why not go to one of the aftermarket tuners that aren't completely clueless and get them to write you a "no aftermarket parts" tune?
The OE tune on my car drove me crazy. Even if I were to put the car back to stock mechanically, there's no way I would go back to the stock tune.
 

totaljustice

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I took my 2012 to have the PCM reprogrammed two years ago and it cost $75.00 at my local dealership in Nova Scotia.
 

Macman45

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Just a thought: Why not go to one of the aftermarket tuners that aren't completely clueless and get them to write you a "no aftermarket parts" tune?
The OE tune on my car drove me crazy. Even if I were to put the car back to stock mechanically, there's no way I would go back to the stock tune.

I think that’s the direction I’m going. Using HP Tuners and loading a stock or close to stock modless tune. Only downside to this route is the PCM is still loaded with an aftermarket tune and would have to be reflashed by a dealer for any power train software edits
 

JEWC_Motorsports

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Only downside to this route is the PCM is still loaded with an aftermarket tune and would have to be reflashed by a dealer for any power train software edits
Why? You can flash over any tune aftermarket or stock.
 

Juice

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SCT can override aftermarket flash by disabeling strategy protection when sending tune to device. But it must be done in the Advantage iii software. Not sure if HP tuners can, and you still have to payfor credits anyway.

This sounds like it would be more costly than a reflash by dealer.
 

Juice

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Why? You can flash over any tune aftermarket or stock.
Aftermarket tunes overwrite the OS ID. So a new tuning device cannot identify the vehicle and will not flash it. Thus my reply about SCT can flash it. This is also the only way to flash the control pack strategy to a factory coyote pcm. ;)
 
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Macman45

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This sounds like it would be more costly than a reflash by dealer.

Doubtful. As the credits are a flat $100. My “dealer” estimates are ranging from $180 to over $400. Maybe more if they decide I magically “need” a new PCM. The whole thing is beyond stupid. And SCT software requires another handheld as the two I have are married to my other cars. Add another $400 there.
 

Macman45

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Aftermarket tunes overwrite the OS ID. So a new tuning device cannot identify the vehicle and will not flash it. Thus my reply about SCT can flash it. This is also the only way to flash the control pack strategy to a factory coyote pcm. ;)

this is correct but I can pull and modify the tune on there according to HPT. Then they have some compare future I can change the values of the tune to match a stock. Not a perfect solution by far but I don’t have many other options.

If someone can find a dealer within 100 miles that can do this for the prices y’all are quoting I’m 100% in, but I’ve called at least a dozen and each one fabricated more elaborate bullshit than the last. Between needing a new PCM to bricking the other modules in the car, I wouldn’t trust a Ford dealer to change my oil.
 

Juice

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Guess you have the HP hardware!
I lurk the HPtuner sight, and seen coments about encrypted tunes that cannot be opened. Read from pcm, yes, but cannot edit.
If all else fails, maybe a stock cal can be found in the repository? And not even worry about the tune thats in there.
 

Macman45

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Guess you have the HP hardware!
I lurk the HPtuner sight, and seen coments about encrypted tunes that cannot be opened. Read from pcm, yes, but cannot edit.
If all else fails, maybe a stock cal can be found in the repository? And not even worry about the tune thats in there.

I have access to the hardware, buddy uses it on his Chevys. I’ve heard the horror stories too, and what I’ve read said it’s quite difficult to lock a tune on a Ford. Much easier on Chevy or Mopar, and is done much more often. Fingers crossed it’s accessible and editable. If not, I’m only out $100.
Btw, the CLOSEST time any dealer within a 150 mile radius could take the car was March 14th….
So my options are try this, or let it collect dust for 4 months.
 

Macman45

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Found a new dealer, Lithia Springs Ford. Anyone got any experience? I am considering telling a fib when I call to get this damn thing done. @Juice said the process is as simple as manually entering VIN and overriding, can I just ask the dealer to scan the PCM and make sure its OK? They'll get brickwalled at the custom tune, and in the process of manually accessing it, will achieve what I want in a reflash, correct?
 

Juice

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Found a new dealer, Lithia Springs Ford. Anyone got any experience? I am considering telling a fib when I call to get this damn thing done. @Juice said the process is as simple as manually entering VIN and overriding, can I just ask the dealer to scan the PCM and make sure its OK? They'll get brickwalled at the custom tune, and in the process of manually accessing it, will achieve what I want in a reflash, correct?
Not sure that would work. They may just tell you, cant connect and have to diagnose the 'problem'. We know the only issue is the flash.
Maybe there is a tsb for a pcm update? If there is, I would tell them you want the update done.
 

OX1

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What needs to be done on the IDS is:
When it tells the tech to turn the key on, Don't, but click yes in IDS. The third time you do this, IDS prompts for manual entry. Put in VIN and Tear tag. Now when IDS says turn key on, turn it on. Next prompt will be "are you sure?". Click next, stock flash is loaded. Thats it in a nutshell.
I have an IDS clone, it will not work on 10&earlier. I have recovered the coyote pcm after bricking it with a bad flash. lol

Where did you get an IDS clone?


Guess you have the HP hardware!
I lurk the HPtuner sight, and seen coments about encrypted tunes that cannot be opened. Read from pcm, yes, but cannot edit.
If all else fails, maybe a stock cal can be found in the repository? And not even worry about the tune thats in there.

I got HP tuners recently and just for S and G, I tried to read the "Unleashed" tune on my Fusion, and the VMP tune on the Stang (both SCT tunes). Fusion worked, Stang didn't.
 
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