It’s always a good idea to refer to the instructions from the tuner manufacturer for specific procedures. These items cover just about every tuner out there. The only “hardware” you need is usually in the box with the tuner, and if not, the items are readily available as most are a USB to micro USB cable, a USB printer cable, or a micro SD card to USB adapter. We usually charge at least an hour at our diagnostic labor rate to load the tuner with the latest updates in addition to the actual charge for reprogramming. Doing this will accomplish a couple things: First, you have assurance that all the software on the vehicle is current, and second, add additional revenue for the shop. I have not come across one that there was a fee to do so. If I had to put a number on it, I would say that 85-90% of all the tuners I have checked for updates were NOT current.Īll of the software to update the tuners is available free of charge to download and install. I will tell you that in my experience, most owners will install the tuner and forget it. It will then compare the files loaded on the tuner to the most current files that are available from the tuner manufacturer and inform you if there is an update, or not. In the aftermarket, this same information is not readily available and you won’t know if there is an update to the tuner until you install the updating software and plug in the device. This is where it gets even more complicated, as the OE generally issues a TSB that alerts you that there is a re-flash available, or there is some kind of way to look up the calibration that is loaded in the vehicle and see if there is one more current. Any of these issues can result in an updated calibration from the tuner manufacturer. Since most third-party calibrations are based on a factory, OE calibration, the modified version is susceptible to the same issues that can arise with the OE calibration, such as drivability, bugs, durability, or maybe power output that was not as advertised, etc. While reprogramming ECUs is not the focus of this article, it’s an important introduction to the prime subject: tuners!ĭiesel tuners of the “programmer” or “downloader” variety where you actually plug into the vehicle’s OBD2 port and reprogram the ECM/PCM or TCM have some of the same issues that the OEM must deal with. I have been reprogramming automotive computers since 2006 and have seen hundreds of actual fixes from software updates, while others are more “behind the scenes.” In those cases you might not really notice anything remarkable after the update, but this doesn’t necessarily make them any less important than one in which you can actually see or feel a change in operation.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |