Just went to reflash my car back to stock for ny emissions testing and found that at some point the dealer had changed my strategy code. Anyone know what I do now? Did the dealer's reflash eliminate my performance tune and give me a new stock tune that is emissions ready? Do I update my SCT X-Cal 2 with a new "stock" tune? I already e-mailed Brenspeed but this being Sunday I was curious.

 

Try this link ...

https://themustangsource.com/showthread.php?t=440960

 

Good luck. This happened to me, but I knew it as soon as I started to move in the dealer parking lot. They plug in their "factory" scan tool which overwrites your custom tune. No way to replace it either. Welcome back to that factory accelerator delay when you push the pedal. Gag.

And you'll have a no start if you try to reflash with your old tool.

It made me crazy. After talking to Brenspeed, who couldn't help if the thing can't read the stategy, I called SCT directly and they told me if I could get letter from the dealer saying they overwrote, he'd "let me" send in my SCT X2 and would unlock it for $75 or so. I got the letter, but instead, my local tuner got me a SCT3 and did a dyno tune as he said it has more adjustment options. Whatever, I just wanted my drivability back. I still think like the "canned" Brenspeed tune that came with WMS CAI all those years ago best, and if I still had it, it would have saved me $450.

Whenever you have ANY dealer servicing, you must make certain they don't reflash. Ford engineering [off the record] said this was a factory directive change from a couple of years ago. Your dealer could get in trouble for working on the car under warranty if it's been modified [the dealer gets "reimbursed" by the factory for that work, so technically Ford wouldn't have to pay for it, even if it is unrelated work].

Ticked me off mightly, let me tell you.

Mike E

 

If you had uploaded your stock tune before you went in, would this have protected you?
Or does the change in strategy code block your tuner completely now since the tuner was locked with your VIN and previous strategy code?

 

After speaking with Dave at Brenspeed it seems that Mike E. above is correct in his evaluation. Who would think to return to stock for an oil change and tire rotation? But that is exactly what I needed to do to prevent this problem. It seems that the reflash will prevent SCT handheld from unlocking with liveload program as I did when I went from an '06 to '08. At that time I first brought the '06 back to stock before loading the new stock tune/vin on the SCT. Brenspeed has told me that the SCT first needs to go back to the manufacturer for a manual unlock before I can use it with this new flashed strategy.
So, unless you have eyes on the car during a service appointment always bring it back to stock!!!!!!!!

 

Why on earth would Ford have plugged in anyway for a simple oil chg and tire rotation?
I've been told just hooking up costs a fee.
So why was the jerk plugging in rather than doing the job you were paying for??
I'd be pissed as hell at Ford for them touching my computer without me OKAYing a work order! Never go to that Stealership again.

PS: plus with an 06 its not like you're under warranty or anything. What you do to your own car after warranty is NONE of Ford's business. Seems like you should have some recourse since they did unauthorized work that disabled one of your personally purchased aftermarket mods and has cost you money.

 

An alternative would also be to get the small stuff, (i.e. oil and tires) done somewhere other than at the dealer, so you don't use up 'unlocks' for simple maintenance.

 

I think you can unlock your x-cal and reflash back to stock as much as you want. I did it more then 10 times on my car once..

Right?

 

Sucks and I agree with CDY. What the hell were they doing flashing it for oil. Unless its warranty work there isno reason to flash back to stock.

Id have their *** if i were u. Make they pay for the fix.

Last but not least. Why are u going to Ford for an oil change? Im guessing its for the free tire deal? Not a good deal if thats the case.

 

I'm not sure that's true with the X3 , my X2 crapped out last year and I believe my new X3 only allows 5 unlocks ...

 

I've been doing some research and I think you can flash your car to the stock parameters as much as you want but there is a limited number of times that you can actually unlock the X-Cal from your car. Which requires you to flash the stock tune in your car and click the "unlock" button while hooking the x-cal up to your PC through SCT's LiveLoad software.

 

If that's the case then that's great! I've been holding off of getting one of these for this reason. Can anyone else confirm this for the X3?

 

Mark , I think you may correct ... I know my manual did say 5 unlocks , so if just returning it to stock isn't considered unlocking it , then it makes more sense ...

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but if you reflash back to stock. You must replace you cai with the stock air handler, and that is pia.

 

Oh, right... you have to undo your mods...

 

Just to let you guys know where this has lead me:

Mark is correct. You can go back and forth between stock and tune any number of times, but you can use the Liveload program to 'unlock' the handheld (SCT2) only 5 times. That corresponds to 5 different vehicle changes.

Al is correct in that you must return the car to stock both with regard to stock air intake and stock tune.

With regard to reading 'new' strategy codes here is what actually happened:
The dealer, upon checking service records, shows NO reflash of the PCM. However, Ford has the option, according to tech dept. at SCT, to computer evaluate any vehicle if possible safety issues, recall issues, or other potential problems might need updated flashing.
Since the dealer service dept. assured me that no flash was performed I went to tech dept at SCT. And here is the important information that you should know. In fact the tuner's performance tune CAN change the code that the SCT will read. My particular situation is that my mustang is a Shelby GT. The Shelby strategy code is different than the basic strategy for a comparable PCM coded vehicle. When you request a custom tune you normally give the tuner both the strategy code that is read by the SCT and the calibration code in the engine compartment. The calibration code is PCM dependent. The tuner went to SCT's database with my "shelby" strategy code to map specs. but was not able to directly access that code number. He had to use the PCM calibration code number which is the equivalent of the strategy number that I now read (you can check some of the equivalencies in the post above ... Steve #2). That code is now embedded in the custom tune. Somewhat convoluted but the fact is that after a custom tune is loaded you may be changing the strategy codes that the SCT reads, so don't get bent out of shape too fast. And if at all possible, bring the car back to stock before the dealer ever touches it. Just in case.

 

I think so because I do each & every time before I take it in, then I read the stategy to make **** sure the number is the same if not. I will not flash but go to the dealer & freak as I ask them never to reflash & if they think they have to tell me why first ! If it's on my work order NOT TO * they do I'd fight them to pay for tuner adjustment !

 

The dealers will always reflash your pcm when updated software is available. They have engineers at Ford who constantly upgrade emission and fuel mileage type things to better the efficiency of the engine. A perfect example of this is when the '07 power stroke diesels first came out (twin turbo) they were getting seriously low fuel mileage, but the '08 models were doing much better because of programming advancements which go into way more detail than what I just suggested.

If you don't want a dealer to reflash your pcm you have to stay away from the dealer or tape a big note to the dashboard telling the tech to leave it alone explaining why they cannot touch it. Every time Don Burton (7 second Don Burndown) works on one of our company diesel trucks he always updates our software for fewer problems and better performance, etc.

 

I always make them put on the work order



*** DO NOT TOUCH THE PCM ***

 

isn't it the ECM ? electronic control modual ?