I'm planning on getting 4.10's installed and handn't planned on getting a programmer until later on. The shop is telling me the only way I can properly get my speedo adjusted is by a programmer and that I cannot just use someone else's as they are tied to the VIN of the vehicle. Is this true? What happens when someone sells their programmer to someone else? How is this issue bypassed?

Thanks

 

Yes they are locked to the VIN number of the vehicle the program is loaded into. When you re-flash that vehicle back to the stock program , the unit unlocks itself from that vehicle and can then be used on another one ...

 

It's the only way. sorry

 

How long does a reflash typically take?

 

a couple of minutes or less

 

Now I just have to find someone in my area willing to possibly flash my computer. I just wasn't prepared to shell out another $350 for the tuner yet.

 

If you have the Ford service dept install the 4.10 gears, will they update the computer appropriately?

I want gears, and I have a tuner but I was hoping I could get out of using my tuner for this purpose, and have the service dept update my stock tune. The reason is I don't plan on keeping the car, i'll trade it in about 2 years. I want to keep my tuner when I trade in my car. So I will flash the car back to stock before I trade it and don't want to have to put the 3.55 gears back in it. Is that a decent plan or not?

 

The only way the dealership will do it is by the customer buying a programmer and then they would use that to set the speedo accordingly. I'll trade someone a nice cold 12-pack for a reflash to setup my car correctly I'm having it done at Sutton Ford in Matteson Illinois - hopefully.

Thanks

 

You're kind of rolling the dice on that, from what I've read the older tuners can't be used on newer cars (IE, a tuner that works on an '05 won't work on an '07). Seems like Ford changes something every couple of years that interferes with the previous tuners.

 

I got lucky then! I have a SCT XCal 2 and went from an '05 V6 to an '06 GT and took my tuner with me, no problems!

 

My SCT xcal 2 worked on both my '05 and my '07.

 

Find a good dyno guy, they should be able to tune for you. A tuner really is worth all the money though.

 

The only alternative to using a tuning device to change your speedo calibration is to take it to the dealer.
I asked a local Ford dealer if they could do it and they said they could.
Who knows what they will charge though. (grab your ankles!!) Probably best to just take whatever funds the dealer charges and just apply it to the cost of an SCT X-cal2 and be done with it. Then you can adjust that and many other things all you want, anytime you want for no additional cost.

 

If the dealer changes the speedo will it affect the tune and cause a problem like the one Doug identified in his sticky?

 

Go with the XCal... I'll give you a killer deal. It stings upon initial purchase, but it's something that can be used no matter what your vehicle plans are down the road.

CR
Tillman Speed
610-497-3711

 

I haven't had much of a chance to use my XCal yet. If I upgrade to 4:10's, can it be used to change the gear ratio w/o affecting the tune?

 

Yes the X-cal2 can be used to easily change only your gear ratio and / or the tire size without making any other changes to the tune. It's all there in the menus.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm going to the beach for two weeks and will have some time to play with it. I loaded the tune last year and haven't taken it out of the box since. After Doug put out the warning about dealers flashing the computer with upgrades and messing up the tune, I have been a little antsy about any warranty work done by the dealer - only the a/c so far. They know not to load any new info into my system. I'll probably have them do my 4:10's in the fall and now I won't have to worry about about the tune getting corrupted.