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YOUR RESEARCHCan dealer scan tool detect aftermarket software?
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ecu
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Suspected cause
Dealers on occasion will reflash an ECU if they are troubleshooting something difficult or something they might think is caused by the ecu.
Leading evidence: 'ecu' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'ecu' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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16 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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I ask not becuase I'm afraid of warranty issues, my car is a '99 and well out of warranty. I ask becuase my car is sneaky fast for what it *should* be and I'm curious if one of the previous owners could have installed software in the car at some point.
Would the dealer scan tool tell me if software such as GIAC was present in the car?
Andy
I've got access to said tool but no idea on how to work it properly...any inside tips on what to look for that would give it away?
This is on a '99 throttle cable car if it matters.
Andy
I saw one that was for dealers. It described how a dealer could access info on whether the car had been chipped or not. If I had your concerns or was interested in going the chip route I would get this tsb to a company like GIAC and find out what they say about dealers accessing altered chip instructions. I'll bet the chip guys say their chips can't be detected and the dealers say they can find out.
The dealer can only tell if the software has been reflashed and how many times, they can not tell if the program is stock or not. Dealers on occasion will reflash an ECU if they are troubleshooting something difficult or something they might think is caused by the ecu. So yes, they can detect if the ecu software has been reloaded, but they can not tell if it has been reloaded with a stock program, or an aftermarket flash.
See a TSB titled "Tampering with DME Map Data" dated 1/01. (#2470?)
The PST2 diagnostic tool can be used to read out the the program and then compare it with known valid loads. It states this information will be used to void the warranty on 2002 and later cars.
Bill
With a PST2 (which we have so I've tried/confirmed this) you can see a "Flash Counter". Garret has figured out a way to keep that counter to always read "1" aka it's been flashed 1 time and one time only... aka stock. There are some things you can tell though. Type1 2 and 3 over-rev codes. Whichever software you get make sure it does not increase your rev limiter. That is what the dealers do not like...
I am going to have my c2 reflashed by a GIAC certified shop. Is it anyones opionion if it will create a problem with aftermarket warranties? Thanks. JW
"I am going to have my c2 reflashed by a GIAC certified shop. Is it anyones opionion if it will create a problem with aftermarket warranties? Thanks. JW"
Is it really worth the posted (many times on Rennlist) ~ 10 hp max increase @ max RPM?????????
Same with all the performance chips/flashing for the last 20 years.
Don't think so!!
For more info, read this thread:
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/310951-ecu-reflashing.html
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
