Edit Queries

[teebone]

Had a look around the site but couldnt see anything on the following:-

1)Is there any danger of damaging the PCM or original software if something goes wrong with the edit install/uninstall procedure?

2) Can you back up your original stored program to protect against the edit box being damaged, becoming defective in some way or even being stolen?

[ZAP]

No there is no damage, none that I have seen.

When you first edit your car the stock tune will be retained in the box and can be uploaded anytime back tot he car

[LightningXR6T]

Is it possible that upon rewriting, that some data is not written every time?

I ask this because a couple of times I have loaded it, and noiticed that performance feels different. I've reloaded it again and it seems to perform better!

Ford is replacing my PCM due a unrecognisable fault!

[Guest FatBAt]

What worries me about the edit is that it is nothing more than written code. It's not tangible. It's like ROM in your home computer. You have a problem with THAT and you could be up for a new motherboard, being the cheaper option.

Upload your edit to your car and have the same problem....try and get THAT fixed. No-one would want to know you. Don't think that it cant happen cause it can.

Ford would

Cheers

[dingah2]

If you followed the ACT Edit Tuning thread a few weeks ago you might recall that my PCM was wiped clean by a dodgy Edit Flasher box when first connected. As a result I had to get the car towed to my dealer and PCM re-flashed with new Ford program software. That presented no technical issues and subsequently the box has been fine, uploading and downloading.

Dingah

[EnricoPalazzo]

just wondering if anyone has had the same issues as LightningXRT

[gogo]

Hi Trevor,

The following is what I understand!!!!

Had a look around the site but couldnt see anything on the following:-

1)Is there any danger of damaging the PCM or original software if something goes wrong with the edit install/uninstall procedure?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There should not be any significant risk of damaging the PCM, as the up/down loading of flash upgrades are just part of the normal operation of the unit (and are done by Ford), and the flash unit is powered from the cable connection from the car reducing risk of any power related issues.

As with any software file transfer, there is some chance of this being corrupted. I have not experienced this when I have used my flash box. If there was a failure in the original storing of the Factory map then that would be a problem as you would be attempting to restore a corrupted file. My understanding is the only way to get a new Factory map, is to take it back to Ford. In this instance, you could drive to the dealer with a custom map, then reflash the (corrupted) factory map, tell then you have an issue and get them to update the factory program. The Flasher will then store the new factory map before allowing an edited tune to be uploaded.

If you are getting a custom tune done on the car then this would be the responsibility of the tuner - have them check that the factory tune re-flashes and the car drives correctly before leaving. I spoke with Nizpro about this, and they indicated they have never experienced any problems with this on any car they have tuned.

Provided the data is correctly recorded in the Flasher box then any upload that didn't work 100% as per LightningXR6T's comments can be simply re-transfered - not a major issue.

in otherwords, I would rate both of these as low risks.

2) Can you back up your original stored program to protect against the edit box being damaged, becoming defective in some way or even being stolen?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am not aware of a secondary means of backing up the factory map in the event of something untoward happening with the physical flasher box (using the flasher itself), other than buying a second flasher and storing it somewhere else...

My understanding of the process is that when you first connect a new flasher box to a car, it back's up the complete factory file. A tuner then can upload custom maps to the flash box, which can also be stored on the tuners PC.

IF the box was lost when the car was running an edited map, then it would have to go back to Ford to be reflashed to get back a factory map. Purchase of a replacement flasher box would allow the custom tunes to be simply uploaded by the dealer, but I do not beleive they can upload the factory map as this is what links the flasher box to the car.

This would be a risk if you wanted to eliminate any chance of the Ford dealer ever finding out about the edit. If you have a good relationship with your dealer, or have a tuner that has a good relationship with their dealer, then this need not be a major issue. They should simply reflash the car for you. My dealer has told me they do not tell Ford anything about their customers cars, as they want to avoid any issues with the customer. Of course if a Ford MoCo rep happens to be there at the wrong time then that would be a different story...

If you have not seen how the flasher works, then I am happy to show you - just give me a call and we can catch up.

Hope this helps some...

Cheers,

Ben.

[dingah2]

Great post gogo!

Dingah

[teebone]

thanks Ben

well explained

we need to catch up some time as I'm looking forward to being taken out for a spin in your m/c

[LightningXR6T]

Hi Trevor,

The following is what I understand!!!!

Had a look around the site but couldnt see anything on the following:-

1)Is there any danger of damaging the PCM or original software if something goes wrong with the edit install/uninstall procedure?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There should not be any significant risk of damaging the PCM, as the up/down loading of flash upgrades are just part of the normal operation of the unit (and are done by Ford), and the flash unit is powered from the cable connection from the car reducing risk of any power related issues.

As with any software file transfer, there is some chance of this being corrupted. I have not experienced this when I have used my flash box. If there was a failure in the original storing of the Factory map then that would be a problem as you would be attempting to restore a corrupted file. My understanding is the only way to get a new Factory map, is to take it back to Ford. In this instance, you could drive to the dealer with a custom map, then reflash the (corrupted) factory map, tell then you have an issue and get them to update the factory program. The Flasher will then store the new factory map before allowing an edited tune to be uploaded.

If you are getting a custom tune done on the car then this would be the responsibility of the tuner - have them check that the factory tune re-flashes and the car drives correctly before leaving. I spoke with Nizpro about this, and they indicated they have never experienced any problems with this on any car they have tuned.

Provided the data is correctly recorded in the Flasher box then any upload that didn't work 100% as per LightningXR6T's comments can be simply re-transfered - not a major issue.

in otherwords, I would rate both of these as low risks.

2) Can you back up your original stored program to protect against the edit box being damaged, becoming defective in some way or even being stolen?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am not aware of a secondary means of backing up the factory map in the event of something untoward happening with the physical flasher box (using the flasher itself), other than buying a second flasher and storing it somewhere else...

My understanding of the process is that when you first connect a new flasher box to a car, it back's up the complete factory file. A tuner then can upload custom maps to the flash box, which can also be stored on the tuners PC.

IF the box was lost when the car was running an edited map, then it would have to go back to Ford to be reflashed to get back a factory map. Purchase of a replacement flasher box would allow the custom tunes to be simply uploaded by the dealer, but I do not beleive they can upload the factory map as this is what links the flasher box to the car.

This would be a risk if you wanted to eliminate any chance of the Ford dealer ever finding out about the edit. If you have a good relationship with your dealer, or have a tuner that has a good relationship with their dealer, then this need not be a major issue. They should simply reflash the car for you. My dealer has told me they do not tell Ford anything about their customers cars, as they want to avoid any issues with the customer. Of course if a Ford MoCo rep happens to be there at the wrong time then that would be a different story...

If you have not seen how the flasher works, then I am happy to show you - just give me a call and we can catch up.

Hope this helps some...

Cheers,

Ben.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You made the comment "The Flasher will then store the new factory map before allowing an edited tune to be uploaded". I'm under the impression that after the initial copying of the factory tune, it simply rewrites this to the PCM. In which case it could overwrite the new factory program with the corrupt file!

True or false!