Lets talk tuning, piggy back vs ECU flash.

[Tonkabob]

Besides peoples point of views on putting back your car back to stock, the biggest upside to the current ECU Tune vs Piggyback is ease of removal for me. I am working on getting my rotors replaced under warranty and with my JB4 it takes me 10 min to pop on and off to go back and forth to the dealers (4 times so far). With an ECU tune i would have to NDA the ECU to you and have you NDA it back everytime i need to go in. That is not feasible for me as this is my daily driver. While I would love an proper ECU tune its just not worth the risks for me at the moment. I understand they can be safer options, I understand Dealers cant technically void your warranty... but they will. I for one dont have the time or pocket lawyer to help me fight it.

For now its Piggybacks > ECU tune for that reason. Also, the similarities in HP, TQ, 1/4 times, Boost PSI etc for a quarter of the cost if not more is also very attractive.

When we have the ability to flash updates/custom maps and stock software at home then ECU tunes may take the edge for me, but until then I just cant see the real upside of $400-500 vs $1,800+ (spare ECU included in that price).

I do think there shouldn't be any additional upcharges for going for Stage 0 to 1 to 1.5 swell. Once you pay for a tune you should be able to get what ever flashed maps you have developed similar to piggybacks.

Again, I do hope I can get a proper ECU tune one day as I do see the benefits but at the moment I just cant see the real upside vs cost, risk taken, and ease of removal to stock.

Tork is doing great things and in time im sure they will have everything figured out and give us what we want. I will be a customer at that time!

I was the opposite. Didnt like removing the piggyback for basic dealer visits. With ecu tune just leave it as is. Blown motor would be a different story but even then would fess up as i am honest like that. lifes to short to worry and not go fast.

 

[TwinSnails]

If MY tune blew up the engine sure, if it’s appearing to be a failed part... HECK NO!

2005 Silverado SS, gauge cluster out at 32,000 miles - I was on year 8 of ownership. Dealership asked if it was tuned (because they could cause the issue - total bologna they failed allllll the time through that range and a 900.00 fix). I told them no. Hated to lie, but I refuse to get stuck with that when EVERYONE knows that part was faulty.

Turbo on the F150, I was boosting 22lbs... I paid 600.00 for a new one. I know that was my cause at 10,000 miles.

 

[Jonathan Lasich]

If MY tune blew up the engine sure, if it’s appearing to be a failed part... HECK NO!

2005 Silverado SS, gauge cluster out at 32,000 miles - I was on year 8 of ownership. Dealership asked if it was tuned (because they could cause the issue - total bologna they failed allllll the time through that range and a 900.00 fix). I told them no. Hated to lie, but I refuse to get stuck with that when EVERYONE knows that part was faulty.

Turbo on the F150, I was boosting 22lbs... I paid 600.00 for a new one. I know that was my cause at 10,000 miles.

What a difference from one dealership to another!

I had a 2004 GMC Duramax Sierra 2500--8th year of ownership.....same as you....instrument cluster failure. Extended warranty expired two years prior. Instrument cluster replaced ($1500) at no charge to me as a GM Goodwill gesture. The whole time....my Edge diesel tuning box is sitting on the dash!

6th year of ownership, a diesel injector fails and engine goes into limp mode. Same dealer...replaced under extended warranty (had to pay a $100 deductible). The next day, same thing recurred and went into limp mode again. Back to the dealership. They replaced all of the the diesel injectors this time (I think they may have replaced the wrong one initially), and told me that the initial problem was due to damage to an injector harness when an exhaust manifold temp sensor for my Edge tuning box was installed (the Edge box, once again, sitting on the dash the whole time). The second repair covered under warranty, $100 deductible waived this time and they refunded me the initial $100 deductible for my "inconvenience"!!

 

[ZyroXZ2]

A decade ago? Oh good lord, massive changes from then till now.

Yea, maybe I'm getting old, lol... All I know is back when I was going to buy it, it was bare. You basically HAD to become a tuner to tune your car with it...

 

[Kamauxx]

@TorkMe if I were to have you tune a spare ECU and only use my stock ECU for when/if my 16 year old and/or my wife are behind the wheel would a dealership be able to see something is off with it? For example could they see the stock ECU has been used for 999 miles even though the car has 3,000 miles on it?

 

[Allmanb]

@TorkMe if I were to have you tune a spare ECU and only use my stock ECU for when/if my 16 year old and/or my wife are behind the wheel would a dealership be able to see something is off with it? For example could they see the stock ECU has been used for 999 miles but the car has 3,000 miles on it?

I was curious of this as well, the ecus i deal with on a daily basis has a mileage and hour counter in it.

 

[Kamauxx]

I was curious of this as well, the ecus i deal with on a daily basis has a mileage and hour counter in it.

That sucks if Kia does it the same way. And they probably do.

So how about this, @TorkMe if someone needed some engine warranty work done and wanted to mail their ECU back for a factory reflash (assuming you save the original data?) what would the cost be to the consumer?

 

[TorkMe]

@TorkMe if I were to have you tune a spare ECU and only use my stock ECU for when/if my 16 year old and/or my wife are behind the wheel would a dealership be able to see something is off with it? For example could they see the stock ECU has been used for 999 miles even though the car has 3,000 miles on it?

Yes, there is a mileage counter inside the ECU.

This cannot be found at the dealer level, this is corporate only. The last time I checked with a factory scan tool, it was not accessible, but its been damn near a year since I used a factory scan tool.

 

[TorkMe]

That sucks if Kia does it the same way. And they probably do.

So how about this, @TorkMe if someone needed some engine warranty work done and wanted to mail their ECU back for a factory reflash (assuming you save the original data?) what would the cost be to the consumer?

We offer this as a one time service for free. I keep all original data on 3 different locations.

 

[Kamauxx]

We offer this as a one time service for free. I keep all original data on 3 different locations.

What's the cost for subsequent reflashings?

 

[TorkMe]

What's the cost for subsequent reflashings?

You get a one time back to stock and back to your original tune.

Subsequent flashes, just depends on what the reason is or why we are reflashing the ECU. We take this on a case by case basis, and work with our customers.

 

[Angel]

You get a one time back to stock and back to your original tune.

Subsequent flashes, just depends on what the reason is or why we are reflashing the ECU. We take this on a case by case basis, and work with our customers.

Hey Matt....I thought Tork provided unlimited flashes? Or was this something just said on the other thread just because the competition provides unlimited flashes no questions asked?? FYI just so you dont say i am hating.....here the proof ....by your statement here seem like after the first time is a case by case scenario...sound a little fishy if you ask me....sound like a reason to charge when you feel like it.....I am just asking this as potential customer the statement below on the other thread clearly states you provide unlimited flashes, now you were asked the same question here by Kamauxx and it seems like the first time is free but after that is a case by case ...can you please clarify which it is ??

 

[Blitz]

Hey Matt....I thought Tork provided unlimited flashes? Or was this something just said on the other thread just because the competition provides unlimited flashes no questions asked?? FYI just so you dont say i am hating.....here the proof ....by your statement here seem like after the first time is a case by case scenario...sound a little fishy if you ask me....sound like a reason to charge when you feel like it.....I am just asking this as potential customer the statement below on the other thread clearly states you provide unlimited flashes, now you were asked the same question here by Kamauxx and it seems like the first time is free but after that is a case by case ...can you please clarify which it is ??
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@Sales@Tork @TorkMe

 

[TwinSnails]

I’m pretty sure he meant as in the dealer flashes over the tune, no charge to flash it back tuned. That would also in building different strategies and potential updates.

 

[Kamauxx]

@Tonkabob do you pay to when getting your tune updates?

 

[Angel]

@Tonkabob do you pay to when getting your tune updates?

Tonka is local.........so i assume he does not , does everyone one else? I assume there could be a possible cost for updates ...

 

[Angel]

I’m pretty sure he meant as in the dealer flashes over the tune, no charge to flash it back tuned. That would also in building different strategies and potential updates.

I don’t know the 2 statements are a bit contradicting ... should it matter unlimited flashes is unlimited flashes no matter the scenario .... how about if your taking your car for service or work to be done and you want to be stock ??

 

[Blitz]

I don’t know the 2 statements are a bit contradicting ... should it matter unlimited flashes is unlimited flashes no matter the scenario .... how about if your taking your car for service or work to be done and you want to be stock ??

It's a fair question for sure. I don't think Tonka really counts as he has commented that he tests some for them and provides logs. I highly doubt they are charging him to get more data for them!

 

[Angel]

It's a fair question for sure. I don't think Tonka really counts as he has commented that he tests some for them and provides logs. I highly doubt they are charging him to get more data for them!

Exactly my thought .... no point on getting his response we know what it will be .....agreed with your comment 100 percent ....

 

[Blitz]

Exactly my thought .... no point on getting his response we know what it will be .....agreed with your comment 100 percent ....

I will say I talked to Matt when I scheduled my tune and one of the topics was flashing back to stock for maintenance. I was going to buy an extra ECU but he said it would be no problem as long as it wasn't like "FLASH ME NOW I'LL BE THERE IN AN HOUR".

I'm certainly not speaking for them, but he was definitely friendly and not trying to be stingy about it.