ReFlash

[JES]

If DC can flash a unite and degrade it why cant I get some one to reflash it and restore it to as new specks?

I just got a print out on my new [to me] 'o1 and I know it has never been to a dealer. I also got a sheet of recommend service items which had computer upgrade listed on it. Guess who won't be servicing my baby

 

[zimman20]

JES,



If I understand it correctly (someone correct me if I'm wrong) the truck runs better and gets better mileage after break-in and especially after pulling a heavy load (I seem to remember 10k lbs for 1000 miles?), the computer adjusts and fine-tunes itself resulting in more power and better mileage. When a re-flash is done all they're doing is taking you back to square one, eliminating the positive changes the computer has made after the break-in and extended heavy towing. It may get better again, it may not; regardless, I don't believe it's something that anyone can 're-program' in for you, and without the proper interface and command language that the truck's computer is speaking, no one would be able to download a 'good' flash from their own rig and copy it to your baby, this is not a regular PC we're talking about here!



There is also a magic number at which the truck starts to get better mileage and the computer implements that as well once that mileage figure is reached, I forget whether it was 7500 miles or 10k miles or what, sorry my cerebral cortex is not being helpful wth numbers today! Hope this helps.

 

[Archive]

I don't know about flashing the ECM's but I know that they are working on an aftermarket upgraded ECM. (MAD ECM)

I have heard there are a few already out there, but I do not know if they are the final product. Here is a link below to find out more info. Flashing would be nice, not have to remove anything. . just have them hook up the puter. . and bingo. . More HP. . but I think that they are doing with the new ECM's. .

Bryan



http://www.smokindiesel.com/Dodge/24_valve/mad_ecm.htm

 

[Marco]

" no one would be able to download a 'good' flash from their own rig and copy it to your baby"



Are you sure?

It can be done!

Marco

 

[superdave]

hey zimman... . i have 20000 miles after the "upgrade" performed while my truck was in for minor warranty work... . it don't get no better as they say... i dropped from 19. 9 mpg at 75 mph to 16 or less... . i hate to tell you what it did to my loaded MPG..... and ABSOLUTELY no increase in power as they said that was what the flash was for... shame on them... but what can you do??? i think a class action lawsuit would not be inappropriate... . not for money but to get the truck back as it was before... . what do you guys think? i have a stock 99 3500 auto.

 

[weber1048]

I have a VW TDI and there are two companies (German) who provide chips for the TDI. They both have limited US facilities, but they take your computer out of the vehicle and download the eprom into there computer and then program the new eprom with your data and the new upgrade so the computer has the adjustments the computer has made due to your driving style. They than give or send you your old eprom to be replaced in your computer if need be. The D/C upgrade should first download your old data to a disk or cd before they upgrade and if the results are not satisfactory then the old data/progran can be reloaded, but that would put the burden on you to keep the disk/cd etc.

I guess if this was a big problem D/C might concider it.



Doug

 

[Big Red Hauler]

Re-Flash??

OK, could someone please tell me what I have to tell my dealer to get my ECM reflashed or upgraded to the 18-15-00 or whatever the latest level is.



Or maybe I should try to get it flashed back to the original level.

Is that possible??? My truck had lots of minor adjustments right after I bought it in Summer of 99 and maybe they messed it up, or maybe it was done last fall after taking it in for poor mpg (15mpg +/- - see last paragraph below).



The dealer I go to is the only one of 3 in Jacksonville FL with a real and true diesel tech. The service writers don't know what I am talking about when I ask about updating/flashing the ECM.



By the way, I am not worried about loosing much in accumulated information. My 99 has never done better than about 16mpg and usually 14. 8-15. 5mpg unloaded, running around town or on trips at 70+ unloaded. Even a trip to same dealer for poor fuel economy yielded a net gain of 0.



Any info on these questions would be appreciated.



P. S. How do you guys get the smiley faces inserted into the text?

 

[zimman20]

Originally posted by Marco

" no one would be able to download a 'good' flash from their own rig and copy it to your baby"



Are you sure?

It can be done!

Marco

Marco,



Okay, I'll qualify that statement: No one except MARCO can copy a 'good' flash from their rig and download it to another! I've seen your posts that you've been able to figure out how to talk to these things but for the merely human we don't know how!



I can tell you this, if I brought my PC in for repair (not that I'd personally have to, you understand) I wouldn't expect that the PC repairman would reformat my hard drive after replacing a power supply, for example. I own it, and only expect that work to be performed that I've requested, nothing more, nothing less!



I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but it really steams me that DC would have the 'nerve' (insert your own noun/adjective here) to do unauthorized work to my truck, especially that which would impact the performance to the extent that it does.





Rich