Why MPG loss after reflash?

[dward]

As Calif now requires smog checks for diesels my buddy who bought my 03 was told by smog shop that it had to go to the dealer to have the computer updated. This was the fist time since I bought it new in 03.

I had many mods and was running the Smarty on level 3 as was he.

After the flash, his Smarty no longer works and said his mileage went from arond 15-16 down to 12 on the stock power setting.

I will take the Smarty to my mechanic to reprogram but was wondering what happens in the computer update to lose mileage.

Does the flash change anything else for better or worse?

Darn California, they find a way to screw up everything!

 

[AH64ID]

Its hard to say what all has changed since 03 on the tuning, but there has been lots. The Smarty should have kept you up to date thou, or at least as up to date as the Smarty software.

Are you going off the overhead or hand calc?

Also you can update your smarty yourself to make it work again. Files can be found at Mads Electronics - Smarty - CaTCHER - Dodge Tuning - Home

 

[Prairie Dog]

We 03 guys had some odd electronic gremlins in the day; dashes on overhead, flashing CEL, phantom chime, etc. Dodge released new sw to fix it all and for the most part, it did. After the flash it was feared we would lose some eng performance or economy but the consensus was that we didn't and I know it didn't hurt mine at all. As far as I know, the only other SW change added the annoying B/U alarm. Somebody please correct me if there's more.

 

[Tyler1]

did u return the truck to "stock" before they flashed it? if not that is why ur smarty doesnt work anymore

 

[rscurtis]

I have those gremlins in my '03, but they occur so infrequently as to be a non-event. Whenever I take it to the local dealer for inspection, they want to do the OOP alarm reflash, but I decline, because I don't know what else is buried in the program, and they don't either. They let it go and don't make an issue of it. If others can confirm there were no ill effects, I may have it done next visit.