Ecutek flash & warranty

[3000HP]

Ive been reading about flashing a stock car and how it improve the way it runs plus it adds few extra pones .

My qustion is.. would the dealership be able to tell if the ecu has been flashed? is our ecu has the abillty to count how many times it has been flashed and store it in its memory?

I read about Ecutek looking the ecu, wouldnt that leave a trace in the ecu itself?


Sorry for the noob questions, im sure this subject has been discussed before, tried searching but no luck.


Thanks.

[FR-S Matt]

Originally Posted by 3000HP

Ive been reading about flashing a stock car and how it improve the way it runs plus it adds few extra pones .

My qustion is.. would the dealership be able to tell if the ecu has been flashed? is our ecu has the abillty to count how many times it has been flashed and store it in its memory?

I read about Ecutek looking the ecu, wouldnt that leave a trace in the ecu itself?


Sorry for the noob questions, im sure this subject has been discussed before, tried searching but no luck.


Thanks.

Flash it back to stock. They'll never know.

[Rombinhood@OpenFlash]

Originally Posted by FR-S Matt

Flash it back to stock. They'll never know.

When a user flashes his ecu back to stock using his Ecutek cable, does the license info on the ecu also get removed? From my experience with Ecutek back in the day (circa early 2000s), the license always stayed on the ecu, even when it was flashed back to "stock". This, unfortunately, prevented users from loading non-Ecutek tunes since this license info also "locked" the ecu from being read or written by anything other than Ecutek hw/sw. I'm guessing that that is no longer the case but would like to know for sure.

[Captain Insano]

Originally Posted by Rombinhood@OpenFlash

When a user flashes his ecu back to stock using his Ecutek cable, does the license info on the ecu also get removed? From my experience with Ecutek back in the day (circa early 2000s), the license always stayed on the ecu, even when it was flashed back to "stock". This, unfortunately, prevented users from loading non-Ecutek tunes since this license info also "locked" the ecu from being read or written by anything other than Ecutek hw/sw. I'm guessing that that is no longer the case but would like to know for sure.

That was the case as of at least the MY04 STI cars with ecutek. Happened to me when I wanted to move from ecutek to AP protuner on my MY04 STI in 2006.

[3000HP]

Originally Posted by Rombinhood@OpenFlash

When a user flashes his ecu back to stock using his Ecutek cable, does the license info on the ecu also get removed? From my experience with Ecutek back in the day (circa early 2000s), the license always stayed on the ecu, even when it was flashed back to "stock". This, unfortunately, prevented users from loading non-Ecutek tunes since this license info also "locked" the ecu from being read or written by anything other than Ecutek hw/sw. I'm guessing that that is no longer the case but would like to know for sure.

Good point, i know thats the case when it come to Evo's and STi's. the license stays in the ecu and it cant be removed. and what that dose, is encrypt the ecu code so it cant be read with any other software.

Did any of you guys flashed back to stock and took ur car for service / warranty job?

[FR-S Matt]

Originally Posted by Rombinhood@OpenFlash

When a user flashes his ecu back to stock using his Ecutek cable, does the license info on the ecu also get removed? From my experience with Ecutek back in the day (circa early 2000s), the license always stayed on the ecu, even when it was flashed back to "stock". This, unfortunately, prevented users from loading non-Ecutek tunes since this license info also "locked" the ecu from being read or written by anything other than Ecutek hw/sw. I'm guessing that that is no longer the case but would like to know for sure.

I'm pretty positive Ecutek left this feature for this reason because the car is so new and still under warranty. If anything, I would venture a guess the license is encrypted in the ECU hence why only Ecutek tunes work.

[86_ZN6]

Originally Posted by Rombinhood@OpenFlash

When a user flashes his ecu back to stock using his Ecutek cable, does the license info on the ecu also get removed?

license stays with the ECU no matter what you do

iv flashed my car back and forth over 50 times already

[Carlysh]

good post been wondering myself the same question will flashing to stock they will notice or will leave a trace since maybe you will get the warranty for the director seal injection

[Rombinhood@OpenFlash]

Originally Posted by 86_ZN6

license stays with the ECU no matter what you do

iv flashed my car back and forth over 50 times already

But the real question is if you are able to run any other flash tune. In my experience, as long as this license in the ECU, the ECU cannot be read or written over. Which essentially means that you have to use Ecutek regardless of what other flash tuning options come out in the future. Years back this caused a bit problem for them in the Subaru market because this came a surprise to the customers who didn't realize that their ECUs was locked to Ecutek, even when it was flashed back to "stock". These users actually had to ship their ECUs back to Ecutek UK to get the license removed and ECU restored to 100% factory code.

[cuddefred]

Not sure that was the question at all but good thread jack

[86_ZN6]

Originally Posted by Rombinhood@OpenFlash

But the real question is if you are able to run any other flash tune. In my experience, as long as this license in the ECU, the ECU cannot be read or written over. Which essentially means that you have to use Ecutek regardless of what other flash tuning options come out in the future. Years back this caused a bit problem for them in the Subaru market because this came a surprise to the customers who didn't realize that their ECUs was locked to Ecutek, even when it was flashed back to "stock". These users actually had to ship their ECUs back to Ecutek UK to get the license removed and ECU restored to 100% factory code.

in my experience it is not locked.

when Toyota issued a TSB for a reflash, i flashed the car back to stock and toyota was still able to update/flash the ecu with their new software

[86_ZN6]

Originally Posted by cuddefred

Not sure that was the question at all but good thread jack

i think my last post answers the OP's question

[regal]

Originally Posted by 86_ZN6

i think my last post answers the OP's question

I've asked the OPers questions a few times here and always told that there is no trace of EcuTek on the ECU. But when I emailed EcuTek they would not answer, just said that use of their software voids the factory warranty even if only used to update factory roms.

I've always been a learn from the past and experience of others type, and many Subaru enthusiasts said stay away from Ecutek because it locks your ECU. Ever notice there isn't much buzz about this car on Subaru forums, I've been told its cause experienced Subaru guys are waiting for an alternative tuning program.

There are some really top notch Subaru tuning experts in the USA and they aren't involved in this car yet. As much as I want to get at least headers and a tune I'm waiting till the Subaru gurus get in the game.

Not so much for warranty concern (I don't believe we have much of one based on csgmik'es experience) more because when the gurus figure out a solid torque dip free 200rwhp header tune I want to have whatever application they chose and not be stuck with something they can't work on.

[xjohnx]

FWIW, the BRZEdit guys are able to reflash ECUtek tuned ECU's as long as the ECUtek tuned ECU is flashed back to the stock rom before flashing with BRZedit.