I think I effed up big time. I purchased the custom tune from Trifecta ($413) and after about 20 attempts to download it I think my ECM is toast. Car won't even turn over. All I get are error msgs "service traction" and "service esc." I bought a new battery ($120) and still nothing. A guy on the Trifecta customer service msg board said it's impossible to fry your ECM...just unplug the battery, wait 10 mins and re-flash. Obviously, that doesn't work. I had the car towed to my mechanic ($75) and they said today there is nothing they can do but order a rebuilt ECM (~$400+labor). They suggested taking it to a GM dealer who won't touch an aftermarket tune. This is getting expensive. I don't think I want to attempt downloading the tune again. I am running out of cash and patience. Does anybody have any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any help.
That would be up to the individual technician, ultimately (and which way their boss is facing at the moment), but there are some very real liability concerns when working on any modified vehicle - whether that be hardware or software changes. I've not heard of any dealer willing to install an aftermarket tune, and, if they did, they'd need an HPTuners interface, LS1Edit or something similar. This won't work with a Tech II.
And, you'd need the new tune, which they would not be able to flash (unless it's the GMPP tune which is basically a waste of time).
This is the third time I've heard that from them, and the third instance of GM saying that it can't be reflashed.
Ask them to provide instructions that you can give to the dealer. Because, otherwise, they're full of ****.
**Edit**
To be clear, the first time I heard this, the dealer was able to reflash the car. But, you couldn't reprogram it AFTER that because the thing was still locked. Trifecta's response was something along the lines of "they must not have entirely reflashed it."
I'm a software and firmware guy, and an EE. That response makes zero sense.
Thanks. Unfortunately, the GM dealer already ordered one for $650 and said they can't send it back. I am definitely sending it in to have it programmed...either to Dave @ Werks or Trifecta in Washington. I don't know the pros and cons of either tune, so any advice would be appreciated! I already paid for the Trifecta, but they said they would give me a refund if I ship the cable back to them. Argh! This is so frustrating!
When Dave from DDM looked at my car he said the ECM needed to be replaced. I had the custom tune installed and we could not access it. Sounds like you are in the same situation I am in as far as the ECM.
Dave Performance Auto Werks has been working with my tune. He was able to get into it after some time. I think I am going to just send him my ECM and see it he can re VIN it and install the tune we have been working on. That might be my best answer too. I have a new one out of a 2009. The late model runs of 2007 were the same as the 2008, my car fits that category I guess.
Good luck man. I hope you get it figured out a lot quicker than it is taking me.
- Werks has a phone number
- Werks answer the phone
- Werks have an email address, and respond to messages quickly.
- Werks does not lock the tune. If you want to tweak this later on, or have someone else like a dyno tuner make corrections, you won't have to start from scratch. Trifecta locks their tune so that you cannot make changes.
I've spent quite a bit of money with Werks over the years and have ALWAYS had amazing support. When I first got the car and the turbo kit for my '06 (from eBay), I was missing a few couplers, etc. Werks sent them to me free of charge, even though I'd never given them a dime.
If you have a problem with Trifecta in the future, you're going to wind up back in this situation. The only feature that Trifecta offers that the others don't is the tune switching (based on cruise control state or competition mode). While that's pretty neat, it's not all that useful. And, given their lack of support so far, I'd just cut your losses, get your money back and go with someone who really stands behind their product and respects & appreciates their customers.
They'd be crazy to allow third parties access to the tune they sent out - if the third party bungled a modification to the tune, who do you think would get blamed for sending out a car killer tune? Probably not the guy that actually caused the problem.
It's common practice to leave the tunes unlocked. If something happened to the car, it'd be easy enough to read what's in the car and compare it to what was delivered to the customer. All of the tunes (of which I am aware) also come with a very fancy disclaimer which basically says that it's not guaranteed to not cause your car to burst into flames.
I wouldn't pay for a locked tune any more than I would buy a car with the hood welded shut or wheels or brakes that can't be removed without a vendor-only tool.
Vendor lock-in is a very bad thing. Locked tunes mean you're stuck with that vendor for any future modifications. What happens if they go out of business? Your investment goes *poof*.
This isn't really different then selling any other upgraded parts. There's always some risk involved, but the onus is on the customer (and potentially installer if you're the type to use one of those) to make sure that it's done correctly.
I agree about returning the part. Dealerships and even independent shops do this all the time. Up until they flash it for the first time, it’s returnable. Or, more bluntly: if they don’t have the car and you haven’t paid them... there’s no problem.
But:
If you never try to do something that you don’t know how to do, you will never learn anything. From walking to rebuilding a motor or cutting into someone’s brain or even something as “simple” as making a fender or a gauge pod, everything we learn comes from jumping into unexplored territory head first.
OP will be fine. Asking for help is a great step. This is a solvable problem.
The reason the claimed they couldn't send it back was they ordered it from another dealer. I didn't feel like arguing. As long as I get back from Dave and the car runs, I will be happy. I will just not have very favorable reviews of that particular dealer or Trifecta. They may be good companies, but I won't be recommending them any time soon. Thanks again for all of the help!
You pay the extra for the custom tune if you think you are doing something Trifecta won't necessarily have a suitable tune for already. They have the basic catch-all for 99% of cars that covers the usual minor stuff - exhausts air filters and such.
I logged my car because I had added a big wheel K04 turbo. At that point, back in 2009/2010, Trifecta had tuned Cobalts with that mod, but not Kappas and I wanted to be sure everything was dialed in properly. If you aren't doing anything like that to your car, you won't pick up much, if anything by using the more expensive logged tune, IMO.
I'm sure Solo Exhaust has them, or even the person you bought your down pipe from. I'm surprised it didn't come with it. So you know what you're looking for...the end that will go into the exhaust will be threaded on the outside, the other end will be threaded on the inside...IMSMC.... I don't use a HFC, so I've never seen one, I'm just going by memory and what others here have done with a HFC....
UPDATE: Man, I must be on a bad episode of some reality show. Turns out the Chevy dealer ordered the wrong ECM! Dave said he has used ones for $200...will the beating ever end? About ready to stick the barrel of a .45 in my mouth and call it quits...meanwhile, car sits dead in the parking lot while the summer clock keeps ticking...
Take Dave up on his offer and fight the battle to get your money back from the dealer separately, with your car running. If necessary, dispute the charge on your credit card (let the dealer know first that you are willing to do so...too many disputes costs them in higher processing fees).
I warned you about this!! Make 100% sure that you get you're money back from the dealer. They were supposed to use your VIN to order that part, so it's on them!!! Make sure they refund your money 100%
You were right, Ghost! I'm just waiting to get it back from Dave, then I'm afraid they have to take it back and give me a refund. 100% their fault! I think I forgot what a Solstice looks like...
I got my ECM from Dave today, after shipping it back once--he only put the base tune on it initially. It finally works! I only had time to take it for a quick spin, but the boost definitely hits 23 psi now! She goes through 1st, 2nd, and 3rd faster than the blink of an eye. It only took half of the summer, but I am finally looking forward to enjoying the ride and putting this whole debacle behind me. Anybody need a brand new ECM with the stock tune? Maybe I'll just keep it as a spare. Thanks everybody!
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