"Manual" ECU Flashing - 6.4L ECU Thread

[NobleX13]

I notice that there is no real discussion of tuning outside of using dedicated diesel tuning devices that marry themselves to one VIN number.

I would like to start discussion around what it takes to remove the ECU from a vehicle, disassemble it, dump the stock rom from the device, modify it, and flash it back.

This, of course, brings us close to the dangerous topic of using a licensed tuner product to flash a vehicle, extract the modified firmware via manual dump, flash back to stock, unlock the tuner device, and manually flash the tuned file back. While I do not condone this behavior, it does strike me as more of a violation of the manufacturer's terms of service than actual copyright infringement. Either way, let's please refrain from discussing this topic in this thread.

With that out of the way, who here has any information on the Ford ECU?

In addition, how much do we know about these tuning devices? Do they communicate via serial? JTAG? SPI? Is the ECU encrypted?

[K1LLsW1TchEd]

you are talking chinese now. good luck with this

[Dave]

Why do that when you can do it using a laptop via the obdII port/

[drewactual]

I'm interested in this too- but for one reason alone: having the ability to maintain the absence of certain emissions in the case of losing a PCM and not having tuners available to 'fix' them..

[turbo kidd]

Originally Posted by drewactual

I'm interested in this too- but for one reason alone: having the ability to maintain the absence of certain emissions in the case of losing a PCM and not having tuners available to 'fix' them..

Bingo...Me too. Subscribed.

[drewactual]

Originally Posted by Dave

Why do that when you can do it using a laptop via the obdII port/

I have several obdii monitoring pieces, but I have none capable of writing... Do you have a bead on a software piece that does this?

I've considered yanking a PCM from a shelf and flashing it to my VIN, just to have it 'in case'.. the only problem with that is mileage and features- both which require keys I wouldn't even begin to know how to get...

[Big Angry Hillbilly]

I have software to do this, you don't need to physically disassemble anything.

Basically, as I read it, you want to pull a modified file out of your truck so you can unlock your tuner and keep the tunes so you can load them without the tuner?

[Big Angry Hillbilly]

Also - you can't just swap PCM in and out, you need an IDS to do a parameter reset when you do it, so the PATS works, or a matched instrument cluster but that brings the mileage into question also.

[f250ghost]

Doesn't the H&S MCC software do this? It's my understanding that it's pretty in depth and is similar to the EFI Live tuning on the Dodges and Chevys

[drewactual]

I'm in way over my head here, but my notion was to have a spare pcm staged and ready in the case i lose the functioning one... Have them cloned, so to speak.. I don't know how it works, but it would be a nice thing if that were possible.. I'm hoping you fellers can explain how it works and if that cant be done, what can..

Again, its for the sole purpose of a back up, if a tuner is unavailable at that time and if I lose the pcm for whatever reason.. this is something that worries me, because I don't wanna wrestle the coolers or the exhaust, or even have to keep them around.. as I see It now, I don't have much choice but to hold onto them for as long as I own the truck.. which I hope is a long time..