Tuner Locked my PCM!
01-23-2009, 11:08 PM
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Tuner Locked my PCM! I'm so MAD right now it's not even funny!! Here's the story..
My car got retuned back in October for a stalling issue I had (Car is / was cammed with a 232/236 with .600 lift,). Tri-Star / House of Torque did the cam and tuning on the car originally, but since they are no more I could not go back to them. So I went to a local performance shop. The Tuning that was done didn't help with the stalling at all, I later had the stalling issue fixed elsewhere due to mine and the orginal shops schedules never matching up and it was nothing big at all. I thought about complaining to the shop that my car wasn't fixed with the $600 tune I paid for (which I was told that was the answer for my stalling issue), but I didn't.. since they "performace tuned it" and I gained a couple of horsepower on the Dyno I figured no big deal at this point. (The car originally dyno'd a 392 before I purchased the car, They said it was 360 and showed me a new sheet showing 397 horsepower). I did tell them the car felt a little more sluggish off the line, but once again my Butt is neither a DYNO, nor ET clock so I couldn't be certain what I gained / lost so I took the dyno sheet as my answer. Anyways I was charged $600 and I didn't get my original problem fixed, however instead of putting up a fuss, I just decided to let this slide.
Fast forward to this week... I put a set of Patriot stage 2 heads on my car and when I went to have it tuned by someone I know... GUESS WHAT! MY DAMN PCM IS LOCKED! So I can't tune my car unless they do it or unlock it. Frankly I'm EXTREMELY MAD AT THIS SHOP (Who is a board sponsor mind you). I paid them $600 FRIGGIN DOLLARS FOR NOT FIXING MY CAR AND LOCKING MY PCM! FANTASTIC!!!!
Does a tuner have any right at all to lock your PCM?
My car got retuned back in October for a stalling issue I had (Car is / was cammed with a 232/236 with .600 lift,). Tri-Star / House of Torque did the cam and tuning on the car originally, but since they are no more I could not go back to them. So I went to a local performance shop. The Tuning that was done didn't help with the stalling at all, I later had the stalling issue fixed elsewhere due to mine and the orginal shops schedules never matching up and it was nothing big at all. I thought about complaining to the shop that my car wasn't fixed with the $600 tune I paid for (which I was told that was the answer for my stalling issue), but I didn't.. since they "performace tuned it" and I gained a couple of horsepower on the Dyno I figured no big deal at this point. (The car originally dyno'd a 392 before I purchased the car, They said it was 360 and showed me a new sheet showing 397 horsepower). I did tell them the car felt a little more sluggish off the line, but once again my Butt is neither a DYNO, nor ET clock so I couldn't be certain what I gained / lost so I took the dyno sheet as my answer. Anyways I was charged $600 and I didn't get my original problem fixed, however instead of putting up a fuss, I just decided to let this slide.
Fast forward to this week... I put a set of Patriot stage 2 heads on my car and when I went to have it tuned by someone I know... GUESS WHAT! MY DAMN PCM IS LOCKED! So I can't tune my car unless they do it or unlock it. Frankly I'm EXTREMELY MAD AT THIS SHOP (Who is a board sponsor mind you). I paid them $600 FRIGGIN DOLLARS FOR NOT FIXING MY CAR AND LOCKING MY PCM! FANTASTIC!!!!
Does a tuner have any right at all to lock your PCM?
01-24-2009, 10:56 AM
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No it's not who you think it is. I am going to try first to see if I can first get it unlocked, if I can not then trust me it will be no secret who it is...
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01-25-2009, 08:03 AM
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I would be happy with either my old Tune file unlocked and they keep the money, it unlocked as it sits, or Stock tune and my money back.... However I doubt this shop will do any of the three......
01-25-2009, 09:38 AM
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i would really hope that any board sponser would unlock it for you if you want it unlocked. Honestly i would be really upset as well cause they should have at least told you...and at most not even locked it cause its not there ECU its yours.
But do what your doing and give them the chance to make it up to you...if they dont...make sure the board knows about it!
But do what your doing and give them the chance to make it up to you...if they dont...make sure the board knows about it!
01-25-2009, 09:50 AM
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If it were me I would be I the guys face hard. I have not had the cops called on me yet but it has been close. This would be one of the close times. I know why it do most of my own work. That would make me crazy. Good luck
01-25-2009, 10:50 AM
#11
If there a board sponsor then just threaten that you will talk **** abuo them if they don't unlock it.
A few negative comments will really sway people away from shops, even if they aren't entirely the truth. Which is sad, but that's the nature of the internet.
A few negative comments will really sway people away from shops, even if they aren't entirely the truth. Which is sad, but that's the nature of the internet.
01-25-2009, 11:14 AM
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This sounds crazy. The customer owns the pcm and the tune once the tune is paid for. Most tuners are using the same strategy to tune cars nowadays. I can understand if the tuner has some super secret way of making a few extra ponies, but locking should be disclosed and agreed upon by the customer before the tuning process.
Could you imagine if an engine buider made it so noone can take apart their engines to see the little tricks they use for more power.
Bottom line: If you paid for it you own it.
Could you imagine if an engine buider made it so noone can take apart their engines to see the little tricks they use for more power.
Bottom line: If you paid for it you own it.
01-25-2009, 11:59 AM
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def because i am on the market for a new tune, my last tuner didnt do to well, and the comment made on this thread, " I bet it starts with a letter at the end of the alphabet, but the thread starter said I dont think we are talking about the same one? " now what does this leave us to belive. I mean I understand not bashing someone in public just yet, but at the same time NOT SAYING is kinda hurting all the other tuners rep ( obv not if you had previouse dealing ) but for someone wanting to find a new tuner this makes me a little edgy. EXP since I want to go to the one at the end of the alphabet
01-25-2009, 01:00 PM
#14
Are you sure it's locked? What's it say when you try and read it?
If it's been tuned and has had a custom OS applied, you cannot tune it with a different software.
In other words, if it was tuned with HPT, and a COS applied, you cannot tune it with EFIlive. Conversely so, if the same was done with EFIlive, you cannot tune it with HPT.
If it is truly locked, you will not even be able to read it.
If it's been tuned and has had a custom OS applied, you cannot tune it with a different software.
In other words, if it was tuned with HPT, and a COS applied, you cannot tune it with EFIlive. Conversely so, if the same was done with EFIlive, you cannot tune it with HPT.
If it is truly locked, you will not even be able to read it.
01-25-2009, 02:41 PM
#15
Are you sure it's locked? What's it say when you try and read it?
If it's been tuned and has had a custom OS applied, you cannot tune it with a different software.
In other words, if it was tuned with HPT, and a COS applied, you cannot tune it with EFIlive. Conversely so, if the same was done with EFIlive, you cannot tune it with HPT.
If it is truly locked, you will not even be able to read it.
If it's been tuned and has had a custom OS applied, you cannot tune it with a different software.
In other words, if it was tuned with HPT, and a COS applied, you cannot tune it with EFIlive. Conversely so, if the same was done with EFIlive, you cannot tune it with HPT.
If it is truly locked, you will not even be able to read it.
01-25-2009, 02:44 PM
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I don't see why they wouldn't unlock it for you. i'm sure if you just ask they will unlock it. I'm curious as to why they did lock it tho. Doesn't sound like its a 700hp car with some serious man hours into the tune or anything.
01-25-2009, 04:03 PM
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Are you sure it's locked? What's it say when you try and read it?
If it's been tuned and has had a custom OS applied, you cannot tune it with a different software.
In other words, if it was tuned with HPT, and a COS applied, you cannot tune it with EFIlive. Conversely so, if the same was done with EFIlive, you cannot tune it with HPT.
If it is truly locked, you will not even be able to read it.
If it's been tuned and has had a custom OS applied, you cannot tune it with a different software.
In other words, if it was tuned with HPT, and a COS applied, you cannot tune it with EFIlive. Conversely so, if the same was done with EFIlive, you cannot tune it with HPT.
If it is truly locked, you will not even be able to read it.
01-25-2009, 06:27 PM
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def because i am on the market for a new tune, my last tuner didnt do to well, and the comment made on this thread, " I bet it starts with a letter at the end of the alphabet, but the thread starter said I dont think we are talking about the same one? " now what does this leave us to belive. I mean I understand not bashing someone in public just yet, but at the same time NOT SAYING is kinda hurting all the other tuners rep ( obv not if you had previouse dealing ) but for someone wanting to find a new tuner this makes me a little edgy. EXP since I want to go to the one at the end of the alphabet