LS1TECH - Camaro and Firebird Forum Discussion

PCM Diagnostics & Tuning HP Tuners | Holley | Diablo

Locked Tune - any recourse?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 12, 2017 | 10:03 PM
Share
  #1  
Chevy Guy's Avatar
Chevy Guy
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 13
From: USA
Default Locked Tune - any recourse?
The last tuner I used was nice enough to lock his shitty tune into my car's PCM. I was lucky enough to check this before making an appointment or going to a new tuner.

Anyone have any experience unlocking or using an unlocking service? Am I better off just getting a new PCM?

Thanks
Reply
0
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 02:57 AM
Share
  #2  
Ben.'s Avatar
Ben.
Staging Lane
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 96
Likes: 3
From: Melbourne, Australia
Default
just get your new tuner to flash a stock tune on and work his magic from there. Sometimes its better to completely wipe a **** tune than try to correct it anyway.
Reply
0
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 06:02 AM
Share
  #3  
Chevy Guy's Avatar
Chevy Guy
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 13
From: USA
Default
Originally Posted by Ben.
just get your new tuner to flash a stock tune on and work his magic from there. Sometimes its better to completely wipe a **** tune than try to correct it anyway.
If the PCM is locked, that's not possible - not even with a Tech2
Reply
0
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 07:55 AM
Share
  #4  
dw456post's Avatar
dw456post
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 933
Likes: 75
Default
Call LSX Power Tuning. I believe I saw they could unlock ecm's.
Reply
0
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 10:22 AM
Share
  #5  
NicD's Avatar
NicD
7 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,171
Likes: 690
From: Chandler, AZ
Default
Buy another used PCM for ~$80 online and go from there. I've used the spare ecm store on ebay many times and they will even flash in a new OS with your VIN in it up front.
Reply
0
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 10:24 AM
Share
  #6  
pdxmotorhead's Avatar
pdxmotorhead
TECH Addict
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 480
From: PDX-OR-USA
Default
Why not go to the original tuner and tell them to clear there stuff and unlock it? Or is it a one-way deal.. ??
Reply
0
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 10:34 AM
Share
  #7  
JakeFusion's Avatar
JakeFusion
Super Hulk Smash
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,258
Likes: 146
From: Pace, FL
Default
Geoff @ EPS has a bench setup where he unlocks them.
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Jun 13, 2017 | 10:42 AM
Share
  #8  
MontecarloDrag's Avatar
MontecarloDrag
10 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 889
Likes: 6
Default
Which car is it?
It may be faster and easier to just change the PCM and start over. Most PCMs are cheap.
A competent tuner should be able to unlock yours, however it may take some time. What I do is change the PCM and finish the tune, then I unlock the other one in my spare time without any additional cost to the owner. This way I always have a spare PCM of each type for this cases.
Time is gold.
Reply
0
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 11:16 AM
Share
  #9  
Chevy Guy's Avatar
Chevy Guy
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 13
From: USA
Default
Originally Posted by JakeFusion
Geoff @ EPS has a bench setup where he unlocks them.
Got the contact info? You know if the unlock leaves the tune untouched?
Reply
0
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 11:21 AM
Share
  #10  
2xLS1's Avatar
2xLS1
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,649
Likes: 9
From: Warr Acres, OK
Default
Originally Posted by Chevy Guy
Got the contact info? You know if the unlock leaves the tune untouched?
Google Engine Power Systems. And yes he preserves the tune.
Reply
0
Old Jun 14, 2017 | 07:47 AM
Share
  #11  
Chevy Guy's Avatar
Chevy Guy
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 13
From: USA
Default
Originally Posted by pdxmotorhead
Why not go to the original tuner and tell them to clear there stuff and unlock it? Or is it a one-way deal.. ??
The tune was pretty bad, and the scumbag bricked my PCM without telling me. I wont EVER go back to them.
Reply
0
Old Jun 16, 2017 | 04:26 PM
Share
  #12  
LS1MCSS's Avatar
LS1MCSS
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,831
Likes: 8
From: Dover, Arkansas
Default
Originally Posted by Chevy Guy
The tune was pretty bad, and the scumbag bricked my PCM without telling me. I wont EVER go back to them.
Tell us who locked it so everyone knows not to go to them.
Reply
0
Old Jun 18, 2017 | 10:21 AM
Share
  #13  
truckdoug's Avatar
truckdoug
9 Second Club
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,389
Likes: 558
From: Portlandia
Default
lsx power tuning can fix ya up
Reply
0
Old Jun 18, 2017 | 06:55 PM
Share
  #14  
Chevy Guy's Avatar
Chevy Guy
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 13
From: USA
Default
Originally Posted by truckdoug
lsx power tuning can fix ya up
They are sending me a PCM as we speak.
Reply
0
Old Jun 19, 2017 | 01:36 PM
Share
  #15  
Chevy Guy's Avatar
Chevy Guy
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 13
From: USA
Default
Originally Posted by LS1MCSS
Tell us who locked it so everyone knows not to go to them.
Once I'm all sorted, I'll post the details.
Reply
0
Old Jun 19, 2017 | 02:07 PM
Share
  #16  
codyvette's Avatar
codyvette
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 858
Likes: 14
From: Brazoria TX
Default
LOL! If you post your location I bet we can tell you who it is before you spill.
Reply
0
Old Jun 19, 2017 | 05:00 PM
Share
  #17  
G Atsma's Avatar
G Atsma
TECH Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,295
Likes: 3,617
From: Central Cal.
Default
^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^
That way you're not ratting anyone out. The LS1tech sleuths will know what needs knowing.... lol
Reply
0
Old Jun 23, 2017 | 09:46 AM
Share
  #18  
Chevy Guy's Avatar
Chevy Guy
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 13
From: USA
Default
Originally Posted by G Atsma
^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^
That way you're not ratting anyone out. The LS1tech sleuths will know what needs knowing.... lol
Im in central NJ, not southern NJ, central NJ.
Reply
0
Old Jun 23, 2017 | 10:08 AM
Share
  #19  
G Atsma's Avatar
G Atsma
TECH Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,295
Likes: 3,617
From: Central Cal.
Default
And is the tuner in question ALSO in central NJ?
Reply
0
Old Jul 19, 2017 | 08:04 AM
Share
  #20  
Chevy Guy's Avatar
Chevy Guy
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 13
From: USA
Default
Originally Posted by G Atsma
And is the tuner in question ALSO in central NJ?
Correct - Cartek.
Reply
0
Back to Subforum
PCM Diagnostics & Tuning
View Next Unread
05 Drive by Wire PCM




Advanced Search

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:03 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE