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Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 4:32 am
by Jeff V.
ZR1s are starting production in the next week or two. One of the guys on the forum has his 'engine build experience' scheduled for this week.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 6:12 am
by ChargerX3
[quote=""Jeff V.""]Once I get my truck running, I'm done messing with this crap. It was fun while it lasted.[/quote]
You suck.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 2:30 pm
by mjannusch
It wont turn into a shitstorm because the Corvette guys have no clue what you are talking about, and the level of effort required to crack it.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 6:28 pm
by DCIV
Surprised it didnt get more traffic already. Prob because it goes over most peoples heads, a lot think there will always be a way, another isnt afraid to throw money at it, and the ones that do know dont want to ruin their businesses.
Coop
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 5:06 am
by mjannusch
My prediction is that standalones will get more sophisticated and be patched in parallel to the stock ECUs, but intercept all the critical engine signals (fuel injection, ignition timing, etc.) to provide full control over the critical parameters but leave the stock ECU to do the rest of the work and make the other systems in the car continue working. The days of just flashing a stock ECU will be over, but serious tuners will work around it as much as they can.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 2:28 pm
by Hannibalzero
[quote=""mjannusch""]My prediction is that standalones will get more sophisticated and be patched in parallel to the stock ECUs, but intercept all the critical engine signals[/quote]
And then manufacturers will start encrypting the signal from sensor to ECU (and charge 10x for sensor replacement).

Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 2:44 pm
by Jeff V.
They're already starting CANbus authentication, and the ECUs are getting much better at doing sanity checks on sensor signals.
It'll be interesting to see if anyone gets anywhere with the ZR1. The new Camaro ZL1 may have the same limitations.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:09 pm
by mjannusch
At some point they've just got to say enough is enough and just detect if the vehicle has been tampered with and void the warranty if it has. That's basically where GM is right now, and I can't say I disagree with that policy. If I throw a supercharger on my Corvette, I expect the powertrain warranty to be void.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:19 pm
by Jeff V.
I don't disagree with it at all. It just bothers me that there's no option to unlock the ECM in exchange for giving up your powertrain warranty.
But we can thank all the people who wanted "stealth tunes" and all that shit. I nearly got into it with a DiabloSport rep over faking CVN checksums.
There is absolutely NO legitimate use for that function. It's only there to assist in commission of warranty fraud. Now we're paying the price.
I don't even give a damn about the engine stuff at this point. I just want to tinker with the Linux based infotainment system. But that thing is locked down by multiple layers of RSA signatures and checksums. It's ridiculous.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:26 pm
by mjannusch
I agree. The tuner software folks should be making NO effort to hide what they are doing. Let the ECU flag that it has been flashed, and don't give any options to do otherwise. Otherwise their market is going to be gone in a "flash". Diablo tunes suck anyways.
I do like the idea of allowing the dealership to turn off the ECU protection in exchange for voiding the powertrain warranty. That seems like a fair trade.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:55 pm
by Chris GTO TT
The problem is auto manufacturers are trying to claim their code is proprietary and should only be able to be read by them. It's similar to what John Deere has done where basically only a John Deere dealer can fully repair their newer tractors. It's really screwing over independent shops.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:16 pm
by Jeff V.
That's really more about diagnostics. People are mad that they're either not providing sufficient info at all, or they're locking the tools and documentation behind expensive paywalls.
GM actually isn't too bad in this regard. Their stuff is reasonably affordable. I need to make some updates to my Corvette thread.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Sun May 20, 2018 7:26 am
by tabasco122
revisited this thread since i had it bookmarked. Looks like more people are agreeing with you, though there are still the idiots who dont understand.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Sun May 20, 2018 3:42 pm
by Jeff V.
The ZR1 is apparently locked down. There's already one or two shops who have outright given up on getting into it.
There was a rumor some security research company had found away into the L5P diesel ECM, but that hasn't been confirmed. Even if they did find a method, it's possible it won't be practical for commercial use.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Sun May 20, 2018 4:06 pm
by tabasco122
I smell lawsuits over this. On the indysrt side if they can't get in, or if by a miricale they do, gm.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Sun May 20, 2018 7:12 pm
by aaronatstate
Im betting they day after the ZR1 comes out, GMs special tuning software for the ZR1 comes out, for the low low price of $1999
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 2:18 am
by Jeff V.
The ZR1 has been out for a couple months now. No tunes from anyone, including GM.
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 3:39 am
by aaronatstate
[quote=""Jeff V.""]The ZR1 has been out for a couple months now. No tunes from anyone, including GM.[/quote]
Oh damn, I got it confused with the mid engined Vette :d oh:
Re: The beginning of the end for ECU tuning?
Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 1:22 pm
by Jeff V.
Google "Chrysler uconnect hack" and that should tell you everything you need to know about Chrysler's views on security in an increasingly networked world.