Dealer versus Taser programing

[jensjer]

If you get a Tazer, buy one of these too:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7VR6W1F?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

It will save your knuckles, fingetips, backs of hands. The ports to plug the Tazer into are not in the best location as it wasn't meant to be "regularly accessed" to plug things in and out. This cable essentially extends the ports to make it easier to remove the Tazer and reinstall the wire harness that needs to be there when you take it to the dealer.

As far as ease of installing and removing, it's really not bad. Before I go to the dealer, I unmarry it and unplug the Tazer/reinstall the wire harness. When the service is over, I usually unplug the harness and return the Taze and remarry right where the service tech parked my rig, ~5 minutes +/-

SO it remembers all of the programmed settings?

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[IamPro2A]

SO it remembers all of the programmed settings?

The Tazer? No. It's a feature that's been asked for. At the very least, you should be able to config it via the usb connection and laptop/tablet, and save the config as a file on said device. That would make both initial setup restoring after remarrying much simpler. I don't believe that would require any hardware changes to the Tazer device to implement.

 

[jensjer]

The Tazer? No. It's a feature that's been asked for. At the very least, you should be able to config it via the usb connection and laptop/tablet, and save the config as a file on said device. That would make both initial setup restoring after remarrying much simpler. I don't believe that would require any hardware changes to the Tazer device to implement.

Jesus H... Answers all my questions! ty

 

[HooliganActual]

SO it remembers all of the programmed settings?

Not if you unmarry it. So here's the way it works:

After you plug the Tazer in and marry it, you can make the setting changes you want. Then, without "unmarrying" it you can unplug it and the settings stay in place BUT you lose the live functions that are available when it is plugged in (ex. ESS disable which isn't truly disabling the ESS, it is just remembering the last position of the button when the vehicle was turn off. So if you turn it off while ESS Off is engaged, it starts back up with ESS Off engaged).

When you take it to the dealer, the Tazer definitely can't be plugged in because if they flash the computer for any updates, it will brick your computer....I know, it happened to me even after I told them that I have a Tazer installed and not to flash the computer. If you just unplug without unmarrying, and they flash the computer, your settings may or may not be there when you get it back. It's not advised to do. Essentially, when the Tazer is plugged in, it is taking a snapshot of things in the computer and if you haven't unmarried it and the dealer changes something with a software update, the Tazer "gets lost" when its plugged back in and the versions don't match.

For me personally, I use the Tazer for the tire recalibration and silencing the bell when the passenger seat belt is disconnected (takes a couple minutes to re-do when I marry it up after a dealer visit) and I use the live feature for disabling the ESS (I just have to push the button again); so when I un-marry and re-marry, it's not that big of a deal. But if you do a bunch of setting changes all the time, then it might be a hassle for you.

 

[HooliganActual]

Jesus H... Answers all my questions! ty

Seems like a harsh response about the Tazer's functionality. It's a genius little device that does a lot of things. So what if every 10,000 miles you have to do expend 15 minutes of effort. It takes less effort than rotating your tires...

Maybe you should look at the JScan because it likely fits your need

 

[IamPro2A]

When you take it to the dealer, the Tazer definitely can't be plugged in because if they flash the computer for any updates, it will brick your computer....I know, it happened to me even after I told them that I have a Tazer installed and not to flash the computer.

Update your Tazer firmware. You can now leave it in if the dealer is "Tazer friendly" without a problem.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not if you unmarry it. So here's the way it works:

After you plug the Tazer in and marry it, you can make the setting changes you want. Then, without "unmarrying" it you can unplug it and the settings stay in place BUT you lose the live functions that are available when it is plugged in (ex. ESS disable which isn't truly disabling the ESS, it is just remembering the last position of the button when the vehicle was turn off. So if you turn it off while ESS Off is engaged, it starts back up with ESS engaged).

When you take it to the dealer, the Tazer definitely can't be plugged in because if they flash the computer for any updates, it will brick your computer....I know, it happened to me even after I told them that I have a Tazer installed and not to flash the computer. If you just unplug without unmarrying, and they flash the computer, your settings may or may not be there when you get it back. It's not advised to do. Essentially, when the Tazer is plugged in, it is taking a snapshot of things in the computer and if you haven't unmarried it and the dealer changes something with a software update, the Tazer "gets lost" when its plugged back in and the versions don't match.

For me personally, I use the Tazer for the tire recalibration and silencing the bell when the passenger seat belt is disconnected (takes a couple minutes to re-do when I marry it up after a dealer visit) and I use the live feature for disabling the ESS (I just have to push the button again); so when I un-marry and re-marry, it's not that big of a deal. But if you do a bunch of setting changes all the time, then it might be a hassle for you.

Very well said.
People (generally speaking) need to see and remember the differences between tazer LIVE settings and the changes it makes to the system settings (which are the exact same things you can do with JSCAN or AlfaOBD)

LIVE changes, Tazer must be present (ESS, disable plate lights in reverse, etc. all LIVE settings)

Software choices, (changes to tire size is a choice, certain other things are a choice) will stay put with Tazer removed. (but may be lost with certain "flashes".) For example, adding passive entry and not having the dealer add the sales code to your VIN - a flash will remove all settings for passive entry if you added it yourself.

It can get tricky because with some flashes, things are really changed around in the modules and tazer may see it very differently. And then there are flashes that don't do a lot, no big deal, Tazer goes back in and life is good.
Always smart to follow the Tazer book and unmarry, etc. - after-all, they WROTE that book and know it better than anyone. To not follow the advice of a company, people or persons, who make such things is a fool's way.
I would always follow what the Tazer people say even if others suggest it's not needed. There's a reason the creators of Tazer recommend what they do - they see more than any person here or in any other forum. If they've seen a problem - believe them.

 

[jensjer]

Seems like a harsh response about the Tazer's functionality. It's a genius little device that does a lot of things. So what if every 10,000 miles you have to do expend 15 minutes of effort. It takes less effort than rotating your tires...

Maybe you should look at the JScan because it likely fits your need

Thanks for the details I've been curious about. How does the taser stay up to date?, and say if the jeep is flashed and updates made,..will the taser functionality work as once did? I thought I heard about people needing to update taser software.. and cn I do that via Mac or iPhone? I don't have a PC or work at a business where anyone uses pc's all Mac.

 

[HooliganActual]

Update your Tazer firmware. You can now leave it in if the dealer is "Tazer friendly" without a problem.

Solid copy. I don't keep up with that stuff so I'll have to check into updating the firmware.

Thanks for the details I've been curious about. How does the taser stay up to date?, and say if the jeep is flashed and updates made,..will the taser functionality work as once did? I thought I heard about people needing to update taser software.. and cn I do that via Mac or iPhone? I don't have a PC or work at a business where anyone uses pc's all Mac.

I think IamPro2A may have answered that above. Apparently with a Tazer firmware update it can be left in...but beyond the scope of my course...Maybe he will come back and answer you more directly since I don't know.

 

[HooliganActual]

Very well said.
People (generally speaking) need to see and remember the differences between tazer LIVE settings and the changes it makes to the system settings (which are the exact same things you can do with JSCAN or AlfaOBD)

LIVE changes, Tazer must be present (ESS, disable plate lights in reverse, etc. all LIVE settings)

Software choices, (changes to tire size is a choice, certain other things are a choice) will stay put with Tazer removed. (but may be lost with certain "flashes".) For example, adding passive entry and not having the dealer add the sales code to your VIN - a flash will remove all settings for passive entry if you added it yourself.

It can get tricky because with some flashes, things are really changed around in the modules and tazer may see it very differently. And then there are flashes that don't do a lot, no big deal, Tazer goes back in and life is good.
Always smart to follow the Tazer book and unmarry, etc. - after-all, they WROTE that book and know it better than anyone. To not follow the advice of a company, people or persons, who make such things is a fool's way.
I would always follow what the Tazer people say even if others suggest it's not needed. There's a reason the creators of Tazer recommend what they do - they see more than any person here or in any other forum. If they've seen a problem - believe them.

Yeah, I sort of wish it was as easy as the ProCal is for my JKU's but it's simple enough to use and I'm not trying to do anything crazy (I know there are folks out there that really tweek settings).

Since I know you are an "IT-type guy", the way someone explained it to me is like having a file you built in MS Excel and generally with each "version" change your formulas and such will probably work when you open the file in the new version of the software; BUT THEN one version change, they remove something simple, like a font, but its the font you used for everything in your file and now the "replacement" or default font is bigger and now none of you cell sizes fit. Or something similar...

Best to just un-marry and not risk it. I'll waste more time driving to the dealer than I will in the whole process with the Tazer...that just reminded me of a saying we had when I was in the service and it was a play on one of the recruiting commercials at the time "We'll waste more time before 9 am than most people will all day."

 

[ShadowsPapa]

that just reminded me of a saying we had when I was in the service and it was a play on one of the recruiting commercials at the time "We'll waste more time before 9 am than most people will all day."

They don't know me very well LOL

It can also be compared to browsers. Some web developers actually created sites that worked on the quirks of certain browsers to accomplish some funky things. Then along came a new version of that browser, the quirks were removed/fixed and their stuff no longer worked. So we found that if you developed to a browser without quirks (Chrome was the choice eventually) that it should work under any browser. When browsers were updates, some sites locked or refused to work. Develop to standards and you don't have that issue.
But then........when I worked at Compressor Controls Corp, one of my co-workers was a comp-sci professor who wanted a break from teaching. He said (so true) that one of the best things about standards in computers was that there were so many to choose from. Think about that a bit.......

All that has to happen is that they need room, or need to add something and in the process shift something to some other place and now your device sees the module as something different.
Some are simple - they fixed the ABS freaking out with a trailer brake controller by simply telling the ABS to "ignore" any signals seen on the brake light line that weren't coming from ABS itself.
It's going to be similar for PCM and other modules - could be as simple as changing a default, or it could shift things and now you have a new version of the software.

 

[IamPro2A]

So maytbe this will help. When you Marry" the tazer to your Jeep, it looks at all the settings it can possibly change, and makes/stores a backup of those settings as they are at that point. If you previously made changes with say Jscan, or the dealer adjusted tire size, those will be stored, not what rolled off the factory floor.

If you simply remove the tazer (and plug the gateway it replaced back in), any non-live changes you made (such as tire size, gear ratio, passive door entry, etc) will stay.

If you unmarry the tazer before removing, it restores all the settings back the way they were before you installed the tazer.

Can you just remove the tazer before going to the dealer so you don't lose any settings? Yup. It's no different than taking it to the dealer after making those changes with Jscan or AlfaOBD.

Tazer recommends unmarrying first because
A: that removes all traces of any programming mods you did that a dealer may try to use against you to deny a warranty claim. And
B: If the dealer updates your computer, there is a chance that some programming parameters will change, and if you then unmarry the tazer at a later date you will overwrite new data with old out of date data and potentially cause a problem. And
C: The dealer programming is custom to your VIN, and what options it expects you to have based on what options are assigned to your VIN. There is some small potential for conflict if what's there doesn't match what the software thinks should be there.

That's why they recommend unmarrying before going to the dealer. And that's why I would like to see it save a "restore to previous config" type of option as well.

It used to be that the tazer basically blocked the dealer scan tool if it was left installed. Even most mod friendly dealers doesn't want the hassle or possible issues involved with removing and or unmarrying and remarrying and reprogramming your aftermarket tazer just to do a standard system check. Newer firmware allows the tazer to work with their scan tool. They're still gonna know the tazer is there, and all the above concerns are still valid if they need to update your computer, but at least the installed tazer doesn't automatically put the brakes on virtually every dealer visit.

As far as updating the firmware. Its done via a usb cable and a small dedicated program. They have versions for windows an mac. I do not think there are android or ios versions, but the proper usb cables typically needed for devices running those are also not very common and not something most people have or even know where to buy..

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Newer firmware allows the tazer to work with their scan tool. They're still gonna know the tazer is there,

Yes, because one of the checks that is or can be done is SGW status. If the Tazer is there, it can't connect to the SGW. I can even check SGW status with other software I have so you know the dealer sees if it's in the system or not when they connect.

They're still gonna know the tazer is there, and all the above concerns are still valid if they need to update your computer, but at least the installed tazer doesn't automatically put the brakes on virtually every dealer visit.

IMO, and it's worth every penny you paid - smart to unmarry and follow the Z-Automotive instructions. Why not? So simple, especially with extension cables. Don't ask for trouble.

For me, your "B" nails it. I've lost too much over the years trying to save time or take shortcuts with things and it almost always bites me in the butt - maybe not tomorrow, but one day - it does. Then I spend hours undoing what 5 minutes could have avoided - and sometimes, you can't recover.

 

[Gvsukids]

silencing the bell when the passenger seat belt is disconnected

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Gosh I wish there was a VCDS for Jeep….. ?

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