ECU/PCM clone process & pricing

[rharr]

This is for the Ecodiesel, not a GPEC ECU, they use a Bosch ECU. They don’t send you an HP tuner to flash the tune yourself.

You pay them and send in your ECU and they send it back tuned, that’s it. I’m sure a tuner such as yourself could crack it and copy it but that is a different thing involving intellectual property.
Gregj

to add, most EcoD tuners seem to be using alientech power gates as the access device, not hp tuners and that process requires a bench tune to re key the ecu, once re keyed you use the power gate to load or remove tunes. If you remove a tune it pulls the key and you would need to resend in the ecu to reestablish the key if you wanted to reload the tune.

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[rharr]

Ahhh I didn’t realize we were talking EcoDiesel. Well now I feel like an idiot

That’s too bad. HP Tuners cracks Bosch style ECUs all the time. Most of the modern Fords I tune are that way and all got cracked. The cracking part is way out of my wheelhouse though.

Please edit your posts so not to confuse the topic any further

 

[AOGAudiman]

I’ll chime in here as I just recently had my eco diesel tuned. I gave up on finding a dealer clone mine (greater Seattle area). I went with MRTuning. I sent him my OEM PCM and he unlocked it and sent it back. The work on his end was same day. JT was down for a little over 2 weeks. It’s my daily driver so it was kind of a pain in the ass. The main time suck was sending the PCM from Seattle areas to Montreal. I received my PCM back still with the stock tune. Included was the Powergate 4 flash device from Alientech. I installed the PCM, used the Powergate to read my rig, then it uploaded to Martin at MRTuning. He sent me the tune files in a couple of days. I have the stock tune , Econo, +30 and +50HP tunes.
While it was down, I had plenty of time to install the exhaust hard parts from T&S Speedshop.
All in all, it was kind of a pain. But I’m so happy I did it as It’s well worth it. It’s a whole new vehicle.

 

[Gregj]

Just to note, the Powergate is for the trans tune. The TCU is in the transmission and can be tuned from the OBD2 port. The ECU is bench tunes only.
Gregj

correction; you need to bypass the SGM to tune the trans.

 

[AOGAudiman]

Just to note, the Powergate is for the trans tune. The TCU is in the transmission and can be tuned from the OBD2 port. The ECU is bench tunes only.
Gregj

My Powergate holds the tunes for my TCM and PCM. I reflashed both modules using the Powergate and OBD port after having the PCM unlocked. Only the PCM needs to be bench "unlocked".
The TCM can be reflash as installed, directly thru the OBD port.
And you are correct in stating that you do need to bypass the SGM for the TCM AND PCM flashes.
I had my Tazer installed so was able to simply un-marry the Tazer, then it acts as the bypass. I performed my tune flashes and then re-married the Tazer

 

[rharr]

Just to note, the Powergate is for the trans tune. The TCU is in the transmission and can be tuned from the OBD2 port. The ECU is bench tunes only.
Gregj

correction; you need to bypass the SGM to tune the trans.

AOG is right, tech has evolved ECOd tuners now use Alientech power gate 4 to tune both trans and ECU. His experience mirrors my experience with GDE in February.

You now use a phone app to pair with the PG4 and it talks to the AI overlord and pipes the info into the PG4 that pipes it into the ECU 1st as a step 1 then step 2 pipes trans tune to the trans.

You still have to send the ecu in to be rekeyed.....

Time and technolgy marchs on.

I had a old PG3 and GDE said it's useless and he doesn't use them anymore throw it out.

 

[Gregj]

My Powergate holds the tunes for my TCM and PCM. I reflashed both modules using the Powergate and OBD port after having the PCM unlocked. Only the PCM needs to be bench "unlocked".
The TCM can be reflash as installed, directly thru the OBD port.
And you are correct in stating that you do need to bypass the SGM for the TCM AND PCM flashes.
I had my Tazer installed so was able to simply un-marry the Tazer, then it acts as the bypass. I performed my tune flashes and then re-married the Tazer

I stand corrected. I don’t have ACC so I just got all the tunes in the switch on the fly setup.
Gregj

 

[Bananaman]

I spoke to the service manager again today and after researching it more he said he misunderstood about the key fob. He says the problem it would create is with the ECU security key. He said that to program a new ECU they would connect the blank to their hardware to flash software from Stellantis and that would create a new security key marrying it to the Jeep. Doing that he says renders the old ECU useless. I don’t know enough to argue but to me that doesn’t sound like cloning. For an hour labor they are willing to try just to see what happens. I’m considering it because sending off the original means I’ll be without the vehicle and that’s what I’m trying to avoid.

I tried this a few years ago also. My dealer told me it would be $500. When I explained that my original ECU was fine, and I just wanted a clone, they said they could only make me an ECU that would replace mine. In other words, they are only set up to use your VIN to reproduce an ECU in case of some catastrophic event, not copy an existing one.

 

[AOGAudiman]

I stand corrected. I don’t have ACC so I just got all the tunes in the switch on the fly setup.
Gregj

Ahh! Yes, that is an important point. I have the ACC. I just flashed back to the Econo tune. It's much easier than I expected.
Also, I suspect the Powergate devices have rolled to a new model as I found the instructions are not really that great... I think I wore out my welcome with Martin with all my questions But hey, I didn't want to brick my PCM!

 

[Idlethunder]

I'm quckly running out of options for cloning the ecodisel ecu. My biggest problem is being without the vehicle while it is in transit. The closest possible option is a little less than 500 miles away in Missouri. If shipped, I'd be without it for minimum 5 days and it doesn't sound like driving up and waiting while it is done is a possiblity. I'm in south central Oklahoma and would happily drive a few hundred miles this weekend. If anyone has the tools and knowledge to do this, please send me a dm.

 

[Idlethunder]

I stand corrected. I don’t have ACC so I just got all the tunes in the switch on the fly setup.
Gregj

Sending you a PM

 

[Idlethunder]

My Powergate holds the tunes for my TCM and PCM. I reflashed both modules using the Powergate and OBD port after having the PCM unlocked. Only the PCM needs to be bench "unlocked".
The TCM can be reflash as installed, directly thru the OBD port.
And you are correct in stating that you do need to bypass the SGM for the TCM AND PCM flashes.
I had my Tazer installed so was able to simply un-marry the Tazer, then it acts as the bypass. I performed my tune flashes and then re-married the Tazer

Do you happen to remember about how long it took for you to receive the tunes once you uploaded the stock files with the PG4? I first connected mine Saturday morning and had a little trouble getting the stock files. They tried to help me through it via email a couple of times Saturday afternoon. The last time I tried, I was able to do what you see in the attachment but that looks like it is missing the virtual read they asked for. I haven't heard from them since sending that in.

 

[AOGAudiman]

Do you happen to remember about how long it took for you to receive the tunes once you uploaded the stock files with the PG4? I first connected mine Saturday morning and had a little trouble getting the stock files. They tried to help me through it via email a couple of times Saturday afternoon. The last time I tried, I was able to do what you see in the attachment but that looks like it is missing the virtual read they asked for. I haven't heard from them since sending that in.

It took about 3 days. I got my stock files successfully uploaded late Thursday and I finally got the email notification on Saturday. That was with me kinda bugging Martin. I think I annoyed him. LOL But hey! My rig was down for over 2 weeks and I was eager. He was great to work with though. Really helpful.

 

[Idlethunder]

It took about 3 days. I got my stock files successfully uploaded late Thursday and I finally got the email notification on Saturday. That was with me kinda bugging Martin. I think I annoyed him. LOL But hey! My rig was down for over 2 weeks and I was eager. He was great to work with though. Really helpful.

That sounds similar to my experiance with EOC. They have been helpful and haven’t cut me off but it feels like they hate dealing with me because I ask questions.

My tunes came in this morning. One thing I'm curious about is the transmision tune. I haven't seen a write up about it with the PG4, just ones talking about the older PG3. They all say on the first drive after installing it to make sure it shifts thru all 8 gears before you hit 70 and don't go heavy on the throttle for a few days because it's relearning the shift points. I'm guessing it is the same with the PG4 so that's what I'll do. When I take my lunch in a few minutes I'll run home and install both tunes.

 

[AOGAudiman]

That sounds similar to my experiance with EOC. They have been helpful and haven’t cut me off but it feels like they hate dealing with me because I ask questions.

My tunes came in this morning. One thing I'm curious about is the transmision tune. I haven't seen a write up about it with the PG4, just ones talking about the older PG3. They all say on the first drive after installing it to make sure it shifts thru all 8 gears before you hit 70 and don't go heavy on the throttle for a few days because it's relearning the shift points. I'm guessing it is the same with the PG4 so that's what I'll do. When I take my lunch in a few minutes I'll run home and install both tunes.

I hear ya.
In regards to the TCM tune, correct. ALL the info I got for the PCM and TCM was geared towards the PG3 unit. I just winged it (really hate doing that..) and went with the same process for the PG4 usage. It all worked out. And yes, the "all gears by 70" seemed to work fine. I am still a little surprised at how pronounced some of the downshifts are from 3-2 and 2-1.
Question for you. I see more and more talk on the YouTubes about the "exhaust" brake that MRTuning/EOC have for the tuning in Stage 2 package. Do you have any info on that? And yes everyone, I know these diesels don't actually have an exhaust brake....

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