ECU/PCM clone process & pricing

[ryandoubleu]

People have different motivations but I think part of the desire to clone the stock ECM for many is to tune the second one, leaving the original entirely intact and original. Not like they're going to go poking around unless they have reason to suspect something, but I'm sure they're able to see that a ECM has been recently flashed.

Once you've popped the ECM in and out a couple times it becomes a trivial task. I can swap mine in under 10 minutes.

I'm speaking as somebody who overwrote their original ECM because I was being cheap, but in hindsight I wish I'd cloned first and kept the original. And that's what I recommend others do.

I gave up trying to get a clone as the dealerships in my area didn’t want to do it.

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[ParatusExpeditions]

Not on temu, but this is the one I got from AliExpress.

can you send a link again when you have a chance? This one is not working. Especially I’m interested to test the claim that it can clone a tuned ECU as this is one of the things holding me off even considering it.

thanks you!

 

[BlueScapegoat]

can you send a link again when you have a chance? This one is not working. Especially I’m interested to test the claim that it can clone a tuned ECU as this is one of the things holding me off even considering it.

thanks you!

That was the specific one I used. If the link doesn't work then just find whatever other listing matches the descriptions in this thread. That's all I did. I can't specifically endorse one as working when the listing I used is no longer valid.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

So just out of curiosity....anyone here doing the cloning for others....I have a spare and I am looking to get the cloning done before sending out to GDE or EOC....not sure which I will choose yet.

Just wanting to see if any of yooz want to make a few bucks.

I wouldn't be opposed to doing it. Worked for me and it was easy enough. I'm not sure I want to assume the responsibility of it possibly going wrong though. I don't know how to mitigate that risk and feel comfortable about it.

And to even make it worth it to me (what like a 6 pack?) plus shipping back and forth you can easily buy the device on aliexpress and do it yourself

 

[Bananaman]

can you send a link again when you have a chance? This one is not working. Especially I’m interested to test the claim that it can clone a tuned ECU as this is one of the things holding me off even considering it.

thanks you!

I noticed it wasn't available yesterday also, but it was there at the time Bluescapegoat posted it. They must change listings as they sell out.

 

[rharr]

This is what you are looking for on aliexpress

SM2Pro J2534 VCI Pcm ECU Programmer V2.21.22 PCM TOOL

The dongle stuff gets weird but i think you want the 1.20 - 67 dongle. Either way the dongle is the easy thing to order if you get the wrong one.

I would just temper your expectations and realize you are not dealing with amazon and what ever you spend is throw away money. What i mean is what ever you order might be what you need and might not be, since the listing are sometimes confusing and also have sub options that make it more confusing.

I had to order some stuff twice to get what i needed, it's a crappy deal but that is the joy of knock off Chinese electronics (why i had a spare to sell..)

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/ecu-pcm-clone-process-pricing.67939/post-1368371

 

[ParatusExpeditions]

So I already have a kit dating from last year or something that looks similar to what is on aliexpress when I search for what you suggested @rharr. What's new to me is that it might work on locked ECUs. So that's great

Thanks!

 

[Treader]

Most interesting part on this is the ability to clone a TUNE ECM. I want to upgrade, but I guess still keep my STOCK ECM for a rainy day. But to send my TUNE ECM off, I would have to reinstall the diffuser tube to reinstall the STOCK ECM (one of the main things that can be done with the Stage 1). Yes, I removed the diffuser tube (EGR to Intake). I have ran like this for a year with no ill side effects.

 

[rharr]

Most interesting part on this is the ability to clone a TUNE ECM. I want to upgrade, but I guess still keep my STOCK ECM for a rainy day. But to send my TUNE ECM off, I would have to reinstall the diffuser tube to reinstall the STOCK ECM (one of the main things that can be done with the Stage 1). Yes, I removed the diffuser tube (EGR to Intake). I have ran like this for a year with no ill side effects.

There have not been enough data points to confirm if you can clone all the multiple variants of Tuned ECM's out there.

Current 1 yes, 1 no from a data set of 2.

 

[Treader]

Oh, I wouldn't try it. If I did, I would probably buy a third ecm (for CLONE TUNE ECM) to see if it works. Then it becomes is it worth $250 to keep the Stage 1 for a month while the TUNE ECM is sent to Canada. Since I am a cheapass, I would just reinstall all oem equipment.

 

[MaximusTX]

I found it on this site

2.21.21 SM2 Pro J2534 VCI ECU Programmer Read Write ECU Tool

It is a little more expensive especially with the software.

 

[krweatherl]

I must have one of the few great dealerships. It was no problem getting a new/spare ecm and having it flashed. Just got it done yesterday $560 total. Just shipped out my original to GDE for the unlock. I was planning to ship the new/spare but GDE recommended shipping the original or one with at least 1000-1500 miles on it. In the meantime The truck has the new/spare in it and doesn’t know the difference.

 

[drdfblackm]

If I'm honest...my local dealership is....well.....the absolute worst. I go hour away to go to a better dealer that understands and deals with actual off roaded jeeps (they maintain Nina Barlow's Jeeps for her business). I might ask them...but in the back of my head, I don't want to tip them off I am tuning by Gladiator. I mean lifts and diffs are in my head different than the ECM and tuning....I know maybe I'm way off on this.

I suppose I could ask a dealer in Phoenix but then that's a much more involved trip with time, distance and traffic.

All the above is why I asked here if anyone with good experience would consider cloning for a fee.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

Just cloned another one for a coworker, a stock unit. Start to finish, opening the hood, removing the ECM, copying, writing to the new one, testing the new one in the truck and reinstalling the original and backing down my driveway was an hour long process. Just to give an idea of the amount of time it takes if you're thinking about doing it yourself.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

I was planning to ship the new/spare but GDE recommended shipping the original or one with at least 1000-1500 miles on it.

I wonder the reasoning behind that. Is it just so they know the ECM is good and they can't get improperly blamed if the ECM turns out to be defective? That's my best guess.

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