ECU/PCM clone process & pricing

[Idlethunder]

it's early in this thread a few times - https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/ecu-pcm-clone-process-pricing.67939/post-1368371

I'd recommend investing the hour or 2 in reading this whole thread, there is a lot of comments and tips and tricks to make the process easier and more reliable.

Used is doable but you do run the (likely small) chance that the PCM is non-functional or if it was tuned it could be locked. If you don't mind possibly tinkering with it go ahead, else if you just want to get it done and ship it off just buy a new one, they're reasonable. It's been a while since I last read through this thread but I think 1-2 people commented that they did used PCMs.

Thank you for pointing it out! I thought I’d read the whole thing but sure didn’t see it. I understand the risk with used and will probably go with a new one. Will read through the entire thread again tomorrow before ordering anything. Thank you again!

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[Alba]

I wonder if one of you could help me out - I ordered the cloning kit:

(2024 SM2 PRO J2534 V2.22.22 VCI Full Set 69IN1 Dongle Modules V1.21 ECU Programmer Read&Write EEPROM FLASH BENCH Tool 12V/24V)
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...a2756.order-detail-ta-bn-b.0.0.5536f19cUhEygC

.... but didn't receive the CDROM. Can someone share the install files with me, thanks!
Marcus

 

[Idlethunder]

it's early in this thread a few times - https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/ecu-pcm-clone-process-pricing.67939/post-1368371

I'd recommend investing the hour or 2 in reading this whole thread, there is a lot of comments and tips and tricks to make the process easier and more reliable.

Used is doable but you do run the (likely small) chance that the PCM is non-functional or if it was tuned it could be locked. If you don't mind possibly tinkering with it go ahead, else if you just want to get it done and ship it off just buy a new one, they're reasonable. It's been a while since I last read through this thread but I think 1-2 people commented that they did used PCMs.

I have a new blank ECU but after reading through everything I chickened out. Rather than clone it myself, I've asked my service manager about programming it for me. They have no trouble doing it and will charge me an hour labor which is $150. My computer skills aren't great so I'd rather pay than try it myself. What has him concerned is he, and the techs he talked with about it, think once the new ECU is programmed, my key fobs will no longer work with the original ECU, only the new one. I may be over thinking it but that sounds like they want to program a new one as if the old one was damaged, rather than make a clone of the current. Keep in mind this is a small town Oklahoma Dodge/Jeep service department that has never done this before. Are they just wrong, or is there more than one way that a dealership can program a blank ECU?

 

[Gregj]

Key FOB info is stored in the RF hub, the cloned ECU is just an exact copy of the original and indistinguishable from it, the truck doesn’t care which is installed.

As a side note, there is a TSB, I think it is, that locks the RF hub so no new keys can be added to it as a theft prevention strategy. After the flash if you want to add keys you have to replace the RF hub.
Gregj

 

[Idlethunder]

Key FOB info is stored in the RF hub, the cloned ECU is just an exact copy of the original and indistinguishable from it, the truck doesn’t care which is installed.

As a side note, there is a TSB, I think it is, that locks the RF hub so no new keys can be added to it as a theft prevention strategy. After the flash if you want to add keys you have to replace the RF hub.
Gregj

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.

 

[Gregj]

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.

That sounds more plausible, I cloned mine. Maybe someone will chime in who has done it that way.
Gregj

 

[Gladstone]

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.

Maybe reach out to this person - https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...seattle-wenatchee-wa-area.105102/post-1686179

Sounds like they had a dealer do theirs.

 

[bmpcamry09]

For gas powered GPEC guys reading this thread, I’ve had tuning customers find success on the cloning process. I’m not very familiar with it. The guys at

https://gpecunlock.com/order-now/

are super helpful and responsive to email though. Worth calling them. I’ve talked to them a few times and they are very knowledgeable in this process.

On those I believe the key is making sure your cloned PCM and original have the same OS number on them. In other words, first update your original PCM to the latest and greatest software from Jeep, then have them program the new one. But I’ve never experienced it myself. When I developed tuning on these I just sent the original out for unlocking and tuned the original. I don’t understand the point in cloning when you can flash a stock tune back to your vehicle in under a minute if wanting to go back to stock. I get it though for the diesel guys.

 

[Idlethunder]

I’ve had tuning customers find success on the cloning process. I’m not very familiar with it. The guys at

https://gpecunlock.com/order-now/

are super helpful and responsive to email though. Worth calling them. I’ve talked to them a few times and they are very knowledgeable in this process.

I believe the key is making sure your cloned PCM and original have the same OS number on them. In other words, first update your original PCM to the latest and greatest software from Jeep, then have them program the new one. But I’ve never experienced it myself. When I developed tuning on these I just sent the original out for unlocking and tuned the original. I don’t understand the point in cloning when you can flash a stock tune back to your vehicle in under a minute if wanting to go back to stock. I get it though.

They are less than 500 miles so driving up there if they will clone it is the best option I've found. I will contact them and see what they say. My issue isn't necessarily that I want a clone for backup althought that would be nice. The Gladiator is currently my only vehicle and being without it while mine is shipped off would be a problem.

 

[bmpcamry09]

They are less than 500 miles so driving up there if they will clone it is the best option I've found. I will contact them and see what they say. My issue isn't necessarily that I want a clone for backup althought that would be nice. The Gladiator is currently my only vehicle and being without it while mine is shipped off would be a problem.

Definitely makes sense then!

 

[Gregj]

When I developed tuning on these I just sent the original out for unlocking and tuned the original. I don’t understand the point in cloning when you can flash a stock tune back to your vehicle in under a minute if wanting to go back to stock. I get it though.

These are bench tunes and are not unlocked and they change the “key” so you can’t copy them. If you flashed if back to stock you lose the tune and have to pay for it again. I guess their way of protecting their work.
Gregj

 

[bmpcamry09]

These are bench tunes and are not unlocked and they change the “key” so you can’t copy them. If you flashed if back to stock you lose the tune and have to pay for it again. I guess their way of protecting their work.
Gregj

I don’t think we are talking about the same thing. Sorry. I guess you’re talking about diesel stuff. I was talking about gas GOEC stuff.

For the gas side I am a tuner and I’ve done 12 of these just in the past month. You don’t lose the tune if you flash back to stock. A copy of your tuned OS and your factory OS are saved on your laptop computer you flash the tune with and you can swap between them at any time regardless of if your calibrator locked them down or not. HP Tuners tunes are built on factory OS, not a specific custom OS like what Cobb and a few others do. Yes, most tuners “lock” their file so you can’t read it, but it doesn’t prevent you from flashing back to stock and then flashing the tune back on.

 

[bmpcamry09]

My tunes are not bench tunes. No one in the industry really does this anymore. Almost everything is remote. They are done with your own PC and your own MPVI device. The lock only prevents people from copying and selling my work. It does not prevent people from flashing back to stock or flashing their own tune revisions on. Once your PCM is licensed to your MPVI device, you can literally do whatever you want as many times as you want. My personal Jeep I developed on has been flashed over 200 times in development

 

[Gregj]

I don’t think we are talking about the same thing. But you’re wrong about this part of what you said. I am the tuner and I’ve done 12 of these just in the past month. You don’t lose the tune if you flash back to stock. HP Tuners tunes are built on factory OS, not a specific custom OS like what Cobb and a few others do. Yes, most tuners “lock” their file so you can’t read it, but it doesn’t prevent you from flashing back to stock and then flashing the tune back on.

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

 

[bmpcamry09]

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

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.

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