Has anyone successfully gotten a dealer to flash their PCM for non-dealer-installed parts/accessories?

[teamblkdog]

I have and use the Tazer JL mini to program my Mopar Aux switches, Oracle LED lights, 4.88 gears and tire size, all things not installed by the dealer. I had the truck in for my last free oil change and asked what it would cost to have these things flashed so that I don't have to rely on the Tazer. Service manager said no way, we won't do that.

Has anyone successfully gotten a dealer to flash their PCM for non-dealer-installed parts/accessories?

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[kevman65]

There is a sales code they have that they CAN use. But I've found that even if THEY do the install they still don't want to do flash.

Last price I was quoted, 2 years ago, was $150 for each flash they do.

 

[aceisback]

There is a sales code they have that they CAN use. But I've found that even if THEY do the install they still don't want to do flash.

Last price I was quoted, 2 years ago, was $150 for each flash they do.

Hmmm, must do research and go shopping now. It’s always something!?

 

[DAVECS1]

It is not a software flash. It is a setting in the body control module. If you don't like having the Tazer installed Alfa OBDII will set it and also Jscan

 

[Mr._Bill]

For certain options, that were available when the truck was built but not factory installed, a sales code can be added to the VIN profile in the FCA system. This just ensures that the option stays enabled when the dealer does a flash to the truck computer. Otherwise, you have to go back and enable them again when the dealer is done. Finding a dealer that is willing to go through the process can be difficult, especially if you did not pay them to install the option for you.

For example (if I remember correctly), @ShadowsPapa enabled the auto-dimming headlights on his Overland and got the dealer to add the sales code to his VIN profile. They will stay enabled, as if it was factory installed, whenever the truck computer gets updated. I can enable them on my Overland, but cannot get the sales code added to my VIN since the option was not available from the factory when my truck was built.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

For certain options, that were available when the truck was built but not factory installed, a sales code can be added to the VIN profile in the FCA system. This just ensures that the option stays enabled when the dealer does a flash to the truck computer. Otherwise, you have to go back and enable them again when the dealer is done. Finding a dealer that is willing to go through the process can be difficult, especially if you did not pay them to install the option for you.

For example (if I remember correctly), @ShadowsPapa enabled the auto-dimming headlights on his Overland and got the dealer to add the sales code to his VIN profile. They will stay enabled, as if it was factory installed, whenever the truck computer gets updated. I can enable them on my Overland, but cannot get the sales code added to my VIN since the option was not available from the factory when my truck was built.

Yes and no........... the passive entry they added the sales code, then downloaded the new "profile" and flashed and that stuck. That's because passive entry was available on my build date.
But because the auto high beam was part of another package in December and not available in that package in November, that failed. They did put an entry in the online maintenance stuff showing it was done. But if I get a software update or flash, I'll have to put the auto high beam back in.
But if they do anything to my truck I won't have to go back in and reconfigure for passive entry.

And the neat part - I told them I added passive entry myself, I told them I wanted it ordered when I bought at another dealership but the sales guy missed getting it put in the order. They did the contacting Jeep and adding the sales code for free.

 

[teamblkdog]

I’m stuck because I bought mine off the lot. Live and learn.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’m stuck because I bought mine off the lot. Live and learn.

You mean you bought the truck off the lot?
If it was new, What's that got to do with anything?

I bought it from a dealer on the west side of Polk County, the dealership that entered the passive entry sales code into my VIN and did a "flash" with the new configuration on my vehicle to make sure it took and worked did not sell me the truck. They knew I didn't buy it there, and they didn't care where it came from -ordered or off some lot.

I was ready to pay, as I was told earlier "$50 to $100, depending" and I told them I knew it would cost me something, but they did it anyway.

 

[teamblkdog]

You mean you bought the truck off the lot?
If it was new, What's that got to do with anything?

I bought it from a dealer on the west side of Polk County, the dealership that entered the passive entry sales code into my VIN and did a "flash" with the new configuration on my vehicle to make sure it took and worked did not sell me the truck. They knew I didn't buy it there, and they didn't care where it came from -ordered or off some lot.

I was ready to pay, as I was told earlier "$50 to $100, depending" and I told them I knew it would cost me something, but they did it anyway.

I just meant, in hindsight, I wish I’d ordered it the way I wanted it. But that’s also the fun part of owning a Jeep, building it to your needs.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I just meant, in hindsight, I wish I’d ordered it the way I wanted it. But that’s also the fun part of owning a Jeep, building it to your needs.

Gotcha, that makes sense, and yes.
In my case, we ordered the truck, my wife was with me for the final choices and list of options. We specified everything and went over all packages, etc. and more than once she said to the sales guy (as did I) that we wanted passive entry. She had them on her Jeep and we loved them. So he says he's got everything checked and we leave, he places the order - silly me didn't triple check him, and the truck came without passive entry. I tried and tried to find a way to add it, no luck. Dealers, techs, everyone was saying it wasn't possible because of the security built into the BCM, it would have to be replaced or some other bunch of stuff - not possible everyone was saying. Then someone figured out how to do it on Wrangler - and then the magic came over to the Gladiator forums and bingo, there's a way.
I ordered the parts and added it.
Then someone said "a dealer willing to do the work can add that sales code to your VIN" so that future "flashes" or updates to the systems wouldn't remove the settings. But it would cost as it involved time and work and wasn't warranty.
I think when I explained that another sales person missed getting it ordered for us - this dealership decided to do it for free as sort of a good will thing. But I was willing to pay and told them so when I dropped it off.

 

[teamblkdog]

Gotcha, that makes sense, and yes.
In my case, we ordered the truck, my wife was with me for the final choices and list of options. We specified everything and went over all packages, etc. and more than once she said to the sales guy (as did I) that we wanted passive entry. She had them on her Jeep and we loved them. So he says he's got everything checked and we leave, he places the order - silly me didn't triple check him, and the truck came without passive entry. I tried and tried to find a way to add it, no luck. Dealers, techs, everyone was saying it wasn't possible because of the security built into the BCM, it would have to be replaced or some other bunch of stuff - not possible everyone was saying. Then someone figured out how to do it on Wrangler - and then the magic came over to the Gladiator forums and bingo, there's a way.
I ordered the parts and added it.
Then someone said "a dealer willing to do the work can add that sales code to your VIN" so that future "flashes" or updates to the systems wouldn't remove the settings. But it would cost as it involved time and work and wasn't warranty.
I think when I explained that another sales person missed getting it ordered for us - this dealership decided to do it for free as sort of a good will thing. But I was willing to pay and told them so when I dropped it off.

That makes complete sense. I'm happy with the Tazer, so it's not all bad. I just liked the idea of being legit when it comes to being out in the middle of nowhere relying on an aftermarket dongle.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I hear ya - it's one reason, among others, that I carry the Bluetooth OBD adapter and have JSCAN and AlfaOBD on my phone. If anything happens, I can diagnose, read codes, and if any settings go goofy, I can easily put things back. I've never had anything "disappear" on me but that OBD adapter sits so easily in the bottom of the console.
It is nice to have some stuff with the VIN so of the dealership has to do any serious work, change anything - like do any sort of an update (the emissions update, body control module work for any reason) most things remain in place.

I recommend that anyone who makes any changes, once you are happy with how it all works, such as tire size changes - write it down or if it's possible, do an export of all current settings.
It also makes for easier diagnostics - a baseline - it's all working fine, here is how everything is set, then if something stops working or you believe something has changed, you can compare.
I have no idea if tazer can do any sort of thing like logging or saving current settings to a file - if so, cool, if not - not all is lost just keep a notepad in the glovebox with your settings changes.

 

[Pescado]

About a month ago the dealer quoted me $350 just to update my tire size.

Is there any other option besides a tazer to change tire size, that's all I want to do.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

About a month ago the dealer quoted me $350 just to update my tire size.

Is there any other option besides a tazer to change tire size, that's all I want to do.

Jscan, AlfaOBD - software and a bluetooth OBD adapter. Software on your phone connected via BT to the truck.
You'll need a security bypass cable, the adapter and the software. It's cheaper, and it's handy for logging errors, misfires, checking error codes, resetting error codes, changing tire sizes, whatever.
I've changed the tire size on mine more than once using my phone and the software.

This is AlfaOBD on my tablet but you can use a phone - JSCAN is locked to a VIN when you license it and is cheaper if you have one Jeep. Under 25 bucks, and will do what most Jeep owners would ever want to do. If you have 3 Jeeps, AlfaOBD is not locked to a VIN.
You need the cable shown and BT adapter.
I believe JSCAN software can be bought inside the demo version for something under 25 bucks. Download the demo, check it out, then buy it right inside the demo via Google PlayStore.
Jscan is more intuitive than AlfaOBD for simple tire size type things.

 

[IanNubbit]

So We CAN do some of this stuff, but for 1.) It's not free, Stellantis now charges the dealer when sending requests to change these options. They made this price about $200 US. This is all new and only happened in the past few months. 2.) They made it EXTREMELY limited now, Used to be able to change to just LED headlights but normal Fogs, or just LED taillights, now we can't. It has to be all or none, as we can only add a sales code's which gets reported to Stellantis, which then allows us to flash the BCM to load these changes. At the dealer level, the settings cannot be changed directly to the BCM, or any Module like that. It has to be directed to corporate and back and like stated, cost the dealer money that they then have to charge you, along with having you pay for the tech doing the flash.

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