Here it goes,

I had a Superchips 1700 and used it without a problem for about 4 months. I probably switched tuning 7-8 times over that period and never once had so much as a single issue. Last time I took it out I verified that the stock program was installed and it was not VIN locked to my truck.

Fast forward 6 months. After sitting in my closet for 6 months without being used, I decide to sell it on fleabay. Guy I sell it too has issue with it. When it gets to the point of installing Superchips tuning, it says something to the effect of "Call Manufactuer for an Update." The buyer called Superchips and said that they would update the unit for $100! By that time my customer would be nearly to a DP money wise!

Do you guys have any clue what would cause it to do this? It worked fine for me, the guy I bought it from. The buyer said he tried it in both a 2001 and a 2002 and got the same message in both trucks.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

may be a different PCM,after replacing my PCM my hypertec done the same thing
I had to send it in with proof the PCM had been replaed

 

I was thinking that it might be a programming issue on the Superchips. The guy I bought it from purchased it in 2000 or 2001 to use with his '99. My truck is a fairly early 01 (11/00) and the two trucks the guy I sold it to tried it on are an 01 wich might be newer, and an 02. Maybe Ford changed the programing/pcm just enough later in 01 so that the 1700 would not work in it's original form?? Just a guess.

 

I got the tuner back from they guy I sold it to. I go out to my truck and I get the "tuner requires an update" message. Tuner worked fine on my truck before I sent it out.

The purchaser claims that he called Superchips and they told him that the newer truck's PCM was different which is what required the update. (BTW which they wanted $100 for). I know that is not true, since if that was the case it would still work in my truck.

I am going to call Superchips tomorrow, but I could use an opinion here. I see two senarios here.

#1. Buyer is a crook, he installed it and sent it back to me VIN locked which is causing the "Tuner requires update" message, or he did something stupid to cause this to happen and isn't talking.

#2. Superchips programmed these things so that when it sees more than 2 different VINs, it locks itself up so you the third user/owner has to send it in and pay them more money.

Any ideas guys? Right know I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I just took back a product after I said I would refund the money but now I am not sure if the buyer is screwing me over. And to top it all off, I have a tuner that used to work fine which is now completely worthless.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

i have an 02 with the 1700 in it and had no problems and im the third one to use it too! so i think this guy might be trying to get something for free here. let me know how it goes and best of luck to you!

 

The other guy will have more of a problem if he installed it on his truck and sent the tuner back to you. You have stock, and he can't change his back without the tuner.

 

I called Superchips, and I asked them what would cause that message. They said if the dealer reflashes the PCM with a new updated program that the tuner is not compatible with, it will cause the message. Now that I think about it, I had a transmission put in in November after I took the 1700 out. I bet they reflashed my PCM and didn't ask/tell me.

I'm going to call back tomorrow to double check that the message isn't caused by progeaming one truck and then placing into another. If it turns out only to be caused by reflashing of the PCM, I'm going to go down to the dealer and have a little chat with the service manager about modifying data on my privately owned computer without consent.

 

The message will be "TUNER IS VIN LOCKED" if it were programmed to another truck.
Joe

 

I used mine on 5 different trucks so I dont think they did that.

 

natewoz,

You may what to PM FTE member Power_Hungry about any questions you have about

your Superchips tuner, He was a Superchips tech and has a lot of knowledge on how they work. Hope this helps.

 

My tuner used to be installed on my 97 Powerstroke, works just fine on the 2000. So I don't think it's an issue of not working on more then one truck. Sounds to me like the dealer re-flashed your PCM. IF you can get them to fess up to that, they might pay for the updating of the superchip. Just depends on the dealer