Vag com faults after remap

[SO8]

i thought that bluefin resets the flash counter now? although i dont see why you would keep swapping maps unless you were taking it for a service, so it shouldn't really make much difference.

That's what they told me when I spoke to them ..... it didn't used to do it but does now.  Apparently every time you reflash the ECU it applies a '-1' to the flash counter so effectively remains as it was to prying eyes.

not true any more it resets now

  That's effectively what I was saying .... I think

[182_blue]

They all leave a flash count.  However, sommat like Revo, where all their codes are loaded onto the ECU, they just make one flash count.  With Bluefin, each time you upload/download to/form the handset, a new flash count is added each time.

Dispite what they may tell you, there is no way round this on modern MED ECUs.  Only on the earlier types of ECUs is it possible to disable, or re-write the flash count.

Just because you have bluefin doesnt mean you need to keep flashing and unflashing LOL, ok so with a Revo the map is on the car when at the dealers, wont they notice this then ?, and the switch just turns the map off then ?, so i guess they know this is still there too then

[SO8]

With Revo or APR the 'performance' map is encrypted .... surely if the dealer had something to try and view the settings on this bit they would see they couldn't ... as it's encrypted .... which, no matter what 'map' from Revo or APR the car is using at that time, would indicate the car has been remapped.

With Superchips, if put back - reflashed - to standard ... they see the original map with nothing hidden or encrypted.  The only potential issue is the flash counter which Superchips say is now reset every time you reflash.

Much as I prefer the idea of Revo or APR the Superchips map appeals for this reason alone....

[Teutonic_Tamer]

They all leave a flash count.  However, sommat like Revo, where all their codes are loaded onto the ECU, they just make one flash count.  With Bluefin, each time you upload/download to/form the handset, a new flash count is added each time.

Dispite what they may tell you, there is no way round this on modern MED ECUs.  Only on the earlier types of ECUs is it possible to disable, or re-write the flash count.

Just because you have bluefin doesnt mean you need to keep flashing and unflashing LOL, ok so with a Revo the map is on the car when at the dealers, wont they notice this then ?, and the switch just turns the map off then ?, so i guess they know this is still there too then

But with a Bluefin, the map is stored on the handset thingy.  When you first get your handset, you have to plug it in to your OBD port, where it reads the data of the map already stored.  You then hook up the 'fin to the internet, where your OEM map is "stored" at SC hq (this is so you can not use the Bluefin on more than one car), and SC then send a new map to the handset.  Superchips coding is such that only one map is actually stored on the ECU.

Revo is different, in that their map is directly written to the ECU just once, thus completely overwriting the original VW map.  However, the maps supplied by Revo have much more data in them, and the SPS simply selects and adjusts one of the three main variables.

So, with Revo, no matter how many times you play with the SPS, you arn't affecting the flash count.  However, with the Bluefin, each time you revert to standard, or then reload the SC map, the flash counter is added to.

[182_blue]

Installing the map only uses one flash as far as I'm aware, as the first hook up just reads the code, anyway flash count aside the dealer won't need to look at the flash count as it will be obvious the car has a map if it's still on the car

[topher]

Little birdie tells me its possible to hack the flash count checksum on MED ecu's now. Although I'll believe it when I see it.

[182_blue]

Most things are hackable ;-)

[Teutonic_Tamer]

With Revo or APR the 'performance' map is encrypted ....surely if the dealer had something to try and view the settings on this bit they would see they couldn't ... as it's encrypted .... which, no matter what 'map' from Revo or APR the car is using at that time, would indicate the car has been remapped.

All maps from all suppliers are "encrypted".  And the stealer won't actually know what map is physically stored on the ECU chip - and that is where the potential for damage lies.  The stealers kit cannot actually try and "look" for what type of map is on the ECU.

Because OEM VW maps are written with a "sequential check code" hidden in them - if any OEM map is written to an ECU which does not contain the "previous" oem map, the overwrite of this new map can actually completely lock the ECU.  Once that happens, the ECU is scrap, and a complete new ECU must be purchased and fitted.

The only way the stealer will know that it has had a remap is from the flash count.  And like I said, the GTI ECUs flash count can NOT be reset, dispite anyone saying otherwise.  Only the the Bosch ME series and older can have the flash count altered.

With Superchips, if put back - reflashed - to standard ... they see the original map with nothing hidden or encrypted.  The only potential issue is the flash counter which Superchips say is now reset every time you reflash.

Exactly.  Revo equals just one flash count.  Bluefin equals one flash count everytime you switch from and to standard and SC map.

Much as I prefer the idea of Revo or APR the Superchips map appeals for this reason alone....

Sorry, but I dont agree.  Each will register flash count, and if you like to repeatedly swap a Bluefin map, you are gonna add an aweful lot of flash counts.  The stealers will then know you have a Bluefin, and being as most stealers don't rate SC maps, it will be very clear that your warranty could be on very thin ice.  Don't forget that some VAG stealers actually offer Revo maps, with a warranty, because Revo have been proven over the years not to be damaging to engines.  This can not be said for maps from other companies.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Installing the map only uses one flash as far as I'm aware, as the first hook up just reads the code, anyway flash count aside the dealer won't need to look at the flash count as it will be obvious the car has a map if it's still on the car

Not necessarily so.  I repeatedly get asked/accused that my GTI has had a remap - when it most certainly aint.  On all my cars, I run them in correctly, and they then develop above average power.  Even my <cough> pre VAG cars stealers used to ask the same.

But more importantly, irrespective of the actual flash count, I think it is reasonable to assume that most so-called techies emplyed by the stealers arnt the most brightest!  They may not actually check the flash count before applying a new OEM map - and unwittingly frazzle your ECU.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Most things are hackable ;-)

That may be true, but even if the flash count were hacked, how would you overcome the oem sequential code check?