SCT FlashTuner Fallout? All the info is here.

[Badcooky]

Apparently the Chiptorque guys can still operate,Lachlan Riddel has spoken to a few people.

[genebaby]

Now is the time to go Sniper all over Aust. Not sure who's tuning with it apart from in WA.

[vcmswt]

Originally Posted by snappy84

Is there another product that has a box to switch between tunes.

Also replying to Philstoj and others:

I don't think you understand the way VCM works.

Please don't think box for a minute, think about a product that via a Laptop that can tune directly the PCM in your vehicle - thousands of parameters - to any extent you like.

As to the number of tunes that this 'software' can store: The number is quite literally, unlimited!

The cost of the VCM Suite software is: $1295 and this includes a dongle and hardware to interface between the OBD2 port in your vehicle and a laptop. Furthermore it comes with software covering all (as time goes by) BA and BF vehicles - with FG coming soon (sorry Philstoj but at this stage AU is not supported likewise the XR5), plus all 5.7, 6.0, 6.2 and 7.0 litre Commodores plus many Alloytec.

Point being that for the princely sum mentioned, you have the ability (licence wise) to tune 4 vehicles straight up (as long as you have an AFR wideband - which is a necessary tool with every tuner) and at today’s cost, add another $184 per vehicle (@ 63 cents to the USD!). It doesn't matter whether it is turbo, supercharged or NA, it remains the same.

Furthermore, given a little more time we will also be introducing full tunability of the 6-speed auto trans.

So let's get this straight... for $1295 you can have a box with a million tunes in it if this is what you want. You are also able to tune another 3 of your mates’ vehicles.

So bang for your dollar... I will let you work this out.

P.S. Don’t think that the cost though should have a bearing on a tunershop’s pricing due to the fact that a well equipped workshop may have invested as much as $300,000 on a dyno and dyno cell – as we have), plus all other relevant equipment, there are heavy running costs, they may have undertaken training with us and have spent countless hours refining their skills. So do not sell the workshop’s short!)

[geckoGT]

So in essence, there is potential for us to go to the tuner, have four tunes sorted for our vehicle and be given the files for those tunes for our laptop. Then we can swap and change tunes as we need. Is that correct?

Excuse me if that sounds like a dumb question but sometimes you have to ask the obvious rather than incorrectly assue. may of us have no interest in any tuning ourselves, just a desire to be able to swap between custom tunes.

[vcmswt]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

So in essence, there is potential for us to go to the tuner, have four tunes sorted for our vehicle and be given the files for those tunes for our laptop. Then we can swap and change tunes as we need. Is that correct?

Excuse me if that sounds like a dumb question but sometimes you have to ask the obvious rather than incorrectly assue. may of us have no interest in any tuning ourselves, just a desire to be able to swap between custom tunes.

No, sorry gecko.

Our product is not sold as a 'box' to the consumer by workshops. As I said in the first instance, forget about a box. It is a fully fledged tuning tool that allows a Workshop or Home tuner to modify the parameters in their car's PCM.

It comes with hardware that allows the tuner (whoever it is - workshop or home) to - with the base 'starter package' - tune 4 individual Ford vehicles. Each vehicle can have as many tunes as the customer or owner wants - as previously stated, a million if you want.

When referring to a workshop tuning a customer vehicle with VCM Suite, they can - at the consumer's request, create as many tunes as the customer desires. If this is what they want and are prepared to pay for it. But the reality is, in Australia there would be in the vicinity of 100,000 'tuned" VT-VE Commodores, none of which have a 'box with 3 tunes' to choose from.

The fact that SCT has offered this means that as a matter of course Ford owners think that this is necessary. But you know, I have spoken to many of our tuners about this and the majority of workshops have issues with it such as;
The customer forgot to bring his box with him/her.
The customer lost the box.
The customer broke the box.
The customer changed the tune and now the car is pinging.
And so it goes.

I must ask. How many of you actually swap between tunes? And if you do, for what purpose?

If it is to go to the drags, you know, it's perhaps best considering taking the car to the workshop anyway to check everything is right to hit the 1/4. If you have a good repour with a workshop this should be a no brainer.

So getting back to the question - no question is dumb. As to your suggestion that swapping between tunes is important to you, I really question the pertinence given the history within the GM market. And we all know how strong the Commodores scene is both at night, at circuits around the country and at the drag strip.

[snappy]

At the end of the day im at the mercy of my tuners decision for the program he go with. Even if that the xcal 3 (god forbid)
But if you are saying i can take his tunes for my car home with me to store on my laptop it not bad. Not a good as the box but still good.

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by vcmswt

The fact that SCT has offered this means that as a matter of course Ford owners think that this is necessary. But you know, I have spoken to many of our tuners about this and the majority of workshops have issues with it such as;
The customer forgot to bring his box with him/her.
The customer lost the box.
The customer broke the box.
The customer changed the tune and now the car is pinging.
And so it goes.

Thanks for the updates and plug on the vcm suite,
I don't think VCM will be offering anything for our old x cal box.

now its time to revert back to x cal 1 this is the issue at hand.
.

[gtp]

From 8 am yesterday to midday today I have had disgruntled X1 & X2 customers asking what the future was for their investment. Most people understand that technology must move forward with the SCT brand however it is unjust on a consumer level to render their product useless for further use. This is not the product that they purchased and if they had known that this was the case then they would have opted for a tuning solution that catered for their future requirements.

I am also bitterly disappointed in the decision making process that has come about and hope that a fair reconciliation for the function of the tuning software can be restored.

I am also sure that other solutions to stamp out piracy on the product as indicated can be engineered without interfering with the daily business of SCT dealers and past present and future customers.

Barry.

[DJL351]

Oh, joy!

So, because a dealer(s) decised to try and break the rules, by allowing client to use a up-loading box (for lack of a better way of saying it) to up-load tunes, then reset the same box to allow the next client to do the same, we all now get to suffer.

So the plans I had for my car over the next couple of months will have to be put on the back-burnner until such time I can afford a new Tune Device too.

Awesome - Thank you.

[snappy]

I must ask. How many of you actually swap between tunes?

I swap between tunes all the time.
When im working or driving long distances it goes on the economy tune .
When im playing the performance tune goes in .
When my car is in a workshop or somone else is driving the valet tune goes on.
When i can't get 98 my factory tune goes in.

my tune gets changed a least twice a week . An have been really happy till now that my next mod is going to cost a grand more than i planned.

[Justin@]

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11248364
SCT replies

[Badcooky]

I think they've shot themselves in the foot.
Who will buy their stuff now?

[gtp]

Originally Posted by DJL351

Oh, joy!

So, because a dealer(s) decised to try and break the rules, by allowing client to use a up-loading box (for lack of a better way of saying it) to up-load tunes, then reset the same box to allow the next client to do the same, we all now get to suffer.

So the plans I had for my car over the next couple of months will have to be put on the back-burnner until such time I can afford a new Tune Device too.

Awesome - Thank you.

This is only a minor setback for people that have flashtuner 1 and flash tuner 2 devices that need further tuning, however we are still running with our software until we run out of burns plus we still have an old version of Advantage that is still operative from the ol day's.

There is the option of other devices also. We will also consider some sort of buy back scheme as concepted by SCT to help out customers get into these new devices.

Barry.

[loony888]

Quote:
After speaking with many Dealers and Customers in Australia and New Zealand a solution is now available.

SCT will be reactivating honest dealers to continue supporting their customers via X1 devices. This is a temporary activation and will be available for the next 90 days and dealers must contact SCT to become active to tune X1 boxes. The intention of this activation is to show that SCT strives for customer satisfaction.

Please understand the main reason for the shutdown was regarding a violation of our license agreement by a dealer. The intentional resetting of locked boxes is prohibited and will not be tolerated. SCT reacted to raise awareness but feels that dealers must take an active role in securing their customers best intentions as well.

Remember that those found to be unlocking our devices and re-flashing will be cut off and will not be eligible to buy or support SCT product of any kind.

As always, if you need anything or want to report abuse, please do not hesitate to contact us.

SCT’s goal has always been to provide a top notch product and with the help of our dealers, we can prove once again that SCT can support the world's most important automobiles...YOURS!

Please contact your local dealer for support.

Charlie@sct





so, SCT acknowledge they have MANY dealers and customers in aus and nz, SCT made the decision to render our boxes useless as a response to A (one) dealers actions! they then pad their waffle with insulting condescending diatribe about reactivating our property being a demonstration that SCT strive for customer satisfaction!!!
really? do you?
let's see, you also state you did this to raise awareness. your PR machine must be on the blink mate, cause raise awareness you certainly have but at what cost to yourselves, dealers and customers?
If you have an issue with ONE dealer, then use the legal system to prosecute them to the full extent of the law, raising public awareness of your business issues in the way you have done is not only highly unprofessional but in my view extortion. you make a top notch product? maybe, but after you have raised my awareness of your conduct as a business i will look elsewhere, and i imagine i won't be alone.

paul.
p.s it's for the best that this forum censors offensive language otherwise my true opinion of this farcical situation would have been made fully clear, i hope rob herrod eventually finds his way to a computer to read the thread in it's entirity and maybe offer a reply, unless he's misplaced his keyboard........

[SpoolMan]

Pick it up here, maybe this thread we can keep it technical level.
It would take a long time sift through what is relevant information.

Originally Posted by XR8.001

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11248364
SCT replies