Tuner Experts?????
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Tuner Experts?????
Is it possible for a ecm to "lose" a tune program due to battery/electrical power loss for an extended period of time. I bought a 98 in Dec. of 08 and drove it for about a year before having it in the shop for paint for several months. While it was down the battery crapped out. After a new battery and getting the car back I have noticed the performance characteristics seem to have changed, and I'm experiencing the activation of the "CAGS" system, I had never experienced a CAGS incident or had the 1/4 light come on the entire time I have owned the car prior. The only explanation I can come up with is that the car had been "tuned" and now has reverted to stock configuration. Could that have happened due to a dead battery for an extended period????? 
Last edited by chadman; Dec 23, 2010 at 09:42 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
I'm pretty sure the CAGS was disabled via a tune when I bought it. I never ever had seen the light or experienced the cags shift lock in over a year of driving, then suddenly I began getting it often...(I now have a cags bypass device and it works great) but can't explain why I suddenly started experiencing cags events.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
As mentioned you can't lose a tune---HOWEVER anytime the battery is dis-connected the fuel trims are re-set to "0" and have to be learned out-- This takes about 30-50 miles of normal driving and maybe a little more on a modded engine---Performance suffers IF you have positive fuel trims at P/T as that % is then added to your WOT fueling as well until the trims get back to "0"--(as a safety) a negative fuel trim however locks on "0" as a safety as well----
VATS----If the car sat for a long time--especially in a dusty sanding bodyshop environment--more than likely sanding dust got into your ignition key switch and is NOT allowing the pill to read correctly--Try cleaning out the keyhole with some sort of cleaner and clean the key itself
VATS----If the car sat for a long time--especially in a dusty sanding bodyshop environment--more than likely sanding dust got into your ignition key switch and is NOT allowing the pill to read correctly--Try cleaning out the keyhole with some sort of cleaner and clean the key itself
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Still puzzled!!!!
I did have to car towed to a dealer when I experienced the dreaded "column lock" after replacing the battery. They diagnosed the problem but I had found the CLB on the forum so I didn't have them fix it. Could the dealer have dropped the "tune" while diagnosing the problem? This is car just doesn't perform the same as it did before!! Gas mileage is down, CAGS, performance down, idle irratic.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 2
From: Cedarburg, WI
I did have to car towed to a dealer when I experienced the dreaded "column lock" after replacing the battery. They diagnosed the problem but I had found the CLB on the forum so I didn't have them fix it. Could the dealer have dropped the "tune" while diagnosing the problem? This is car just doesn't perform the same as it did before!! Gas mileage is down, CAGS, performance down, idle irratic.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 833
Likes: 2
From: Boca FL
I did have to car towed to a dealer when I experienced the dreaded "column lock" after replacing the battery. They diagnosed the problem but I had found the CLB on the forum so I didn't have them fix it. Could the dealer have dropped the "tune" while diagnosing the problem? This is car just doesn't perform the same as it did before!! Gas mileage is down, CAGS, performance down, idle irratic.
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Tech Contributor
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Your tune went bye bye.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Hey,,, now is a good time to add a couple bolt on mods and then get re-tuned. VARARAM and headers will wake that car up nicely. You can also drop on an LS6 /2001+ intake manifold. Then top those changes off with a Corvettes of Westchester tune via EFI Live AUTOCAL.
BC
BC
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Jasper, GA
St. Jude Donor '10
Best to note the custom tune to any of the service managers before turning in your car. A flash update is a very common operation for GM/Chev dealerships on vehicles especially with pending TBs and such. Hopefully, the person you bought your vette from can get you with the tuner. Some of the tuners do keep their tunes and might reload for a nominal fee. Some might even do it for free. With that said, most also password protect the PCM tune to prevent this from occuring and/or copying their specific tune. If you are able to get back with the tuner, I would suggest having the tune PCM password protected, also keep the password, you paid for the tune. Just a good thing if you ever forget or a GM tech is doing their normal routine. At least it won't be $400 to $500 to retune. Wishing you best of luck with getting your vette back to game on.
Mike C sends
Mike C sends
