Computer Reflash???
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
Computer Reflash???
Read an article last night saying after a few years the C5's computer needs to be "reflashed" to install "updates." Is this true, what's involved and what's the cost and what is "reflashed?" Does it apply to ALL C5's or only stock and who does the reflashing? The more I read about Vettes, the more I feel I needed to enroll in brain surgery school. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,245
Likes: 1,092
From: Dyer, IN
Read an article last night saying after a few years the C5's computer needs to be "reflashed" to install "updates." Is this true, what's involved and what's the cost and what is "reflashed?" Does it apply to ALL C5's or only stock and who does the reflashing? The more I read about Vettes, the more I feel I needed to enroll in brain surgery school.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 326
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Reflashes offered by the dealer are just to update your tune IF the factory finds a mistake or to update settings that they have found to be incorrect or a new setting they have found that works better-
Most common in the Duramax's---The dealer will often do a re-flash without your asking for one or without your knowlefge
I would never let them reflash a car with an aftermarket tune--as you will lose the tune--I subcribe to the "don't ask don't tell " policy whrn it comes to a car with a tune--Never volenteer that your car has been tuned--just say it runs good--These days the dealer will look for any reson to not honor your warranty or a somg shop will not pass your car if you say it's tuned just so they can ding you for another $39
ALSO reflashed set ALL your" readiness monitors" to not ready--so if you are in the midst of trying to get it smogged--you will have to drive it apprx 50-75 miles to set the monitors to "ready"
It also deletes all your codes so if you have a problem with the engine the codes will be gone--Make sure you read the codes before a reflah--
Most common in the Duramax's---The dealer will often do a re-flash without your asking for one or without your knowlefge
I would never let them reflash a car with an aftermarket tune--as you will lose the tune--I subcribe to the "don't ask don't tell " policy whrn it comes to a car with a tune--Never volenteer that your car has been tuned--just say it runs good--These days the dealer will look for any reson to not honor your warranty or a somg shop will not pass your car if you say it's tuned just so they can ding you for another $39
ALSO reflashed set ALL your" readiness monitors" to not ready--so if you are in the midst of trying to get it smogged--you will have to drive it apprx 50-75 miles to set the monitors to "ready"
It also deletes all your codes so if you have a problem with the engine the codes will be gone--Make sure you read the codes before a reflah--
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,294
Likes: 1,579
From: Western NY
I posted the same question about 2 weeks ago, with only one reply (thanks, "8VETTE7").... There was a "sidebar" that mentioned this, in the current Corvette Central catalog, on the page where they sell BCMs and PCMs.
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Tech Contributor
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Whenever I would take my 02 ZO6 into the dealer for WARRANTY Work (yes it had a tune) I would ask to examine the warranty work order paperwork and in the remarks block, I would write in LARGE PRINT "DO NOT REFLASH THE PCM"
I never had an issue and they didn’t have an issues honoring the request.
YES,,, a PCM re-flash will completely remove any aftermarket TUNE!
If you have major mods like a CAM, different Injectors and ported heads, your car might not even RUN after the re-flash. Then its going to cost you $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ cause there going to want to replace high dollar stuff to try to get it to run again!!
YES it happens.
BC
I never had an issue and they didn’t have an issues honoring the request.
YES,,, a PCM re-flash will completely remove any aftermarket TUNE!
If you have major mods like a CAM, different Injectors and ported heads, your car might not even RUN after the re-flash. Then its going to cost you $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ cause there going to want to replace high dollar stuff to try to get it to run again!!
YES it happens.
BC
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
Found the article while surfing old threads on C5 Technical last night. Article did warn against reflashing if you'd done mods to the engine. Thanks for the quality info again. You guys are the best.
