Vicarious.

I took my '98 vette to get some issues resolved with the new engine install and grab a fresh tune.

But when he plugged his laptop into my dash, he found out that my ECM is locked by HP Tuners. We have to wait a few days for the Master Engineer from HP Tuners to send some type of a code to unlock my ECM.

I just bought this car... and I have no idea what the last guy did with a tuner...what I can't understand is why in the world would it be locked?

Has anyone else ever ran into this?

Jnape

Was the new engine not tuned by the installer? How many mods in the new install? Is it a different tuner now?

Vicarious.

New engine was installed by a local mechanic shop. I got a new heads & cammed 6.0L short block for nearly free by letting him have the labor involved. After everything was installed, we put it in a trailer and hauled it to a tuner in the city.

My mechanic had re-wired some grounds that had looked ghetto-rigged and now the vette doesn't seem like its firing on both banks. (tuner thinks the issue is grounding on the drivers-side of the block)

We are going to just wait until the ECM issue gets resolved first before we dig any deeper yet.

The sad part is, my car ran just fine before all this work was done to it. It was on the verge of death but at least it ran...


previous thread here
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...t-fire-up.html

vettenuts

Some tuners lock the PCM when they tune the car. PO may not have even known unless he did the tuning.

dgrant3830

When I had my '99 tuned years ago, I specifically stated up front, it was not to be locked and it wasn't.

Wicked Weasel

Yup some tuners are famous for locking tunes for various reasons like trying to protect you from having someone accidently overwrite the tune or saying they want to make sure no one else can steal their tune.

In the end it is a potential hassle for the owner of the car if something needs to be looked at.

I know people who had work done on their car and when it came time for tuning the pcm was locked. Some of the them sent the pcm backed to the tuner to unlock while others just bought another pcm because they couldn't wait (I guess if the tuner was out of business you would have no choice but to.get a new one).

Either way your car is sitting there and nothing you can do but wait. Maybe not that end of the world since you are having planned work done but what if you are traveling and you break down unexpectedly. Now you are stuck away from home and that would suck.

Something you as an owner should ask before having your tune done. Some owners may accept the risk but at least you know of the potential problems up front.

bo.benson

Check both small ground connections at the back of the head! Mine started running like shat, and eventually quit firing on both banks all together and this was where it was at. 2k ago I tightened all the grounds and yet still this one backed out for some reason. Guessing the steel bolt/aluminum head combination.

99 vett babycar

your problem is not with HPTuners, they did nothing to your tune.
Your problem is with whoever tuned your car and lock your tune.
If you can't find the previous tuner, contact HPT and see if they can help you. They are VERY helpful.

sfc rick

It was the tuner NOT HPTuner. I learned from Corvettes of Houston (who DO NOT LOCK their tunes) that when and if you tune not to lock it out, in case changes to the engine occur later.

I tune my own w/HPTuner and don't lock it either.

I cannot stand to have ANYONE hold my car hostage!

corvettebob1

Put it on a trailer had haul it to the local chevy dealer had have them reflash the PCM with a stock tune.
Problem solved then your tuner can start from scratch on your tune.