I certainly enjoyed my C6 that I bought new! I was thrilled that a talented technician could either bypass and reprogram the car to do what I wanted it to do. My question: are the C8’s computers still locked out where upgrades like cams, headers etc. cannot be tuned?

 

HP Tuners can unlock your ECU. The TCU is still an issue.

 

They can be tuned, you need to pull it out and send it in to be unlocked. Then it tunes just like any other car minus the TCM.

 

has HPTuners had any updates on the TCM status? Should be a game changer once (if) they get that end of it figured out.

 

Apparently on the latest release, they can now raise the rev limit in manual mode, but full TCM tuning (for auto) is still not available.

 

I guess its understood among those that choose to modify the ECM calibration, but its one of the few instances in the Warranty Manual that specifically voids the warranty - it will void the warranty on components that are damaged or otherwise affected by......

"Additionally, General Motors does not
warrant non-GM parts, calibrations and/or
software modifications. The use of parts,
control module calibrations, software
modifications, and/or any other alterations
not issued through General Motors will void
the warranty coverage for those components
that are damaged or otherwise affected by
the installation of the non-GM part, control
module calibration, software modification,
and/or other alteration."

In case one wonders what they mean by components that are ...otherwise affected by......, here is a related statement in the Warranty Manual:

"Aftermarket Engine Performance
Enhancement Products and Modifications
Some aftermarket engine performance
products and modifications promise a way
to increase the horsepower and torque
levels of your vehicle's powertrain. You
should be aware that these products may
have detrimental effects on the performance
and life of the engine, exhaust emission
system, transmission, and drivetrain. Engine
power enhancement products may enable
the engine to operate at horsepower and
torque levels that could damage, create
failure, or reduce the life of the engine,
engine emission system, transmission, and
drivetrain. Damage, failure, or reduced life of
the engine, transmission, emission system,
drivetrain, or other vehicle components
caused by aftermarket engine performance
enhancement products or modifications may
not be covered under your vehicle warranty."

 

Folks that mod and tune their cars aren't really bothered by not having a warranty. It's kind of a given. Also, eventually, ALL warranties expire. Performance builders build 'em, drivers blow 'em up and the builder builds it again. Usually with more improvements and power. Remember...Horsepower..."You never have enough"

 

Yea warranty’s are for people with Roth IRA’s and good financial sense who go to the golf course in Sunday in their stock stingray, not for morons like us who blow our last dime to go fast lol 😂

 

What a stupid thread.

 

Of course modifications to the stock tune may result in GM denying warranty coverage should problems arise. Been that way for many years. Mod the car at your own risk of warranty denial.

 

I feel like it was a valid question with valid answers. A lot of people myself included have waited on purchasing a C8 for this reason alone. No native tuning was a big turn off for me and still will be until they unlock the TCM. I'm finally considering an ERay as it seems like were getting closer to having full unlock and the car makes enough out of the box to keep me entertained for a bit until I can actually get into it.

 

It is a legitimate thread. Someone likes to shitpost while drinking….

 

C8's can now be tuned but there isn't much left on the table to tune in or out from the factory settings......you are not going to get an extra 50 hp

 

I had HP Tuners software for my C5 racecar, with a wideband O2 sensor, and found it to be really interesting to be able to fine tune the motor.
I replaced the LS1 with a big cam LS3. Then it went from 425hp to 550hp, so bigger injectors and tuning was required,
It took years to learn the tricks to tuning. There was no book for it, just forum advice.

If your car is stock, there is probably not much to gain. If you start making performance improvements, then tuning is essential to get the most out of it.
The more you modify, the more you need a performance tune.

What is the cost of HP Tuners these days?

 

Getting more out of it stock isn't why people want to tune them. People want to be able to do things like heads, cam, boost, and be able to redo the calibration to accommodate

 

That is what I had in mind for my question.

 

PCM = Unlocked, TCM = locked(still)

 

subbed for TCM intel

 

The ECM is unlocked by HP Tuners, but it will cost you. A normal regular every day tune by most any shop will be starting around $2,900-$3,100. Before your tuner even gets started he has to pay HP Tuners around $1600 for the ECM unlock and postage/handling. If you don't have credits that's $400, if you don't have an MPVI3 (interface between laptop and the car's ECM) that's another $400. We're now at $2400 all going to HP Tuners, before the man with the laptop takes charge, then they strap the car on the dyno and dyno tune the car. So yes, it's expensive to tune these C8's.

 

Whoever at HP Tuners that broke the GM Corvette C8 code is really burning everyone who wants a tune. It was quite a while before someone broke the code. I hadn’t been keeping up with the mystery. Thanks for the info on this subject!