Do NOT purchase an EcuTEK license for your 06 without reading this...

[medamullet]

Thanks fo rhte info I was debating on AP and ECUTEK not the choice is made....

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[hwy61]

I think this has been a very good thread and I think it not only clarified an issue but seems to have spurred a couple of manufacturers into addressing the problem. If EcuTek and Cobb don't address this I see a huge decline in owners purchasing their licenses. Huge to the point of "out of business".

I purchased an EcuTek license and tune for it seems $ 850. The tune was the best ever. Three months later my CEL was on and the engine appears to be running rich at idle. Smooth when first started and cold, 1 min later a little rough, black smoke sometime when revving while stopped. Power 850 injectors. Tried to access the computer for a code. Nothing will work including Subaru readers. The car is out of warranty so no problem there. Still I wanted to see if I could determine what the problem was as there is no tuner here. I will have to go back to Atlanta. My tune was 12 to 18 months ago.

I'm not really dissassapointed in the tune although the license is expensive. The dyno tunes are expensive but there is quite a bit of work done there. There is still plenty of power and the tune seems to be good except for idle.

I expect a retune will set things right and if I understand EcuTek's position and that of licensed tuners correctly, having read the entire thread, I can now have the car reset to stock for no charge but the license is still good as long as I don't write over it. I know nothing about electronic tuning and depend on the experts for advice. BTW, I was not informed that this was a one way deal at the time of the license purchase/tune either. I wonder did my tuners know it. Hwy61

[kward03wrx]

Dumb question... nvm

[Remnex]

As a update for those that are wondering, ECUTek will not allow you to remove the encryption. They say that they have a software update but I have yet to see it actually work. Their support to their smallers dealers is just lackluster at best.

[silentbob343]

hmm first I have heard that it doesn't work.

[Remnex]

Originally Posted by silentbob343

hmm first I have heard that it doesn't work.

Well, I am usually the first in many ways. Heh.

[IcemanAus]

maybe EcuTEK is Microsoft in disguise...

[dust12]

All I can say is Wow. I wished I had seen this thread a year ago.

[bboy]

I'm sick of running into this problem. EcuTek effectively owns all the ECUs that have been tuned with their software. You may own the box, but it's just a paperweight if you want to retune or live far away from a tuner or have disavowed the shop that did the initial tune or the shop has closed it's doors.

[Jon [in CT]]

If you have a 32-bit ECU, then you can probably overwrite the ROM with a vanilla Subaru image by using the method described at:
http://www.openecu.org/index.php?title=SHBootMode

[Subjugator]

looks like greed has claimed another victim.....
Opensource projects ftw!!

[benw]

Originally Posted by Ben-EcuTeK

Why not get the EasyECU then?

This is what EcuTek does:

I purchase a EcuTek DVD player, but it doesn't come with any movies, and it won't play the movies I already own. So I go to a professional DVD tuner and he makes me a movie. It works great. OK, I want to watch something different, but I can only watch the one movie. Furthermore, my disc tray won't even open. I have to buy the EasyDVD addon from the manufacturer, so my disc tray will open. Now I can switch movies, but only the ones my professional DVD tuner makes. This costs $350 each time I want a movie, and involves driving time, scheduling appointments, etc, and I still only get ONE more movie. Now I can watch two movies, whereas before, I could only watch one! I can't watch anything else, and I can't burn my own DVDs and watch them in the player.

So, I decide to buy a new DVD player. Oh wait, I can't un-hook the EcuTek player! The plugs have transformed into a permanent connection. The only person who can unhook my DVD player is the same professional tuner I get my expensive movies from. And they charge me for it.





My friend down the street got a free DVD player that plays any movie out. He can burn his own movies, watch them, and he can un-hook his player from his TV set whenever he wants.






which one would you choose?

[beaviscih]

Wow, very informative thread. I'm about to embark on a motor build and did not anticipate major changes to my EM (Ecutek / Utec) other than a ECU reflash and re-tuning. The car was originally tuned by Top Speed, but now that I'm in Texas, driving to Ga. for tuning doesn't make sense. My plans were to flash my ECU/PCM back to stock and re-tune using only the Utec. I thought I could simply have the local Subaru dealership reflash the ECU, but that does not look like an option. My next option is to ship the ECU to Top Speed for a re-flash, but I'm not sure that is going to work either. Running a Hydra does not appeal to me for many reasons.

If I cannot relash my ECU back to stock, I know who will not be getting my business in the future.

[Dyno Flash]

Originally Posted by Remnex

As a update for those that are wondering, ECUTek will not allow you to remove the encryption. They say that they have a software update but I have yet to see it actually work. Their support to their smallers dealers is just lackluster at best.

I can only speak from experience that Ecutek support is VERY top notch

I have been a dealer for several years and have had amazing support from Ecutek

Al

[Dyno Flash]

Originally Posted by beaviscih

Wow, very informative thread. I'm about to embark on a motor build and did not anticipate major changes to my EM (Ecutek / Utec) other than a ECU reflash and re-tuning. The car was originally tuned by Top Speed, but now that I'm in Texas, driving to Ga. for tuning doesn't make sense. My plans were to flash my ECU/PCM back to stock and re-tune using only the Utec. I thought I could simply have the local Subaru dealership reflash the ECU, but that does not look like an option. My next option is to ship the ECU to Top Speed for a re-flash, but I'm not sure that is going to work either. Running a Hydra does not appeal to me for many reasons.

If I cannot relash my ECU back to stock, I know who will not be getting my business in the future.

I dont understand why you would need to change the settings in the ecu itself to tune with your utec ? Perhaps you can explain that to me. I would think you would be far better off with the ecutek tuned ecu under the utec as the avcs table, DBW throttle and other aspects the UTEC can not tune are addressed.

Al

[Dyno Flash]

Originally Posted by gregsachs

Wow. So ecutek has not only locked cobb, open ecu, etc out, but they have also chosen to lock themselves out. So if I get my car ecutek'd, then move, and want a new tuner to make some minor changes to the previous tune, they will have to start from scratch on the tune, as they won't be able to see what was previously done. This is probably the single stupidest thing from the end-user's point of view.
Basically it means that _any_ retune (with new tuner) will be starting from
scratch. This is even true if it is the same tuner but they have had a computer issue and lost their saved file for you(and that _never_ happens, right?). This is rediculous. I can't see why _any_ tuner would be selling ecutek at this point. I (as an enduser) sure wouldn't touch this crap at any cost.

The reason why I use Ecutek is becuase it is a superior tuning tool and has better tuning features.

Most of my customers do not do self tuning and the ecu being locked is no issue for them. When and if they want to self tune we simply flash it back to stock for them.

Also - Ecutek invests in R & D and support for new ecus and applications such as the new Flash Cna shich supports '08 WRX and '07 LGT.

Al

[Dyno Flash]

Originally Posted by gregsachs

so? if the time is $150/hour, and my tuner has to spend an extra 2-3 hours to get back to where I was, that is quickly nearly the cost of the license that I am spending due to this, or money that could be spent on (for example) an AP and a protuner. There are _so_ many instances where this will cost _us_, the end user money, _AND_ cost the professional tuner time, money, _AND_ goodwill that it is just insane to do this. Again, I can not understand why a tuner would want to be associated with this crap. If someone doesn't want to use the open stuff(understandable, from a pro point of view), that is fine. buy PT or use the ap+st solution. Both of those have undo options available _now_. Also, as an enduser, consider this: with open ecu and AP you can _easily, _now_, recover your investment or at least 90% of it. With ecutek and an immobilized car, you cannot do this, and are unlikely to be able do so. That license money is thrown away if you want to unmod your car. (yes, at some point there _may_ be a box to do this from ecutek. Will probably be released after utec sti firmware).

Simply put Ecutek costs less than AP

While AP does have additional features and benefits by the time you pay for the AP and the pro tune it is more costly than Ecutek

Many of my customers who just want to get the car tuned and dont need the features of AP (hand held box and ability to change maps) will choose ecutek to save money

When I do a tune I explain all the features / benefits / costs of each system to the customer and allow them to choose the application which they prefer

Al

[DoctorNick]

Do you also explain to people that they will be locked out of the ecu and they will need to pay you to bring it back to stock also?

[Defiant Autospeed]

Originally Posted by Dyno Flash

I would think you would be far better off with the ecutek tuned ecu under the utec as the avcs table, DBW throttle and other aspects the UTEC can not tune are addressed.

Al

dead balls on accurate correct. reflash under a utec FTW. Awesome setup.

Originally Posted by Dyno Flash

Simply put Ecutek costs less than AP
Al

Isnt Ecutek $700? Thats what an AP will(does) cost. (I honestly dont know. Last time I looked at Ecutek was like 4 years ago and it was 700 just for the liscense and basic OTS reflash)
Or are you saying that because you include the tune in what you charge its cheaper than an AP+ tune? (looks like that is what you are saying, if so, that makes sense)

I ask because I get people asking me about Ecutek once in a while, and I only really have info from back when Shiv was the only game in town (usa I mean)

[Dyno Flash]

Originally Posted by DoctorNick

Do you also explain to people that they will be locked out of the ecu and they will need to pay you to bring it back to stock also?

Yes I do

I also unlock all Ecutek ecus - (even ones flashed by another Ecutek dealer) FREE of charge

In three years and a LOT of ecus tuned with Ecutek I have had only 1 or 2 people asking to have Ecutek removed

on the other hand - I remove other tuning products (no names) almost every week and install Ecutek

The bottom line is that Ecutek is a great product and the best way to flash a Subaru ecu that is why I highly recomend it

[voice from a hell]

Ecutek very greedy company
Guys from Ecutek are struggling only for the market
They improve the protection to earn a lot of money
Any technical novelties for tuning has not been made lately
Besides they have included special secret function in their soft and it regularly loses their USB interface
When you address to them and ask "what is it?" - they answer "it is a bug, don't worry, you should write down the new version and all will be ***1086;***1082;"
Every new version of their soft will be to change memory in their interface and it includes more protection
Thus they constantly hold their dealers on a short cord
It works only for a lot of money

It isn't tuning! It's a big deceit for very big money

[kaos200]

Originally Posted by voice from a hell

Ecutek very greedy company
Guys from Ecutek are struggling only for the market
They improve the protection to earn a lot of money
Any technical novelties for tuning has not been made lately
Besides they have included special secret function in their soft and it regularly loses their USB interface
When you address to them and ask "what is it?" - they answer "it is a bug, don't worry, you should write down the new version and all will be ***1086;***1082;"
Every new version of their soft will be to change memory in their interface and it includes more protection
Thus they constantly hold their dealers on a short cord
It works only for a lot of money

It isn't tuning! It's a big deceit for very big money

Engrish? Although I kind of get what your saying, the fact that this is your ONE post on this club makes it somewhat... strange, no?

And what do you mean by "it isn't tuning"?
What else is it then? They provide some of the best software to modify our ecu's. They have a business to do it, and are protecting that business and its investments. Some understand this, others do not. Consumers can chose whatever they want, it's called free will. If you don't like it.... oh well.

[voice from a hell]

You have bought their soft - it is your property after you have paid money
Ecutek don't speak nothing about limited period of validity

The product feigns a technical error and forces you to receive updating
when you receive a new product, you see nothing except new protection

They force you to change their soft and they want to check up every step of your work

It is a deceit

if you want i may put details of rom in their interfaces

[irascible]

My philosophy on business decisions such as the one EcuTek made, which started this thread.

Facts:

1. Software, no matter it's purpose or design is is the #1 thing pirated and/or hacked for trade, re-sale or both.
2. All software companies implement security measures trying to circumvent this widely known problem.
3. NO software for any platform implements code into a system that renders it's competitors from being used. Doing so is unlawful.

Despite the facts, the major flaw with this decision is they obviously overlooked the impact it would have on there customers and company as a whole. I don't think it would be fair to say they just didn't care, as they do seem to have a good reputation for customer service. However, they should have found an alternative measure(s)... even if no other options were available to them, this should have NEVER been used.

As an '06 owner, this thread helped me decide against EcuTek from other options available without any doubt. I'm sure i'm not the first...

As a business owner, you have to ask youself before making such bold decisions.... Is it worth it? I'm sure by now, you know the answer to that.

Good luck

[Dyno Flash]

Originally Posted by voice from a hell

You have bought their soft - it is your property after you have paid money
Ecutek don't speak nothing about limited period of validity

The product feigns a technical error and forces you to receive updating
when you receive a new product, you see nothing except new protection

They force you to change their soft and they want to check up every step of your work

It is a deceit

if you want i may put details of rom in their interfaces

I have been using Ecutek for many years with no such problems