Thinking about a tuner? Beware!

[3500cc]

I've had my SCTX4 for most of a year and I was fine paying $399 for the performance its 91-octane tune provided... Until now.

 

I failed smog testing! I could not switch car computer back to the factory tune via the tuner, which is a big advertised selling point of the damned device! Got an error 110D5 - Married status failed. I have since googled to find many others had the same problem. Now I probably have to pay $200 (guessing) from the local Ford Dealer to load in a factory tune.

 

So I have in effect, a $600 paper weight! I left a email/message on SCT's website on Saturday but here it is Tuesday and no reply.

 

I loathe to see the dealer or get on the phone with SCT. My home internet is done (ghad damned HughesNet - that's another story).

 

I'm a thrifty person and now in my sixties thought I would splurge a little and this is what I get.

 

Be warned everyone.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

So you were using the builtin 91 tune, and the device failed? Though not common, hardware does fail from time to time. Sometimes it's simply because the battery in the car is weak. I would have the battery checked with a digital load tester to make sure. What is the warranty on the X4?

 

And yeah, getting on the phone with SCT is usually the best way to get support. The tuners who use their devices to provide custom tunes are much more responsive though.

[Nick Halstead]

I've returned mine back to stock more times than I can count. Are you sure you NEVER went to the dealer with the tune on? If anyone ever flashed an update at dealer or anywhere else, then your device will not be recognized anymore.

Edited August 23, 2016 by Nick Halstead

[3500cc]

Nick. There is one possibility. A couple weeks before I went in for smog check, I set my tune back to factory - I think. I may have set it to SCT's 87-octane tune however. I say/write this because I after setting it back, I did not remember my car running that good on the "factory" tune. So what may have happened is, perhaps the smog check guy flashed an update as part of his smog checking and now my married status failed. Who knows what happens at a smog check!? My failure was due to the oxygen sensor "not ready".

[jmr061]

Google search also indicates SCT has been able to remote in to your computer with the SCT attached to the computer and fixed it. Give SCT a call on the phone.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

So its possible you did not complete the drive cycle (Readiness for Inspection - specified in the owner's manual) after the PCM is flashed before emissions testing, right? Probably all you needed/need to do to pass the test ... That would be a nice bonus

 

As far as the engine not running so well, possibly a PCM relearn in process?

[fit1446]

Sounds like it errored because your pcm was flashed possibly by the dealer while a custom file was resident. Therefore your stock file was lost.sct customer service is great! Call them during normal business hrs and they will help you with a file to flash back to stock.

[3500cc]

Good News. I called SCT and on the phone in my car they walked me thru re-installing my factory tune. 3 days later I passed CA smog test. It seems I was on "Demo" mode when trying to return to the factory tune, and the tuner was seeing the car used when setting up the "Demo" tune did not match the car it was currently connected to - ergo, bad marriage. Didn't need a laptop or PC to fix my problem. I'll be returning to a performance tune later today. WooHoo !

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Nice! Glad you are back in business.