Problem with SCT X3 Tuner

[SaintsFan]

Wow, I think I'm going to play it safe with the factory tune and just add a Airaid CAI.

 

[Bullishone]

Wow, I think I'm going to play it safe with the factory tune and just add a Airaid CAI.

Agree

 

[BIRDMAN]

Been there ....

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

 

[swoop1156]

I've been using SCT devices for years now and have never had a problem. Good thing I like the current tune that's in there. I think I'll leave it.

 

[5star]

HI Guys
All i can say is its not a common thing for a device to create a no start condition. I have been in Ford dealerships that update pcms and vehicles wont start so it can happen even there. SCT is a solid engineering company that builds great products. The best in the industry as i have tried others. The key with anything one buys is the support to resolve any issues after the sale.

sorry again dew.man for your troubles

Mike

 

[Fred]

Got an update:

Had a very important meeting with a new client this morning and needed the truck running before SCT could do anything about it. Luckily, I've got a buddy who's an engineer at Ford that was willing to come over and take a look at it. He said the X3 must've flaked out and corrupted the flash, and then he proceeded to flash the ECM back to stock right there in my driveway (talk about small favors) Luckily, my ECM was not fried, and the truck fired right up after that.

In the meantime, I also emailed SCT first thing in the morning and even tried calling them right at 9 when they opened. Well, the phone support is a joke - "dial 1 to hold for a technician" keeps repeating the same message every time you press 1 LOL.

Eventually I got an email back asking for the information from the Device Info screen on the X3. So I wearily plug it in to my (now running) truck, and hit the device info option. Comes up with mostly normal stuff, but the Strategy info is all garbled characters (verifying our earlier conclusion that the flash memory in the device is corrupt). I send them the info and also let them know that I got the truck running with help from Ford, and now just need the programmer fixed/unlocked so that I can use it again.

This is where it gets really f'ed up!!! SCT, who's programmer just left my 2011 truck completely inoperable, has the audacity to tell me that they'll ONLY CHARGE ME $75 to unlock the ************* X3 so that I can use it again! F'in ********!!!

Anyways, I spoke with Mike at 5 star, and he's a real stand-up guy. He was very apologetic and said he would either have them take care of the unlock, or cover the cost himself. Eventually, he did get SCT to pony up and agree to take care of the unlock at no cost, so kudos to Mike.

Lesson learned here is that if you're gonna put a tune on your truck, do it during business hours and don't be shocked if you end up with an expensive driveway ornament. Oh, and if you have a choice, don't buy SCT crap!

Made my day! Glad you got it straight. What magic did they perform to get you from calling a roll back?

 

[LEGORAPTOR]

All I'm gonna say about this is that you can't blame the product for such a failure... Can't expect that because one product went wrong with someone that the product itself is to blame and that it isn't worth buying. Just like the bent frame issue on the raptors, i think the tuner was being pushed to its limit or being played with to much. I have the SCT tuner on mine and have no complaints so far about it, then again I haven't tried changing tunes 4-5 times in a day... this is just my opinion...

 

[CineSLR]

Porshce/Audi/VW people have no idea how lucky they are to have VagCOM. Why should we need to buy some cheap Chinese made (I'm only assuming here) programmer when we all own fully capable computers. One day car companies will place nice with the aftermarket.

 

[Big Blue]

All I'm gonna say about this is that you can't blame the product for such a failure... Can't expect that because one product went wrong with someone that the product itself is to blame and that it isn't worth buying. Just like the bent frame issue on the raptors, i think the tuner was being pushed to its limit or being played with to much. I have the SCT tuner on mine and have no complaints so far about it, then again I haven't tried changing tunes 4-5 times in a day... this is just my opinion...

While I agree with you Lego, let me also give another side of the coin comment.

When a software provider makes the decision to use a hardware vendor, they then become responsible for the performance of the overall product, including the hardware. Does not matter if you have the greatest software on the planet, if the hardware can't support it.

From reading the thread it certainly appears that 5 star did everything reasonable to accept that responsiblity and everyone seems happy.

 

[Highroller]

Porshce/Audi/VW people have no idea how lucky they are to have VagCOM. Why should we need to buy some cheap Chinese made (I'm only assuming here) programmer when we all own fully capable computers. One day car companies will place nice with the aftermarket.

The SCT hand Held programmer is a programmer for Dummies kind-of item. It lets the novice, program his system with very little knowledge. SCT has a full featured software that runs on a laptop, but you must be experienced to use it, it allows you to change anything in the program.