Alientech tune controller questions and ECU's - calling Tim/Parso/Gavin etc

[getjet]

I have also emailed Alientech in Italy (yesterday) to ask about possible ways to reset the controller, but have yet to yet a response from them.

LOL, good luck with that.

Even if you get a response, it'll take you a year to decipher it.

Cant you just download the powergate software (forget the exact name) and reset it all?

What happens if you plug the unit in on the new ECU and try to read the stock file?

[ViezuAustralia]

Hi guys

I just wanted to clarify here so nothing's lost in translation. And if there's been something that's come across in an unsuitable 'attitude' then please let me know so I can make amends.

The correct course of events here is the old unit which is locked to the old ECU, needs to be reset. That costs more than anticipated by the time its gone back through the process. So I offered a few alternatives to help out in the unfortunate circumstances, one being a $199 vRace file with free dyno at the new local Dealer in Newcastle, and upgrade to the latest vRace with full indirect DSG. But this was turned down as the preferred option was to use the controller.

The controllers are expensive for us to bring in, but again, even with offering a free replacement tune, the controller would be $399, and I'd wear the freight costs and tunes. I can't do more than that.

A cheaper unit was sourced by client, for $250 - and we were going to be providing the tune for free onto that unit, but given the fact we could not ascertain to whom that unit was slaved, we didn't get as far as tuning it before the pin was pulled and I was informed this would no longer be required.

Lucas_R we try to bend over backwards to assist clients, and if you feel I could have done more please let me know. Happy to assist in any way I can.

Cheers

Simon

[Transporter]

Viezu are now out of the picture so to speak because my friend (im speaking on his behalf because he doesn't use the forums) wasn't happy with the options, prices and attitude he was given from Simon. Given Simon/Viezu pushes the "FREE this and FREE that" slogan alot, there was definitely nothing free about any of the options my friend was given. Anyway, i don't want to turn this into a tuner bash - so apologies there. A new tune + hand controller was purchased from DNA to replace it last week. The car is now tuned back to a stage 2 level and working perfectly again.

I'm not saying that your friend caused the ecu failure, but from your posts I'm getting that; your friend had choose the cheaper option to DIY with the hand flash controller and then later when the things go south he expects more for free or as cheap as possible?

I also got from your post that, he is 2.5hours from the Viezu dealer, so I'm not blaming him for trying to save money, but I'm sure that if he'd use the Viezu dealer instead DIY, he would get his map flashed back in for free.

[ViezuAustralia]

LOL, good luck with that.

Even if you get a response, it'll take you a year to decipher it.

Cant you just download the powergate software (forget the exact name) and reset it all?

What happens if you plug the unit in on the new ECU and try to read the stock file?

I'm assured the way it is done is by actually sending it back to Alien Tech to be reset. It actually locks itself the the ECU rendering it locked and useless without factory unlocking - so it's toast now, until Alien Tech lock it themselves...

[ViezuAustralia]

I'm sure that if he'd use the Viezu dealer instead DIY, he would get his map flashed back in for free.

Yes.

In the same way if the controller could have been unlocked, it'd be a free tune replacement, and if we could have ascertained who the new unit was slaved to, it'd have been replaced free too in the circumstances.

[parso_rex]

You won't be able to reuse the controller as it will be locked by their UK office and if it were to be unlocked/reset then you would lose the file but you could also use it again. It does sort of mean that other people could do the same thing and resell them but it should be quite easy for someone to arrange if you approached them nicely perhaps the UK side just simply doesn't allow it and the guys here are sort of stuffed
The device is locked by the VIN only isn't it ? and I think not by additional things like the current flashcounter values as per a bluefin so perhaps the controller would simply work as before - have you tried it yet ?

The tuned file will still be on the old ECU even if you can't communicate with it via the OBD interface. I could get it for you but then you probably couldn't use the controller for it anymore and you'd be better off just buying another tune from xx provider or the same possibly anyway

Edit: I see its been answered above

[Lucas_R]

LOL, good luck with that.

Even if you get a response, it'll take you a year to decipher it.

Cant you just download the powergate software (forget the exact name) and reset it all?

What happens if you plug the unit in on the new ECU and try to read the stock file?

I got a response from Alientech overnight actually (im surprised too as i wasnt expecting one) but its not much help. Massimo from Alientech says that Viezu have to unlock it, whereas Viezu say that Alientech have to unlock it..... I think this is a lost cause. Doesnt matter, we had written it off anyway, it was just a bit of an experiment to see whether it could be reset. I wont give up just yet but im doubtfull ill be successfull.

We tried to use the controller to connect to the new ECU when it first came back from VW, but the hand controller came up with an error.

The correct course of events here is the old unit which is locked to the old ECU, needs to be reset. That costs more than anticipated by the time its gone back through the process. So I offered a few alternatives to help out in the unfortunate circumstances, one being a $199 vRace file with free dyno at the new local Dealer in Newcastle, and upgrade to the latest vRace with full indirect DSG. But this was turned down as the preferred option was to use the controller.

Just to clarify Simon, the option was $299 for the tune at the local dealer. Extract from your email is below:

So the two most cost effective methods are this:

I can ship you out a heavily subsidised 'new' unit for $399 in exchange for your old one. I say 'new' but it's an opened box unit and looks brand new, still in the new box with cable ties – in fact if I recall it's one that's never been used, but I used it to demonstrate to a client what it was so unpacked it and plugged it in etc. Of course – as you're an existing client of ours there is no charge from us for the new files (which are upgraded btw – free indirect-dsg-tune on these now is epic…) And I can have that shipped today so you'll have it Monday.

OR – get you into a Dealer for $299 as a nominal fee for them to read an write a tune on (payable to the Dealer – we won't be charging for the actual tune)

I'm not saying that your friend caused the ecu failure, but from your posts I'm getting that; your friend had choose the cheaper option to DIY with the hand flash controller and then later when the things go south he expects more for free or as cheap as possible?

I also got from your post that, he is 2.5hours from the Viezu dealer, so I'm not blaming him for trying to save money, but I'm sure that if he'd use the Viezu dealer instead DIY, he would get his map flashed back in for free.

Miro, the ECU failure in my friends car was nobody's fault as such - we weren't fiddling with it or anything. It hadn't been touched in about a year since a tune was written to it. It just failed out of the blue - very bad luck. The car was literally perfect one minute, then it wouldn't start. As im sure you know the tune + handcontroller option is more expensive that just a simple tune via a dealer, not cheaper as you have suggested. But my friend purchased this tune just as Etech Remapping (Viezu) had arrived in Australia about 2yrs ago and there were no dealers - so a hand controller and DIY was the only option.

You won't be able to reuse the controller as it will be locked by their UK office and if it were to be unlocked/reset then you would lose the file but you could also use it again. It does sort of mean that other people could do the same thing and resell them but it should be quite easy for someone to arrange if you approached them nicely perhaps the UK side just simply doesn't allow it and the guys here are sort of stuffed
The device is locked by the VIN only isn't it ? and I think not by additional things like the current flashcounter values as per a bluefin so perhaps the controller would simply work as before - have you tried it yet ?

The tuned file will still be on the old ECU even if you can't communicate with it via the OBD interface. I could get it for you but then you probably couldn't use the controller for it anymore and you'd be better off just buying another tune from xx provider or the same possibly anyway

Edit: I see its been answered above

Hi Mark - not worried about losing the file thats on the controller currently as we were just hoping to sell the hand controller anyway (once its been reset). My friend has moved to a different tuner and has a new hand controller so this original hand controller is now surplus. And yes i believe that it locks to the VIN. Have tried the hand controller on the new ECU but it comes up with an error. So if i cannot get it reset for a decent price then its going in the bin. We had already written the controller off anyway so its no big deal. I just thought id explore the possibility of resetting it.

[kaanage]

So if i cannot get it reset for a decent price then its going in the bin. We had already written the controller off anyway so its no big deal. I just thought id explore the possibility of resetting it.

Surely Simon would pay something for the controller. Your friend may not be happy with the way things turned out but he could at least get something for it.

[Greg Roles]

This whole nightmare could have been avoided, that's all I'm saying!! Knowing both sides it's hard to sit in the middle, but I do always invite anyone nationwide to contact me if they are not getting where they need to, I have a billion less things to deal with that Simon does, and can often spend a lot more time on any one problem and also offer my own perspective.

It's not like I can solve everything, but I am here to support the brand 110%. We all make mistakes, but if you guys had any idea just how many drama's Simon actually solves.....I stick up for the guy as I know a lot of what is actually going on. Like anyone is perfect....

But yes there are problems, and you sure hear about them. Shame all round really.

[parso_rex]

I think you would have been best just to drive to the dealer and just have It reloaded. I did this with one car recently and then re-imaged the stuffed ECU so he has it as a working spare
This is going to occur on other cars too especially ones with the med9
Do you still have the other ECU?