ECU Swap

[lobina2k7]

So as of right now I drive a 2013 RS Hatch. Was snooping around a local chevy dealer and ran into a 2014 Sedan Chevy RS. Got to talking about prices and its right where I want to be. So I talked to the dealer and asked if they would swap everything over that I have in my RS (Wheels, performance and coils) to the sedan RS and they said they would. But my question is could I swap my current ECU to the new vehicle or would the vehicle would not run right. My ECU does have the full Trifecta tune on it and was thinking of taking the easy cheap way out of things and just swapping them. Would it work or not?

 

[Preloader]

I'm thinking it should work fine.... But you should run it by Trifecta to be sure.

 

[lobina2k7]

Cool i'll run it by trifecta and bnr and see what they say.

 

[krakenredbeard]

Isn't the tune vin specific I'm betting it would work but in future reference the vin to your ecu wouldn't match the car.


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[Stew]

That won't work. All the modules (ECM, multiple BCM's, etc) are VIN coded and when they don't match things don't work. You can review the long list of modules in the link below.

Do Not Swap Control Modules

 

[Preloader]

Then how are people swapping just the ECU's? I believe MPFab has done it.

I was under the impression that you could purchase an extra ECU and have it tuned, via HPTuner, or the like, then swap it in, and you're good to go. I could maybe see a problem if you have an automatic, but otherwise..... How would you ever be able to replace your computer if it failed?

 

[SonicSteve]

The ecu should be tranferrable.. while the vehicle info may not identically match its donor ecu the same specs and maps should be in place to operate said vehicle. The auto to auto trans should be fine as well as long as the tcu is the same. Basically my thoughts. Or impressions(note i may be wrong) is that as long as the same functioning units still have the same language and same programs they will work together. Now if the trans in a 14 got a nifty updated control module. It may not fly. Or trifecta may be able to repair just my $.002

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[laborsmith]

The ecu is VIN specific but I believe the dealer can flash the VIN but has to take the old ecu, which in the case at hand should not be a problem except it would red flag the ecu because why would a customer want to switch ecus? The mileage counter would be off (that is one way GM determines if someone is using more than one ecu) so the new 2014 would show a year worth of mileage before leaving the dealership.

A straight switch w/o a VIN flash would likely result in what the link ^ described: no start.


Laborsmith

 

[Stew]

Then how are people swapping just the ECU's? I believe MPFab has done it.

I was under the impression that you could purchase an extra ECU and have it tuned, via HPTuner, or the like, then swap it in, and you're good to go. I could maybe see a problem if you have an automatic, but otherwise..... How would you ever be able to replace your computer if it failed?

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. The article doesn't say but perhaps what they were talking about was someone swapping in a module from another car as a troubleshooting step without reprogramming it first? But if that was the case why would swapping radios be a problem like in the tech's comment?

Maybe when replacing a module you need to replace it with a 'virgin' module that hasn't been programmed to a car already, like a new replacement part? Even with that sandyblogs article it seems we don't have all the information.

 

[laborsmith]

The radio would be theft protected by only working with a specific VIN.

Laborsmith

 

[Preloader]

I miss non-computer carbureted cars. All tuning and operation was independent and self governing.

 

[sx sonic]

It's definitely not a straight ECM swap and go. The VIN and other I.D.s won't match what other control modules/anti-theft and the car will not run.

HPT, EFIlive can flash a new VIN to the ECM to achieve quid pro quo with the other modules and leave all the programming as it was.

In this case There're 2 potential headaches. 1, when the dealer flashes the swapped ECM to match the new car it may rewrite over any existing programming. In other words no tune.

2. With the new VIN, I.D., etc loaded into the ECM your tune might no longer be flashable to that module because it's VIN locked # doesn't match the ECM.


Best course of action would be to ask Vince on his thoughts, to me it would seem getting the same tune setup for the new ECM/VIN and flashing the old one back to stock would be easier.

 

[Preloader]

Let's revisit the motive. To save money on re-using the purchased tune. It would be worth a shot to ask Trifecta if they could give you a break and just convert the tune to the new VIN.

If they were confident that you weren't just scamming a free tune out of them, I'd bet that they'd try to help you out. Vince seems beyond reasonable with working to keep customers happy.

 

[laborsmith]

Let's revisit the motive. To save money on re-using the purchased tune. It would be worth a shot to ask Trifecta if they could give you a break and just convert the tune to the new VIN.

If they were confident that you weren't just scamming a free tune out of them, I'd bet that they'd try to help you out. Vince seems beyond reasonable with working to keep customers happy.

Makes sense to me and in addition whether Trifecta offers a break or does not a much better way to go. After all, why explore for unintended consequences when a few hundred can keep you "on the fairway and out of the rough?"


Laborsmith

 

[lobina2k7]

Thanks for all the advice. But after talking to the dealership looks like they have changed their minds on swapping everything to the sedan RS. Quote on Quote "Your performance parts on fit on the new RS." I told them bull**** and went on my way. Thats just them saying no we want to keep your car the way it is so we can possible sell it for more than what we car giving you for it.