- Joined
- Jan 25, 2015
- Messages
- 2,558
I have an assortment.J-2534. All cars must meet that standard for reprogramming **emissions** related equipment. But that is only to install the current level of OE software. No modifications. Therefore it really doesn't apply to this thread.
For modifications you need different software. Most every enthusiast group has some level programming/tuning effort. For the more popular, there are commercial packages. My chosen niche, we wrote our own. Download the software, buy a $10 USB->K-line cable and you be a tuner.
I use tunercat II for gm obdII vehicles, moates apu1 for gm obdI, and have a Ford VCM II for the more recent Ford stuff.
I also have a Forscan unit with full license, which lets me reprogram more modern Ford stuff. Mostly turn things on/off in the asbuilt codes. Forscan also let me add things like lane keeping, adaptive cruise etc, just had to figure out the asbuilt codes changes that were needed. My 2016 F150 Lariat came with the 502a option package, but it didn’t have adaptive cruise or lane keeping. A few wiring harness changes and some hardware installations and I added them to my truck for less than what the option package would have cost. I’ve got the hardware to add parallel park, but haven’t gotten around to installing it. Might not ever as its not much use to me. Wish I had the 360 camera, but thats way more crazy with harnesses and hardware. I’d basically have to change the entire dash harness and I’m just not up for that.
For things like chrysler and BMW, I use a variety of bi directional scanners. My go to for quick and easy stuff is actually a Foxwell handheld scanner, which is a bit more capable than most bidirectionals. It limited compared to a full programmer, but allows me to at least run the BIT functions and reset certain maintenance settings.
Not to mention, sometimes I just want to plug in, change a couple small things and unplug. The Foxwell is great for that.
No need to “hop up” the wifes mini van or Mini Cooper, so just a scanner works fine for them. They’re fine “as is” and it “wife proofs“ them for her. Gawd love her, but she just not mechanical and has absolutely no interest in learning it. Vehicles might as well be fridges as far as she’s concerned…
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