CAUTION - Make sure you can connect w/your ECU before buying an e-tune - from anyone!

[dmedk1]

This forum has been a great resource as I struggled to get my 2005 Subaru running again for my high school son (after the turbo blew).

 

From this site I figured out that replacing the turbo with a BRN was a better (more reliable) way to go.

 

However, I've been frustrated with the process of trying to get an e-tune. Based on overall good recommendations on this site - I contacted Dave at Cryotune. He encouraged me to purchase an e-tune and he would send directions to get started.

 

If you're an old guy or nube like me - DON"T purchase an e-tune until AFTER you've determined you can communicate with your ECU. Otherwise - you'll be out $150+ with nothing to show...

 

I have spent over 15 hours on various sites (this site, romraider, tactrix, and others) trying first to get a vag-com cable to work and finally spent $169 with tactrix... still no ability to read the ECU. I've gone through ALL the steps and guidance from multiple sites (on two separate laptops with different OS's) and still cannot get the darn thing to communicate.

 

In frustration, I've given up and decided to go 3 1/2 hours away and find a good tuner who can work directly with the car. I simply need the car to drive and be reliable (without danger of blowing engine or other damage).

 

I asked Dave for refund and he has flatly denied me...stating that it's in the disclaimer on the purchase page. I guess it's buyer beware.

[chaz517]

That's unfortunate, but how is that his fault?

[Brian3676]

Dave just did a tune for me. It's awesome and feels better then ever, pulls hard and smooth. Read around, most have issues with vag-com because they are ment for a VW. Not sure why you can't get the tactrix cable to work , but that's not Dave's fault. His disclaimer clearly states he is not liable or responsible. I am sure he will give you advice on how to get it to communicate if you ask him. Maybe there is an issue with the obd2 port? Have you even tried just a standard code reader? Your paying $150 because you do a lot of the work, hence why real tunes where they plug there stuff in is 350-500.

[seabass07]

Actually, most who have issues with the vagcom cables have issues because they purchased the wrong one or haven't set it up properly. There are a bunch of different vagcom cables out there. Most do not work with our cars.

 

The thread title should be changed to "make sure you can communicate with your ecu before purchasing an etune...from anyone."

[blongo804]

Mods really need to change the thread title. This has nothing to do with Cryo.

[BarManBean]

My vag-com has worked flawlessly because I followed the sticky here on the forum. Also, both of my tunes from Cryo (Dave) have been fantastic for 10k+ miles. He is a knowledgeable tuner and was even extremely patient with my car going through mechanical issues during my second tune.

 

If you are thinking about an e-tune Dave is one of only two tuners here on the site that I would recommend, and the other tuner only deals with accessports.

 

Mods: please consider changing the thread title here as mentioned or simply closing it up. It's poor form and misinformation.

[Nrw]

Yeah, I don't see how this is Dave's fault.

[monstorr]

Make sure you got all the drivers and such on the computer.. if you download the most up to date ecuflash it should install them for you and once you plug it in it will install.. And like the rest said, its your fault not his. I guess worst case you try to sell someone the tune so its not wasted? if they even allow that..

[TheBlackPearl]

Yeah, that's not his fault.

I'm in the process of being e-tuned by Dave myself actually and have had issues with my ATR software, amongst other thngs, and he has been great the whole time.

I held off for about a week on purchasing the tune to deal with my issues.

You should have done the same. I've got about 50 hours of research into mine too.

 

I think the mods should step in too.

[Rester5350]

Wow.... Please change the title.

[JmP6889928]

I have not personally used Cryotune for tuning but I can absolutely say that I've never read a single word about Dave or his tunes that has been anything but completely positive and with excellent results.

 

OP-before you come into a forum like this and make accusations about an issue that basically states your ineptitude with being able to do something that you've never done before, do a bit more research on exactly what you're dealing with and consider all of the directions and options that can make things difficult.

 

Dave refused to give you a refund because HE DID THE WORK he charged you for. YOU can't get it loaded because you're not familiar with what you are doing and/or how to make it work, but that has nothing to do with the fact that THE TUNE IS DONE AND SENT TO YOU. HE DID THE WORK. I'm sure that YOU don't work for free, and neither does he.

 

When and if you ever get it loaded, I'm sure that the car will run far better than it has ever run and I'm also sure Dave will work with you to make sure that the tune is as correct as it can be for your car. He's done this with everyone he's ever tuned and you will not be the only one in the world that he does not do this with.

[SBT]

Title changed.

 

And OP, are you sure that your car doesn't have an unmarried Access Port tune on it. That could explain why you can't talk to the ECU.

[rob-2]

I think it's pathetic a vendor wouldn't refund you for services not used.

[seabass07]

I think it's pathetic that someone would complain about a vendor when the problem is their own incompetence with computers.

 

A tune was purchased. A tune was received. A customer was too retarded to figure out what to do with it even though it's well documented.

 

Or a customer purchased a tune, flashed it to their ecu, then lied and complained hoping for a refund.

 

Prove that the latter is false.

[stm25rs]

If you're doing an OS (vag-com or tactrix) tune, don't you need to send a learning view prior to receiving your base tune?

[BrenTuning]

This is why we encourage Accessport only e-tunes. Much more direct and safe means of end user flashing.

[BarManBean]

This is why we encourage Accessport only e-tunes. Much more direct and safe means of end user flashing.

 

Nice shameless plug

 

Encouraging is fine, but many hundreds of modding folks are completely capable of getting opensource equipment to work just fine. I've gone through two etunes with it so far and have been able to log wideband O2 data with two different sensors as well.

 

Also, from previous discussions / posts you REQUIRE AP only e-tunes because they apparently guard your tuning secrets better than an opensource variety, yes?

[BrenTuning]

Yes, that the other half of the reason.

[cypher0117]

And OP, are you sure that your car doesn't have an unmarried Access Port tune on it. That could explain why you can't talk to the ECU.

 

I've experienced locked ecu's helping locals around here and have still been able to at least log with romraider.

 

OP did you download the correct ecu_defs for connecting?

[cryo]

I figured I would chime in here.

 

First off I wanted to say thanks to the members and moderators for the support.

 

Second I would like to let the OP know I wish we could have come to a resolution and continued the tune.

 

Normally I strive to do everything I can to work with customers and provide the best service possible at all times. After a custom built tune is sent out it is non refundable. Because of the time and effort put in as well as the fact there is no way for the item to be returned or repossessed. There are a few other reasons for it already mentioned earlier in this thread as well, not to mention this was sent out to the customer 28 days ago.

 

I am always willing to wait for people to figure things out if they are having mechanical or software issues after purchase and work around it. So far it has proved to be pretty effective and I feel its part of providing good customer service.

 

btw like mentioned above, you can still datalog and pull a LV from a locked cobb flash so that's not interfering either.

 

 

Thank you all again.

 

Dave

[root_galaxy]

I personally haven't been tuned by Dave but have meet him personally and emailed him and he's a stand up guy, no way would he ever scam someone out of $150 when he's got a long line of people waiting to get tuned by him. He is the definition of customer service and give you so much insight and answers any and all questions before your tune. Plus, from the sounds of it, his reasons for not issuing a refund is legitimate. Keep on boosting Dave!!! Can't wait for the next meet up.

[dmedk1]

A few items to clear things up.

 

1) I never said the situation was Dave's "fault"

2) I went through the detailed steps (several times - with different computers)

3) I went through Dave's instructions (which link the the 'Complete Beginner's Guide to e-Tuning) - I went through the romraider step-by-step instructions. I did all of the above first with a Vag-com (which has unique challenges needing 1.29 EcuFlash 'old') and then pulled trigger on the Tactrix Openport 2.0 (per Dave's recommendation) and followed appropriate instructions for it -- still no communication between the software and ECU.

4) I'm president of a software company (not a developer) - but I know computers, and folder/file structures, and drivers et al..

4) It's not about the money. Hell, I just spent over $2,500 getting a new turbo in and some other repairs to keep an '05 car running for my high school son - because it's a cool car, it's AWD, and it's got some life in it at 178K

5) It IS about paying $150 for something that I can't use.

6) To be clear I never got to the point of even 'talking' to my ECU -- i.e. I couldn't get a Learning View ... let alone get close to flashing anything.

7) Dave isn't getting screwed here. He has his $150 and didn't do very much work. I'm out a boatload of hours $150 (plus $170 for tactrix) and have a car that I can't tune.

8) This would have been an easy fix for Dave to refund the $150 (or offer some portion back). I don't expect him to spend 4 hours on the phone with me trying to fix my PC/driver issues (he wouldn't make money) - but I expected something other than sorry - you clicked on the disclaimer, sorry.

 

**I feel every e-tuner should recommend that an individual should FIRST ensure they can start communicating with the ECU via a tactrix or vag-com.**

It's difficult to determine from reading threads for a few hours that the open-source approach takes a boatload of time...

If I had known - I would have simply bit the bullet and spent the money on a $250-$400 tune with a shop. There is no local tuner shop - so I pursued what I thought was going to be a straight-forward process.

[BarManBean]

So are you tuned? If so, what did the shop do that you couldn't do with a tactrix cable? AFAIK, a tactrix is supposed to be very simple to setup.

[SubOperator]

If you can't even get the Learning VIew to talk with Taxtrix OpenPort then it makes me think you have connection problems - i.e. no good connection somewhere starting at OBDII port and all the way down to ECU. Flashing ECU requires service connectors to be connected which is something easy to forget in a hurry but Learning view only needs ignition key in ACC. Check your hardware.

 

Also, from my personal experience some drivers may interfiere with OpenPort drivers (for example Samsung Galaxy S4 drivers did on my Windows7 laptop). You tried multiple PCs though so not sure if that's the case.

 

Finally, yes you spent a lot of money to get car running but try putting yourself in Dave's shoes. He performed his part of service. He can't confirm whether you used the tune provided by him or not. Being a director of software company you should be aware that most software is not returnable if the box is open/seal is broken - for that very reason that it is impossible to know if the software was actually used or not.

[BarManBean]

Also, see if you can find a member local to you with a working opensource vagcom/tactrix setup. If it doesn't work on your car you'll narrow it down to car issues instead of PC /cable issues.