Just my luck lol... My 09 cannot flash APR without doing it the 2010 way.

[akaisuzu]

Went to one of the APR dealers today for the ECU flash, and when they were trying to flash it, their program told them that removing the ECU and putting it into rewrite mode is required.

The tech who was doing it was surprised to see a 09 having required to remove the ECU and flash it the 2010 way.

Then he called APR, and APR told him that theres 1 ECU (Ends with something like 1156, or something, forgot) for the 09 which would not be writable after a certain update from dealership, and would require the ECU to be flashed with the 2010 method.

Was told by the APR dealer that if ECU removal was required, there would be an obvious mark on the ECU casing that the unit has been pry open. So I guess if I want to do it, without the dealership knowing the ECU was opened up, I would need to buy a new ECU casing.

Maybe APR should post this information in their website, or at least in the forums, so people will be expecting this and not as surprised as me.

Sigh, just my luck.

[SnowWhiteA4]

wow that is a blower

[akaisuzu]

wow that is a blower

Yep... Blower indeed. Took me 45 mins to drove there due to traffic, and then found out I couldn't flash it + the shop was closing and he couldn't do the ECU removal for me since it'll take 2 hours....

Sigh.

[cory_can]

Since you (or the APR dealer) was in communication with APR regarding this matter is there any way that you could get more details on the issue? You mentioned an ECU code version but you weren't sure of the specifics. Having an APR tuned 2009 model makes me quite interested in this topic AND very leery of going to the dealer....since they have a tendency of re-flashing with "updates" without asking.

[off]

So at one point the dealer did a factory released reflash your car?

[DavidB8]

Thats crap (sorry for being blunt). I pulled my ECU and there is no way you can tell it was pulled. Well right now you can because I haven't put the new security straps on but there doesn't have to be any pry marks. If they are cutting and ripping them out then they are rushing. Besides there is no law about pulling out your ECU. That wont void your warranty and they still can't tell if there is a program when it's locked. All they can do is look at you in a strange sinister way.

To bad all dealers weren't like the one I got my car from. They had a done up A4 and R8 in the show room and knew all the mods that were out there. Hell they even asked me if I had all the codes I needed for the popular vag com stuff.

If you have an automatic my understanding is that you don't even have the security straps and screws on the ECU which means it's two clips to release the ECU.

Anyways think about what your next step would be but don't let pulling the ECU be your deciding factor.

[akaisuzu]

Since you (or the APR dealer) was in communication with APR regarding this matter is there any way that you could get more details on the issue? You mentioned an ECU code version but you weren't sure of the specifics. Having an APR tuned 2009 model makes me quite interested in this topic AND very leery of going to the dealer....since they have a tendency of re-flashing with "updates" without asking.

I am going to email/call APR tomorrow regarding this issue, and see if they can come up with anything for me. I'm not talking about ECU code version, but the actual unit. I could go ahead and use VAGCOM and pull up the specific model of my ECU so there would be a better understanding in the situation.

So at one point the dealer did a factory released reflash your car?

Yes, the ECU was reflash because my car was having random stalling problem, end up it wasnt the engine but the transmission.

Thats crap (sorry for being blunt). I pulled my ECU and there is no way you can tell it was pulled. Well right now you can because I haven't put the new security straps on but there doesn't have to be any pry marks. If they are cutting and ripping them out then they are rushing. Besides there is no law about pulling out your ECU. That wont void your warranty and they still can't tell if there is a program when it's locked. All they can do is look at you in a strange sinister way.

To bad all dealers weren't like the one I got my car from. They had a done up A4 and R8 in the show room and knew all the mods that were out there. Hell they even asked me if I had all the codes I needed for the popular vag com stuff.

If you have an automatic my understanding is that you don't even have the security straps and screws on the ECU which means it's two clips to release the ECU.

Anyways think about what your next step would be but don't let pulling the ECU be your deciding factor.

I'm not talking about the ECU unit itself being removed from the car. I'm talking about after removing the ECU fro m the car, you would need to cut the seal on the ECU lid and pry the lid so you could gain access to the internals of the ECU. (I was told by the APR dealer, not guessing).

[DavidB8]

Interesting, I don't recall seeing any marks on mine at all when it returned from APR. It didn't even occur to me they may have opened it because I didn't notice any sign of being touched. Will need to look at it again when I run the never to arrive AWE boost Gauge.

It wouldn't hurt you to send a message to APR and voice your concern. There may be miss information or a different method of opening them the dealer you went to doesn't know. Who knows.. But never hurts.

[Blake P]

Wait... I could have sworn a while back APR figured out a way to flash the newer ECU's without having to remove them?

[DavidB8]

No they can be flashed but still had to be removed. They just set their dealers up to pull and tune them on the spot instead of mailing them in.

[Blake P]

No they can be flashed but still had to be removed. They just set their dealers up to pull and tune them on the spot instead of mailing them in.

Ah, gotcha. Thanks for the clarification. I never really followed all of the details since I have an '09, but guess there's no guarantee now!

[ThePiombino]

I'd be interested in knowing chich '09s are going to run into this problem. Or which TSB is the culprit for that matter. Going to have APR tune done sometime during this spring sale and just wanna know what I'm getting myself into, lol!

[CGigon@APR]

Guys, unfortunately this is happening on the 09 A4. There are updates to the ECU software from AUDI which is also updating the ECU to a different code which then requires the ECU to be pulled. As long as the technician takes his time, he will not be leaving marks all over the ECU nor will most Audi Dealerships even look at your ECU as they dont have any reason to nor would most technicians remove the ECU to look at it unless they are getting paid the labor time to do so.

Also once you are flashed the first time, all subsequent flashes are done through the OBDII port!

[cory_can]

Also once you are flashed the first time, all subsequent flashes are done through the OBDII port!

^ This comment will probably raise some confusion. I'm driving an '09 with the APR code on it. If I go into the dealer and they flash my ECU with new code, does it mean (based on the comment above) that I wouldn't ever need to pull my ECU to get re-flashed?

[DavidB8]

^ This comment will probably raise some confusion. I'm driving an '09 with the APR code on it. If I go into the dealer and they flash my ECU with new code, does it mean (based on the comment above) that I wouldn't ever need to pull my ECU to get re-flashed?

Excellent question, but to add to it. If you do require a newer software to prevent having to pull the ECU, could someone who has the software now get some sort of update ahead of time? May be an irrelevant question based on part one but thought I would throw it out there now just in case.

[scottyuk]

When the ECU is pulled and opened, is that to access a connector or is a chip replaced, soldered, etc ?

[carlsA4]

I guess it depends on the dealer, but I just told mine " hey I had APR upgrade my ECU. Please don't re-flash it." They were really cool about it and said not to worry about it.
What are the benefits or are there any of them re-flashing it to the 2010 version?

[DavidB8]

Paul I think its to gain direct connection to something. I know they told me they didn't solder anything in the ECU when they did the flash. I guess there is something that can't be accessed through the OBD connector.

[CGigon@APR]

Guys,

If Audi updates your ECU, it will erase the APR software. We allow this to happen so as to not raise any red flags and potentially void your warranty. When this happens you must bring the car back to an APR dealer and have the software reinstalled, which may require the ECU to be pulled again.

Also, we only flash software onto the ECU, we make ZERO modifications to the ECU itself from a hardware standpoint. So no soldering or physical changes are ever made to the ECU.

I hope this helps.

Chris@APR

[mgm]

I'll be getting my '09 w/2010 update reflashed next week. Where is the ECU located on the B8's? Also, gotta ask...how much longer for APR Exhaust/Intake/Stage 2? Thanks.

[k9lovr]

ECU is located under the front cowl plate on the drivers side. Its easy to get to.

[mgm]

Sorry, not sure what cowl plate is. Is it under the fuse panel on the side of driver's side dash (door has to be opened)?

[DavidB8]

under the hood, the long black panel near the windshield. Easy to get off and on.

[mgm]

Oh ok, makes sense thanks! Now if I could only get APR to answer my other question...LOL.

[DavidB8]

Where you thinking of pulling it yourself or having a shop do it?

[mgm]

APR dealer, but wanted to see for myself what is involved in removing it before taking it in.

[ItsDubC]

ECU is located under the front cowl plate on the drivers side. Its easy to get to.

Interesting. We removed this during the DIY of my spring install and I don't remember seeing the ECU (altho, I wasn't exactly looking for it either). The one thing I do remember seeing (and removing) was the windshield wiper fluid reservoir. Kinda seems like a bad idea to keep the ECU so close to a fluid reservoir

[DavidB8]

To remove the ECU you have to remove the black trim cover below the windshield, remove the windshield washer reservoir, pull back some of the rubber seal between the covered compartment and the engine, remove the cover the cover from the ECU and on 6MT's I beleive there are security brackets so you have to drill or remove them through different methods or cut the security brackets to get the unit out then remove the securing screws. Then you remove 2 ECU plugs after sliding their locking mechanism to release. Then out it comes.

[lphiewok]

Sorry for hi-jacking the thread, but how much do shops normally charge for labor? I was told that they charge $90 at my local APR retailer, does this sound reasonable or should I try to ask for some discount?

Thanks

[CGigon@APR]

Guys we should have the Carbonio carbon fiber intake system for the B8 A4 out here in the next 1-2 months! It is still currently under development but we are working hard with Carbonio to get this out as soon as possible and get some real world data to give back to you guys! The exhaust system is also still in the works and we should hopefully have something by summer time for you.

[Arin@APR]

I guess it depends on the dealer, but I just told mine " hey I had APR upgrade my ECU. Please don't re-flash it." They were really cool about it and said not to worry about it.
What are the benefits or are there any of them re-flashing it to the 2010 version?

You should get the factory updates. They fix tuning issues Audi didn't address at the initial release of the car or issues that pop up down the road.

[Arin@APR]

Ok, here is just an update so everyone knows whats up:


If you have a 2010 ECU with the new communication protocols, you will need to pull the ECU for flashing. The APR program will tell the dealer this information.
-If you go back to the APR dealer to get an update, you will not need to pull the ECU the next time you flash. The APR program will tell the dealer this information.
-If you go to the Audi dealership and get an update, you will need to pull the ECU next time you get APR software. The APR program will tell the dealer this information.
-If you go back to the APR dealer to get ONLY stock mode, you will not need to pull the ECU to flash, but the next time you flash you will need to pull the ECU.

If you have an 09 or below with the old communication protocols, you will not need to pull the ECU to flash. The APR Program will tell the dealer this information.

If you have an 09 or below with APR software and get upgraded to the new 2010 code, you will need to pull the ECU to flash. The APR Program will tell the dealer this information.

If you have an 09 or below and the dealer updates you to the 2010 code with before ever getting ARP software, you will need to pull the ECU as we'll have no way of telling if you ever were an 09 or not. The APR Program will tell the daler this information.

[snelldogg]

Hi Arin,

My car is new only 250 miles. Should i wait for my 1st audi service anticipating they will update my car with latest fixs/software and then get APR flash? Do they always update ECU on service calls? Maybe i should call the dealer to see if my car will need updating? Not sure when first service is required either but woudl like to get this done during your current promotion.

Any suggestions?

[mgm]

Ok, here is just an update so everyone knows whats up:



If you have an 09 or below with APR software and get upgraded to the new 2010 code, you will not need to pull the ECU to flash. The APR Program will tell the dealer this information.

Not true. I have an '09 that already had APR Program. Audi Dealer flashed it with 2010 code and APR dealer had to remove ECU to flash.

[Arin@APR]

Not true. I have an '09 that already had APR Program. Audi Dealer flashed it with 2010 code and APR dealer had to remove ECU to flash.

I'm sorry, I need to update that information.

We decided to change this as there's always a chance something happend along the way which resulted in your ECU being PHYSICALLY replaced with a 2010 and not just software updated. To prevent any issues, we simply set the system to always require an ECU to removed if it is running a software revision that comes with the new security protocols.