Best way to tell if my ecu has been flashed?

[big_jerm]

So i know this might seem noobish but i bought my 2000 s4 about 1 year ago and the private seller told me the car was bone stock. Since then i have found that the car has some upgrades that would go along with a chip, (exhaust, baileys diverter values, ect.). i purchased the car from someone who bought the car at an auction so theres no way to contact the previous owner. But the previous owner put some money into the car so i wouldn't be surprised if he went ahead and tuned it. Im planning on getting it tuned soon and it would be awesome to find out its already tuned and same me some $$$!

1) i have a boost guage and im getting a little over .5 bar(or about 8 psi) so i know no matter what at the moment its running a stock file.
2) ive tried using the cruise control stalk to change programs and i haven gotten nothing so i know it isnt apr tuned.

if anyone has any ideas to try to identify if i have some sort of chip or flash that would be super appreciated!
THANKS!

[somebody5788]

So i know this might seem noobish but i bought my 2000 s4 about 1 year ago and the private seller told me the car was bone stock. Since then i have found that the car has some upgrades that would go along with a chip, (exhaust, baileys diverter values, ect.). i purchased the car from someone who bought the car at an auction so theres no way to contact the previous owner. But the previous owner put some money into the car so i wouldn't be surprised if he went ahead and tuned it. Im planning on getting it tuned soon and it would be awesome to find out its already tuned and same me some $$$!

1) i have a boost guage and im getting a little over .5 bar(or about 8 psi) so i know no matter what at the moment its running a stock file.
2) ive tried using the cruise control stalk to change programs and i haven gotten nothing so i know it isnt apr tuned.

if anyone has any ideas to try to identify if i have some sort of chip or flash that would be super appreciated!
THANKS!

It technically could still be an APR tune. Mine has a lock out code, when it's locked you can't do anything.

[airjawed]

I think the only way is to read the ECU and see if it looks like a stock file. Nefmoto.com is a great place to go to understand how to do that.

Many tuners will not honor a tune that has been sold. APR does do a transfer of ownership but they are the rare circumstance.

[big_jerm]

I think the only way is to read the ECU and see if it looks like a stock file. Nefmoto.com is a great place to go to understand how to do that.

Many tuners will not honor a tune that has been sold. APR does do a transfer of ownership but they are the rare circumstance.

wouldn't it not matter though if the car was sold as is? if the tune was loaded and the old owner sold it, how would APR or the tuner know? i have all the nefmoto stuff but my ebay cable has decided to no longer want to work Used it with Vag Com and it was awesome, go to use it now (interface not found).

[airjawed]

wouldn't it not matter though if the car was sold as is? if the tune was loaded and the old owner sold it, how would APR or the tuner know? i have all the nefmoto stuff but my ebay cable has decided to no longer want to work Used it with Vag Com and it was awesome, go to use it now (interface not found).

APR has a register database...so they should know if car changed hands.

[big_jerm]

APR has a register database...so they should know if car changed hands.

i emailed them and they said i would have to bring it to a APR dealer to find out if it has a tune. and if it does it would cost 150 to transfer it to me. The 150 sucks but i get the warranty and free upgrades so thats not bad. I still figured they could look it up via the VIN but the email said they couldnt. Sucks the closest ones like 1.5 hours. (would really suck to drive out there and learn its not tuned). Wish it hadnt been an auction car so i could just call the owner and find out, or just know from him from the start!

[TLO03]

Maybe take ecu out and inspect it.. Sticker on the outside, maybe a different letter box than it should be..

[big_jerm]

Maybe take ecu out and inspect it.. Sticker on the outside, maybe a different letter box than it should be..

Opened it up tonight and its the correct box, but it has a small black star on the outside. Looks like it was hand drawn with a sharpie. Im going to research that tonight. Anyone have any ideas on what the star is?

[airjawed]

If the cruise control APR tune select procedure does not do anything then I'm pretty sure you do not have APR. If you don't have APR then you are most likely not going to get tune support from whomever it is even if there is a tune.

[S4tranquility]

Install GIAC flash loader software on your laptop and get a vag cable and see if any programs pop up.

http://www.giacusa.com/products/switchers.php

Also, you could open up the ECU to see if it has an old school chip soldered in.