so , if the tech that is supposed to do his job right,"and it requires a reflash to help the cust. problem"and somebody complaines that the reflash effected there programer and the tech was required to do it .How do you blaime.the guy that has to do his job within a certain area or someone that says they do something and makes a large sum but dont do ****!.the relash only benifites you ,send your programer off and update it.

 

While you seem like you mean well, being a tech and all. All 03 owners were lied to and paid money for something they only kept for a short while. It was at the time a major selling point. While the more recent flashes have been better (actually addressing a specific problem and fixing it, rather than adding 5 new problems) some people are still gunshy, after all the 05E15 flash is a good flash if it is done correctly. Many here posted their displeasure with the trucks performance after the flash was installed.

1. Lost pilot injection

2. Lost fuel mileage

3. Lost a tow/haul that actually worked

4. Lost more fuel mileage

5. Disables throttle plate that never should have been there to begin with

I could keep going, or you could search this forum and read all the wonderful flashes and the comments people made about them.

 

I like the "No touch No flash" idea, sounds good. Works for me, I'll try that next time I have to go in.
I try not to go back in there for anything!

 

if the flash affects the truck for the better ,thats a good thing.if it hurts it you can always have the computers restored to the factory program with as-built data.i understand that the reflash might fix one problem and cause 5 more.

 

Before I reflash one, I go to the customer "Sir, do you have a programmer or chip in it?". Then we get to the "be honest with your tech". If they tell you no, flash away, if they say yes, explain the need for a flash, and give the option to them, whatever they want to do.

 

I was told numerous times that they could not restore the programming back to original. I had an 03 with the same concerns as mrxlh and I would have loved to had it restored back to the same truck that I originally bought before Ford started playing Flash Gordon on our trucks......

 

You can't--as built data restores the pcm to the calibration that is available at the time of programming.

 

Thanks.
Lots of good information in this thread! Keep it coming.

 

LOL Who knows what else the poor dealer tech would rear-end while trying to fix that one!

 

You sir are absolutely correct and well informed. I am one of those owners with an '03 that went through all of that. I even left my truck at the dealer until the regional rep came and talked with me. Trust me on this, I am more of an azzhole than mrxlh and it was nothing more than a bait and switch in my eyes. I came within a hair of knocking that service rep's teeth out at the time. I lost all my good stuff at 50k miles when I needed an injector replaced and against my orders, they reflashed the truck. Ford techs will argue that they have the "right" to do it to get it to run right. Well, mine ran "right" when I brought it in, it just needed a new injector. Ford techs will tow the line and give the Ford lip service, that's their job.

Having said all of that, I now have over 85k miles on my truck and it's been the best vehicle I've ever owned. No squeeks and rattles, never once has let me down, etc. The only reason I am now happy with my truck is because I got a custom tuned SCT and exhaust. The only thing I can NOT get back is the original tow/haul, the tuners can't get it to downshift into first gear like it used to do, that's a major loss, but they've done a good job with tow/haul programs and it's almost as good anyway.

Would I buy another Ford? Yes, I would. But since Ford pulled that bait and switch to begin with, I'll be dang sure to check out what the competitor's offer before I buy another Ford.

 

HBO, the reason I know about it, was the fact I had an 03 as well. After the first flash, it went downhill quick. I waited them (Ford) out and beat them at their own game. I upgraded to an 05' when diesel was $3+ per gallon and you couldnt give one away. Sticker was 44,800 I got it for 33,800.

 

FWIW After Ford stole the PI on my 03 6.0, I told a business associate that also had an early 03 6.0 to never bring it back to Ford for service. That was 4 years ago and his truck has never been back to the dealer for any reason. In fact, I told him to ignore the letters from Ford (which he did). His truck has the original Tow/haul and purrs like a kitten at idle

 

I kept my truck away from the dealer unless it was absolutely neccasary. The Predator has excellent shifting and the Tow-Haul engages at any speed when you let up and tap the brake. It will bring the truck to a stop from 35 with a load of cattle behind it. My mileage had always been great and it didn't puke coolant from the overflow tank.

 

i have a 04 and mine still has the aggressive tow/haul mode on it so i guess they couldnt have done to many flashes to it..use it last night when towing a trailer...

 

I must say the idea of a hidden switch somewhere to kill the power to the port for the dealer to flash your truck is a great friggin' idea if you ask me LOL...

The dealer I have used for years now has been down this road many times with each model. I have been told that the 05's was some of the worst hit by a new flash that made really good fuel mileage go right in the crapper... That would more than make me very angry if was mine...

Now my dealer also knows me very well as mentioned I have been trading there for 20 years or more, and they know I am a big a-hole when they do something stupid with me or mine... I once even went to far to tell the service writer when I was in for some work on a truck I use to have that I made my living with, that if they screwed anything up on the truck that I would drive my truck around the building and use the welder in the back to weld up all the doors in the place, then set fire to the building with my torch that was also in the truck, and shoot and kill every single one that jumped out the window... I was not joking about it either... They knew this as my 300 magnum was in the truck also, and I left it there with the truck so they could check it if they dare to as it was loaded as well.

Everyone at the dealer that knows me now still laughs about this now as they knew then just how serious I was back then. This was all after my new then 91 was going in for its third new E4OD and torque converter and all the time off the job was killing me and I was not a happy guy with them or Ford...

There has been plenty things Ford has done over the years to all of us that buy and love the trucks they make. These re-flashes I read here and hear about from others I meet in the public, sounds just like the older stuff I had them pull on me till I said enough and had to make a big stink and right in front of God and everyone on the service drive.

Its not right the stuff they do to our trucks makes them worse, or if they can't fix something that is new and doesn't work to bign with as was the E4OD and my 91 PSD... Ford should just belly up and buy them back if they can't fix them. My money never has come easy enough that I could just write it off and buy a new truck at that point, and that be if I wanted too. Most often I loved the very one I had bought and wanted it back like it was or was sold to be...

So, I feel the pain you guys have had on some of these for sure with these reflashes doing more wrong than good. I love the idea of the hidden switch to kill the port LOL...