Say what??!! GM argues they license car software to us so ONLY they can work on it

[XLRATING]

Hope this isn't successful. I don't buy the argument that we need to protect consumers from buying a car that's been modified without their knowledge - that's been going on since cars were invented, & I know dealerships can & do scan for these things.

General Motors says it owns your car's software

 

[Crimson Pearl]

My best friend, who owns a Chevy Volt, says this is a BIG topic of discussion on the Chevy Volt Forums.

By the way, he and his wife LOVE their Volt, it really works well for their lifestyle.

 

[MarkSki]

I bought a 2004 6.0 super cab, the engine was one of the first 6.0's, it is a 2003 engine, so the sticker on the engine says.

This truck had all kinds of power, it was very quiet when at idle. I took it back to the dealer for an egr problem. These engines puke coolant at times due to the egr system.

I told the dealer NOT to flash the software and the person that was writing up the work order put that on the work order but the mechanic didn't pay attention and flashed the computer with new software. I ended up with an F250 Supercab, diesel Ranger!

In order to get my power back I had to buy a programmer with custom software and reprogram the computer. The engine runs great but not quite the same as it came out of the factory. The sound when it idles is loud, just like a diesel but my power has returned. That was another $450 that I should not have had to spend.

If Ford says they own the software in the computer, I'll put the factory flashed program back into the computer and they can have it. The programmer sucks that program out and saves it in the programmer, then it deletes it from the computer and installs the custom software. If/when I have to take it back to the dealer or anyone that is going to work on the engine, I load the factory software back into the computer so if the computer is flashed again, I can reprogram it again. If I were to keep my custom program in and they flashed the computer I'd be out of luck and would not be able to load in my custom program because the factory file that is in my programmer would not match up to what's in the computer and I would not be able to continue. I'd have to send my programmer back to where I bought it so they could clear it out, refill it with the custom software and I'd have to start all over again.

I have one program called Race and I"ve tried it a couple of times. When it shifts it snaps your neck back. If you power brake and get the turbo spun up to 2000 rpms then release the brake you can burn up both rear tires, or all four if you put it into 4x4. I've seen youtube flicks of this and they are not fake! I don't like the way it shifts so I don't use that program.

It would be nice if we had something like this for our XLR's. The XLR-V could have 750 hp and setup their own shift points. The base XLR could jump up to 400 - 450 hp. I'm not sure of these numbers I'm just pulling them out of my pocket but it would be nice! Instant hp in five minutes

 

[XLRATING]

We got a tune for the GT500 that was advertised to increase power AND gas mileage - & it did just that. I've never understood why they didn't just make it that way to begin with.

I've had dealers tell me that GM requires them to check the last 10 or so "transactions" (not quite the right word) on the car's computers & if any tunes have been added they refuse to work on it & void the warranty. Now they're working on the next step of refusing to let anyone else work on it either. Not sure any of this makes sense.