So from what I'm reading in this thread - https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/2-0l-lnf-performance-tech-153/2010-ss-upgrade-options-210165/

that you can do a write entire and flash the ecm back to stock and it will completely write over the flash count and everything. There will be no way for the dealership to know that it has been flashed. Am I understanding that correctly?

 

depends on how hard they look

 

just buy an extra ecm i think i paid like 100 for mine

 

08+ they can tell no matter what you do..

05-07 there is no logger so you put it to stock, thats all they know

 

Unless you went in for a trashed clutch or a blown piston, I don't think they'll look for it. From the experiences I've had with my dealer, I can tell you that most gm mechanics don't know **** about the turbo Balts.

I'm pretty sure there will come a day when dealers get smart enough to install anti-tamper stickers on the ECM to tell when you've pulled it from the car.

 

ya that day would suck but all good for now

 

GM definitely requested the dealership to check my Solstice out for a buncha warranty work, and it definitely got warrantied just fine. Did a write entire as always, came back just fine. So either a) write entire worked just fine or b) they didn't check after gm requested it for whatever reason.

 

A lot of techs, if you know them and some just do, over look things just cause they don't care, they get paid for the work either way

 

spare ECM is the way to go... I sent my car to the dealer with the stock ECM but left my charge piping, etc. on.... all the service manager did was compliment me on how nice it looked, guess I have a good dealer

 

Here's GM's procedure for confirming calibrations.

---

Instructions for confirming Calibration Verification Number (CVN)
• Go to TIS2WEB

• Select Calibration Information (SPS Info)

• Enter VIN

• Select "Get Cal ID"

• Select ECM Engine Control Module

• Hit "next"

• Select "Complete History"

• Print

Take Printout to Vehicle along with Tech II
• Plug in Tech II

• Go to diagnostics and build the vehicle

• Select Powertrain

• Select the engine

• Select F0 - Engine Control Module

• Select F4/F5 - I/M information System / Module ID information*

• Select F1

• Compare the calibration ID and Calibration Verification Numbers
(CVN) to the Calibration Verification Numbers (CVN) on the printout.

* This step may vary by controller; use the Module ID Information in the
Engine Controls.

Although the part numbers will be the same for each, it's the CVN that will
determine if the calibration is GM issued.

If ALL of the CVN's are EXACTLY the same, the calibration is GM issued.

If the part numbers match and ANY calibration verification numbers (CVN's) do not match the printout, it is likely that a non GM certified calibration has been installed.

In order to document the case - a CLEAR digital picture should be taken of
the TECH 2 screen showing the VIN and the CVN's that do not match the
TIS2WEB printout. The picture and a PDF copy of the TIS2WEB printout should be forwarded to jay.dankovich@GM.com for verification along with the VIN and the reason the vehicle is currently in for service. Please copy your GM Area Service Manager (DVM/DSM) on the e-mail. GM will verify if the CVN's are not GM issued and respond via e-mail within 48 hours.

If both the Part numbers and the CVN are different, photograph the part
numbers and CVN's on the tech 2 screen as described above, assuring the VIN shows clearly in the photograph of the TECH2 screen, and check to see if the vehicle has the latest released calibration. If the latest released calibration is not installed in the vehicle, the part numbers will not match, and the CVN's won't either. E- mail the original Part Numbers and CVN's found in the vehicle on the TECH 2 to: jay.dankovich@GM.com to check if the calibration and CVN matches a previous release. Recalibrate with the latest released cal and re-check against the part numbers and CVN's that are released.


Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete eachstep. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.

---

You do realize HP Tuners resets all CVN's back to the originals once a write entire is performed with a stock tune correct? Also, the # of reflashes is set to 0. The ONLY thing that would be stored is Time Since Last Code Clear, which they can't do anything about, and all you really have to say is you "cleared the codes with a crappy code scanner to see if it'll fix it.

 

Hmmmmmm.... I never knew that. That's pretty good!

 

^ superchips supposedly does the same, i've never risked it, just swapped out the ECM

 

Explains why it worked for me then Not a fluke guys

 

Not starting a pissing match between Trifecta and HP but out of curiosity for the guys with the Trifecta Cables if they do flash back to stock is that in essence the same thing as a write entire for the HP guys? Will all the CVN's also be reset?

 

I believe the answer is yes to both of your questions... But I'm not sure.

 

when reading over the GM instructions, i've always wondered, is it designed to find a tune on the car? meaning those who DID NOT flash back to stock? because its seems all of the tuners have the means to be "untraceable" when flashed back to stock in that the VIN and CVN still match when flashed back to stock

i've always thought maybe its meant to detect when people forget to flash it back and take their car in with the tune still on it... has anyone flashed BACK to stock and had the dealer find "traces" a tune had been on there?

 

^I have flashed back to stock and they claimed everything was untouched.

 

I don't know of anyone with a Cobalt SS personally that has flashed back to stock(I have a spare ECM for example), but I do know a guy with a Ls3 vette that was tuned, had a problem, flashed back to stock and was not given any trouble by the dealer... so that too got me wondering... i've heard of people being "told" that the dealer had found it(on forums not personally), but a lot of that could just be them trying to get you to confess to it(much like what a criminal investigator will do), did they actually have the dealer show them a slip showing "look here, you tuned your car"... etc, etc...

 

this really makes me wonder... If the CVN's all match what GM is expecting to see what can they do to find out if a car has been tuned?

 

This

 

Well as posted on the 1st page, there is no reason to look if it passes those basic checks

 

Exactly, typically they won't drill any further . But if they do it doesn't matter what someone does, everything is detectable just a matter of how hard GM is willing to work to find it.

 

And this is all assuming your dealer will cover your SS model PERIOD. Ive had cars with 0 mods refused repairs at dealers because it looked "fast" they assume I drove it hard etc... So I wouldnt get too hung up on this. Yes it will pass first glance, if they want to deny you of service they WILL find a reason regardless.

 

Yep, Marin's story was a perfect example of GM trying anything to weasel out of warrantying his motor (for anyone who forgets shattered lifter @ 17,000km resulted in roasted motor). He went through so much bullshit before they finally replaced it sometime later (I swear it was 3+ months).

 

as for the anti-tamper sticker - GM wouldn't do it, it would cost money ($15.00 sticker ((GM/Union costs)) x 40mil+ cars built-to-date= $6bil)..

I remember my tech telling me about, some GM Techs, have been trained to work on the cobalts for all/some model years.. Bcause some dealerships want and have there tech's go/do training.. depending on volume/fleet dealers who sell mass vol of cobalts.. so they can charge more $$$$.. "Stealerhip""

I cant remember which dealership it is either in southwest (north las vegas) or northeast (south boston) has 3 "newly minted cert gm cobalt techs".. "from GM Tech magazine"