Alientech tune controller questions and ECU's - calling Tim/Parso/Gavin etc

**Lucas_R** · 14-05-2013, 04:55 PM

OK so here's the story that im hoping one of you tuning guru's can help with...

My friends Mk5 GTI recently had its ECU replaced because it failed out of the blue. $3,500 later the car is back on the road again thankfully. The car was tuned (Viezu) at the time of the ECU failure and used one of their rebranded Alientech controllers to upload the tune.

When the original ECU died, the car had the aftermarket tune on the car, hence the Alientech controller is locked to the old ECU.

New ECU was fitted by VW, loaded with a stock 147kw tune. The Alientech controller is now useless as its still locked to the old ECU.

For anyone who doesn't know - these Alientech controllers lock to the vehicle's ECU once an aftermarket tune is uploaded to the car. If the original tune is flashed back on then the controllers can be unlocked, reset and used on another vehicle (similar in a way to the Bluefin units).

Question: Is it ok/safe to temporarily remove the new ECU, refit the original ECU (which my friend still has) and attempt to flash that ECU back to stock with the Alientech controller? Providing the original ECU still actually works to some degree, this should allow the Alientech controller to be reset.

I have also emailed Alientech in Italy (yesterday) to ask about possible ways to reset the controller, but have yet to yet a response from them.

My friends car is now tuned once more (with a different tuning company and new controller) but would like to know if we can re-coup some of the money by resetting this controller and selling it.

Any advice would be appreciated.

**kaanage** · 14-05-2013, 05:01 PM

Can't he just contact Simon or his local Viezu dealer to unlock, given the circumstances?

What you ask about should work, though, but the tune would still need to be redone for the new ECU due to the different id

**h100vw** · 14-05-2013, 05:08 PM

I have no experience of doing what you suggest. The only place I'd try it just now, with what I know, is in the carpark at VW.

Was communication with the ECU possible before it was removed? If so then maybe it will flash to standard. If not then, not much chance I reckon.
Gavin

**kaanage** · 14-05-2013, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by h100vw

Was communication with the ECU possible before it was removed? If so then maybe it will flash to standard.

Er, yes. I assumed that was the case but given the failure, it might not communicate and then it definitely would not reflash.
I'd get on to Viezu. myself. Simon is very good with looking after customers, IME.

**h100vw** · 14-05-2013, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by kaanage

Er, yes. I assumed that was the case but given the failure, it might not communicate and then it definitely would not reflash.
I'd get on to Viezu. myself. Simon is very good with looking after customers, IME.

It could be an output failure, no spark or injection, in which case it would be on the network. I know Jimmy has fitted a few ECU to MK5s in the last couple of years. I don't think it cost 3.5k though?

Gavin

**Lucas_R** · 14-05-2013, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by kaanage

Can't he just contact Simon or his local Viezu dealer to unlock, given the circumstances?

What you ask about should work, though, but the tune would still need to be redone for the new ECU due to the different id

Did just that but wasn't happy with the options Simon gave. Was told the controller can't be unlocked without sending it back to Alientech in Italy. Was given a price for a 2nd hand/demo unit for $400 plus returning his existing controller, or $300 for a retune at a dealer not too far away. Wasn't happy with that because the hand controller is so convenient and handy.

Originally Posted by h100vw

I have no experience of doing what you suggest. The only place I'd try it just now, with what I know, is in the carpark at VW.

Was communication with the ECU possible before it was removed? If so then maybe it will flash to standard. If not then, not much chance I reckon.
Gavin

Thats what im worried about Gavin - the damn car not starting once i swap ECU's over. When the ECU failed i was so certain that it was the DSG mechatronics that it never crossed my mind to try and flash the stock tune back onto the ECU. Doesn't help that my friend NEVER keeps the controller in the car - despite me telling him too all the time

Originally Posted by kaanage

Er, yes. I assumed that was the case but given the failure, it might not communicate and then it definitely would not reflash.
I'd get on to Viezu. myself. Simon is very good with looking after customers, IME.

Viezu are now out of the picture so to speak because my friend (im speaking on his behalf because he doesn't use the forums) wasn't happy with the options, prices and attitude he was given from Simon. Given Simon/Viezu pushes the "FREE this and FREE that" slogan alot, there was definitely nothing free about any of the options my friend was given. Anyway, i don't want to turn this into a tuner bash - so apologies there. A new tune + hand controller was purchased from DNA to replace it last week. The car is now tuned back to a stage 2 level and working perfectly again.

All im trying to achieve now is to reset this hand controller and on sell it, then that person can purchase a tune through Viezu and use the hand controller to upload etc.

Originally Posted by h100vw

It could be an output failure, no spark or injection, in which case it would be on the network. I know Jimmy has fitted a few ECU to MK5s in the last couple of years. I don't think it cost 3.5k though?

Gavin

I wish i knew Gavin. All the electrics still worked (lights / dashboard / stereo etc) and the car would crank but never start. The new ECU cost $2200 from VW and the rest was labour. They tried to charge him even more but he kicked up a stink and they settled on about $3,450 or thereabouts.

I looked up the ECU part number and you can get them for 500 GBP in the UK - brand new. Such a rip off here. I wasn't sure if it was worth the risk to buy one form overseas incase it was slightly different etc so didn't bother. VW said that they wouldn't touch it unless it was purchased through them as well - slimy bastards.

**Lucas_R** · 14-05-2013, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by kaanage

Bummer about Simon's response, although he would be limited by what Alientech allow tuners to do with the PowerGate IIS. Not really sure what John would be able to do if the SRS-II was locked in similar circumstances.

Good luck finding out if the old ECU can be safely plugged back in - it might be better ask a dealer technician (like Lucky13) if swapping ECUs for this sort of purpose can hurt things. Given that the car behaved normally except for starting, I'd think you have a chance.

Cheers. Yes im hoping some of the regular tech savvy guys (like Umai Naii etc) can advise. Also Parso i know swaps ECU's on his Golf R so mabye its not such a big deal to fiddle with it.

**Lucas_R** · 14-05-2013, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by noone

Handy how? Once the car is tuned, what good is the box that loaded the file? Are you in the testing / tweaking phase?

I mean handy because there are no tune dealers in the Newcastle area and the hand controller saves a 2.5hr trip each way to Sydney and back to have a tune applied to the car. And no need to book into a tuner weeks in advance etc. And the fact that the controller doubles as a basic error code checker is also handy. Its very convenient and handy. I have one for my car too.

**ViezuAustralia** · 14-05-2013, 10:19 PM

Hi guys

I just wanted to clarify here so nothing's lost in translation. And if there's been something that's come across in an unsuitable 'attitude' then please let me know so I can make amends.

The correct course of events here is the old unit which is locked to the old ECU, needs to be reset. That costs more than anticipated by the time its gone back through the process. So I offered a few alternatives to help out in the unfortunate circumstances, one being a $199 vRace file with free dyno at the new local Dealer in Newcastle, and upgrade to the latest vRace with full indirect DSG. But this was turned down as the preferred option was to use the controller.

The controllers are expensive for us to bring in, but again, even with offering a free replacement tune, the controller would be $399, and I'd wear the freight costs and tunes. I can't do more than that.

A cheaper unit was sourced by client, for $250 - and we were going to be providing the tune for free onto that unit, but given the fact we could not ascertain to whom that unit was slaved, we didn't get as far as tuning it before the pin was pulled and I was informed this would no longer be required.

Lucas_R we try to bend over backwards to assist clients, and if you feel I could have done more please let me know. Happy to assist in any way I can.

Cheers

Simon

**Transporter** · 14-05-2013, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by Lucas_R

Viezu are now out of the picture so to speak because my friend (im speaking on his behalf because he doesn't use the forums) wasn't happy with the options, prices and attitude he was given from Simon. Given Simon/Viezu pushes the "FREE this and FREE that" slogan alot, there was definitely nothing free about any of the options my friend was given. Anyway, i don't want to turn this into a tuner bash - so apologies there. A new tune + hand controller was purchased from DNA to replace it last week. The car is now tuned back to a stage 2 level and working perfectly again.

I'm not saying that your friend caused the ecu failure, but from your posts I'm getting that; your friend had choose the cheaper option to DIY with the hand flash controller and then later when the things go south he expects more for free or as cheap as possible?

I also got from your post that, he is 2.5hours from the Viezu dealer, so I'm not blaming him for trying to save money, but I'm sure that if he'd use the Viezu dealer instead DIY, he would get his map flashed back in for free.