TUNE INSTRUCTIONS
You have completed the “Tuning Guide” section of the website and are ready for the actual fun part. This section will walk you through how to read your stock tune from your ECU in preparation for tuning. A windows based laptop is required for this, although a windows emulator on a Mac can sometimes work too. A few notes before we start: HP Tuners recommends using a battery tender set to 12.5 V or more for reading and programing your ECU, I have tuned hundreds of vehicles without a battery tender without issue, as long as you have at least 12.0 V. A pointer is to start and run your Jeep for 5 minutes directly prior to flashing or reading the ECU. If you have an auto transmission, you will see a voltage prompt pop up during the read/write on the TCM, just click through it as long as it shows you have 12.0 volts or higher. Lastly, you may notice a check engine light on first start up, don’t worry about it! It’ll go away, the multiple codes are all related to the ECU being disconnected. You can clear codes with VCM Scanner now that you have a MPVI.
Install your unlocked ECU back into your Jeep, reverse of removal. Follow these instructions after doing so.
FIRST START AND ECU STOCK TUNE READ INSTRUCTIONS
1. Grab your PC, MPVI4, and included USB-C cable.
2. Go to HP Tuners and download the LATEST BETA OF VCM SUITE, install it. Do not use the stable version. Beta is required.
3. Open VCM Scanner (yellow lightning bolt icon, you may have to search for it)
4. Plug your MPVI4 into your OBD2 port, then plug your USB-C cable into it and your PC. If you don’t have a USB-C port on your PC, make sure you use a quality adaptor or other USB cord that has data transfer ability.
5. Turn your key to the “ON” position WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE (two pushes on the button with foot off the brake, all dash lights should come on)
6. Click the blue vehicle icon on the main button bar up top in VCM Scanner to “Connect to Vehicle”
7. Click the orange check engine light for “Diagnostics and Info”
8. Click “Read DTCs”, multiple codes relating to throttle body and other circuits is normal after an ECU unlock.
9. Click “Clear DTCs”. Some may remain as “permanent” but they will go away eventually with some drive cycles. This is NOT AN ISSUE. Nothing is wrong with your Jeep and this happens on every one after ECU unlock.
10. Start engine and ensure CEL is off, if it is on, you may still have DTCs displayed as permanent or pending, again, this is normal!! It should clear with drive cycles or after we flash your new tune.
11. Turn Engine Off
12. Close VCM Scanner and open VCM Editor (Grey wrench icon).
13. With Key On but the Engine Off, Click the “Read Vehicle” button (Black with green arrow).
14. Click “Gather Info”, it will determine what PCM and TCM you have
If your OS is newer and not defined by HP Tuners, these boxes will be empty or blank, if this is the case you just have to manually select your PCM and TCM. Scroll and find Stellantis GPEC2A or GPEC5 as needed. For TCM, select Dodge ZF8HP2.
15. Click “Read”. Warning lights and noises from the dash are normal during this process.
16. When the Read is done, SAVE THAT FILE!!!! THIS IS YOUR STOCK/AS FOUND READ. You can flash back to stock at any time with this file if you chose to do so.
17. Email me that .HPT read file through the email thread/receipt that you got at the time of tune purchase.
18. You can drive your Jeep as normal while waiting for me to send your custom tune.
FLASHING YOUR NEW CUSTOM TUNE
1. Plug the interface cable into the vehicle's OBD-II port. Connect the other end to your PC's USB port.
2. Open VCM Editor. Open the tune file I sent you.
3. Turn the vehicle ignition to the ON (or RUN) position, but do not start the engine.
NOTE: The first time you attempt to write to each vehicle, you will be prompted to purchase a license for that vehicle, if already purchased credits, you apply them at this time.
4. Click the “Write Vehicle” button, this is the black box with the red arrow next to where the read button was
5. Ensure that “Write Calibration” is selected for the ECM and also the TCM if your an automatic transmission model
IF YOU ARE AN ETORQUE MODEL, SELECT ‘WRITE ENTIRE!’ FOR THE ECU, THIS IS CRITICAL
6. Make sure all accessories are turned off. Do not use any vehicle accessories during reading or writing procedures.
7. Click “Write” and the flash process will begin. Follow the prompts on the screen. Warning lights and noises from the dash are normal during this process.
8. Don’t worry about any voltage messages during TCM flash unless you are under 12.0 volts, if it shows your under 12.0 volts, stop and charge or replace your battery.
9. After the flash process is complete, exit out of VCM Editor.
10. For eTorque only – Open VCM Scanner and read and clear DTCs as previously described above. This MUST be done or your engine may not run properly. This only applies to eTorque. The codes may remain after clearing, don’t worry, they will go away with driving, we just need to make sure the check engine light itself is off after first start up.
YOU ARE READY FOR A TEST DRIVE AND TO MOVE ON TO THE DATALOG SECTION, CLICK DATALOG INSTRUCTIONS AT THE TOP OF THIS WEBPAGE