Procal install in HB/OC area?

[PlayTime]

I've got the unit configured, backed up the stock tune, update and performance tune loaded... but I do not have a garage or trickle charger for a safe install on my own.

Any shop recommendations for some light work?

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[consultadrone]

Following. I am having a hard time finding a dealership that doesn't want to charge $450-$600 for this. Unreal. I also have already created accounts, backed up stock calibrations and downloaded the tune file to the unit. Just need a Ford service person to plug it in and push a button. Really trying to preserve my warranty here, but even Ford.com shows this as $112 install. Suggestions welcomed

 

[ironmike]

Did you try South Bay Ford in Hawthorne?

 

[consultadrone]

Did you try South Bay Ford in Hawthorne?

I didn’t, actually. But I appreciate the suggestion. I called about 6 different dealerships and they all varied between $450-$600 to do the flash. Seemed a little high. But I managed to get it sorted finally. I did learn that it is about 2 hours worth of tech time start to finish. The flash is pretty quick, but there are systems checks to do and the RO has to be written up and submitted for warranty, etc. I go in later next week to get it loaded. Dealership owner has a Braptor (A very nicely sorted one) and his techs have done a bunch of these.

 

[Bucking_Will]

I've got the unit configured, backed up the stock tune, update and performance tune loaded... but I do not have a garage or trickle charger for a safe install on my own.

Any shop recommendations for some light work?

Why not just do it yourself,,, you dont need a garage or a trickle charge unit it ...takes less than 15 min as long as your battery is good you "should" have no issues at all

 

[Brian_B]

Why not just do it yourself,,, you dont need a garage or a trickle charge unit it ...takes less than 15 min as long as your battery is good you "should" have no issues at all

This is true, however, I'd still have a hard time recommending "just do it"

If you can park anywhere with an outdoor accessible outlet, that's all you really need. You'd think the EVs could move out of your way for 15 minutes to get it done

Maybe just run an extension cord out your apartment/dorm window? or plug it into one of those portable power stations (Anker / Bluetti / Jackery / etc)

That said, I've had good luck also using those jump starter packs in a pinch, just to make sure the battery keeps voltage.

You really don't want the computers dropping out in the middle of a write. Just throwing out ideas here. Trickle charger and a portable power station to do this would be less than $100 (assuming you get a small power station), and the power stations are extremely handy, and you could just return the trickle charger when you are done if you wanted to (although I would recommend keeping it, it's good to have for these crappy AGM batteries)

Shoot - take a drive up north and you can plug it into my garage, just cost you a beer.

 

[Bucking_Will]

This is true, however, I'd still have a hard time recommending "just do it"

If you can park anywhere with an outdoor accessible outlet, that's all you really need. You'd think the EVs could move out of your way for 15 minutes to get it done

Maybe just run an extension cord out your apartment/dorm window? or plug it into one of those portable power stations (Anker / Bluetti / Jackery / etc)

That said, I've had good luck also using those jump starter packs in a pinch, just to make sure the battery keeps voltage.

You really don't want the computers dropping out in the middle of a write. Just throwing out ideas here. Trickle charger and a portable power station to do this would be less than $100 (assuming you get a small power station), and the power stations are extremely handy, and you could just return the trickle charger when you are done if you wanted to (although I would recommend keeping it, it's good to have for these crappy AGM batteries)

Shoot - take a drive up north and you can plug it into my garage, just cost you a beer.

What are you talking about? What needs to be plugged in to power? You do the pro scan in your house with your computer ..(which is has already done) now take the pro scan to your car and up load it no external power is needed

 

[Brian_B]

What are you talking about? What needs to be plugged in to power? You do the pro scan in your house with your computer ..(which is has already done) now take the pro scan to your car and up load it no external power is needed

So. This is true.

And doing this, 99 times out of 100 you will be just fine.

But, these AGM batteries are crap and these Bosch computer models are extremely sensitive to power stability. If you happen to roll snake eyes and a computer takes a crap in the middle of a write while you are doing this, it will probably get bricked.

Now, I admit, I’ve never heard of anyone having this happen while the are installing ProCal. But there are many, many, many instances of random weird electrical crap going wrong, throwing all kinds of codes and locking all sorts of things out - and just the simple act of recharging the battery over night clears it all up. For normal just every day that’s no big deal, as soon as voltage is stable the modules just reboot and back in business. But if it happens while it’s writing new code… you could (could, it’s a low chance, but the odds are a positive number) corrupt the module and render it irrevocably broken

The Ford OTA backup has a similar check - if your battery isn’t in ~very good~ State of Charge, you won’t get updates over the air. But there isn’t a good way to check SOC on the battery without a third party tool (the ProCal tool itself I don’t think will show you). Voltage alone is not a good indicator on these AGM batteries (especially while the vehicle is running)

So I always put my battery on a trickle charger before doing anything that involves writing data to the computer. I consider it cheap insurance against a computer deciding to go crazy because of a possible low voltage event.

 

[SlowTrak]

You can just buy a $20 trickle charger from Amazon...

 

[Bronchial]

I didn’t, actually. But I appreciate the suggestion. I called about 6 different dealerships and they all varied between $450-$600 to do the flash. Seemed a little high. But I managed to get it sorted finally. I did learn that it is about 2 hours worth of tech time start to finish. The flash is pretty quick, but there are systems checks to do and the RO has to be written up and submitted for warranty, etc. I go in later next week to get it loaded. Dealership owner has a Braptor (A very nicely sorted one) and his techs have done a bunch of these.

Can you let me know where you ended up getting the tune done? I am in the southbay and having a hard time finding a dealership that will do it. Thanks!

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