Is there a way to tell if engine was remapped

[Piotrnowax]

Can anyone tell me if there is a way to find out without any specialistic tools if my engine has been remapped ? I only bout this car and recently NOX sensors came up, need to be replaced but was told on rare occasions on replacing NOX sensor needs to be programmed and whole ECU updated if it does and engine was mapped it could potentially lead to ecu crash. I gnow the garage to well and trust them so just need to know if there is a way of checking it ? alternatively is there a tool that allows to backup ECU and then restore if crashed ? ( remember had this option in ford years ago ) Thanks

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Can anyone tell me if there is a way to find out without any specialistic tools if my engine has been remapped ? I only bout this car and recently NOX sensors came up, need to be replaced but was told on rare occasions on replacing NOX sensor needs to be programmed and whole ECU updated if it does and engine was mapped it could potentially lead to ecu crash. I gnow the garage to well and trust them so just need to know if there is a way of checking it ? alternatively is there a tool that allows to backup ECU and then restore if crashed ? ( remember had this option in ford years ago ) Thanks

Without specialist tools and a forensic level analysis, then I think it’s unlikely that you could find out whether it’s been remapped.

There are tools which you can plug in which can transfer maps but if the ECU “crashes” I’m not sure it would respond to the device.

If you have just bought it, was it from a dealer or trader? If so then it’s their problem rather than yours to sort out.

 

[W1ghty]

Might be worth checking to see if the dpf is still intact or at least there is no welding on top of it .
Some cars with adblue may also have had this system disconnected because of faults .

 

[cws196]

If an engine/engine module has been remapped then when plugged in to an MB diagnostic system, the screen will flash red (or the like) which alerts to a remap. Regarding NOx sensors, if you've had the latest variants fitted then new software needs loading on to the Engine ECU - this is only a job that can be done by dealers (perhaps also by an independent if they're paying full MB STAR subscription).

 

[markjay]

If an engine/engine module has been remapped then when plugged in to an MB diagnostic system, the screen will flash red (or the like) which alerts to a remap. Regarding NOx sensors, if you've had the latest variants fitted then new software needs loading on to the Engine ECU - this is only a job that can be done by dealers (perhaps also by an independent if they're paying full MB STAR subscription).

And uploading a new version of the software to the ECU will likely delete any remapping that may have been present.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Without specialist tools and a forensic level analysis, then I think it’s unlikely that you could find out whether it’s been remapped.

There are tools which you can plug in which can transfer maps but if the ECU “crashes” I’m not sure it would respond to the device.

If you have just bought it, was it from a dealer or trader? If so then it’s their problem rather than yours to sort out.

Cant be that difficult....insurance company loss adjusters seem to be able to find out in about 2 minutes with the right tool....ask my M5 owning mate!!!....they let him off as it happened before he bought it and he was unaware...ahem......

 

[Piotrnowax]

And uploading a new version of the software to the ECU will likely delete any remapping that may have been present.

i am doing it next week in my local independednt garage that has MB subscription and can do system update if needed for nox sensor, I was asked by them if I know of any remap as they had situation before when on system updating ecu crashed.

 

[Piotrnowax]

If an engine/engine module has been remapped then when plugged in to an MB diagnostic system, the screen will flash red (or the like) which alerts to a remap. Regarding NOx sensors, if you've had the latest variants fitted then new software needs loading on to the Engine ECU - this is only a job that can be done by dealers (perhaps also by an independent if they're paying full MB STAR subscription).

what you saying is I should find 2017 NOx sensor so it does not need update ?

 

[cws196]

Cant be that difficult....insurance company loss adjusters seem to be able to find out in about 2 minutes with the right tool....ask my M5 owning mate!!!....they let him off as it happened before he bought it and he was unaware...ahe

what you saying is I should find 2017 NOx sensor so it does not need update ?

What do you want more - a functioning AdBlue system OR to retain the remap? If you go for the older NOx sensors, they are more unreliable and will fail sooner/again but won't need updated software, but are more unreliable latest compared to the later NOx sensors....which require a software update.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Cant be that difficult....insurance company loss adjusters seem to be able to find out in about 2 minutes with the right tool....ask my M5 owning mate!!!....they let him off as it happened before he bought it and he was unaware...ahem......

It’s only difficult when you don’t know how.

 

[Trickythemerc]

When our VW Towrag was returned at the end of the lease the collection guy plugged a scanner in to check for any dodgy mileage stuff. Remaps and deletes are also checkable. Glad to see the back of it.... six warranty issues in 25k

 

[Piotrnowax]

What do you want more - a functioning AdBlue system OR to retain the remap? If you go for the older NOx sensors, they are more unreliable and will fail sooner/again but won't need updated software, but are more unreliable latest compared to the later NOx sensors....which require a software update.

Again I am not sure if this car has been remapped or not, It would be nice to have new software ( if not already on it ) but risking ECU crash ?

 

[Petrol Pete]

How old is this car P ? if it's quite recent it might be worth paying a good indy or even (gulp) MB to plug in.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

If you are concerned then you could ask that the dealer applies the latest standard map BEFORE applying the changes for the NOX sensors.

 

[Piotrnowax]

If you are concerned then you could ask that the dealer applies the latest standard map BEFORE applying the changes for the NOX sensors.

thats good thought, will pop up and ask to do it before nox change!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

thats good thought, will pop up and ask to do it before nox change!

I have one every year. Trouble is I need to wait u til 2025 for the next one

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Cant be that difficult....insurance company loss adjusters seem to be able to find out in about 2 minutes with the right tool....ask my M5 owning mate!!!....they let him off as it happened before he bought it and he was unaware...ahem......

Quite.

Ditto Chris Harris and his M5 Touring

 

[Supernoodle]

The OBD mode $09 CALID is a checksum of the boot, code and data in the module.

If manufacturer wants to determine if you have a remap they read the part number of the software, check what the expected CALID is for that release, then read that actual CALID from the module. If it's not a match you've been tinkering.

Not sure what you mean ECU crash, but if you're talking about flashing the wrong software so it's unrecoverable, that shouldn't be possible with a manufacturer tool like Xentry. It will check what is currently installed then only offer compatible software. Even then the flash boot loader in the module will perform further checks before it continue the update.