Its called Black Oak and will be implemented in 2004 in the F150. If you want a preview of it, look under the hood of a 2003 Expedition on the passenger side cowl, Or a 2002 Explorer, in a similar spot to the current F150. Its nothing like the old processor in size, shape or connectors.

 

Im sure that they will find a way around it. They always do. That how it is with anything. Where theres a will theres a way .

 

The "non-chippable" PCM that people are referring to is called the P-TEC (as opposed to the current EEC-V). This PCM is already being used by Ford in the T-bird/LS, Explorer and a few other vehicles. It's a funky looking wedge shaped PCM with 3 plug harnesses, and no "chip" port.

I highly doubt the P-TEC will be in the 03 Lightning. The P-TEC in the 03 Lightning would require an extensive redesign of the wiring harness and electric system. Ford will not go to that added expense on a vehicle that's essentially unchanged from the previous year. If the Lightning does get the P-TEC, it will be on the next body change.

The P-TEC will be just as easy to recalibrate by the time one shows up in the Lightning. Just a matter of plugging into the OBD-II port and reflashing the PCM.

As for Grey03s infomercial about Diablo being the only aftermarket company that can reprogram the P-TEC, Autologic already has a device that does this, and is in the final stages of testing .

 

Let's see... 2003. That'll be 4 years since the 99 Cobra incident. Yep, about time for Ford/SVT to step on their own *****s again. Wouldn't want the public to become accustomed to a great product.

It never ceases to amaze me, what the ******** who make the decisions, actually come up with!

joe

 

It wasnt an infomercial.

There is only one company out there that has already released "tuneable" micro programmers(available for GM's and soon to be available for Ford), and that is Diablo. Superchips programmer only loads a standard program with few user available changes (ie; gear ratio and shift points). If Autologic has such a device, I have yet to see it advertised or even in the beta stages or development. If it is in the final stages of development, then why is this the first that anyone has heard of it??

any info would be greatly appreciated on the Autologic device. Thanks. G

 

Wow, this looks like it could be a potential PITA.

So, Sal, if they do that and you actually have to reflash into the computer directly can that be cleared to avoid a voided warranty prior to service?

CA

 

I would think that saving the existing program parameters
would be one of the options. That way you could go back
and forth between programs. The down side is of course,
that you will only have one program at a time.

Anyone ever use a Tweccer (spelling?) It supposedly
will let you load and tune your own parameters. I have
heard that it is exceptionally easy to blow up your vehicle
with one of these if you don't know what you're doing, or
if there is a "bug" in the loader. It used to be DOS data
text files, but now it has a GUI interfcace and a pretty
hot Real Time program. For $550.00 it seemed a bit steep!

Cliff

 

I'm happy to inform the soon to be 03 owners that there will be a access port in the 03 PCM. It is unchanged from 02 models. The calibration has a few changes. That's it. So you can start saving for that chip!!

 

I'm thinking that papa Ford is trying to cut down on "warrenty cost's".

But it's like anything else in life. Where there is a will, there is a way. It'll just take the tuners some time to get around it. That's all.

The really bad thing about it all is, that 03+ owners will have to shell out more $$$ to "play".


You know what Ford ought to do instead? Instead of fighting us, they ought to embrace us! Instead of trying to play "hands off" so as to wash themselves of responsibility? They ought to have some sort of program through your local SVT dealer that would actually HELP you with your mods. That way they could have full knowledge of what you did and what *PART* of the warrenty could either be shortened or voided. With no bad blood between the customer and the dealer. And the other unaffected things that break or fall off of a "quality is job one" Ford product would be gladly fixed under the normal warrenty.


I'll never understand why companies take a step backwards instead of taking a step foward?

WOT

 

Man 02Thunder...I think you hit the nail on the head!!! LMAO!

Jake...

 

This is not a big deal. Might be a blessing in disguise. European cars have been this way for some time. I can down load tuning for my BMW on-line. No more sending the chips in for re-burn. To me this is good news. Just a different flavor of tuning most are not familiar with. Not bad, just different. In fact in may open up parameters previously not accessable via a chip.