Is re-flash a scam?
Dear Tom and Ray:
My local automotive-repair shop offers a service in which they will “re-flash” your car’s computer. Is that helpful, or just an unnecessary service to generate profits for the shop? Is it something I could do myself with one of those $150 scan tools from the auto-parts store? The shop claims the “flashing” will remove false engine codes, increase engine performance, improve gas mileage, etc. So what do you think? — Dan
RAY: This is not something you can do yourself with an inexpensive scan tool, Dan. The equipment required to re-flash the car’s computer costs several thousand dollars. And there are different machines for different manufacturers.
TOM: The good news is, there’s no reason to “re-flash” your computer’s memory as a maintenance service.
RAY: The primary reason to reflash a computer (which basically means updating or reinstalling its software) is that an update has been issued by the manufacturer.
TOM: If the update is to address a serious drivability or safety issue, you or your dealer will be notified by the manufacturer that there’s a software update, and that it’s recommended for all vehicles. Dealers often will do that for free, especially if you’re in for something else.
RAY: The other reason we’ll reflash a computer is if we already have our machine hooked up to the car for some other reason. It’s a very simple procedure, and there may be minor updates that the car hasn’t had. The manufacturer may have tweaked the transmission-shifting algorithm or some other parameters that are not crucial but may bring slight improvements to drivability, mileage or emissions.
TOM: So if your shop has the capacity to re-flash your computer, and they’re not going to charge you too much for it, it can’t hurt anything, and it might be useful.
Dear Tom and Ray:
I am hopefully starting a retail job at an auto-parts store as a part-time associate/part-time driver. Could you please provide a primer on what every parts monkey should know?
— Brad RAY: It seems to me the best parts guys are guys who have actually worked on cars before.
TOM: The reason is that when you go in the backroom and you pull a set of pads for a Ford F-150, and you see that they’re only two inches long, you’d know right away that those are the wrong pads and that somebody stocked them in the wrong place.
RAY: And, unfortunately, the only way to get that kind of experience is to work on some cars. So if you’re really serious about moving up in the parts world, you’d probably be well served by volunteering or getting a lackey job at a shop one or two mornings a week. Then you’d get to know what the different parts for different cars actually look like, and you’d be able to spot obvious errors.
TOM: And when you’re delivering parts, our best advice is not to dawdle.