Tag: Kess

CMD & Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG)

The Flashtech CMD OBD tool is the perfect match for tuning VAG vehicles over the other common tuning tools such as the Alientech Kess V2.

Standard procedure for tuning later VAG ECUs such as EDC17 / MED17 has always been on the bench with an appropriate boot loader tool. While boot loading is a good method, as the full ECU can be backed up in case of a problem, this method involves risk and takes up time.

Boot loading would also be more suited to a workshop based outfit and not something that the lesser experienced mobile tuner would take on.

VAG OBD

Most OBD flash tools on the market can offer the flashing of these later ECUs but none can offer the same functionality of the CMD. 

CMD vs KESS V2

CaptureCMD can identify all VAG controllers including DSG (on CAN) and READ 99% of the ECUs via the OBD port or download a VIRTUAL read from CMDs server in less than 30 seconds without any ECU intervention (Bench unlock).

KESS can identify these controllers but is unable to provide the user with a file. The user must either request an original file from Alientech or ask their tune provider for an original file to work with. If no original file available, the user must remove the ECU from the vehicle and carry out necessary bench work. This method takes time, involves risk to the vehicle removing anti-tamper bolts and also risk of ECU damage if care is not taken.

The CMD also has a few other features the Kess does not have.

100% BACK TO STOCK is now on both master and slave CMDs.

This button is available on the new VAG UDS protocols; it restores the ECU Back to 100% stock. The UDS protocols are VAG vehicles 2008+ starting with the B8 chassis. These are for ECUs that are unable to be read out via the OBD port but can be flashed OBD.

This function can literally save hours of time messing around with a previously tuned ECU that requires a rework.

NO DEALER VISIT FOR ODIS FLASH,

NO RETURNING TO THE ORIGINAL TUNER FOR ORIGINAL FILE,

NO SEARCHING DATABASES FOR AN ORIGINAL FILE,

FULL CORRECTION OF RSA AND ORIGINAL CHECKSUMS,

FULL ORIGINAL FLASH THE SAME AS ODIS,

CLEAN ORIGINAL FOR TUNER TO WORK WITH.

CMD MASTER users also benefit from being able to flash VAS software updates via OBD direct from VAS DVD.

The CMD is able to read / virtual read / flash 99% of VAG group ECUs.Capture1

EDC15 – ALL read/write/chk

EDC16 – ALL read/write/chk

EDC17 – ALL read/Vread/write/chk

ME7 – ALL read/write/chk

ME9/MED9 – ALL read/write/chk except rs3 MED9.1.5 reqs BDM

ME17/MED17 – ALL read/Vread/write/chk

SIEMENS – ALL read/Vread/write/chkCapture2

except pcr2.1 and Simos 8.2/8.3. These require eeprom unlock on bench to allow OBD read/write/chk

So, with the exception of 4 ECUs, 2 Simos, of which are old cars, Audi RS3 aren’t that common and that leaves PCR2.1 to unlock.

IF YOU ARE TUNING A LOT OF VAG VEHICLES AND DON’T HAVE A CMD, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  Check out: ProFlash

Chip Tuners, Tuning file suppliers and Tools

masterslave

Chip tuning / ECU remapping through the last year or two has started to take a turn.  The traditional master / slave tooling business model used by current car tuning companies is slowly being phased out for a number of reasons.  Main reason businesses are realising that if they invest a little more money for a master tool, then they will have more options in terms of the chip tool, tuning file suppliers and at the end of the day, the result will be a free and clear asset to your business. Some franchise operators can be very unclear about this, it is becoming more common to see unhappy clients looking to use another tuning file supplier only to find they didn’t know that ‘their?’ equipment is slave and the limitations of options moving forward as the 2-3 k they invested has been little more than a rental for a year, where for truth and just few pounds/euros/dollars more all could have been so different.

tools-logosThere are many different tool manufactures on the market now, all competing by price and range of protocols they support. Other factors include the number of Chinese/EU cloned tools on the market, which try to emulate the real equivalent, however these will always let you down at some point.  Depending on your vehicle niche, for your European vehicles, we always recommend a CMD OBD master tool, as it handles the largest range of current protocols and won’t get you into trouble on a late Sunday afternoon in the rain.  Very reliable piece of kit that every experienced pro has!

With more and more people going to master tools and cutting out the dependency of being tied into a franchise rather now natural market forces and quality of service will start to win over, the future the industry is screaming for. The reality is most of the largest names in chip tuning operating such franchise models would never survive in a normal open market place. We at PrecisionCodeWorks are here to serve you ‘built on command’ tuning files at any time of day almost instantly – Other claim to do this, but as usual in chip tuning many talk the talk very few walk.  Owning a master tool gives you the option to use any file tuning supplier.  More options, will raise quality and bring the price of chip tuning files down!

Screen Shot 2015-01-31 at 15.06.44Now you might wonder, why would we (PrecisionCodeWorks) want to endorse this, when we can make money as a business using the “old” business model of master / slave tooling.  Our automated tuning server can tune and serve tuning files 24 hrs a day 7 days a week for 365 days a year.  Our business model ‘is to tell it as it is’ and provide the best, fastest tuning files all over the world.  We don’t need to tie our customers into contracts or use the master / slave tooling model, we have the whole world to sell to.  This is great for you the chip tuner, you own your master tool, choose who you want to provide you with chip tuning files (hopefully us) and we can supply not only competing with price, but tuning file accuracy and speed.

 

Alientech Kess V2 THE REVIEW

Lets take a look at the Alientech Kess V2 OBD flash tool. This tool I would class as the most popular tool on the market today for a few reasons.

kessv2

First of all I would say that it has probably the widest coverage of vehicles with its strengths in particular to older vehicles and Marques such as Ford and Jaguar. Having widest range of protocols meant that this tool, in particular the slave version being the number 1 choice for vehicle remapping franchises to build networks with. Putting the slave tool aside as this has no function to a professional chip tuner, lets look at the master version.

So apart from having the widest range of vehicles what else does the Kess V2 have going for it.

Features

kess1For a start the GUI is very user friendly, this would be an advantage for novice users as all vehicles are set out individually with models and engines all separated so the user can easily identify the correct vehicle.

It also has a very broad help section, so every time you select a vehicle, the tool will automatically give information on correct cables to use or how to read the vehicle, again very user friendly.

There is on the master version a file back up folder where original files for some ID only vehicles can be stored, this enables the user to have an original file to hand instead of having to bootload the ECU or search for an original file.

kess2Another plus for the Kess V2 is that it comes standard with a bootloader function for flashing some ECUs on the bench such as Bosch me7.x.x and Visteon DCU102 where a read function is unavailable.

The tool has industry standard features such as a battery real time monitor, a recovery function, scan tool function to clear down DTC’s and automatic checksum correction where available. On some ECUs a flash counter reset is also available.

Overall the Kess V2 is quite a stable tool 90% of the time. However, lets take a look at the negatives.

The Negatives

kess3It does on occasion struggle with some protocols and with perseverance it usually manages the job.

Another downside to the Kess is it’s data transfer rate when reading out some vehicles. Some ECUs have been known to take up to 3 hours to read out. Even some basic Bosch EDC16 on Kline have taken up to an hour to read out.

This becomes more of a hindrance for busy tuning shops and mobile tuners as standing around for hours isn’t making money.

In Summary

I would score the Kess a 7/10.

Positives for me would be the coverage of older vehicles, and the ease of use with its GUI for dummies platform.

Negatives are long read times and instability with some controllers.  Alientech also seem to be the last to release new protocols.