Need Help! Firmware Updaate Gone Wrong!!??

burnrubber4.0 · 08-04-2008

ok, just decided to update my livewires firmware and after downloading all the software and new firmware files, i held my scroll button, plugged in(shift light now flashing) i click update firmware...then find the file...then it shows erasing 100% complete, 100% programing complete, then a little download bar appears on my livewire hud and goes to 100% complete...only i got a message that reads "Old tune revision! Please download the latest tune revision from www.sctflash.com"......ok yea id like to say a few choice words right now but stl is gona be readin this so ill hold my tongue, ha obviously i also called sct and guess what...theyre closed and all the technical support lines are busy??. i tried to stay on hold but it only goes in circles through the menu. finally i left a message but who knows if theyll call me back. now i got a mustang with a cai and no bama tune. guess shell have to sit and wait for me to fix her...if i can fix her..please dont make me go back to stock!=( someone please help me out here, throw me a bone for once. all i need is someone who knows whats goin on or can help me out. thanks in advance!

**stlwagon** · 08-04-2008

I hope you reflashed your car to the stock tune before you tried to upgrade the firmware. If not, your stock tune is gone.

burnrubber4.0 · 08-05-2008

yes i definately did reflash back to stock, but now aicant drive my car b/c of the cai..ive got the stock air box i jus dont wanna put it back on...all i need to know is what i did wrong and how i can fix it..i need my car by tonight

BullMeister · 08-05-2008

You might not have done anything wrong. SCT just did a major firmware revision a couple weeks ago and owners of the X3s made prior to 25 July 2008 now have to select the SF3 software to update thier firmware. Kinda wierd. You might have just found a bug in the update that they haven't documented yet because the Livewire and X3 use the same software interface on the computer. Maybe it tried to install the X3 firmware into the Livewire.

The only thing I can think of is to contact SCT and see what's going on or find a copy of the firmware you orginallly had in it and try to load it back in.

That's why I don't fool with upgrading the firmware in my tuner. If it works...don't mess with it.

You're probably going to have to pull the CAI for a few days to drive the Mustang. This might take awhile to get fixed (they might want the unit sent back to them).

David52548 · 08-05-2008

I know I got blasted for criticizing SCT before... but their documentation and instructions for datalogging and using the options portion of a tune has left a bad taste in my mouth. I had been thinking of upgrading the firmware in my unit but when I read their somewhat sketchy directions it left me feeling not comfortable, so I also decided to leave what works along.

I am a degreed engineer and it upsets me when a company puts a great product out and then sort of leaves the customer to twist in the wind. I read in their archives an answer to a question regarding using the Livewire which was one I had been searching to find. What are the values you should be shooting for when you read the items that are down loaded when Datalogging.. their answer.. buy the Proracer Software and you will get all the benefits... Yada Yada Yada.... The also said for $75 you can purchase the ProRacer software manual and pick up many tips and would probably find what you are looking for. Hey.. I paid almost $400 for this thing.. and to have them want another $75 min for a manual or probably $500 or so for software is really bad on their part. I am glad I have the custom tunes... but maybe the Diablo Predator would have better documentation ... sure it will cost me again to buy the Predator from Bama Chips... but hey... if the documentation is good and it does what I want, I would rather support a company that is being more than fare with their customers.

I feel sorry that you lost your tunes... and it is good you had gone back to stock before this all happened. What a disaester to lose your stock tune... their should be a fail safe to prevent that from happening. Oh well... the old addage... Caveat Emptor still is apro po I am afraid.

Good luck and I hope you get through to SCT.. but I think you should try reaching the dealer you purchased the unit from, you may have better luck and he could probably reload your custom tunes for you. There should be a way to pull the tunes off the unit and make a copy on your computer to avoid this kind of debacle... as you can tell.. I am a bit sensitive on this issue.. sorry.

Good luck again... keep us posted with how you make out please.

**stlwagon** · 08-05-2008

Most of the firware updates do nothing more than allow for a greater range of PCMs. As new PCMs are introduced, SCT has to keep pace. Agree if it works, leave it be.