Reprogram Car Computer Cost
As time has progressed in the car world, vehicles have become much more advanced as compared decades ago.
Today, vehicle manufacturers will use small, dedicated computers, referred to as an engine control module (ECM), which are designed to control and monitor any vehicle function.
In almost all vehicles after 1996, you can count on a microprocessor being somewhere inside the vehicle, controlling parts such as the car’s engine and powertrain and as long as it is fully optimized, your car engine will run as efficiently as it should.
How much does it cost to reprogram a car computer?
The cost to have your vehicle’s car computer reprogrammed will all depend on the dealer/mechanic you use, the vehicle you drive and your geographical location From what we researched online, the costs to simply reprogram the car’s computer and nothing else would range anywhere from $80 to $180. Again, this is the price for the reprogram only and will not include any additional repairs if needed.
Since very few dealers/mechanics can perform an off-board reprogram, they are going to charge for the time it takes to bring the car to the bay, hook it up to the scan tool, read the calibration and perform the flash procedure. Once verified, the entire process can take up to 60 minutes.
A member on this BimmerForums.com forum thread, a member was quoted $200 to have his ABS computer reprogrammed, which he thought was excessive. According to the responses, the results were mixed, with some stating it will only take a half hour to do, so the cost may be a bit high, while others said the costs were fair once you factor in the equipment costs, training and tech’s time need to reprogram the computer.
On this AllFordMustangs.com forum thread, a member said he paid $150 to have his computer flashed back to stock. He also mentioned the dealer will need your VIN and ECU number in advance so they can get the correct program from the manufacturer.
Another member on this ToyotaNation.com thread stated he called a few Toyota dealerships in his area, with the prices ranging anywhere from $85 to $125. He noted the results will vary, so it is best to call a few in your area to see what they charge as most will be able to give you a quote over the phone.
How the programming is done
At the dealership or mechanic, a scanner, which is connected via an Internet connection, is attached to the diagnostic port in the car, which, depending on the make/model, will be located inside the car, usually beneath the steering wheel. Once the scanner is attached, the old programming is replaced and will then be updated with the latest software update, similar to updating an app on your phone or software package on your computer. This update will always come directly from the vehicle manufacturer by providing the vehicle’s VIN to ensure maximized efficiency.
When should my ECM be flashed?
Car mechanics recommend flashing your ECM every few years, while some will only do so on an “as-needed” basis. Unless an issue and/or recall has been issued by the manufacturer, most dealerships/mechanics will not recommend it as a part of your routine maintenance, especially if your car is experiencing no problems.
Why is the reprogramming done?
One of the major issues is due to factory bugs. Just like your operating system or a new phone, for example, there may be holes or bugs which need to be patched. This always happens with anything software related as engineers continue to find security holes which need to be fixed after the software was already released.
The ECM may need to be reprogrammed if the factory settings turn out to be overly sensitive, especially after years of operation. The same can be said about driveability as the car can change quite a bit after it hits 50,000+ miles.
In some cases, the check engine light may be on due to a programming issue within the PCM. For example, the PCM, which controls the EGR valve, telling it when to open, may not be responding as it should, untimely leading to this check engine light illumination. In this case, the computer may need to be reprogrammed in order to respond the way it should.
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Average Reported Cost: $11
How much did you spend?
- eugene (Marlton, New Jersey) paid $11 and said:
2008 honda accord ex L
Was it worth it? Yes
