Free AU 1-3 computer upgrades

DODDO · 17-03-2006, 04:23 PM

Hi everyone.
I live in Sydney and my local Ford Dealer (macarthur Ford) has put an ad in the local paper for FREE AU1-3 computer upgrades. I was wondering if anybody has heard of this happening before from another Ford dealer and if so, did they get their car upgraded and did it change anything? They claim that it will improve performance and Fuel economy.
Doing this seems strange to me as not much comes for free these days, especially from a dealer.

Thanks!!!

Casper · 17-03-2006, 04:24 PM

Something stinks in Denmark.

triple8nitro · 17-03-2006, 04:36 PM

Probably a very expensive service plan that goes with the "free upgrade".

Lukeyson · 17-03-2006, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triple8nitro

Probably a very expensive service plan that goes with the "free upgrade".

lol yeah $1000 service, and in your glove box u get the edit box.

ltd · 17-03-2006, 06:58 PM

No, its true. I had it done on my AU2, supposedly booster power from 185 to around 195kw. You can't tell too much difference however I did notice an improvement in fuel economy. Didn't cost me anything for it either.

JG3282 · 17-03-2006, 07:39 PM

Would be good if it was a) for real and b) in Melbourne... I've got two that could do with a free flash

Lightning Strike GT · 17-03-2006, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DODDOAU

Hi everyone.
I live in Sydney and my local Ford Dealer (macarthur Ford) has put an ad in the local paper for FREE AU1-3 computer upgrades. I was wondering if anybody has heard of this happening before from another Ford dealer and if so, did they get their car upgraded and did it change anything? They claim that it will improve performance and Fuel economy.
Doing this seems strange to me as not much comes for free these days, especially from a dealer.

Thanks!!!

I read that in the Advertiser when I was staying at the folks in Bradbury the other week and I was trying to find the fine print.
it is probably to get people there as it it now in a hard spot to get to it was better to access when they were in Queen St nice and handy

csv8 · 17-03-2006, 09:44 PM

Maybe FORD should make this upgrade known and all dealers offer it, Oz wide.

V8falcons · 17-03-2006, 10:17 PM

they are hopless,but they are my local fraud dealer so I might get it done if its free..

FPV8U · 17-03-2006, 10:37 PM

If it is a flash upgrade it should be at all dealers, wonder why a dealer would spend money advertising a free upgrade sounds suspect.

fordy-two · 17-03-2006, 11:16 PM

I recently read an article on how you should get your AU car computer software updated to the latest version - said it's a good thing.

My home computer and the hardware attached(dvd writer, modem, graphics card, motherboard etc) all offer free software upgrades, why shouldn't a dealer ? Costs them practically nothing and earns them your goodwill and maybe you'll even come back for a service.

When I bought my EF second hand the central locking was faulty ( a known problem ) and even though it was out of warranty my local Ford dealer fixed it for free during the next service, and I didn't even buy the car there.

No reason why this isn't legit.

clontarf_x · 17-03-2006, 11:41 PM

Plenty of reason, as said. If this is something one dealer is doing why not all...*shrug* we shall wait for the reports

ST09RM · 17-03-2006, 11:44 PM

ford are now on blaxland rd..wonder if they could do it on a ef since i got a mate who works there...

LOWAU · 18-03-2006, 12:02 AM

Someone was saying somthing about flashing a stock AU ECU to XR6 spec a while ago, maybe this is it?

DODDOAU - Can you give these guys a call and ask them?

The G6ET Spot · 18-03-2006, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiLLaBoNG_DuDe

ford are now on blaxland rd..wonder if they could do it on a ef since i got a mate who works there...

We may have to check with RATT whats going on as the last I heard was that Peter Warren bought Rod Lawrence and Phil McCaroll at Camden and they trade under Macarthur Ford so he might know whats going on.

AUIII XR8 MAN · 18-03-2006, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vctxr6ute

they are hopless,but they are my local fraud dealer so I might get it done if its free..

You got that right. They carn't fix anything right. I had to keep taking my car back for the same thing 4 time before they got it repaired right. Not once have they fix anything on the frist go & they wonder why i want use them for servicing.

ltd · 18-03-2006, 11:56 AM

All the other dealerships do it. I had mine done about two years ago at Jubilee Ford. I didn't ask them they just said ford sent out an update to all dealerships, and they basically program it through their star tester. Takes 2 minutes.
The reason Ford are doing it; well ultratune and other places don't do it, and your average everyday mechanic has buckleys of affording the software, so all in all it's just a goodwill thing. It is only specific to AU's though as I asked about the E series (I had one at the time) and they basically said that it was only for AU, Ford had no upgrades for the E series.

It's sort of like the free mod that they did to the radiator, and the free mod they did to the steering rack, oil pressure sensor and a bunch of other things that ford has basically done for free. Hey, it worked on me, why would I go anywhere else that won't do these upgrades and field recalls, when I can have the latest updates and services that would cost me otherwise done for free at ford?

Dauphin · 18-03-2006, 02:25 PM

Does anyone know if doing this has any effect on tuned interceptor chips?

Casper · 18-03-2006, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dauphin

Does anyone know if doing this has any effect on tuned interceptor chips?

Almost certainly

Dauphin · 18-03-2006, 03:37 PM

Ahh crap. Guessing it needs a re-tune then, if I got this free thing done.

DODDO · 18-03-2006, 07:41 PM

Hi,
Ive boked the car in to have it done on monday morning. I'll let u guys know what they did to itand why.
LOW AU-I'll ask them if they did change to the xr6 spec and get back to you.

OZFORDAU · 19-03-2006, 01:50 AM

You getting it done for free?

Cheers

Simon

PS: What do i say to the dealership so that they'll do it for free?

ST09RM · 19-03-2006, 01:51 AM

can u ask about e series??

DODDO · 21-03-2006, 06:45 PM

Hey,
I got the car done yesterday and its change it slightly. Now the car has really good pickup from about 70km/h up. Before it used to lag a little. Another thing ive noticed is that it goes to 4th gear at 60kmh cruising, Before it used to want to spend most of its time in 3rd lockup. (this is just going up my street which has a slight incline)
I was expecting to have been hit up for some 'problems' that i would need to get fixed, but suprisingly i didnt get asked to pay for anything. They did do a scan for fault codes and they found 1 from a knock sensor. They said that it indicates that bad fuel had ben put in the car at sometime. They didbt give me a time and date at which the code was logged. I only 95% of the time put shell regular unleaded in it from my local servo and i NEVER buy fuel from independant stations. I was wondering if anybody from the campbelltown/camden areas in sydney has had a problem with bad fuel.

Also, is it ok to hand out the number for the dealership on the forum, so others can make enquiries themselves and so other people can refer to their local dealer about the dealer that ive used?

LOW AU- I spoke to the blokes at Ford to see whether it was the software thats in the xr6's;they didnt really know.
BILLABONG DUDE- Sorry mate, I havnt had a chance to jump on the forum since i was last on so i couldt ask your question for you.
OZFORDAU- Yep, it was all for free. Im not sure what you could say. I spose you could tell them that macarthur ford in Campbelltown N.S.W had this advertised in the loal newspapers.

Thanks!!

OZFORDAU · 22-03-2006, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DODDOAU

Hey,
I got the car done yesterday and its change it slightly. Now the car has really good pickup from about 70km/h up. Before it used to lag a little. Another thing ive noticed is that it goes to 4th gear at 60kmh cruising, Before it used to want to spend most of its time in 3rd lockup. (this is just going up my street which has a slight incline)
I was expecting to have been hit up for some 'problems' that i would need to get fixed, but suprisingly i didnt get asked to pay for anything. They did do a scan for fault codes and they found 1 from a knock sensor. They said that it indicates that bad fuel had ben put in the car at sometime. They didbt give me a time and date at which the code was logged. I only 95% of the time put shell regular unleaded in it from my local servo and i NEVER buy fuel from independant stations. I was wondering if anybody from the campbelltown/camden areas in sydney has had a problem with bad fuel.

Also, is it ok to hand out the number for the dealership on the forum, so others can make enquiries themselves and so other people can refer to their local dealer about the dealer that ive used?

LOW AU- I spoke to the blokes at Ford to see whether it was the software thats in the xr6's;they didnt really know.
BILLABONG DUDE- Sorry mate, I havnt had a chance to jump on the forum since i was last on so i couldt ask your question for you.
OZFORDAU- Yep, it was all for free. Im not sure what you could say. I spose you could tell them that macarthur ford in Campbelltown N.S.W had this advertised in the loal newspapers.

Thanks!!

Thanks mate! Will keep u posted on what Ford say!

Cheers

Simon

cArSiK · 22-03-2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dauphin

Does anyone know if doing this has any effect on tuned interceptor chips?

I believe it would on an interceptor but I wouldnt think so on a J3.

HLC · 22-03-2006, 09:10 AM

sounds interesting... so it flashes the ECU to XR6 spec... or is it just a software update?

quest · 22-03-2006, 11:21 AM

Ford makes a lot of software changes here for all kinds of reasons but they won't send a notice to customers
Most of the time they will just issue a service bulletin to the dealers

Lets say they had a transmission shift quality issue that could be solved with a software upgrade & you came to the dealer complaining about the shifting problem they would reflash the PCM
If you didn't complain about it they would do nothing

A lot of dealers have been doing the same "free" upgrade here(including GM & Chrysler) for about 3 years now
Its just a way to get you in the door & hopefully sell you something
After all it only costs them about 15 minutes of the mechanics time & is still more effictive than sending out flyers
I say take the Free upgrade ,have a look around at the new cars and be happy!

OZFORDAU · 23-03-2006, 05:52 PM

I called up Knox Ford today and they said they wanted $40 to get the ECU up grade to XR6 specs on my AU1! It takes them half an hour so thats what they will charge me! Doe's anyone know anywhere in Melbourne where i can get this done for free?

Cheers

Simon

ozfordau2 · 23-03-2006, 06:07 PM

you can download the software from download.com, then use a laptop or a handheld pc to do it. my cousins uncles sisters brother did it to her au1 and now its like a rocketship on eccies