The truth about preowned SCT tuners...

Discussion in 'Performance Mods' started by viperhauler, Mar 21, 2012.

  1. viperhauler

    viperhauler Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    There will be a test:D

    Buying a NEW SCT you will receive 3 tunes for your vehicle, and once you install them in the vehicle there are two open spots left in the SCT DEVICE for use on another vehicle BUT you will need new tunes for the new vehicle.

    A new device will have the ability to be VIN locked 3 times. A VIN lock gets consumed the first time you use the device to flash a vehicle with a file other than stock. You can then flash that same vehicle an unlimited amount of times with any custom tune or back to stock. The device will remain VIN locked as long as a custom tune is flashed or "loaded" into the vehicle. It will be able to be UNLOCKED once you return the vehicle to stock. This can be viewed under device options. If the Device status is STOCK, its UNLOCKED, if its aftermarket its VIN locked. You can also view how many vin locks are available under device info it will list “changes left”. If that gets down to 0 SCT needs to unlock it.

    Buying a USED SCT, there are two ways you will receive the DEVICE: LOCKED, or UNLOCKED. The SCT DEVICE does NOT lock to a VIN number of the specific vehicle.

    If an SCT DEVICE has been returned to stock before the truck is gone, this is considered UNLOCKED. The tunes that are stored in the device CAN be used on a different truck but ONLY if you have the SAME YEAR and SAME CAB CONFIGURATION AND SIMILAR MODS. (Not recommended, but it is possible).
    If you purchase an UNLOCKED device, you can also elect to order new tunes (Torrie charges $200 for N/A and $250 for s/c turbo/nitrous tunes). Once you do this, the device has now been used on a second vehicle, and there is still one more time the SCT can change vehicles before it becomes LOCKED.

    If you purchase a LOCKED DEVICE, either by it being used on 3 vehicles, OR the previous owner did NOT return the SCT DEVICE back to STOCK, then YOU MUST RETURN THE DEVICE BACK TO SCT TO UNLOCK. This cost is $150. Once the device is UNLOCKED, you can then purchase NEW tunes. (Torrie charges $200 for N/A and $250 for s/c turbo/nitrous tunes).

    You can do the math, as the prices listed are subject to change, and DOES NOT include the actual purchase price from the seller.
     
  2. JeffBoyette

    JeffBoyette Full Access Member

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    Sticky...!

    BTW want sell my SCT, but i want to keep my tunes installed on my truck, can someone buy it and load there VIN 3 times?
     
  3. viperhauler

    viperhauler Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    stuck;)

    if you keep your tunes in your truck, you're selling a "locked" device... so no...
     
  4. VIPR PWR

    VIPR PWR Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    Appears you would save money by just buying a new SCT from Torrie ...
     
  5. JeffBoyette

    JeffBoyette Full Access Member

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    lol, i should have used smileys so you could understand the sarcasm. Good write up, should have been a sticky a long time ago. Technically i quess it was. Anyone that ever had a question about it, all they had to do was hit "New Posts" and read the answer from the last guy that asked it the day before.
     
  6. viperhauler

    viperhauler Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    in my opinion, an unlocked tuner is worth $100-$150... new tunes are $200 and that's cheaper than the going price of tuners ... unless you get them on a group buy...

    last i checked, i think you can get a tuner for $400 new WITH tunes...

    a locked tuner is worth $25, IMO...

    lol jeff... i knew it;)
     
  7. STING

    STING Full Access Member

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    To keep the value of the tuner higher, just mate your SCT with a PCM (ECU). Keep the two together and you're golden.
     
  8. Calhotboat

    Calhotboat New Member

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    Dan do you have phone number to get hold of Torrie ?
     
  9. viperhauler

    viperhauler Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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  10. Psycho Mythic

    Psycho Mythic Full Access Member

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    An sct tuner with 3 tunes is only $349 from Torrie, so paying $150 for a used unlocked device is ridiculous imo, and that seems to be what everyone tries to sell them for. These things are like an infested strippers new thong, once ya wear it out on the town, its not worth sh*t...
     
  11. caveman

    caveman Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    I bought my SCT used, with tunes, here on the VTCoA. I unwrapped the UPS box, plugged it into the OBDII port, and went for a drive. I fail to see why someone woundn't do it that way.
     
  12. VPRPWRD

    VPRPWRD VTCoA Ring Leader Supporting Member

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    I have to agree here. I bought mine used, tuned for the mods I had and it has worked great. I saved $200 doing it this way!
     
  13. raymondwebb

    raymondwebb Full Access Member

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    Never get rid of mine...all I got 3 dodges and enjoy having a code reader at my disposal
     
  14. viperhauler

    viperhauler Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    if you have the same or nearly the same mods, it's OK... but the odds aren't that great in finding that...

    either way, i wouldn't do it...

    but that's why this post is here... to let people figure that out for themselves...
     
  15. ViperJeff

    ViperJeff Misanthrope Staff Member Administrator Supporting Member

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    That and when someone posts up how they got ripped off on a used SCT, we will send em here and say.... dumbass
     
  16. viperhauler

    viperhauler Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    and that, of course...:D
     
  17. trussman

    trussman Active Member

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    Very true. If you get lucky u can find the perfect USED tuner. I was fortunate to find one for same year, mods and elevation I was at. Have had it about a year and no issues yet. Saved .$200. But VERY RARE to find indeed
     
  18. caveman

    caveman Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    How rare can it be if three of us in this very thread did the same thing? lol.
     
  19. viperhauler

    viperhauler Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    you are 3 people out of 15k members who are on the busiest ram srt-10 forum in the world, all from different locations, and happened upon sct's at different times...

    think about that...
     
  20. ViperJeff

    ViperJeff Misanthrope Staff Member Administrator Supporting Member

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    We will still direct people to this thread for a personal guarantee by those that have bought used SCT's and can vouch that they will work without error or issue