Any coyote users have an issue getting tuner to communicate with ECU

[wareaglescott]

I bought a X4 tuner with a custom tune. The car will not communicate with the X4. I have verified the device works to read codes on another Ford vehicle. I have spent hours on the phone with SCT tech support and the tune programmer. The programmer indicates he has seen issues with the way the wiring powers things up and tuners not being able to communicate. When I was talking to SCT tech support they were very thrown off by the fact that my key does not have 2 clicks to the right and the 3rd being the start. I have the ignition switch wired up that came in the kit. Key straight up it is off. Can go one click left or right for accessory power. The 2nd click to the right cranks the motor. Maybe it does have something to do with the power sequence?

I am really confused and unsure where to go with this. If anyone can help or has come across this please message me or respond.

Thanks

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Yes COYOTE's are different. Most tuners are used to doing the Mustang which has a different ECU.

If the X4 was recognized by the other car you have locked the handheld to that car & SCT will have to unlock it. If it was not recognized try the notes below

They do not have what is called a "strategy" code. The tune requires special programing to unlock the ECU with out this code. If the ECU is unlocking use the ACC as you start point turn key to ON It should start the loading sequence. When it says to shut it off go back to ACC. When it asks to go to ON but not to start go to ON. Go from position to position slowly, if you move the key to fast it will get confused.

During the process when you go to ON it will take a few seconds before it start to do the next step.

Would help it you tell us what you are seeing on the handheld if or when you get stuck. I really hope you have not hit the starter because it can either brick the ECU, lock up the handheld or all of the above.

[wareaglescott]

Yes COYOTE's are different. Most tuners are used to doing the Mustang which has a different ECU.

If the X4 was recognized by the other car you have locked the handheld to that car & SCT will have to unlock it. If it was not recognized try the notes below

They do not have what is called a "strategy" code. The tune requires special programing to unlock the ECU with out this code. If the ECU is unlocking use the ACC as you start point turn key to ON It should start the loading sequence. When it says to shut it off go back to ACC. When it asks to go to ON but not to start go to ON. Go from position to position slowly, if you move the key to fast it will get confused.

During the process when you go to ON it will take a few seconds before it start to do the next step.

Would help it you tell us what you are seeing on the handheld if or when you get stuck. I really hope you have not hit the starter because it can either brick the ECU, lock up the handheld or all of the above.

Kevin

I emailed you on this if you can check that out.
The ecu won't even recognize the tuner. If I try to read dtcs it says general error 21000. If I try to read vehicle info it say general error 20301.
I just read codes on the other car. It did not lock it up.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Replied to your email. What did they say 21000 indicated. My ECU is a 2014 but the issues should be the same with the 2015. The crate COYOTES use a different coding scheme than the Mustangs they are used to. Program required has a different for better terms header & without the proper coding in the tune the RCU will not see the X4.

First level techs at SCT generally can't help, ask to go further up the chain If you need it I will look up my dialog with them for you to reference. Ask the tuner if he has done the crate engine ECU before, if not he might not have the correct code package for the stand alone ECU.

[wareaglescott]

updated on this because someone else is going to run into the same problem with what I discovered today.

After spending 6 hours the last two days on the phone with Ford, SCT, and the tune programmer going around in circles I believe I have finally found the issue. This afternoon the guy from Ford called me and asked me to go to my OBD plug and tell him what color wire was going into port 6 and 14. Apparently they sent a batch of harnesses out that had them backwards. One was white and one was white/blue. 14 should be the solid white. Well guess what my harness is one of the ones that is incorrect! They said that is why no device I plug in (I tried 3) can communicate with the PCM.
Now my issue is getting the wires out of the OBD plug to swap them. It needs a tool similar to the weather pack pin removal tool. I ordered a tool that Ford speculates should work. Hopefully that will solve my issue.

If anyone is has this issue in the future and comes across this go look at the wires in your OBD plug. Not sure how many control packs went out the wrong way. Could be a large issue or maybe I was just extra lucky.

[wareaglescott]

I am going to continue to update this thread in case anyone is searching in the future.

After swapping the wires I hooked up the X4 and was able to read DTC codes and vehicle info. I had two codes. I cleared them. My plan was to start the motor and see if they came back and then after that I would try to load the custom tune that came on my device. After running the engine the DTC codes did not come back. I went to try and upload the tune and this time when I plugged in the X4 I was back to getting the same general errors I had previously and the X4 could not communicate. I have an X3 tuner for a F150 I have. I plugged that in and it was able to communicate with the pcm and read DTC codes.

This is the vehicle data I was able to capture.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=59604&d=1476275160

The tune programmer swears there is something in the power up sequence that allows the X4 to communicate with the pcm. That appears to be correct. Now I just need to figure out how to replicate it so I can load the tune.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

I would bet its hanging up due to the ECU strategy = EMPTY CODE. The normal Mustang tune has a code which the crate engines do not. Coyote needs a special program different than the stock Mustang, does the tuner have that info?

[Railroad]

Hopefully Ford can give you the strategy code. I have an X4 to tune my 13 Shelby GT500. It offers 2 strategies.
One is ISO-14229. The program just offered the 2, so the choices may be few, good? The bad part is Ford probably has a new batch for every year and engine class.
I know you are not going down this road by choice, but I do appreciate your posting information dealing with it.
I am sure it will help me and others.

[wareaglescott]

I would bet its hanging up due to the ECU strategy = EMPTY CODE. The normal Mustang tune has a code which the crate engines do not. Coyote needs a special program different than the stock Mustang, does the tuner have that info?

The tune programmer says he has accounted for this. I have not even tried to load the tune yet though. I think had I tried it when it was hooked up reading codes and info it possibly would have worked. My problem is getting it to communicate with the pcm again. I am back to the error codes I started with. I think it has something to do with the power up sequence. I can't even get to the point of trying to load the tune right now. I am traveling for a few days so won't have a chance to mess with it until Saturday.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Hopefully Ford can give you the strategy code. I have an X4 to tune my 13 Shelby GT500. It offers 2 strategies.
One is ISO-14229. The program just offered the 2, so the choices may be few, good? The bad part is Ford probably has a new batch for every year and engine class.
I know you are not going down this road by choice, but I do appreciate your posting information dealing with it.
I am sure it will help me and others.

Will have to check my hand held but am pretty sure a strategy code was never used. When they were trouble shooting it they suggested trying the 4 characters on the sticker on the PCM.

Will have to look at my notes wen I get home.

[wareaglescott]

Will have to check my hand held but am pretty sure a strategy code was never used. When they were trouble shooting it they suggested trying the 4 characters on the sticker on the PCM.

Will have to look at my notes wen I get home.

Great thanks. I am anxious to get home and get this resolved.

[wareaglescott]

Still fighting this battle.
Spent another couple hours on the phone with SCT tech support. They are stumped and have escalated this to the engineering department.
My current situation is my X3 tuner can read vehicle data, DTC codes and clear the codes no problem. The X4 tuner that contains the custom tune can not communicate with the PCM. If I hook the X4 up to my F150 it can read codes no problem. If I hook it to the Coyote it says general error 21000 and will do nothing. I did get it to read codes 1 time and can not duplicate this. I also have tried disconnecting the battery to clear the keep alive memory with no luck.
Extremely frustrated at this point. Have quite a bit of time in this and not to mention $775 for the X4 and custom tune and I am making zero progress. Tech support tells me engineering may take 1-2 weeks to get back to me.

Anyone with any further input on this fire away!

[BEAR-AvHistory]

My hand held looks just like your except someone (Bama or SCT) has put in a vin number that is not mine - don't have one. VIN # has SCT as the lead characters & is pretty long. Expect that is the missing piece you need to get it to communicate with the ECU.

Strategy shows "empty code"

[wareaglescott]

My hand held looks just like your except someone (Bama or SCT) has put in a vin number that is not mine - don't have one. VIN # has SCT as the lead characters & is pretty long. Expect that is the missing piece you need to get it to communicate with the ECU.

Strategy shows "empty code"

The thing is that VIN number you are showing must have been uploaded from your device right?
I cant get mine to communicate period to even be able to upload anything.
The one time it ever worked I captured that data and have never been able to get back to that point again.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Are you giving it time to do its thing when you turn the key?....can take a while before the data starts to come through. Or are you getting a can't unlock message?

[wareaglescott]

Are you giving it time to do its thing when you turn the key?....can take a while before the data starts to come through. Or are you getting a can't unlock message?

I plug it in and the device powers itself up.
Then I select the options to be able to Read DTCs
Then it says turn the key on and hit continue - I have tried every variation of this I can possibly think of including different time durations between turning the key and going from the accessory to run position and every possible combo of key turns.
The I hit ok on the tuner - it tries for about 3 seconds to read the code and comes back with "general error 21000", If I try to read vehicle data with the same above procedure is says "general error 21301", If I try to program the vehicle it says "unable to read vehicle info 11020"

I cant really give it any more time. It does its thing and says the error and then there is nothing further I can do. Whatever I did that one time that it captured the data that I pictured above I can not repeat. Probably have tried 100 different times with various methods and it can never get past the errors.

Tech support has tried everything they can multiple times. It is just a big mystery to me at this point. Getting pretty tired of messing with it!

[BEAR-AvHistory]

A bit obvious but will ask it anyway, did you install the 32 bit or 64 bit drivers on your computer?

[wareaglescott]

A bit oblivious but will ask it anyway, did you install the 32 bit or 64 bit drivers on your computer?

Yes I installed everything. Then tech support remotely got on and uninstalled everything and reinstalled it manually to their satisfaction.

[wareaglescott]

Update on this:

In the process of running my car I received a P0116 code that I was able to read on my X3 tuner. After speaking with Ford racing it was determined this was due to a software issue and I needed to update my pcm. They sent me an update on a flash tuner. It was ford branded so not sure of the maker. That also communicated with the car no problem and I uploaded the new tune that contained the software fix. Apparently this was specific to the 2015 control pack. I uploaded this tune from ford and the code no longer appears. After that I tried the X4 again and it still will not communicate.
IN the meantime I have mailed the X4 to another forum member to try on his 2015 coyote and see it I can isolate this to my car or if that makes a difference.

After dong this Ford advised that if I loaded a custom tune it would over write the update I did and that code would come back if it were not accounted for in the custom tune. This led to some discussions with the programmer and I decided at this point I had completely lost faith in this guy after multiple statements he had made and his inability to support the product he was selling. I am not going to slam a vendor publicly but if you are looking to purchase a custom tune please message me and I will be glad to give you my recommendation on who not to buy from.

After further discussion with Ford racing on the need or not for a custom tune I have decided to run the stock tune for a while and see how it goes.
So with that I now have an expensive X4 tuner that can not communicate with the car. I am still waiting to hear back from engineering at SCT. I would like to at least figure out if I can get it working and may use it in the future.

[Eastcoastcobras]

Hi Scott, any update here? It is 2022 and I just ran into the same issue. X4 will not communicate with my crate either and can't get any help from SCT.

Thanks,

Ryan

[wareaglescott]

I can’t remember the exact timing of everything relative to when this thread was occurring but ultimately it was determined my entire wiring harness was bad. Ford sent me a new one. I took the old one out and put the new one in. After that my tuner worked fine and I uploaded a tune no problem. My build thread is linked in my signature. I have an index in post one. You might find where I talked about it in there. Been a while and can’t remember all the specifics. Sorry.