I've deleted posts I considered off-topic clutter and edited a few others to remove off-topic content.

Just a reminder: this is the Jaguar Forums.

For those who can't live without debating politics online, try this link:

Here, Let Me Google That For You: Top Political Forums

Cheers,

Don

 

Yikes! I was hoping you could pick one up for the cost of the ECU and maybe a few hundred for programming. It sounds like a spare ECU isn't going to be the solution at $7k.

 

Depending on the ecu model for 3.0L/5.0L, the list price for the engine ecu ranges 1,100-2000USD and it can be ordered online (VIN required to select correct model of ecu)..they all come blank with no software inside, regardless of where it's bought/ordered ...all that would really be extra is the labor on the process and any fees for shipping/customs/duty/taxes..etc. C2D30319

An indie shop that is a JLR late-model specialist, should have either an SDD or even possibly an SDD2/Pathfinder.

Anyone is allowed to buy SDD2/Pathfinder, it's not monopolized. I do know of an indie shop in California area that does own an official SDD2/Pathfinder, which can update ecu's and could flash new ecu's.

So, hypothetically if a new ecu was purchased, it could become the new ecu in the vehicle that is CAL and CVN matching, then just clone this new ecu to your existing ecu (because of the new flashed ecu, it generated different immobilizer key codes), then simply retune the existing ecu that had been cloned.

Hypothetically, now you would have 1 new OEM ecu that is CARB CAL ID and CVN numbers matching, and a swappable tuned ecu that unfortunately does not match CVN but used for driving situations outside California or CARB states and off-road to increase performance or drivability of drivers needs. (See what I did there..#winkwink)

 

Dig it! and thanks for the Stage II and assistance, You Guys and Gals...!

 

Could this method also apply to avoiding the risk of voiding the manufacturer's warranty for a tuned ECU? Purely for educational and testing purposes, of course.

 

Hypothetically speaking; If played out, I could see that method showing the new OEM ecu as only ever being flashed by the dealer approved software. However, that would depend on which ecu is being sent to the dealer for testing purposes..the new ecu flashed to vehicle by dealer approved computer (matching CAL ID and CVN, matching flash counter sessions) OR the tuned ecu with mismatching CVN, possible P167F and more flash counts than JLR has on record.

 

Any chance they're in southern california? looking for an independent to work on a few things for my car down here.

 

No, this place is up near San Fran..

Nothing I know of in the SoCal region..We do have a VAP dealer in Pasadena, they can handle repairs and maintenance (don't believe they have an SDD2/Pathfinder), not sure if it's still too far north from your location? Otherwise it would be center of Pheonix as next closest to SoCal.

 

Pasadena would be close enough.. especially compared to Phoenix. Would appreciate the recommendation.

Looking for somebody to swap my differential and perhaps install my VAP pulley.

 

Pasadena Motor Cars: https://www.pasadenamotorcars.com/

They're my nearest go-to for my Jag needs. Pretty certain it's them VAP is referring to. Work on any European car, but they're best known for working on British cars, which is the majority of their lot by a big margin. They openly advertise and work with VAP parts. There's cheaper places, but our selection of British garages are slim to none, and as far as I know it's the most trustworthy in the area.

I do know they do not perform unique ECU programming, but mechanically speaking, they will work with anything from VAP, OEM, or generally aftermarket.

They do not seem to be aware of the new ECU sniffer requirement at smog checks, so don't bother asking.

After reading the whole piece about swapping ECUs...I really, really hope it doesn't come to that. If it does I'm just going to put it all back to stock, (re)set it and forget it. Speaking of which, which years are up for smog checks? Want to see if anyone can chime in.

 

None just yet. I have a 2014 which I bought in 2013 and I just re-registered it yesterday and didn't require a smog check YET. So Next year will be when the **** hits the fan for us.

 

Just had my 2015 V6 XJL with the VAP ECU tune safety and smog checked yesterday in Raleigh, North Carolina. It passed with no problems.

 

Sorry to say but that's not relevant info. The ECU sniffing is (as of right now) a CA problem, but fingers crossed the contagion doesn't spread.

 

Not relevant to California I agree, but the country is a little bigger than California. Some of us could care less what goes on in California. You all pretty much have what you deserve.

 

I've never understood why Americans use this version of our "couldn't care less". In the UK it means we really don't care at all, whereas "could care less", to me, means you do care a bit. Is that really what you mean?

Apologies for the off-topic, but it's something that's puzzled me for decades.

 

Well, seeing as how this is about a wonderful English car and also about California, as an American with English heritage, it means I don't care at all what happens to California.

 

As scm points out, the correct expression is, "I couldn't care less."

Which is exactly how I feel about the petty interpersonal bickering among F-Type forum members, instances of which vastly outnumber those in all other forums combined.

Please kindly return to the thread topic.

 

I'm curious: What constitutes a "smog check" in the great state of North Carolina? Visual? OBDC? Tailpipe? I would expect that all three would pass if the OBDC did not do a CVN check against a central database.

 

It involves a tailpipe check and a visual and check to see if any codes have been thrown. You, in the great state of California get to have the fun of a CVN check. UNNECESSARY POLITICAL BARB DELETED.

 

Why the bitter insinuations? I can vacate this thread and search this topic elsewhere. Thank you .