PAK file - firmware for your auto trans

[willisnz]

16 hours ago, alfie said:

Were they able to tell if your car was compatible with the upgrade before they hooked into the ECU? Armstrongs in Chch told me that they couldn't tell prior to getting the car and trying it and were going to charge me regardless of the outcome. Needless to say I haven't had it done. I would've thought they could tell me with VIN/engine/transmission numbers.

I didn't specifically ask, but they said they needed my rego so they could request the file from Subaru in advance of me coming in.  I sent them my engine plate as well so they had any info they could possibly need.

 

Given I wanted to come in at 8am the next day (when they opened), they said they would let me know if they had the file by 5pm (when they closed) to confirm I should come in the next morning. A+ service.

[delta]

On 2/14/2017 at 10:36 AM, willisnz said:

Had the PAK file done this morning at Winger Henderson.  Pro-tip, get in contact with them before hand so they can get the PAK file from Subaru in advance of you coming in.

 

Cool and do you see a big difference ?

How much was it ?

 

Mine is sometimes harsh when downshifting from 4 to 3 even though I replaced the ATF.

[GC8E2DD]

How come dealers don't have all TCU and ECU revisions for all models sent to them immediately and apply them as a matter of course during any kind of servicing? Surely that would be a reason to pay the premium of dealer servicing and also feel like you got your money's worth? I bet we are talking miniature files, and minutes (if that) to apply them.

[delta]

Just now, GC8E2DD said:

I bet we are talking miniature files, and minutes (if that) to apply them.

 

That's for sure, it's really easy money for them. But since it must be really hard to get the file without them you're kind of stuck...

[GC8E2DD]

Yes, but you're relying on statistics when going to a dealer hoping that because they deal largely, or exclusively, with your marque that the person working on your vehicle has plenty of experience with it and gives you value for their time. That and perhaps that a documented dealer servicing history may give a very slight advantage at sale time. They certainly don't give you any kind of deal on parts (as any regular Partsouq customer can tell you), so where is the value of the added premium? This kind of thing, which as I conjectured is absolutely trivial for them, is exactly the kind of 'above and beyond' the local Denis Denuto apparently can't give you

 Bit of a rant I know; but it just seems ridiculous. Any computer part will have the latest platform specific drivers available immediately for free from the manufacturer; they clearly understand the paradigm.

[KarlGTB]

27 minutes ago, GC8E2DD said:

to apply them.

 

When I eventually got the pak file from Armstrong in Lower Hutt they I had to pay the $40 Subaru NZ apparently charged them for it. They said they would normally add a mark up to that but as they had wasted my time 5 times they were doing me a favour! Whether they actually have them all on hand I don't know.

 

[GC8E2DD]

Telling it like it is KGTB ...

[delta]

1 hour ago, GC8E2DD said:

They certainly don't give you any kind of deal on parts (as any regular Partsouq customer can tell you)

 

I did get a discount a few times from Winger.

And about the updates, I did have a good Toyota dealer in France that was checking for ECU updates at each service and applying them for free. I was going there for the warranty and because I knew they did a good job. They also changed my brake pads for free because they were squealing and other commercial gestures like that.

 

My experience showed me that some dealers justify the extra cost but they are way too uncommon. I would rather go to a specialist than a dealer that I don't know.

 

Just my 2 cents because I think it's not all that dark and wanted to bring some nuance to your comment 

(but you see, it's so uncommon that I got over it and I am even asking for the price to do it ...)

[KarlGTB]

Anyway, I really need to get this sorted as well. I did check out some options when I moved to christchurch about 6 months ago. I can't really remember exact figures but I think Crowesport could do it or had someone that they used and it was going to cost around $80. That may have been with me supplying the pak file. I think M45 was a bit more than that, maybe $200ish. I'll look in to it again this week if I get a chance. 

[delta]

If we manage to get the PAK file, it's probably possible to flash it ourselves with the right cable (something like ECUTEK maybe ?)

But the cable might be too expensive for it to be worth it

 

EDIT : ECUTEK is for BRZ and MX-5 only, but if we use the same cable as Subaru dealers (or a good chinese copy ?) it should work fine

Edited February 15, 2017 by delta

[pedro]

13 hours ago, GC8E2DD said:

Yes, but you're relying on statistics when going to a dealer hoping that because they deal largely, or exclusively, with your marque that the person working on your vehicle has plenty of experience with it and gives you value for their time. That and perhaps that a documented dealer servicing history may give a very slight advantage at sale time. They certainly don't give you any kind of deal on parts (as any regular Partsouq customer can tell you), so where is the value of the added premium? This kind of thing, which as I conjectured is absolutely trivial for them, is exactly the kind of 'above and beyond' the local Denis Denuto apparently can't give you

 Bit of a rant I know; but it just seems ridiculous. Any computer part will have the latest platform specific drivers available immediately for free from the manufacturer; they clearly understand the paradigm.

 

I approached my local Subaru dealer about getting some discount on genuine parts..

Explained that I could get them from other sources,without naming these suppliers.

Said I wanted to give them a chance to get a sale,supporting local business etc..

They said no.....would rather let stock gather dust on shelf than sell at a discount..

Bye bye local dealer....

[delta]

1 hour ago, pedro said:

 

I approached my local Subaru dealer about getting some discount on genuine parts..

Explained that I could get them from other sources,without naming these suppliers.

Said I wanted to give them a chance to get a sale,supporting local business etc..

They said no.....would rather let stock gather dust on shelf than sell at a discount..

Bye bye local dealer....

 

Hahaha you're unlucky mate !

Did the exact same thing and it worked 

[willisnz]

21 hours ago, GC8E2DD said:

How come dealers don't have all TCU and ECU revisions for all models sent to them immediately and apply them as a matter of course during any kind of servicing? Surely that would be a reason to pay the premium of dealer servicing and also feel like you got your money's worth? I bet we are talking miniature files, and minutes (if that) to apply them.

One point of context is that I'm guessing most of us have jap imports rather than NZ new, guessing most people who have an import don't get their car serviced by wingers..

 

Subaru keep tight control on these feels sadly, hence only being able to get them through a dealer.  Sounds like there was a court case in the US which means Subaru have to sell a CD with the PAK files on them to anyone who wants one, but that doesn't help us since none of us have USDM cars.

 

And I think it was $120 including GST. Half of which was 0.5 hours labour and the other half the (marked up) fee to Subaru for the file.

 

Definitely shifts differently/more smoothly now. My car was previously doing wierd things like holding high revs in 2nd under light throttle when it clearly should have shifted up into 3rd. Now it seems to shift more quickly/at lower revs when I'm not thrashing

 

[killervq30de]

On ‎16‎/‎02‎/‎2017 at 3:45 PM, willisnz said:

One point of context is that I'm guessing most of us have jap imports rather than NZ new, guessing most people who have an import don't get their car serviced by wingers..

 

Subaru keep tight control on these feels sadly, hence only being able to get them through a dealer.  Sounds like there was a court case in the US which means Subaru have to sell a CD with the PAK files on them to anyone who wants one, but that doesn't help us since none of us have USDM cars.

 

And I think it was $120 including GST. Half of which was 0.5 hours labour and the other half the (marked up) fee to Subaru for the file.

 

Definitely shifts differently/more smoothly now. My car was previously doing wierd things like holding high revs in 2nd under light throttle when it clearly should have shifted up into 3rd. Now it seems to shift more quickly/at lower revs when I'm not thrashing

 

Mines a used JDM.. and I still go to Winger Sublabs because of the mechanical warranty (you don't pay excess if they find the fault when servicing).  Loan car and they have been really good so far.. bit of leeway sometimes with cost too.  Not sure where I will go in july when warranty ends, may stay there.  I'd recommend them even with the bit higher hourly labour cost.. the hours are never exccessive

Edited February 20, 2017 by killervq30de

[willisnz]

Did you buy it from wingers?

[killervq30de]

1 hour ago, willisnz said:

Did you buy it from wingers?

Yeah nearly 3 years ago.. Wasnt much else around at the time 2007 gtb with 55,000kms on the clock 

[willisnz]

Nice. Definitely have different expectations when you buy from wingers and have a service plan vs buying from an importer.

[SubLeggy]

Has anybody experienced there gearbox still doing it after having there pak files updated??

 

Had mine done a while ago now and it went smooth as and then after a while its come back again. Oil in gearbox was also changed at the time as well

[BMCracer]

How can you tell what version of PAK files your car currently has, and if they need to be updated?? How many PAK files are there - gearbox ( auto ), ecu, what else?

[morry10nz]

On 2/15/2017 at 5:28 PM, delta said:

 

Cool and do you see a big difference ?

How much was it ?

 

Mine is sometimes harsh when downshifting from 4 to 3 even though I replaced the ATF.

 I agree with that, mine is really clunky when i use tiptronic and down-change from 4th to 3rd if i am just going at slow city speeds and want some additional engine braking. I hold my breath waiting for the clunk and it seems to do so 70% of the time. If i am driving quickly or the revs are much higher then a 4- 3 gear change seems fine. Would a PAK file update for me be worthwhile? Where is best in Auckland and what sort of price am I looking at? 

[boostin]

Ok so from the other side of the coin....

 

Pak files are only released when Japan find an issue with programming, or owners experience same faults that can be fixed with programming. Harsh shifts are 99% of the time sorted with a fluid change (filter too if fitted) and a relearn. As stated, a relearn involves Clear Memories 2 (aka shift maps) and then a test drive, which needs to be done under very specific conditions. The pak file isn't always going to cure your issue. You may have harsh 2-3 upshift. A pak update for improved temp sensor logic (for example) probably isn't going to help you. And yes, Subaru NZ charge $40 + gst to the dealer for obtaining files for non-NZ new vehicles. Where available, updates can be for pretty much any ecu in the car, but don't count on there being one for you. A MY05 GT will have a different trans file to an MY06 GT, which will also be different to a MY06 3.0R. We can't just chuck any old version in. The programming software kicks us out if the ecu number and pak number don't match, bar version numbers.

[boostin]

Oh and I forgot to say these ecus are adaptive. Drive it like a C*** and shifts will get harsher. It's just how they are.