Yep.
I had the XKR-S tune flashed onto my 2010 XFR a few years ago, using SDD.
The tune file was NOT already on the PCM/ECU but had to be flashed onto it over the top of the stock tune.
And it didn't "stick" until I had an H-pipe installed in the exhaust system in place of the front muffler.

 

I understand, but I'm trying to get the information so that I (and others) can learn. So, an alternative solution to this might be to advise us on what we can learn to figure it out on our own.

I don't mind putting in the work to be confident I can do it myself... But I'm still surprised at the general resistance in offering guidance with what I thought was a relatively straightforward request.

I had an x-pipe welded in soon after buying the car, in preparation for eventually tuning it. Pictures of the are in one of my threads: here

 

Because there is some level of risk and liability and not just anyone can do it, requires certain skill, experience and knowledge. Someone might share info via PM.

 

TraxtarXKR,
Yes, you sounded a bit inpatient at first, but it sounds as if our friends have forgiven you ...
also sounds like Cee Jay is offering to help, so let us know when you are successful ...
I'm not interested in the XKR-S tune myself, but I poke around IDS/SDD a bit and will share this:
IDS/SDD is (as we use to say in the military) a system designed by geniuses to be carried out by idiots.
Written into the program are many "qualifiers". These are code checks to see what year/model, etc of vehicle is connected to the diagnostic computer.
The qualifiers allow access to programming modules with appropriate software and disallow everything else.
Example, I have seen the qualifiers for the XKR-S TCM tune in an .xml file. It appears that you could edit that file to qualify a different vehicle (my N/A XK?) to accept the file via the normal software update routine. Of course, I'm not interested in a TCM tune, but that is essentially how it would be done.

My reasons for poking around in IDS/SDD were reverse parking camera (successful) and blind spot monitoring retrofit (still working on it).
(If anyone has better insight into the BSM qualifiers, please help!)

So, hope this helps explain the concept and maybe Cee Jay can fill in the rest.

Best regards,
Bill

 

Thanks Bill. I'm a test engineer by day, tinkerer by night. I break things on purpose so they don't break when they're not supposed to.

I appreciate folks being willing to help. Given my independent tech's hesitancy to get into the inner workings of SDD, I think the next logical step is to get myself a copy of it so I can spend my own time figuring it out.

I'm chatting privately with ceejay, and will keep this thread updated with my progress.

 

It can be done if you know what your doing , but not for the novice as very real risks of completely bricking your ECU which can cost a good penny to resolve, been there done that. You can't just turn the tune on but requires overwriting your existing programming on the ecu.
I can get you over 600hp on 5.0sc platform and done with a very conservative , safe and tested Tune. Pm me if interested

 

Yeah, but getting the program to OPEN those encrypted .xml files is an absolute nightmare.
I still can't find one.

 

Wanted to start this thread back up now that I'm actively working with SDD to troubleshoot an unresponsive cooling fan.

I'm going to attempt flashing my PCM with a vbf file that I believe is for the XKR-S module.

 

Don't be so free with any information! There are prerequisites to this sort of black magic.

 

IDS_SDD: same concept as the military.
Designed by geniuses to be carried out by idiots.

SDD, in its native state, will not allow you to make the "mistake" that you propose.
However, it is possible to edit SDD program files to allow such things.

You are entering the realm of :
Those who know don't tell and
Those who tell don't know.

Such was the case with the back-up camera retrofit for early XKs.
That turned out to be quite simple.
I did brick the car in the process and it took two days to recover.
Learned quite a bit in the process.

Using IDS_SDD, it it difficult to truely brick a module since the primary boot loader is difficult to destroy.
The typical brick can usually be recovered with patience.

In fairness to those who know but don't tell, they are either in the industry and may jepordize their career and/or unwilling to freely share knowledge hard won through many years of education and practice.
No one expects an attorney to freely share his expertise, why should an automotive programmer?

PS: There is a transmission "tune" to match!

 

I can sympathize with not freely sharing information on the tricks of SDD.

It was nice to see that the modules are essentially backed up multiple times. While playing around, I actually restored my settings to the factory and started seeing TPMS warning lights again... By going into engineering mode, I was able to switch off the 3 items that trigger warning lights and messages related to that system.

So in order to fully experience the power and torque of an XKR-S, both the PCM and TCM will be to be flashed with the XKR-S files... Doing just one or the other would be considered an incomplete procedure.

Is that an accurate understanding?

 

I would assume you are correct. Changed shift points and lockups would no doubt be part of a trans tune. BUT, since I don't really drive on tracks or extended curvies I don't really NEED it. It would probably be nice, but not necessary in most situations. Especially since I didn't change springs or strut equipment.

 

Well as a prior working attorney I was always giving out free knowledge and shared my experience. So there are those kinds and the other kind

 

There is a lot more power possible with a proper tune, over the XKRS 550hp oem tune. On my stock 5.0 sc xj I went from 470 stock to 620hp just with a reflash and now with the addition of a lower pulley up to 680hp range. Client of ours is now trapping near 130mph in 1/4th mi and is well in the 700hp territory....
Just take a look at 1/4th mi time of XKRS over XKR ,, there is not much of a difference
​​​​​

 

Do you flash the PCM and TCM to achieve those numbers? What is the impact to the fuel economy? This car is a daily driver, and that is driving the appeal of using factory tunes.

We can talk via messages if you're willing to share a file that I can flash based on my vehicle.

 

Thanks for the chuckle.
WJ

 

😁

 

We do tuning on these cars. How it's done is, you would get a laptop sent to you , Everything is done remotely through Wi-Fi and remote connect, so it's easy and fail proof on your end. I would pull your factory file out and then rework that file and reload into your car. There's no impact on fuel economy or daily driving, it drives like factory until you step on a gas pedal fully. Feel free to PM

 

Same concept applies to all, whether tradesmen or medical doctors. Certainly, no offense meant. The ability to share freely is a blessing, sometimes abused by seekers, sometimes providers.

Automotive programming secrets have a legitimate basis in promoting safety, preventing abuse (theft, odo roll-back) and trade protection.
However, those secrets can be damaging to independent shops, developers and are quite annoying to hobbists.
And some hobbists, too, keep secrets out of loyalty(?) to their benefactors.

A frustrating example of automotive programming security is CAN database files, which are proprietary. As an avid (read obsessive) hobbist, if I reverse engineer the JLR .DBC, is it legal (or moral) to share with other hobbists without compensation?

PS: Knowing that you are an attorney, when does such question become abuse? 😁
PPS: Happy to share/collaborate with others!

 

I'd be one to withhold information when it would be easy for another to either misconstrue and use it wrong or to have a person with too little of the full information to do something not quite right and cause a larger problem.