User's Manual

1
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
The days of diagnosing and repairing automobiles without a laptop
beside you are quickly fading. Newer vehicles include a large
number of onboard computers that are each dedicated to performing
specific tasks. Common onboard computers in newer vehicle
include the Engine Control Module (ECM), Transmission Control
Module (TCM), Fuel Injection Control Module (FICM), Anti-lock
Brake System (ABS), Body Control Module (BCM) and numerous
other control modules to manage every electronic system from
power door locks to crash data.
Each onboard computer is programmed at the factory with software
enabling it to perform certain tasks. Inside the ECM is software
containing hundreds or even thousands of parameters to control
spark, fuel, idle, cruising, emissions, economy, drivability, and
performance. Likewise, a TCM will have software to control how
the transmission and torque converter function. Sometimes, after
the vehicle is shipped from the automaker, updates are released to
improve emissions, fuel economy, drivability, performance, or
specific bugs in the original software that have caused warranty
issues. Updating this software can be a proactive fix because often
it will resolve problems that a customer hasn’t reported or noticed
yet.
The practice of updating software in these modules is more
commonly known as flash reprogramming. At new car dealerships,
flash reprogramming is relatively straight forward because service
technicians are connected to the automaker and have the expensive,
specialized dealer service tools dedicated to reprogramming. The
independent repair shops have faced a more difficult challenge
because most shops typically service more than one make of
vehicles. This increases the complexity, cost and training required
to operate dozens of different factory service tools.