Bully Dog fry's computer? - Dodge Diesel

luke03cr · 05-30-2012, 02:53 PM

I have a bully dog triple dog that i have had for a while. been a good programer 4 me. I loaned it to my buddy over the weekend to use in his 6.0 powerjoke. We uploaded it and it ran good in his truck. Said it worked good for him all weekend. When we went to take it back out yesterday, his truck would no longer start. tried uploading the program back in... still no start. So ive got the programmer back and his truck is now at the ford dealer getting a new computer. Now i am EXTREAMLY nervous about putting the bully dog back in my truck, afraid that il fry my computer. what do yal think?

whiskers · 05-30-2012, 07:08 PM

It happens! I bought a 99 with a banks in it and had the dealer remove it. it fried my computer and the dealer said too bad. it was all on me. So tread carefully.

jimbo486 · 05-30-2012, 07:10 PM

Same thing happened to a friend of mine's 2002 7.3L when he sold it to a guy in Florida. The new owner paid for a friend to fly out and drive it home and sent the Bully Dog with him to load it before driving home. Not smart before a drive like that or before even having the vehicle in your possession!! The tuner locked up 3/4 of the way through the download and the truck wouldn't start. Pulling the OBDII plug did nothing to reset it either. Bully Dog had crap for technical support so I suggested having it towed to a dealer. Ford had to flash the ECM to get it running again. Since then, I say no to Bully Dog tuners. Just my experience.

madhat · 05-30-2012, 09:30 PM

BD's have a history of eating ECMs. I have not heard much from them in a while, but for a while there, they were melting like butter.

jhenson · 05-31-2012, 08:56 AM

I have heard the same thing about ECM's going south with the programmers. I'll go ahead and knock on wood now because for 7 yrs mine has been trouble free. Granted, I only change the tunes about 5 times a year and I never let anyone else use it because of the VIN lock thingy that the older ones have.

Spooler · 05-31-2012, 09:51 AM

Too bad it was not a Dodge. He could of bought a Smarty and asked Marco to write a recovery file. That is how alot of BD/ECM issues were fixed a few years ago.

luke03cr · 05-31-2012, 01:09 PM

Hmm...well i think il chance it and install it back on my truck and hope everything goes good, i really miss not having a programmer on it lol

Spooler · 05-31-2012, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke03cr

Hmm...well i think il chance it and install it back on my truck and hope everything goes good, i really miss not having a programmer on it lol

You can always upgrade to a Smarty and fix it later if you have issues.

Cthulhu · 06-01-2012, 11:04 PM

Hey there..

I've been advised by a guy I feel is a guru with the cummins that if you have a BullyDog in your truck, and want to change to another programmer, you need to have the dealer reflash the ECM to Dodge/Ram software, as BullyDog does not reflash (return to Stock) properly... Anyone see this as the case?

gpshemi · 06-02-2012, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

Hey there..

I've been advised by a guy I feel is a guru with the cummins that if you have a BullyDog in your truck, and want to change to another programmer, you need to have the dealer reflash the ECM to Dodge/Ram software, as BullyDog does not reflash (return to Stock) properly... Anyone see this as the case?

That's EFI LIVE'S position also. Return it to stock, then have it flashed at the dealer first, then switch to EFI LIVE. So I'd say it's accurate.

goalie2 · 06-04-2012, 08:45 PM

its the 6.0s.My BIL had an edge on his,worked great for the first few days,then his truck wouldnt start.Took it off,same thing,brought it to the dealer and they couldnt fix it so he ended up trading it in.I had a chip on my 7.3 and had it in and out(for various tunes) and never had an issue with anything.So ecms are fussy that way.

05-30-2012, 07:08 PM	#2
whiskers Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Malakoff, TX Posts: 597 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	It happens! I bought a 99 with a banks in it and had the dealer remove it. it fried my computer and the dealer said too bad. it was all on me. So tread carefully. __________________ '98 2500 ext. cab, 5spd, #11 fuel plate,custom flat bed. Single wheel for now. Love the 12 valves !

05-30-2012, 07:10 PM	#3
jimbo486 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 3,766 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	Same thing happened to a friend of mine's 2002 7.3L when he sold it to a guy in Florida. The new owner paid for a friend to fly out and drive it home and sent the Bully Dog with him to load it before driving home. Not smart before a drive like that or before even having the vehicle in your possession!! The tuner locked up 3/4 of the way through the download and the truck wouldn't start. Pulling the OBDII plug did nothing to reset it either. Bully Dog had crap for technical support so I suggested having it towed to a dealer. Ford had to flash the ECM to get it running again. Since then, I say no to Bully Dog tuners. Just my experience. __________________ "My name is Jim, but most people call me.... Jim" - Blazing Saddles - - '90 D350 "Rust Bucket Hunter" - - Giles' 12mm VE - Airdog II 165 - XDP sump - Bradley's Diesel 5x.013s (68-70lpm) - Powerstroke I/C - Fluidampr - HTT Super 40/35 'gated 14cm - 4" exh. - '01 NV5600 - SB Con OFE Clutch - D70 3.54 - 263HP / 610ft. lbs. (Aug. '10: prior to Giles VE, AirDog, XDP sump, 5x.012s and Powerstroke I/C) Updated numbers: TBD Up and Cummins - Paint -

05-30-2012, 09:30 PM	#4
madhat Administrator/Jarhead Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Blythewood, SC Posts: 14,248 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	BD's have a history of eating ECMs. I have not heard much from them in a while, but for a while there, they were melting like butter. __________________ 04.5 3500 4x4 Tranny, turbo, injectors, studs, springs, CP3 mod, smarty, MP8, Air Dog, 5" TBE, some other things... 868/1778 madhat (at) dieseltruckresource.com

05-31-2012, 08:56 AM	#5
jhenson "How in the heck do I change the phrase in between my user name and avatar?" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Waco, Texas Posts: 1,494 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	I have heard the same thing about ECM's going south with the programmers. I'll go ahead and knock on wood now because for 7 yrs mine has been trouble free. Granted, I only change the tunes about 5 times a year and I never let anyone else use it because of the VIN lock thingy that the older ones have. __________________ Justin '03 QC 4x4 Dually Willy's Whistler Intake, Programmer, Flux 2's, Valair Ceramic Clutch, NV5600, AirDog 150, Di-Pricol Fuel Pres, Boost, Pyro... Isspro RP, oil pressure, Ride-Rite Bags, Top Gun 2" Spacers, Control Arms, and Track Bar, Majestic Turbo 62/65, Heater Treaters. "Life is tough.....it's even tougher when you're stupid" (John Wayne) *No Guts...No Glory!!! Also, No Guts...No Digestion Of Food!!!*

05-31-2012, 09:51 AM	#6
Spooler Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Claxton, GA Posts: 5,322 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	Too bad it was not a Dodge. He could of bought a Smarty and asked Marco to write a recovery file. That is how alot of BD/ECM issues were fixed a few years ago. __________________ 2004.5 Dodge 3500 Dually 4x2 Quadcab, 325/600, 4.10 gears with LS, 48RE, Banks Monster Exhaust, Banks High Ram Intake, ISSPRO Gauges, Fuel Pressure, EGT, Boost, Trans Temp, 3 gauge Pillar mount, single steering colum mount, AFE Stage 1 with PGM7, Amsoil w bypass, Timbrens, Brakesmart,Bilsteins, kinda stock

05-31-2012, 01:09 PM	#7
luke03cr Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: clinton, tn Posts: 84 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	Hmm...well i think il chance it and install it back on my truck and hope everything goes good, i really miss not having a programmer on it lol

06-01-2012, 11:04 PM	#9
Cthulhu Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 3 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	Hey there.. I've been advised by a guy I feel is a guru with the cummins that if you have a BullyDog in your truck, and want to change to another programmer, you need to have the dealer reflash the ECM to Dodge/Ram software, as BullyDog does not reflash (return to Stock) properly... Anyone see this as the case?

06-04-2012, 08:45 PM	#11
goalie2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 43 My Photo Gallery My Classified Ads	its the 6.0s.My BIL had an edge on his,worked great for the first few days,then his truck wouldnt start.Took it off,same thing,brought it to the dealer and they couldnt fix it so he ended up trading it in.I had a chip on my 7.3 and had it in and out(for various tunes) and never had an issue with anything.So ecms are fussy that way.

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