PointByPatrol #21985 Build Journal! RIP #9243

[PointByPatrol]

Track season is fast approaching! I've got a few things in the works, and it's been a busy day securing Track Insurance, Open Track, and HPDE registrations. My ECU is also currently in the care of Innovate Motorworks being jailbroken ahead of this event! I've also ordered a replacement set of Paragon R5 rear brake pads, and titanium shims that fit my CP9660 front calipers. With any luck Dream will deliver my Eventuri intake ahead of this event in time for me to install it! I've also been working with @Jester04 for a custom track tune that is suited more toward my aggressive driving style that I'll be testing at this NASA March Madness event! Only 3.5 weeks to go!

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[Jester04]

Track season is fast approaching! I've got a few things in the works, and it's been a busy day securing Track Insurance, Open Track, and HPDE registrations. My ECU is also currently in the care of Innovate Motorworks being jailbroken ahead of this event! I've also ordered a replacement set of Paragon R5 rear brake pads, and titanium shims that fit my CP9660 front calipers. With any luck Dream will deliver my Eventuri intake ahead of this event in time for me to install it! I've also been working with @Jester04 for a custom track tune that is suited more toward my aggressive driving style that I'll be testing at this NASA March Madness event! Only 3.5 weeks to go!

Can’t wait!

 

[TW00Si]

I’d like to see a video of the intake install and that thermostat. ?

 

[PointByPatrol]

I’d like to see a video of the intake install and that thermostat. ?

Thermostat won't be too bad since it's connected to the upper rad hose. I could do it the wrong way and just yank the old one out and let it be messy, or the right way and drain all the coolant out and refill, but with the CWR radiator it's going to be kinda messy anyways.

Looking forward to the arrival of the intake. I hate preorders, but I really wanted that intake. No telling when the hell it'll actually show up!

 

[Jester04]

Thermostat won't be too bad since it's connected to the upper rad hose. I could do it the wrong way and just yank the old one out and let it be messy, or the right way and drain all the coolant out and refill, but with the CWR radiator it's going to be kinda messy anyways.

Looking forward to the arrival of the intake. I hate preorders, but I really wanted that intake. No telling when the hell it'll actually show up!

I think the car will come out very strong and you will hurt some feelings out there.

 

[PointByPatrol]

So I just wanted to catalogue my experience thus far with getting my ECU jailbroken. I intend to shoot a video in addition to this, but let's just say the process has been pretty rocky so far.

@Two Step Performance and Innovate Motorworks have been FANTASTIC through this process, and if you're like me and you're not anywhere near the Hondata tour, then I'd strongly recommend purchasing your unlock from TwoStep/Innovate.

Here's my story:
I removed my ECU Feb 10th and took it immediately to a UPS store. The next day air option with insurance for my package cost $190, which I thought was pretty steep, but I wanted to decrease the amount of downtime and get this over with quickly. The folks at the UPS store told me that my package would arrive in Carlisle, PA at Innovate Motorworks by 10:30AM on Monday, Feb 12. I thanked them and left.

Monday morning I checked the tracking to see how the package was progressing. It had gone from Raleigh, to Louisville, to Middletown, to Carlisle. Looked like everything was working out just fine. I checked again after the promised 10:30 delivery and found that the package had not moved. I then called the UPS store since the UPS virtual assistant and 800 number offer ZERO help whatsoever. The worker at the UPS store told me that she didn't see any notes or reason for delay on the package, and that she was sure that everything would be fine, and that the package would likely be delivered by the end of the day. I shrugged it off and waited until the end of the day to check the tracking again only to find that the package still had no motion. I resolved to check again Tuesday morning and tried not to think about it for the rest of the night.

Tuesday morning I checked the tracking only to find that the package had been flown back to Kentucky overnight, and then flown from Kentucky again to a hub in Pittsburgh. I then decided to call Innovate and let them know that I'd shipped an ECU that was supposed to arrive Monday, but that there were shipping delays, and that I did not know when it might arrive at this point. It snowed heavily in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Despite the snow the package arrived to Middletown again from Pittsburgh and didn't move for the rest of the day.

Wednesday morning I checked the tracking again, and my package was finally in Carlisle, PA. I waited until about 10 to call innovate to let them know that the package was finally out for delivery. While on the phone with Innovate the UPS truck showed up and delivered my ECU.

Innovate jailbroke, repackaged, and returned my ECU to UPS (Overnight Shipping) within mere hours of it's arrival! The service was excellent, and the woman I had been speaking to on the phone was a pleasure to talk to each time!

My ECU arrived yesterday (Thursday) right on time, and I installed it in the car. The car fired right up and I was thrilled! I ran inside and grabbed my FlashPro and tried to interface with the car only to realize that I had failed to unlock my FlashPro from FK8 some six months ago when I traded it in. A quick google search of the issue revealed that I'd have to contact Hondata support and provide proof of purchase, which I did immediately. It was almost 7 at night at this point, but Hondata is in California so I figured I'd likely get a response back from them. Matt at Hondata was helpful, but confirmed my worst fears. I would need to mail my FlashPro to Hondata, pay a $500 fee for them to unlock my FlashPro and then wait for the return shipping. I asked if they had an exchange program for older devices, which they do, and that the exchange would cost $200, but that I would still need to pay the $500 to unlock my old FlashPro even if they were to take it in exchange.

I'm now faced with a $500 + Shipping, $700 + Shipping, or $790 (just throw the darn thing in the trash and buy a new one) option, and I'm pretty upset about it to say the least. I had not budgeted for this, but hey, sounds like UPS is going to at least refund the $190 that I spent on their failed attempts at overnighting my package to Innovate!

 

[PointByPatrol]

Follow-up to what I wrote above. I get that most long posts aren't read. Pictures and videos are always a better option than a 5 paragraph essay about an experience, but It's worth while mentioning that I've found a resolution.

I reached out to @Two Step Performance performance today and explained my situation. Hondata is such a large company at this point that they can call the shots and set ridiculously high prices for just about anything. If i'm paying top dollar I'd prefer to work with a company that has my back when I need it, and understands that mistakes happen. Two Step Performance has been there for me before, and they didn't hesitate to be there for me again. I ordered a brand new FlashPro from them today because I TRUST them.

Guys, all of these modifications that we make are ultimately to have fun when you cut it all down to the brass tacks, and we NEED people that feel the same way to be on our side.

If you're in a bind, you can trust Two Step Performance. They will be there for you always. They've never done me wrong and I'd strongly recommend considering them for any of your future needs, because...well...they just get it. They're here for the same reason you are...and that's to build something that you love, and can have fun with!

 

[Shrapnel]

I appreciate the write-up. I know the frustration of shipping delays, especially senseless ones where people just aren’t doing their jobs. I only trust FedEx for truly fast service and they haven’t let me down yet. I used them to get my ECU jailbroken and it went perfectly smooth. I bought my flashpro from Two Step and they really are top notch. Got TSP stage one tune as well. I just wish they’d ship me a downpipe in Cali. ?

 

[Clark_Kent]

Follow-up to what I wrote above. I get that most long posts aren't read. Pictures and videos are always a better option than a 5 paragraph essay about an experience, but It's worth while mentioning that I've found a resolution.

I reached out to @Two Step Performance performance today and explained my situation. Hondata is such a large company at this point that they can call the shots and set ridiculously high prices for just about anything. If i'm paying top dollar I'd prefer to work with a company that has my back when I need it, and understands that mistakes happen. Two Step Performance has been there for me before, and they didn't hesitate to be there for me again. I ordered a brand new FlashPro from them today because I TRUST them.

Guys, all of these modifications that we make are ultimately to have fun when you cut it all down to the brass tacks, and we NEED people that feel the same way to be on our side.

If you're in a bind, you can trust Two Step Performance. They will be there for you always. They've never done me wrong and I'd strongly recommend considering them for any of your future needs, because...well...they just get it. They're here for the same reason you are...and that's to build something that you love, and can have fun with!

I've had a great experience with @Two Step Performance as well. Glad to see they're a trustworthy vendor here for the community. Perhaps I missed it but, how did buying from them save you from paying Hondata $500 to sort out the locked FlashPro?

 

[PointByPatrol]

I've had a great experience with @Two Step Performance as well. Glad to see they're a trustworthy vendor here for the community. Perhaps I missed it but, how did buying from them save you from paying Hondata $500 to sort out the locked FlashPro?

I was going to have to pay either way, and I did. Just chose the non-barbaric company to spend my hard earned cash with. Two Step had the latest greatest in stock and the turn around time for shipping dropped from what would have been at least a week or more to only one day.

 

[PointByPatrol]

@Two Step Performance Crisis averted!

 

[TW00Si]

400hp+ here you go!

 

[PointByPatrol]

Jailbreaking the FL5 ECU! @Two Step Performance

 

[EJHonda]

Looking for feedback/thoughts on the "Black Flag Edition" logo!

As a flagger and a track driver, I LOL'd. Was at the Glen once and got unexpectedly stopped at end of session by the pit marshal. He explained I was one of several cars reported by the flagger at the exit of the Toe of the Boot for giving him the finger. We had to explain there was a group of us who gave "spicy" point by's to each other using our middle finger, and that the flagger was not the target of any of it. Pit marshal laughed and sent me on in to paddock. So... seems appropriate!

 

[PointByPatrol]

As a flagger and a track driver, I LOL'd. Was at the Glen once and got unexpectedly stopped at end of session by the pit marshal. He explained I was one of several cars reported by the flagger at the exit of the Toe of the Boot for giving him the finger. We had to explain there was a group of us who gave "spicy" point by's to each other using our middle finger, and that the flagger was not the target of any of it. Pit marshal laughed and sent me on in to paddock. So... seems appropriate!

Hahahahah! I love this!

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