Revenue opportunities with reflashing and reprogramming

Beginning with model year 2018, automakers will be required to provide all OBD-II information necessary for diagnosis and repair of vehicles. This includes the OEM software information needed to complete vehicle reflashing. 

Reflashing, sometimes referred to as reprogramming, is the process of updating a vehicle’s ECU calibration software with an updated version of the software.

"The J2534 market has seen significant changes over the past (several) years," says Glen Eaton, Product Manager, J2534 Products, Drew Technologies. "With later vehicle models having more and more modules and sensors, more manufacturers are providing more ECU programming capabilities and relearn procedures than ever before. Tool manufacturers and OEs alike have made significant improvements in how the tools are made and how the software is written."

Before having access to the necessary information to complete reflashing, independent repair shops would send customers back to the dealership to have this service completed, or they might call a mobile diagnostic technician complete the service. 

"Programming has been, and is now even more of, an important tool to add to the shop's toolbox," Eaton says. "What better way to increase a shops capability and service opportunities than to have their own J2534 tool? Without one, the shop is sending the vehicle elsewhere for that service, or simply turning away that business. Imagine the extra time required to send the vehicle elsewhere, perhaps involving towing as well and holding the customers vehicle for a longer period of time, which greatly affects the customers satisfaction. Add all the negative aspects together of not owning a J2534 device, then the cost of owning one becomes a no-brainer," says Eaton.

Prior to this standardization, many OEMs would use their own unique software language to communicate with a vehicle’s ECU for software updates. “This made diagnostics and reprogramming different for every manufacturer, even individual car platforms within the same manufacturer,” says  John McNelis, Manager, Sales and Marketing, DG Technologies. “Tool and software developers had to communicate with all of these different formats” prior to the J2534 standard.

In 2004, SAE International J2534 Standard was introduced to “Provide the framework to allow reprogramming software applications from all vehicle manufacturers the flexibility to work with multiple vehicle data link interface tools from multiple tool suppliers,” according to the SAE International website.

Essentially, this allows the automotive aftermarket access to any emission-related programming OEM information in a standardized format.

The J2534 standard was solidified with the implementation and adoption of the Right to Repair Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The MOU states automakers must be voluntarily compliant (or, in the case of the state of Massachusetts, mandated) to provide access to OE level data to consumers and the automotive aftermarket. This include access to diagnostic and repair information, at the dealer level, for 2002 and newer vehicles; as well as pass-thru support beginning with 2018 model year vehicles.

However, many automakers have agreed to go above and beyond the minimum requirement from the MOU. 

"While the mandate of Right to Repair is for model year 2018 (and beyond) for full module programming and diagnostic capabilities, many OEMs have provided these capabilities as far back as 1996," Eaton says.