I know this has been covered before but since its potentially risky i'd like to check.

I have the software and the cable is on the way. My car is a 2006 1.6 Ti-VCT running the oldest PCM software I can find for it (from 07/2004)

 

Ive been to http://civil.iffc.ru/elmconfig/pcm_frw.htm and found the number for my PCM module ( 7M51-12A650-KA ) and there is a newer file listed, but can i use the files for the 7M51-12A650-KC ?

Is flashing easy? The guides I see are somewhat confusing, messy or translations. Can anyone help with this? I is just a case of reading the current file, saving it (for backup), then loading the new file and flashing it?

 

If you current software is version 7M51-12A650-KA you can upgrade to version 7M51-12A650-KC without any problems. This is the latest available software version for this type of engine.

Be aware that flashing the PCM is only possible with a good quality ELM327 interface. Many of the interfaces that are currently sold from China are cheap clones that are not suitable for PCM flashing. Next to this flashing the PCM is not without risk. If something goes wrong during the flashing procedure there is a high risk of bricking the PCM. If that happens and the PCM can not be recovered you will have to buy a new PCM.

In my opinion you should only flash the PCM yourself if you have both the knowledge and the equipment to solve things if the flashing procedure went wrong. I experimented a lot with these functions of ELMconfig but in my case there was no risk at all because I owned a suitable spare PCM and also own the Ford IDS and FoCom diagnostic systems.

Thanks. I have got the ELM module now and it seems to work, it read the PCM firmware OK (took about 12 mins), so i'm hoping it would therefore write to the PCM OK. The only issue is that it will only do one operation at a time. If I, say read the VIN, it will them not do anything else until is restart ELMconfig. I do wonder if thats related to my Laptop though.

careful matey, read and writing are two very different operations.  of all the things ive done to my car including changing the settings on the PCM, ive not gone as far as updating the PCM and I'm not sure I will until I have full access to the ECU so I can flash it directly should I balls it up

Hmm, i might not do it then. Its £100 to have an update done though, so a bit pricey..

does this work on my car yet lol

Hello,  i manage to activate cruise control on my focus c-max 1.6TI-VCT with ELMconfig program. I noticed that PCM firmware was 5M51-12A650-HF with file name E00DS4XB. If i understand correctly  from the above chart the last update for mine is 5M51-12A650-HG ?