No trial that I'm aware of, but check with HRC... you never know. However, the issue is that there's no way for them to reasonably determine that you've flashed back to stock (unless you drive to their shop and show them). The end result is that one (not necessarily you) could flash up, then say they didn't like it, and just keep the custom flash forever... returning the BSR for a refund.

I don't believe this is an option.

The BSR "sales channel" isn't really set up for this. They offer a "flash device," not a "tuner device," and their sales channel is to sell you the flashes (see their web site re "staged upgrades"). OTOH, the HPT unit is a computer interface to allow users to tweak parameters that the HPT is capable of manipulating. I spent $2800 on a new 4L60 transmission after "tweaking" pump pressure parms with TunerCat on my old '99 Tahoe. I have some knowledge of what I'm doing... but I still broke something. HPT won't protect you from "being dumb." The BSR will, since it's just a "you get what you get" flash. One isn't inherently better than the other... they're just different products.

 

Maybe dumb question here but since I'm computer illiterate,here goes.How does this upgrade tune know into which vehicle it's going?If you have(in this instance)an '08 HHR SS and it gets totalled(heaven forbid) then buy another one to replace it,why wouldn't it work?Or would it?seems to me it should work just fine,all vehicle specs being the same.
XXL,there is another module-the ECM.This is what controls the drive train.The BCM controls things like A/C and heat,the radio,mirror and seat settings,among others.So if this "tune" changes engine parameters it shouldn't be going into the BCM,it should be going intothe ECM.Right?

 

because it gets "married" to that vehicles vin. once the info is downloaded from your stock computer,you are stuck with it. no car is the same.

 

I believe they are one in the same on the HHR platform. All references I have seen point to a single "BCM" for the vehicle. Anyone got a reference that says otherwise???

 

So an owner of an HHR SS couldn't give his "tune" stuff to another owner of an IDENTICALLY equpped car(say,for the sake of discussion,a 5 speed/L.S.D. car)?What,besides the V.I.N,could be the difference?Comfort options shouldn't make a difference in the engine(and/or trans) setup.As I see it,only a weight difference between vehicles could POSSIBLY make a difference.Am I completely wrong?Has anyone tried to plug in one these "tunes" from one HHR to another?What,if anything happened?Maybe it's just my suspicious side emerging but I wonder if this is just a way to sell more "tune" packages.

 

I'll check tomorrow at work for an ECM or a more encompassing VCM part number.

 

When you buy and use the BSR tuner, you agree to the included EULA... which says you can't reverse engineer it. While I haven't done any reverse engineering, I suspect they're taking some "signature" off of the BCM (or ECM) and mating that with the VIN you supplied at purchase, which is stored in the memory card on the BSR. Note: The directions tell you NEVER to remove the memory card. My guess is that this includes their "security" against reuse on another car... take a signature of some sort from the car, hash it with the VIN using some proprietary algorithm to create a unique key (something like the key pairs in PGP), such that the system will not function on another vehicle (because the hash with the new vehicle's signature and the same VIN would create a different key, thus telling the BSR that it's the wrong car. I also suspect that if you bought a new BSR unit and copied the flash memory to a clean flash part before using it on any car, it might work on multiple cars-- one per flash card. I also suspect (and would fully support) that BSR and HRC would come after you for violating the EULA you agree to when you buy and use the product. So... rather than anyone cheat the system, just shell out the money for the product if you want it. Or... don't if you don't want it.

 

Pretty easy to read the VIN from the cars computer. If they don't match no can play!

 

When I bought my 2008 HHR SS I ordered a set of the Factory Service manuals from Helm. It is a HUGE three volume set. My HHR has the 5 year bumper to bumper and I figure by the time it expires I'll have gone over these books enough to maintain it with no problems.

According to Volume 1 (section 6) there are several different modules on the HHR and they all work together. Some seem very integrated and if one is replaced there is often work to configure or re-calibrate other modules. That part doesn't look fun.

From what I can read in the book it appears that the BCM controls the lighting, horn, turn signals, ignition switch, wipers door locks, and misc stuff for the body of the car. It doesn't seem to talk about the engine at all.

There is also listed an ECM (Engine Control Module) which looks to cover everything for the engine and accessories. It lists the A/C, tempature, Accelerator petal position, injector control, crank sensor, Fuel pump, emissions, camshaf angles, spark control, etc.

Besides that is also mentions CIM (Communications Interface Module) for the cell phone and OnStar.

Also a EBCM (Electronic Brake Control Module), PSCM (Power Steering Control Module), and a few others.

On cars with a manual trans it states that if you replace an ECM then you have to re-learn the Clutch Petal position sensor. There is a lot of things like that so far. This books are really a requirement for someone to be able to properly maintain the HHR.

 

There's an ECM(12612397),a BCM,plus other smaller modules for various functions.