Issue with Hypertech Programmer

theCATALYST · February 17, 2020

This will be a long story, but I will try to get straight to the point in the hopes this may prove useful to others here.

I purchased my 2019 Silverado RST in July of 2019. It came with a 6" Rough Country lift, 20" wheels and 35" tires installed with 21 miles on the odometer at the time I drove it off the lot. After approximately 3 months (4500 miles) I started getting several malfunctions and warning lights that included;

Service trailer brake system

Steering assist is reduced

Service power steering

Service ESC

Service 4wd

Fuel level low

Check Engine Light

Brake Light Illuminated

A/C blowing warm

Gauge needles all acting erratically.

You can see some of these in the following video following this post.

After shutting the truck off and restarting it, all issues remained. I then shut the truck off and disconnected the battery and let it sit for 10 minutes before re-connecting. Upon restarting it, the check engine light remained on, however all the malfunctions went away. I continued my trip home (6 hours). The next morning I decided to take the truck to my local dealership to let them take a look, after less than one mile, all the malfunctions returned. Dealership kept the truck 3 days. They checked all grounds and pinned all wires. Could not locate the issues. So I took my truck home and within two days all issues returned. I left the truck with the dealership again, this time for a week. They ordered a new ECU and gateway and installed both. At the end of the week I took the truck home, didn't even make it all the way home before all malfunctions returned. This time however even trying to shut the truck off was an issue. Pressing the ignition button would kill the engine, but all the electronics would stay active. Pressing the ignition again, and the engine would start, however dash and most electronics would be dark. Disconnecting battery also would not correct the issue. So, I started the engine and drove the truck back to the dealership very carefully.

This time I left it with them for a month (I work offshore) to allow them to get it fixed once and for all. I also had a stern talk with the Manager as well as opened a case with General Motors. I wanted this truck off my hands at this point. Brand new, and already had technicians pull dash out, all wiring harness' apart, and all around just molested the truck (no longer new in my opinion). A GM engineer ended up flying into town to look himself on the 4th week of them having the truck and not being able to figure out what the problem was. It took him literally 4 minutes. He looked under the dash, saw the Hypertech programmer, and unplugged it. They drove it around for a few days and the issues never came back. GM washed their hands of it and cancelled my complaint.

Now, I spent >60k on this truck and still wasn't happy. Now I have a truck that reads approximately 5 MPH off on the speedometer. The truck was opened up and molested several times. However, it looks like there isn't much else to be done at the moment. The funny thing is, GM will not pay the dealership's technicians for all the time spent diagnosing my truck due to it being an aftermarket part that created the problem. However, this dealership installed these aftermarket parts, so they are on the hook, however they don't feel responsible to pay for all the technicians time either. So they pursued the aftermarket company that sold and did the install of the lift, wheels, tires and programmer. Nope...they don't feel responsible. SO on this goes to Hypertech now since the part failed. None of which concerns me. My truck operates like it should now. BUT, I will be taking it to said aftermarket installer to have a new programmer installed soon, and yes, this will also be on the dealerships dime.

So in closing, if you have a lift, have a Hypertech programmer and your dash suddenly goes into chaos mode.....unplug the programmer. I hope this saves someone the time and grief that I went thru.

Edited February 17, 2020 by theCATALYST

theCATALYST · February 17, 2020

The following video is of how the engine could be on, but all electronics be dark. Shutting the engine off, and all the electronics light up.

scotman623 · February 17, 2020

WOW!!!! That’s just crazy!!! I don’t blame you for being upset about your truck getting molested and tore apart...

KARNUT · February 17, 2020

All the programmers I’ve used including hypertech you plug in then program then unplug. Even if you just do tire size up to my 2014.

theCATALYST · February 18, 2020

47 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

All the programmers I’ve used including hypertech you plug in then program then unplug. Even if you just do tire size up to my 2014.

Honestly, I don't really know the specifics. But attached is the unit boxing and the instructions I found online pertaining to it.

Edited February 18, 2020 by theCATALYST

KARNUT · February 18, 2020

1 minute ago, theCATALYST said:

Honestly, I don't really know the specifics. But attached is the unit boxing and the instructions I found online pertaining to it.

I see the ones I bought were programmers, they did everything.

mattchrz · February 18, 2020

I use hypertext in my 05 silverado, plug it in, asks questions, runs programs on truck computer and unplug when qued too.

dcarbs · February 18, 2020

Good thing I haven’t gotten my wheels yet, I was planning on getting the hypertech. I wish GM would come out with the code for this exact reason.

Sir Dan · February 18, 2020

I had a hypertech tuner 10 years ago and had issues with it. They were a horrible company then and still are it seems. These new rolling computers we call trucks are getting near impossible to do any aftermarket mods to, but something like setting the speedo for tires should be a no brainer for the dealership and they should take full responsibility for the whole mess.

silveradosid · February 18, 2020

it is not the dealership, it is the fact that GM will not give them the ability to do it

Marty Lattanzi · February 21, 2020

i have the exact same issue. Hypertech controls were interfering with the computer. Did they replace it? I was told the same info about the GM code. My service department is waiting on a response from the outfitter.

eppieguy · February 21, 2020

I've got about 8,000 miles with my Hypertech programmer and so far so good! Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for the info, I would have never thought of that as the issue.

ct_corey · February 21, 2020

did the truck come with the tuner or did you buy it?

curly · August 21, 2020

Had this exact issue with 2019 with 10,500 miles on it. Needless to say, I'll be taking it off the truck. Has anybody contacted Hypertech about some sort of refund since their product does not work as advertised (causes issues with new body style trucks)?

MaverickZ71 · August 21, 2020

That is exactly why Hypertech gives you a sticker/decal with their products. The instructions suggest that you to put the sticker under the hood next to the GM emissions decal. That tells a Service Tech, before they do anything, that the original programming has been modified. Also tells a subsequent owner that the vehicle has been tuned in some way. That is why the instructions also suggest that you remove any Hypertech modules/programming and revert back to the original state of tune before any in-depth dealer service diagnostics or related programming changes.

Edited August 21, 2020 by MaverickZ71