Truck software advice

[Rawze]

Hardware-wise, all that someone needs to copy the program in/out of their ecm themselves is a laptop (windows xp, windows 10, or windows 11) + an adapter (called a data-link adapter) that goes between this laptop and the engine/vehicle.

The adapter ...
== If someone only has vehicle with cummins engines, or if they want a cheap solution, then a Chineese 'Inline-5' or 'Inline-6' adapter off of ebay or amazon works just fine. They have no issues generally and are far cheaper than anything else, only about $300 bucks or so. The red engine maker themselves also sells official 'Inline' brand adapters, but they are for more moneys ... and work just as well too.


== The alternative to this is a 'Nexiq' brand adapter. They are more suited for someone who owns Detroit, CAT, Volvo, etc.. and not just a cummins. The only trouble with them however is that ...

- A, they are more expensive by quite a little bit ...

- and B, The Chineesuim Nexiq-brand fakes that are sold all over the interwebs tend to fail and go bad,.. or not work properly.

This means that if someone buys a 'Nexiq' adapter.. they need to go to a local FLeet pride store or other official place that sells them and buy one that way vs. off the webs. They are also a lot more expensive at $800+ .. so it just is not really worth it for the guy who only has one truck or 2 trucks, and they all heave a red red engine.


Myself,... as someone that helps others..

I have Several cheap Chineese 'Inline' adapters, and also I have 2 'Nexiq' adapters here. -- Turns out the first Nexiq that I purchased off the webs was a fake that worked for about 6 months then got bricked because the official Nexiq adapter drivers, after an update, attacked and destroyed it. Nexiq (and Amazon) apologized to me and when I gave them the serial number of the adapter, and they said there were thousands of units with that same serial number that had been cloned from china accidentally sold as official ones.

I was sent a new one for my troubles for free, since I had gone through Amazon, and it was supposed to be legitimate. The 2nd one i purchased, I got from a local fleet-pride store and it was genuine. It still works great to this day, and is the one I use when not using my inline adapter.

However ... It is so rare for me to use a Nexiq, that it usually just collects dust and I have never really needed it much.

That is my own experience with them, I have seen a lot of guys buy Chinese Nexiq adapters in the past who loved them for a while, but only regretted it later when they bricked. I have not heard any stories of Chineese Inline adapters doing this.


-- The adapter itself (inline, nexiq, whatever) is the most important part actually. - As far as software goes ... for the red engines ... well ... It, along with some ehemm "fixes" to make it all work, are all over the internet like paint on the wall (for free), if a person simply looks for in the right places for it. - I am not encouraging this, but just stating the obvious. Software trading is not allowed on this forum, but that does not stop people from getting what they need elsewhere.

====
(Summary)...
I usually tell people that if they have a red engine and do not plan on working on Detroits etc. to simply just get an Inline adapter. I can't remember the last time I even fired up my Nexiq. If they do get a Nexiq, then don't try to get the cheapest one. Go to a fleet-pride or other official store to get an official one, so that you do not regret it later. When it comes to Inline adapters however, an official one, or a china knock-off, they all seem to work just fine without issues.

Tags:

inline vs nexiq, nexiq vs inline, inline adapter, nexiq adapter, cummins adapter, flashing ecm