I'm guessing the vin is embedded in the chip before they send it. then if you sell it to somebody else it doesn't work on their truck
Correct, tuners are VIN locked once programmed and most companies now do this to make more money, if you sell the tuner you must shell out more cash to said company to change the vin or do a vin unlock.
Nothing to do with states or epa or gov ect. just a money making deal for the programmer /tuner companies.
I recently did full egr, dpf cat deletes on a 2014 Jetta TDI diesel, and sent the engine ecu in to get tuned for thie deletes and it too is VIN locked and only works on this vehicle so if one tried to swap ecms with same make car it will be a not start deal unless reflashed back to stock @ dealer.
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BTW, extended idle time W/O an egr delete or block off will result in the same issues on these new engines which is carboned and plugged up intake systems unless one does some sort of engine crankcase breather mods to prevent the oil residue from entering the intake system all together.. I saw someone mention a catch can mod to address this.
Doing the deletes is rather simple and easy.......................on a Cummins anyhow:;:stirthepot, really sucked getting the old DPF out of the TDI, was a couple hour shoehorning ordeal after it was all unhooked.