Bought a car with a locked tune?
It's one of the most common ways people end up with a locked tune: the car changes hands, the tune comes with it, and the password doesn't. Here are your realistic options, roughly in the order we'd suggest trying them.
1. Ask the seller who tuned it
Start with the obvious. The previous owner may still have the tuner's details, invoices or even the password. Knowing who did the work also helps if you want that same shop to keep looking after the car.
2. Contact the original tuner
Many tuners will help a new owner — some will share access, others will make changes for you or hand over an unlocked copy, sometimes for a fee. Be polite and have proof that you own the car. This keeps the relationship with the person who knows the tune best.
3. Start again with a new tune
A new tuner can wipe the ECU and build a fresh calibration. That's a clean slate, but it usually means losing the existing tune and paying for the full tuning time again — including dyno time.
4. Unlock the tune file
If the tuner can't be reached or won't help, removing the password from the .nexmap file lets you or a new tuner pick up where the last one left off. That's the service we provide: upload the file, see your engine setup read back to you as proof, and only pay if you go ahead.
Not sure where you stand? Upload your .nexmap and we'll tell you straight away whether it's locked. You only pay $75 USD if you choose to unlock it.
Check my tuneMore guides: How to tell if your tune is locked · Your tuner won't give you the password