Timeback Tutorial

Overview

Timeback is a process that allows you to set the ECU's system date back to 2022, enabling the use of Development Enhanced and Variant Coding certificates for Star 3 coding operations.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

1. Diagnostic Toolkit 9 (DTS) with a SeCOC project loaded
2. AFTERSALES_ENHANCED certificate valid for 2025 (available from our ZenZefi service - coming soon)
3. Access to the target ECU (not the EZS223 gateway)
4. Timeback tokens - Each timeback request costs 25 tokens

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Navigate to the Target ECU in DTS

1. Open Diagnostic Toolkit 9 (DTS)
2. Load your SeCOC project
3. Navigate to the respective ECU you want to code
   • ⚠️ Important: Do NOT select the EZS223 gateway - timeback cannot be performed on the gateway
4. Ensure you're using an AFTERSALES_ENHANCED certificate valid for 2025

Step 2: Read the ECU Certificate

1. In DTS, execute the command: "Read ECU certificate"
2. Find the "overall value" field in the response
3. Right-click on the overall value cell
4. Select "Copy cell" from the context menu

Step 3: Generate Timeback Response

1. Go to the Timeback page in MBRetrofit Tools
2. Click the "Do Timeback" button
3. Paste the copied ECU certificate into the input field
   • The certificate should start with 62,01,83,
4. Review the cost (25 tokens) and your current balance
5. Click "Generate" to create the timeback response
6. Copy the generated timeback response

Step 4: Apply Timeback in DTS

1. In DTS, open ConnPrimitives
2. Navigate to Hex Services
3. Paste the timeback response you copied from MBRetrofit Tools
4. Execute the command

Step 5: Verify System Date

1. Query the system date in DTS
2. Verify that the date shows 2022
3. You can now use Development Enhanced and Variant Coding certificates for coding operations

Step 6: Perform Coding Operations

With the system date set to 2022, you can now:

• Use Development Enhanced certificates
• Use Variant Coding certificates
• Perform your desired coding modifications

Step 7: Sync Time Back (Coming Soon)

After completing your coding operations, you'll need to sync the time back through SCN Secoc Sync. This feature will be available in a future update.

Certificate Format Requirements

The ECU certificate must start with 62,01,83,. If your certificate doesn't start with this prefix, it's not in the correct format.

Example of correct format:

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

Cost

• Each timeback request costs 25 tokens
• Tokens can be purchased in bundles:
  • 100 tokens for €50
  • 500 tokens for €250
  • 1000 tokens for €500

Troubleshooting

Certificate doesn't start with 62,01,83,

• Ensure you copied the overall value from the ECU certificate response
• Verify you're reading the certificate from the correct ECU (not the gateway)
• Check that you're using the correct DTS command

Insufficient tokens

• Purchase tokens from the pricing page
• Check your current balance on the timeback page

Service unavailable

• Check the service status indicator on the timeback page
• Ensure the 223-backend service is running
• Try again after a few moments

Related Guides

• Star 3 Coding Overview
• Timeback Tool
• Purchase Tokens