Apparatus and method for programming motor vehicle electronic control units

Methods and apparatuses are provided for programming a plurality of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) for controlling devices in a motor vehicle. A host module positioned within the vehicle is coupled to each of the ECUs. The host module stores the software programs to be downloaded to the ECUs. A software down load enabler included in the host module is responsive to a radio frequency control signal to cause said host module to download the software programs to the ECUs. A software down load initiator is located external to the vehicle. The software down load initiator is selectively coupled to the software down load enabler. The software down load initiator provides the control signal to initiate the download of the software programs from the host module to each ECU so that each ECU can control the functioning of a device connected thereto.