If the tool returns a "Bootloader not responding" error, your chip might be locked, requiring a physical PICkit programmer to wipe and reflash.
A patched HEX file means the original binary has been modified to: opcom firmware 199 hex file patched
Official OP-COM firmware development generally stopped at earlier versions (like 1.6x) for clone hardware. The version 1.99 emerged from Chinese manufacturers who patched the existing hex code to change the version string displayed during an "Interface Test" to 1.99. If the tool returns a "Bootloader not responding"
The firmware is stored as a . This is the compiled code that tells the microcontroller (usually a Microchip PIC18F458) how to communicate with the car’s CAN-bus and K-Line systems. Why Use a "Patched" HEX File? your chip might be locked