Performance Tune with Warranty

[K223]

I have no idea just what I read on the forum

Well interesting enough.

 

[dirtyboot]

Sure that's possible, & I guess for the guys I've spoken to who actively do this the types of cars they're modding that wouldn't necessarily raise an eyebrow - I'm talking AMG 63s & M6s etc. BUT the facts are the facts & a dealer can be suspicious all they want but if nothing is physically there to point at (as is the case w/ turbo adpaters, downpipes, catch cans, CAI's, FMIC's etc.) AND there's nothing to prove in the ignition cycles/data logging of the original ECM - they're not gonna bother fighting that battle IMO.

EIther way, FWIW, I have a Gearhead tune & a 100k b2b warranty....I'm less concerned about powertrain though as I am about dumb stuff like: water leaks, infotainment system, IWE system, lighting, pano roof, etc. etc. etc. One of the most common "engine issues" you're going to hear about on these trucks is cam phaser rattle. #1 its not like it immobilizes the truck instantly - guys have driven thousands of miles & months after hearing it & having it diagnosed & even warrantied by dealer waiting on parts - if you're super paranoid you could be driving for months on end WITH the issue on a stock tune building up plenty of history in the ECM, #2 that being said - on all the forums I researched before buying a Raptor (& I did a lot - I'd been mostly a GM lifer prior to this) & owners I've personally spoken to @ car shows & tuners/engine builders too - I have not seen ONE INSTANCE of a cam phaser/engine issue being denied warranty work for a tune. I'm just being honest - that's what I've found. I also don't think the cam phaser issue is as prevalent/serious as its made out to be by the unfortunate forum members who log on to complain or the trolls that do so for the hell of it. And even if it is one of the more "common" engine issues effecting the HO 3.5 EB - my opinion is then the dealers are accustomed to handling the repairs/warranty claims & just go through the motions getting it diagnosed & serviced moving on to the next one. Its "lazier" to just automatically attribute the issue to the most common problem they see rather than put in more work/effort trouble shooting what else could possibly be causing it - sometimes that's a bad thing like w/ my last GM truck guys were having TSB's done for driveshaft rebalancing when they actually needed a torque converter or vice versa just cuz the dealers wanted to push the repairs through seeing too much of the same thing.

Also my personal experience (albeit not w/ Ford) has been that all the vehicles I've ever owned under warranty that were also tuned/modded & needed warranty related repairs I never had a problem. Did I tune back to stock when I did? Yes of course, but only if I had an engine/tranny related issue. This applies to a GTO, G8 GT, 1 silverado, 2 Sierras, & an S4

If I have an engine/drivetrain problem I want the dealer to check out I'll flash to stock & not be the least bit concerned. Other than stuff like a stubby antenna, snow tires, tool box, mudflaps, fog lights etc. my truck looks/sounds stock. I replace the air filter w/ a motorcraft lol. There is no massive FMIC poking through the grill, no loud ass raspy exhaust, no woooosshy BOVs, no CEL throwing hole drillin tube running Catch can, no useless code throwin CAI, no downpipes, no upgraded TB, none of that stuff. IMHO that is the kinda stuff that serves as a "red flag" if the dealer DOES wanna mess w/ you or if they've got pressure from Ford corporate to vet out warranty claims more in depth.

The problem with this idea is the data ie:mileage won't match up when you swap in the old/oem ecm. As evident with FCA and the viper community, where engine failures were commonplace knowledge to happen without the tune, there wound up being a lawsuit against them that eventually led to those who'd swapped out their ecm getting approved for engine replacements. Even since then, it's been hit or [mainly] miss with getting approval for warranty work, because when they swap the ecm the mileage that the car reports differs from the ecm, and dealerships don't want to get involved so they'll flag vehicles with anything beyond a bolt-on mod.

In order to get the data to line up, you'll have to reflash the oem unit, which goes back to the timestamp/flash issue to begin with.

 

[JPat]

I have no idea just what I read on the forum

I you blow a Raptor motor, it is going to cost more than $7k to repair at a shop. I had a 12' mustang GT that needed a long block replacement under warranty at 1200miles and that run of the mill 5.0L was a total job cost of over $12k.

 

[VegasG17]

Sorry, but you are mistaken.

sigh...

When you flash the ECU with a tune. It leaves a digital time stamp that shows the ECU was flashed. It may not show what was done. But is shows someone was in there. Per the EULA for your warranty, any unauthorized change i software can be grounds for warranty termination. Again, Ford may not be able to see what you did, but they no you did something. if your last service visit was on April 1st, and you blew a motor on December 1st. They will check your ECU. If any time stamp to the ECU is done between visits to the dealer, they got you. And it will show 2. Your flash to load a tune, and your flash to go back to stock.

that is how you get busted. no amount of key cycles will hide this.

Not trying to bust balls. What if its set back to stock and the battery is disconnected for 24 hours? Will the internal memory hold?

 

[Oldfart]

that’s a good question....really good one, why? Well- my GH tune cost me like $600-$650 w- the device shipping tax etc. cost of a new HO 3.5 is reportedly $7k or there abouts. If the cost to get a “factory warrantied” tune that may or may not be actually warrantie is close to 1/2 the price of a brand new engine I wouldn’t even consider it since the odds are a tune isn’t going to cause an issue anyhow.

good luck

In your estimate you are leaving out the rest of the drive-line components that can also fail and not have warranty. Trans, hubs, diff's, transfer cases, axles, etc. There's also no way a new engine is only $7,000. I've never seen a higher performance replacement engine for any manufacturer not be way more than double that. I could see maybe a bare block for $7,000.

For instance a few years ago when Corvette Z06's were dropping valves, to have a dealer put in a new engine was in the 21-23 range.

 

[goblues38]

Not trying to bust balls. What if its set back to stock and the battery is disconnected for 24 hours? Will the internal memory hold?

the CMOS writes to the logs can not be erased. so no. battery disconnect will not hide the evidence.

 

[VegasG17]

the CMOS writes to the logs can not be erased. so no. battery disconnect will not hide the evidence.

Thanks man.

 

[Badgertits]

In your estimate you are leaving out the rest of the drive-line components that can also fail and not have warranty. Trans, hubs, diff's, transfer cases, axles, etc. There's also no way a new engine is only $7,000. I've never seen a higher performance replacement engine for any manufacturer not be way more than double that. I could see maybe a bare block for $7,000.

For instance a few years ago when Corvette Z06's were dropping valves, to have a dealer put in a new engine was in the 21-23 range.

it is the valve guides- they still make the engine & it’s still an issue (unsure if it is still an issue buying the LS7 as a turn key crate motor vs. a factory vehicle that came w/ it) you don’t need trans/bearings/diffs or axles if you engine blows up. You just need an engine.

not sure if you can actually buy the HO 3.5 yet, but a regular turn key 3.5 can be found for $7500ish w/ very little effort on my part - see attached.

I was just talking hyperbole tho in general I do not think a tune is going to blow a motor on these raptors nor do I think the majority of people running tunes will have issues getting stuff fixed under warranty- but to each their own. I just figured the tuning packages offered through dealers would be way more $$$ & may or may not really guarantee warranty preservation.

To the poster w/ the blown 5.0- motor was probably similar price range as the 3.5 EB + labor &
Misc parts for install $12k does make sense. I’ve considered motor swap on my C5Z - still undecided lol.

I’d take a mustang GT w/ a 3.5 EB HO over a 5.0 V8 any day. That would maybe sway me to the mustang crowd actually lol.

On the other hand if my Raptor truly had the engine “blow up” - like rod through block not turbo failure - out of warranty if I rest of truck was lower in miles & I had a lot of mods to it (especially suspension) - well then you’d probably see me posting the first ever LS/LTx swap build on a Raptor lol!

 

[K223]

Interesting. I do wonder if they sell a crate HO version. What about the GT version? I would also have to believe these Ford Performance HO engines would cost a lot more than a standard 3.5EB. Interesting though.

 

[Oldfart]

it is the valve guides- they still make the engine & it’s still an issue (unsure if it is still an issue buying the LS7 as a turn key crate motor vs. a factory vehicle that came w/ it) you don’t need trans/bearings/diffs or axles if you engine blows up. You just need an engine.

not sure if you can actually buy the HO 3.5 yet, but a regular turn key 3.5 can be found for $7500ish w/ very little effort on my part - see attached.

I was just talking hyperbole tho in general I do not think a tune is going to blow a motor on these raptors nor do I think the majority of people running tunes will have issues getting stuff fixed under warranty- but to each their own. I just figured the tuning packages offered through dealers would be way more $$$ & may or may not really guarantee warranty preservation.

To the poster w/ the blown 5.0- motor was probably similar price range as the 3.5 EB + labor &
Misc parts for install $12k does make sense. I’ve considered motor swap on my C5Z - still undecided lol.

I’d take a mustang GT w/ a 3.5 EB HO over a 5.0 V8 any day. That would maybe sway me to the mustang crowd actually lol.

On the other hand if my Raptor truly had the engine “blow up” - like rod through block not turbo failure - out of warranty if I rest of truck was lower in miles & I had a lot of mods to it (especially suspension) - well then you’d probably see me posting the first ever LS/LTx swap build on a Raptor lol!

View attachment 136595

I stand corrected, that is dirt cheap for a crate motor!