Tune and warranty

[Jim_W]

Couple of questions here.

1. Does the ECU keep track of the programming? In other words, if you put a tune on it and replace it with factory does the dealership see the history (is there an audit trail)?

2. If the engine/trans blows up due to a manufacturing defect does the fact that a tune was on the truck automatically void warranty? From what I've read it looks like technically it comes down to if the aftermarket "equipment" causes the damage or not, but in the real world it is pretty hard to prove that it wasn't the tune etc.

Really want some more horsepower and am thinking through the potential costs etc.

 

[SL75]

Yes, dealer will be able to tell a tune was loaded. Once you tune, be prepared to pay for all future work.

 

[JohnyPython]

Gotta pay to play...

 

[Gsteve]

Yes, dealer will be able to tell a tune was loaded. Once you tune, be prepared to pay for all future work.

wrong...

 

[SL75]

wrong...

Seriously? Don't give this owner hope that they can get warranty work paid for when they have a tune. It is misleading and purely false. The first thing Ford service does is check for a tune, and its flash history. Ford wants to deny the warranty so they are not on the hook for it.

 

[Jim_W]

Thank you both! That's what I figured.

"Pay to play" - well said LOL

 

[Gsteve]

Seriously? Don't give this owner hope that they can get warranty work paid for when they have a tune. It is misleading and purely false. The first thing Ford service does is check for a tune, and its flash history. Ford wanga to deny the warranty so they are not on the hook for it.

You’re statement is misleading. Mine has a tune and so do many many others here and I have yet to read one case of a problem. It’s not hard at all to remove a tune prior to taking it in either.

 

[Jim_W]

You’re statement is misleading. Mine has a tune and so do many many others here and I have yet to read one case of a problem. It’s not hard at all to remove a tune prior to taking it in either.

ok - has any had their transmission go out and it was covered under warranty?

 

[SL75]

You’re statement is misleading. Mine has a tune and so do many many others here and I have yet to read one case of a problem. It’s not hard at all to remove a tune prior to taking it in either.

And, when you do have a problem such as cam phaser rattle, cracked oil pan, oil consumption, transfer case failure, transmission problems, etc...... you will be on the hook to pay for those. Ford owes you nothing if you modify and something fails.

 

[goblues38]

You’re statement is misleading. Mine has a tune and so do many many others here and I have yet to read one case of a problem. It’s not hard at all to remove a tune prior to taking it in either.

the problem is...dealers are not dumb. when you "remove" you tune. there is a time stamp in the ECU showing when the programming was flashed. Per the EULA we as owners are not "authorized" to change the programming of the vehicle.

So even if you remove the tune, the tech can see someone was in there re flashing the software. If there are no records Ford did it to fix an issue, then it is unauthorized code in the ECu and you are subject to the voided warranty that could come from that.

Not all warranty work will have ford doing that kind of research. But if you blow out a piston or turbo the 1st thing they are going to do is check and see if the ECU was flashed.