Tuning question

[Jeff2017]

If there are any Ford Techs on this board(or anyone that knows) I was wondering if Ford can tell that a car has been tuned even if the stock tune has been re-installed before going to the dealer for service? Or can they only tell that the PCM has been re-flashed? Can they tell when it was re-flashed? Are there time stamps on the digital footprints for lack of a better term? Lastly if they can only tell it has been re-flashed, can they legally deny warranty coverage? Since a re-flash could be just an updated version of the stock tune it seems they would have to honor the warranty lacking any other physical evidence such as a 3-bar MAP.

 

[Johnbigdog]

When you flash the PCM there is an ignition counter that is reset in mode 9 data. So if you come to the dealership and there is a p1000 or this counter is low with and engine that went boom and key parts that have witness marks, things get fishy real quick.

Btw, pcms are not suppsed to be updated unless there is a message for it. So under warranty this should be documented.

If you modify a car beyond what the manufacture intended it be used for do you think they are going to cover something that failed becuses of someones tampering? If you lift an f150 10 feet in the air and u joints fail why would ford cover that. It was never intended to be that high with o.e.m. parts. Yes they can deny all coverage. And this denial is something that will be associated to your vin. So no playing a fast one and going to another dealership.

 

[Jeff2017]

I guess I was wondering if they can tell the car had a tune at some point. If they only can tell that it has been reflashed in the past it seems it would be more difficult for them to invalidate the warranty.

 

[Johnbigdog]

F.M.C. does not have a list of calibrations they provide to the dealership so its a roundabout way of telling. Im not sure if this counter resets if there is a battery disconect. Youre not wrong. And weather the dealership checks or cares to invalidate the warranty is up to them.

If you go to the dealership with a tune and there is a calibration update for your specific fault, problems will arise though and your car could be damaged.

 

[Lostneye]

AFAIK the dealership can’t tell for sure but can be suspicious if you have an issue and the monitors aren’t reset, etc. Ford corporate can tell how many times the car was flashed which should be on record of a dealer updated it.

Either way you should always flash back to stock and preferable give it time for the monitors to reset before brining it to the dealer so they techs can start from what they are expecting and two as said it’s possible they will flash it to fix an issue.

 

[brucelinc]

I have always been a little uncomfortable doing multiple flashes - such is the case when you datalog and receive a tweaked tune. I could probably explain a reflash or two or maybe just claim ignorance but I am not sure what I would say if I was asked why my PCM was flashed 15 times in the past 3 months.

 

[OmaHahn]

This topic has been beat to death on every automotive forum! I've tuned my Audi S4 and my SHO the second I got them home brand new from dealership!
I make friends with the service managers and I've never ever had an issue! I never tell them about the tune and I always flash back to Stock mode for service. My Audi SM at one point started asking questions about the car because I did cosmetic work also and he liked it. He asked about engine and he finally found out it's tuned but he doesn't give a shit! They just fix anything that's wrong and move on.
My SHO just got back last week from dealer after they installed brand new PTU and did some minor transmission work under warranty. I bet you the tranny issues probably was from the tune but I know what the car likes and doesn't like now, so I won't have tranny issues going forward.
Dealers rarely go looking to see if car was tuned. They just get to work on the issue that brought the car in.
Don't over think it and tune away!!!

 

[gimpy]

Like Omahahn stated, this topic has been beaten into the ground time and time again by numerous forums from every manufacturer on earth.

With that being stated, I'll leave my $0.02 on this topic.

For me, its always been best to be honest with your choice of dealership and try to build a decent relationship with them. I've gone to the same dealership for both vehicle purchases and service for close to 20 years now and if/when I walk in the door, almost every employee there knows me by name or nickname.

When I had them order my current 16' SHO, they asked me flat out "so, how long until we see it again"... reason being, over the years I've built the type of relationship with them that the service manager will validate my warranty as long as bring my car to them for installation of the parts I choose to put on the vehicle...within reason. This of course meaning, no external fuel source (n2O, Meth, etc...) and basically laughed when I questioned tuning it and tossed the Rocky-Clubber Lang line...."go for it"

Now I'm sure if the car came in on a trailer with number markings on the windshield and a helmet in the backseat, they would start asking questions. However, they really don't care to spend time digging into it, want the vehicle in and out of the shop asap and onto the next one.

If warranty reasons are holding you or anyone else back, stop...and just tune it. As long as you pick a reliable tuning company, you're fine and have nothing to worry about.

 

[Jeff2017]

When I take it in for the state inspection in a month or so maybe I ask them how they feel about a mild tune from Livernois. Maybe if I suggest I will bring it in for the 15/30/45/60k services they will bless it. Worth a shot.

 

[gimpy]

When I take it in for the state inspection in a month or so maybe I ask them how they feel about a mild tune from Livernois. Maybe if I suggest I will bring it in for the 15/30/45/60k services they will bless it. Worth a shot.

The worst they can say is no.

Most garages want their customers to be honest with them, mainly dealership garages. The less time they have to spend rooting around for something the owner is trying to hide, the more time they have to make money elsewhere.

Come right out and ask them, that you'll be happy to bring down the parts you'd like to have installed and pay labor for the lead tech if they will honor your warranty.

Don't go empty handed though, just in case you end up speaking to someone that isn't very fluent with vehicles. Take a print off of what the tune itself changes. As far as the cai or downpipes go they can only withdraw the warranty on those pieces.

 

[brucelinc]

One should be aware that in some cases, dealers must obtain authorization from Ford before performing warranty work. No matter how your dealer feels about tuning, Ford Motor Company may require them to dig a bit deeper and provide some data prior to authorizing the work. Whether or not a repair is covered is not always the decision of the dealer service department.

Having said that, I have no fear in tuning my cars. I had my MKS tuned while under warranty and also have a tune in my 2017 Continental. However, if I had to have my car towed to the dealership with a rod hanging out of the block, I am under no illusion that Ford will happily pay the dealer to take care of it with no questions asked.