johnsdiesel, we disagree on verbiage. I write when I post I do not "say" things regardless or not. However, nowhere did I write that I thought it was ethical, just that, depending on what was done, was not by definition fraud. Depending on the intent. I agree that "damage" caused by chips or tuners is not a legit warranty, where did I write otherwise? Evidently you did not read my post throughly.

 

How about damage from bad driving? Shifting bad(incorrectly), speeding or just Offroading? The warranty book does specify certain things about installing chips or program with the promise to increase horsepower. It sounds like they(Ford Factory) do not believe the products can do this. Maybe they should let their engineers research it.

Anyway back to leaving a track. WHO CARES if it does. If it makes you happy, you install it properly and enjoy your truck more because of it, you might just BUY another Ford truck in a few years. I leave my program in all the time and I don't care if the dealer knows it.

 

And the dealership never gave you grief about it? I've read in some places that Ford either resets the truck to bone stock or just voids your warranty altogether. Even though they have to prove that whatever defect is related to the chip or the program itself, from what I've heard they sometimes still do it anyhow. Just so I don't make an idiot out of myself (although I probably have already), is any of this true as far as everybody else is concerned or knows?

 

They are required to let you know if they are hooking your vehicle to their system. If you go in for brakes, suspension, interior work, oil changes etc... why would they have reason to tamper with your property without your authorization. BUT there are probably plenty of Ford Dealers that would and do, So ask! If you do not trust them, then the program removes and reinstalls quickly.

So far we have never had an incident where the Ford Dealer questioned anything aftermarket on any of our vehicles. They tried once on a 1992 diesel that had an ATS turbo installed, but the Dealership honored the warranty problem when we produced the receipt from the Ford Motorsport dealer that installed it.

I never had them refuse a trade-in or lease vehicle with modifications either. They have even moved the modifications from the "trade-in" to the new vehicle.


If I did not trust the Dealership, I would not bring my vehicles there for service.

 

So is not honoring a repair under warranty without proving an aftermarket part caused the failure.

 

It seems it would cost them(the dealer) more to prove the aftermarket caused the failure then to just do the repair and keep the customer happy.

Unhappy customers have a longer term effect on their bottom line.

 

Unfortunately, unlike many Japanese and German auto companies, American auto companies (and dealers) seem to take a short term view.

 

Everyone seems to forget that if you "zero" the codes, you may "zero" something that may be failing/have failed/indicating a failure, etc. I personally would like to know if my truck has a fault code that MAY not be detecable with the aftermarket hand held tuners. Those tuners do not read everything, they do leave tracks and Ford or any dealer may in fact void your warranty (unless they did the work).

I know from personal experience, AUdi will void a warranty if they detect a chip was in fact installed even though it did not cause any damage. The fact that it was in the engine is enough for Audi to void a warranty. I am not sure if Ford has aftermarket chips listed as a voiding item. I do know Audi does and will void your warranty and they say so up front.

If Ford does not have that info in writing then you can go and mod all you want except if THEY/Ford feels your aftermarket was responsible or contributed to the problem, you pay for the work. It probably WILL NOT be covered under warranty... This only makes sense folks! Ford cannot be held liable for every aftermarket gizmo out there unless they install it like one of the posters mentioned above.

I would certainly use the dealer to install my chips if they authorize the work. This way I know my warranty is good or at least I can fight it easier in court if need be...

Just my two cents...

 

I think that they are willing to take the chance that you won't want to spend money on litigation.

 

Write/say, doesn't matter. When you write on a forum where there will be responses it is in a sense "saying" because you are carrying on a dialogue. You are not "writing" in a journal or publication. Either way, I don't think it is ethical to return a truck that has been modified to stock form before taking it in to the dealer. That being "written", I also don't think it's ethical for Ford to deny warranty coverage that has nothing to do with aftermarket mods, as the webmaster pointed out.

 

I meant you could always be angry enough to just hold on to your truck for 4-5 years and not buy a new one. Hurt their real bottom line. Ford recent share price is $11.63 and that is with pretty decent sales cause of the 0.9% financing.

But anyway, select a Dealer that supports your decisions on what you do with your $40K + truck.

I would rather pay for a repair than drive 100,000 miles without my Superchips MT. It makes the truck so much more fun to drive.

And if they tell me they need to hook up to my computer, I will remove the SCMT program in the Service drive right in front of them (no fraud involved)

 

Isn't it amazing when people agree yet seem to argue? You wrote "That being "written", I also don't think it's ethical for Ford to deny warranty coverage that has nothing to do with aftermarket mods, as the webmaster pointed out." I agree with you

 

I agreed with you except for what you posted on fraud.

 

The facts about warrantys:

Federal law prohibits a dealer from voiding your warranty just because you are using aftermarket speed equipment, with only two exceptions: the warranty can be voided if the aftermarket part causes damage, or adversely affects the emissions or the emissions system. In recent documents produced by the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association ), a trade association representing specialty automotive parts manufacturers, the following quotes have been extracted:

"The vehicle manufacturer is not allowed to void the vehicle warranty just because aftermarket equipment is installed on the vehicle. This protection for consumers is the result of a parts self certification program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

"Under the program, if a parts maker completes the EPA process of self-certifying its parts, the vehicle manufacturer cannot void the warranty even if the certified part has failed and is directly responsible for the warranty claim. In cases where such a failed aftermarket part is responsible for a warranty claim, the manufacturer must arrange a settlement with the part manufacturer, but the new vehicle warrant is not void under the law.

"If the failure to honor a claim involves the new-vehicle warranty, and it appears that the manufacturer is improperly denying a claim, the incident should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC is responsible for monitoring compliance with the warranty law; the agency's telephone number is 202/326-3128."

 

I think you need to read the law directly. An aftermarket part can void the warranty if it causes damage. People should rely on the actual law rather than interpretations marketed by aftermarket companies and organizations.