How does chip/tuner affect warranty?
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Near Ft. Smith, Arkansas
How does chip/tuner affect warranty?
I just got a 2003 F350 SRW crewcab lariet PSD auto. I took it to Rhino to get the bed sprayed and the owner wanted to know if I was interested in having him program in some fuel mileage. I passed on the offer because I was afraid to void the warranty. Since then I have found this forum, that is loaded with people using chips and tuners. You folks with some experience please let me know about warranties.
Thanks,
Randy
Thanks,
Randy
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
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From: Enjoying the real world.
First and foremost, if you do plan to get a chip or tuner, shop around. The Rhino dealer was most likely going to charge full retail. You can get them for a whole lot less, sometimes saving hundreds of dollars.
As to warranties.... if an aftermarket product causes a repair to be made that repair is not covered until warranty. However, simply installing the part does not void the warranty.
This isn't all black and white. There are some dealers that will immediately write off your computer as broken and blame it for a problem. There are other dealers that install chips themselves. When in doubt call your dealer and ask for their take on it so you know in advance.
As to warranties.... if an aftermarket product causes a repair to be made that repair is not covered until warranty. However, simply installing the part does not void the warranty.
This isn't all black and white. There are some dealers that will immediately write off your computer as broken and blame it for a problem. There are other dealers that install chips themselves. When in doubt call your dealer and ask for their take on it so you know in advance.
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Near Ft. Smith, Arkansas
Thanks Ken, I knew that if Rhino had access to such technology, I could find it cheaper (and probably better) elswhere. My concern about warranty was that I have read the lit. on tuners, and the HP upgrades have towing limits. If these limits are not observed what will happen to the truck? Transmission problems, diff. problems? What happens if I have a tranny failure that was not related to the tuner? Will it get the blame anyway?
Randy King
Randy King
Post Fiend
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From: Enjoying the real world.
Tuners and chips should not be used to increase towing capacity. Towing capacity is determined by the frame, suspension, transmission and brakes. The chip/tuner should be used only to drive the truck within its limits. If you have a tranny failure not due to the tuner they will have to cover it, but remember that Ford techs often get more for non-warranty work than warranty work. This often leads them to point at a tuner as the problem when they really don't know. You can use the tuner to restore the truck to stock tuning at any time, but don't use this as a means of fraud. To date we've only had 1 computer failure in all the years we've done chips. This was due to someone installing the chip with the keys in the ignition and the radio on! Doh!
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: San Antonio, TX
Found this:
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty - Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act of 1975, protects you. Under the Magnuson-Moss Act, any after market equipment which improves the safety or performance, does not void a vehicle warranty, unless the warranty clearly states in the owner's manual that these additional items void the warranty. The dealer must also prove that an added, after market or safety item caused the need for repairs before they can deny warranty coverage on that basis.
Hope that helps...
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty - Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act of 1975, protects you. Under the Magnuson-Moss Act, any after market equipment which improves the safety or performance, does not void a vehicle warranty, unless the warranty clearly states in the owner's manual that these additional items void the warranty. The dealer must also prove that an added, after market or safety item caused the need for repairs before they can deny warranty coverage on that basis.
Hope that helps...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
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I have family that works at ford and I asked them the same question.
They told me it doens't matter what the chip maker says,
IT VOIDS THE FORD WARRANTY!
i wasn't happy to hear it either, but when your ford mechanic sees that the computer box has been tampered w/ your warranty is out the winder
sorry
They told me it doens't matter what the chip maker says,
IT VOIDS THE FORD WARRANTY!
i wasn't happy to hear it either, but when your ford mechanic sees that the computer box has been tampered w/ your warranty is out the winder
sorry
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
"Found this:
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty - Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act of 1975, protects you. Under the Magnuson-Moss Act, any after market equipment which improves the safety or performance, does not void a vehicle warranty, unless the warranty clearly states in the owner's manual that these additional items void the warranty. The dealer must also prove that an added, after market or safety item caused the need for repairs before they can deny warranty coverage on that basis.
Hope that helps..."
This is a very nice little thing but according to Ford it doesn't matter at all.
I'm not bein an **** hole, i just wanna help save you from the paine of having to shell out 8k for a tranny if the chip messes up ur nice new truck
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty - Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act of 1975, protects you. Under the Magnuson-Moss Act, any after market equipment which improves the safety or performance, does not void a vehicle warranty, unless the warranty clearly states in the owner's manual that these additional items void the warranty. The dealer must also prove that an added, after market or safety item caused the need for repairs before they can deny warranty coverage on that basis.
Hope that helps..."
This is a very nice little thing but according to Ford it doesn't matter at all.
I'm not bein an **** hole, i just wanna help save you from the paine of having to shell out 8k for a tranny if the chip messes up ur nice new truck
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
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From: Enjoying the real world.
Okay... if it doesn't matter what the act says then apparently your family at Ford feels they (Ford) are above the law?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
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Well if you want the full story, my Uncle is the head manager of the garage at the local ford dealer, and his son my cousin has a F-150 w/ a 289, he bought a chip, stripped out his transmission.
My uncle his dad the manager of the garage, could not cover it as warranty. This is teh same guy that got me a new rack and pinion on my ranger after my warranty was expierd(he rode it off as warranty work). So if he couldn't get a new tranny for his son as warranty. I seriously doubt that a stranger will be able to do it for some one.
My uncle his dad the manager of the garage, could not cover it as warranty. This is teh same guy that got me a new rack and pinion on my ranger after my warranty was expierd(he rode it off as warranty work). So if he couldn't get a new tranny for his son as warranty. I seriously doubt that a stranger will be able to do it for some one.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
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From: Enjoying the real world.
That's not the same as voiding the warrantly. Of course Ford is not going to cover a repair caused by someone else's part. But they cannot simply void the warranty just because you install a part.
I personally know a couple of people who legally challenged a Ford dealer for trying to claim a warranty was voided, and won.
I don't know of a computer controlled F-150 with a 289.
I personally know a couple of people who legally challenged a Ford dealer for trying to claim a warranty was voided, and won.
I don't know of a computer controlled F-150 with a 289.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
Likes: 18
From: Enjoying the real world.
That's not the same as voiding the warrantly. Of course Ford is not going to cover a repair caused by someone else's part. But they cannot simply void the warranty just because you install a part.
I personally know a couple of people who legally challenged a Ford dealer for trying to claim a warranty was voided, and won.
I don't know of a computer controlled F-150 with a 289.
I personally know a couple of people who legally challenged a Ford dealer for trying to claim a warranty was voided, and won.
I don't know of a computer controlled F-150 with a 289.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
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I wasn't trying to start nothing. But when I asked my Uncle what did he think about putting a chip on my 3.0 Ranger. He reminded me of my cousins fiasco w/ having to buy a 8k tranny. For a truck that woulda been under warranty.
Post Fiend
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From: Enjoying the real world.
99% of the time when the 289 is referred to people mean the small block 260/289/302 V8.
No, I didn't say they don't make chips for standard V8s (I program them daily). However, there's no way a chip caused the damage. Maybe an improperly programmed chip on an early Lightning or diesel, but not a F-150. Something else caused it and the dealer was looking for an easy way out of warranty work.
No, I didn't say they don't make chips for standard V8s (I program them daily). However, there's no way a chip caused the damage. Maybe an improperly programmed chip on an early Lightning or diesel, but not a F-150. Something else caused it and the dealer was looking for an easy way out of warranty work.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
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Oh yeah you are totaly right. I wasn't arguing that the chip casued the damage.
And I just didn't understand what you meant when you referd to "I don't know of a computer controlled F-150 with a 289"(I know what you meant now)
The tranny was screwed up b/c he is a d/a and would push his truck way past what it is designed for. (power breaking, downshifting the auto while accelerating)
I was simply saying that I have been informed that the chip does void warranty. Even if it can't be proved by ford that it caused the damage.
And I just didn't understand what you meant when you referd to "I don't know of a computer controlled F-150 with a 289"(I know what you meant now)
The tranny was screwed up b/c he is a d/a and would push his truck way past what it is designed for. (power breaking, downshifting the auto while accelerating)
I was simply saying that I have been informed that the chip does void warranty. Even if it can't be proved by ford that it caused the damage.