Warranty voided due to ecu tune

[HallasanGreen3.3T]

This isn't a genesis but a story I saw last night and just wanted to share it with the community. Here is the link to the story. Apparently the motor blew and the customer only admitted to a muffler mod. However the dealer had another version of the story claiming the ecu history shows a tune added to the computer. Due to that they declined a $36k repair. Nuts

Warranty Voided

 

[EdP]

This isn't a genesis but a story I saw last night and just wanted to share it with the community. Here is the link to the story. Apparently the motor blew and the customer only admitted to a muffler mod. However the dealer had another version of the story claiming the ecu history shows a tune added to the computer. Due to that they declined a $36k repair. Nuts

Warranty Voided

One line sums it up:
"diagnostics and confirmed that the vehicle’s PCM [powertrain control module] was tampered with and contained non-factory software."

Sure hope he had a lot of fun for the money to be spent.

 

[pulsar]

I saw that article too. If your going to monkey with ECM tuning, better know exactly the tricks the dealer may have to determine if any changes have taken place or not? Or just accept the consequences and move on. The guy who toasted his engine and lost cylinder 7, maybe the mods he did affected that or maybe they did not? Now he is stuck attempting to prove he did nothing to affect the end result and it appears his dealer will have no part of that. Almost be better to have a 2nd or the original ECM to put back in the car and if you blow something up, just re-install that ECM with factory default settings and remove the alternate ECM and hope the dealer cannot prove a swap took place? A gamble at best probably.

 

[JCtx]

However the dealer had another version of the story claiming the ecu history shows a tune added to the computer. Due to that they declined a $36k repair.

Anybody messing with the ECU should know it's IRREVERSIBLE, and the engine warranty is gone. And no, getting the stock tune back doesn't reinstate the electronic seal. Most dealers cannot detect the electronic seal was violated (all factories can), BUT they'd immediately know the engine was tuned by the maximum boost alone. At any rate, no factory is going to authorize an engine warranty claim (especially on a turbo vehicle) without asking dealer for a download of the ECU first. Bottom line is if you tune your car, better assume you have no more engine warranty, because it'd take a miracle to get coverage with one if engine goes south. Also know it's actually a federal offense to tamper with the ECU, so no jury would side with the owner. Your only hope would be that the tuner covers your engine, but good luck with that. So it's a financial risk owners tuning their vehicles should assume they're taking.

 

[Volfy]

If you mod your car, you need to understand the risks associated and be prepared to live with the consequences. It is no different than any other action you take, automotive or otherwise. Hotrodding your car and then trying to stick the mfr with the repair bill? Guy deserves to pay.

I modify my suspension, knowing full well if anything goes wrong, I'm on the hook for fixing it. I'm at peace with that. I know that risk of something could fail is low and even if it does happen, it isn't going to cost me an arm and a leg. The risk vs. reward is acceptable.

Engine-wise, I leave well-enough alone. I don't get my kicks from straight line acceleration/speed anyway. That takes the skills of a one-legged baboon. Cornering is far more rewarding... and cheaper.

 

[mnboost]

Might be sticking with my JB4 for some time, thats the one thing that sucks about reflashing ECM / TCMs

 

[csu87]

Gotta pay to play.

If you cant afford to cover a catastrophic failure, you have no business modding. The reason these dealers check everything with a fine toothed comb, and sometimes deny legit warranty claims, is because of dumbasses who can barely afford the aftermarket parts, push their car to the limit, then try to play it off to the dealer like they did nothing wrong.

 

[maxsilver]

I can't even fathom why somebody would feel the need to tune a Hellcat while still under warranty. Those things already can't hook up due the insane amounts of power they are pushing.

 

[Volfy]

I can't even fathom why somebody would feel the need to tune a Hellcat while still under warranty. Those things already can't hook up due the insane amounts of power they are pushing.

Same reason why some folks feel 365HP is not enough, and mod up to 450. Then there are those who bought cars that come stock with 450HP and modded them up to 580. Still others with stock 580HP tuned theirs to 700.

No rhyme or reason. Just is.

 

[AZ Ranger]

I thought under the Magnuson - Moss Warranty Act, the dealer must be able to prove in court that the ECU Tuning change was the EXACT cause of the engine failure. If an engine comes apart because some nut wasnt torqued to specs, or metal shavings are found in the oil pan, doesn't mean it came apart by an ECU burn.

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[slimjim2525]

I thought under the Magnuson - Moss Warranty Act, the dealer must be able to prove in court that the ECU Tuning change was the EXACT cause of the engine failure. If an engine comes apart because some nut wasnt torqued to specs, or metal shavings are found in the oil pan, doesn't mean it came apart by an ECU burn.

Magnuson-Moss act is a joke. Try throwing that at the dealer, they will just laugh, and say pick up your car, and we'll see ya in court.

 

[EdP]

I thought under the Magnuson - Moss Warranty Act, the dealer must be able to prove in court that the ECU Tuning change was the EXACT cause of the engine failure. If an engine comes apart because some nut wasnt torqued to specs, or metal shavings are found in the oil pan, doesn't mean it came apart by an ECU burn.

When you greatly increase the horsepower beyond the design limits it is pretty easy to convince a jury.
My Hefty 1 gallon freezer bag came apart when I put 6 quarts of beans in it. Must have been defective.

 

[Volfy]

I thought under the Magnuson - Moss Warranty Act, the dealer must be able to prove in court that the ECU Tuning change was the EXACT cause of the engine failure. If an engine comes apart because some nut wasnt torqued to specs, or metal shavings are found in the oil pan, doesn't mean it came apart by an ECU burn.

Nope. The warrantor only needs to demonstrate plausible causation. That is, your aftermarket modification could reasonably have caused the failed component(s).

If your ECU Tune added 80HP and your rod bearings failed, the increased stress on the engine internal parts could reasonably have caused the failure.

What the warrantor cannot do is to deny warranty coverage on an infotainment screen because you added an ECU tune, unless they can come up with a reasonable explanation of how that aftermarket add-on could have caused the failure.