Hey mike, got my 2003 F150. I have a question, however.

I heard there are data recorders on these F150's. If I got a superchip, would the data recorder show that I have a superchip in my truck(even though I removed it prior to the dealer visit), and thus if the vehicle goes in for warranty work, they deny my warranty?

Thanks

 

Hi 03,

In short, nope. Once you remove the Superchip tuning and clear the PCM, you're back on the factory program, and you can drive it in for service. And as you drive the vehicle, previous data is wiped from the recorder, it's constantly being overwritten as you drive, all the time, only storing the last "X" amount. Now if you happen to take the vehicle up to say, 120 mph, they may see, if they're specifically looking for that, that the vehicle has been able to go faster than it's factory top speed limiter, for example, if that was done very recently. But it's not a deal where they can just hook up to the vehicle and see you've been using a chip, it doesn't work like that.

Remember, the Superchip's primarily purpose is to increase power, and power gains are not something that shows up during a diagnostic scan. If someone wanted to spend a good bit of time looking for specific data, such as the highest speed the vehicle has been driven during the last "X" miles for example, and if someone has taken their vehicle well beyond 108 mph (the highest top speed limiter used on any late-model F-150), then they may *surmise* that a chip may have been used, but that takes some specific and deliberate snooping on their part, it's not like they can just plug in and see electronically that a different powertrain program has been used, they'd have to examine specific data streams. Now if you use the traditional Superchip module instead of the newer Superchisp Micro Tuner, if they disassembled the PCM they may be able to detect the conformal coating having been cleaned from the connector, but that's easy to fix with a conformal coating pen, readily available on the Internet.

Most people are using the newer Superchips Micro Tuner, which uploads the program changes via the OBD-II port inside the cabin, so you don't have to clean the connector on the back of the PCM. And once you return to stock, again, you're back to stock, there isn't any of the performance program left in place.

The data recorder is mainly for enhanced diagnostics, particularly with regard to intermittant problems. In the future, it may be used for purposes such as accident reconstruction, etc., to see where the throttle was at point of impact, etc. It can record some basic data for as much as a couple hundred miles of driving, more involved data for shorter periods, and is constantly overwritten as you drive, storing only the last "x" amount.

Always reemmber that automatically denying a warranty claim over the use of an aftermarket part is *illegal.* The only time that can legally be done is if the automaker can prove that the aftermarket part was the direct cause of an actual *failure*. In other words, under the law you can install anything you want on your vehicle, as long as what you install does not *damage* the vehicle.

The bottom line is, it's the *law* that determines our rights, not anything that Ford or a dealership says, or anything that *I* say; people can claim anything, especially when it's in their own vested interest. It's not about "fooling" Ford (I know this wasn't your question, I'm just expanding a bit), it's about what's fair to both parties. Which is, thanks to the good folks at SEMA & others who have long lobbied for our rights, the exact protection afforded all of us under the law, primarily the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. It's what we *do* to our vehicles that matters. If we do an aftermarket modification that *damages* the vehicle (say, installing a nitrous oxide kit), then it's of course not fair to expect the automaker to stand good for that repair. So you choose your modifications wisely, and things like a good powertrain program, an intake kit, a cat-back exhaust system, electric fans, underdrive pulleys, etc. aren't going to cause damage to these vehicles.

From there it's a matter of being smart and only working with dealerships that do not attempt to illegally deny warranty claims, most of which is actually caused by the fact that dealerships get paid far less to do work under warranty when Ford foots the bill, compared to what a customer has to pay dealerships for the exact same work. *That* is by far the largest factor in false warranty claim denials, preying on people not knowing thier actual rights under the law. Thankfully, those dealerships are few, most are run by good, honest service managers who will do what's right to protect the customer.

You as a consumer should only do business (whether it's buying a vehicle or having warranty work done, or body work paid by insurance, or any other kind of business) with a dealership whose service manager is knowledgeable and honest, looking out for both your interests as well as those of the dealership and Ford. And once you have that kind of dealership, have all your maintenance, etc. done there & establish a good working relationship with them.

Doing intelligent modifications and working with a dealership service department that will properly look out for your rights as well as those of Ford is always the best way to go.

If you'd like to go over this in more detail, give us a call, our contact info is listed below.

Congrats on your 2003 F-150, we hope you enjoy it for many years to come!