Superchips Microtuner Question
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Member
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Jackson, MS
Superchips Microtuner Question
I wrecked my 2002 FX4 a couple of months ago, and just got it back from the shop. I am not very pleased with it and am thinking of trading it in on a 2003. I bought one of the Microtuners back in the spring and loved it. After wrecking my truck I removed the Superchips tuning before the shop started working on it. Does anyone know whether Superchips will upgrade my current Microtuner with the 2003 codes or will I have to purchase another one? Thanks for the help.
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Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
Hi 02SCFX4,
Superchips will charge a fee for that service & you'll need to contact them directly to make those arrangements. So yes, that can be done, just be aware that they'll charge a fee to do that.
If it were a situation where you had just purchased the Micro Tuner for the 2003 truck, but it for some reason did not have that trucks code, then there wouldn't be any charge for the update, but when the Micro Tuner is going to be used on a subsequent different and newer vehicle, then they charge for that update.
By the way, you have I think it's 3 years that if the vehicle repairs are not satisfactory, you can go back to your insurance company to address that. Make sure to check with your insurance company to make sure of this and exactly what your rights are in your particular state. Usually the way it works is they must either repair the vehicle properly, or, if it cannot be repaired properly, then they'll "total" the vehicle (and they'll usually total it anyway once damage equals 2/3's of the wholesale value of the vehicle). A good body shop can fix enormous damage, including framework, etc. We had an Explorer 7 years ago that took $15K in repairs, it flipped, slid on it's roof, etc., and very little sheetmetal was original after repairs. Cracked axles, tore out the front suspension, etc., ripped the roof open, etc. much interior damage, a terrible wreck with what looked like terminal damage. The truck was like new once the repairs were done correctly.
I hate to see anyone take the loss of trading in an almost new vehicle for another new vehicle, but if you do go that route, I'd suggest getting the new 2004 F-150, which are completely redesigned, the 5.4 has 300 HP for 2004, etc. I would not trade for a 2003, if you're going to take that kind of loss go for the 2004, which will look new & remain current for years & years to come, just like the 1997's did. Just food for thought in case you haven't already thought about that angle................
Good luck with your repairs,
Superchips will charge a fee for that service & you'll need to contact them directly to make those arrangements. So yes, that can be done, just be aware that they'll charge a fee to do that.
If it were a situation where you had just purchased the Micro Tuner for the 2003 truck, but it for some reason did not have that trucks code, then there wouldn't be any charge for the update, but when the Micro Tuner is going to be used on a subsequent different and newer vehicle, then they charge for that update.
By the way, you have I think it's 3 years that if the vehicle repairs are not satisfactory, you can go back to your insurance company to address that. Make sure to check with your insurance company to make sure of this and exactly what your rights are in your particular state. Usually the way it works is they must either repair the vehicle properly, or, if it cannot be repaired properly, then they'll "total" the vehicle (and they'll usually total it anyway once damage equals 2/3's of the wholesale value of the vehicle). A good body shop can fix enormous damage, including framework, etc. We had an Explorer 7 years ago that took $15K in repairs, it flipped, slid on it's roof, etc., and very little sheetmetal was original after repairs. Cracked axles, tore out the front suspension, etc., ripped the roof open, etc. much interior damage, a terrible wreck with what looked like terminal damage. The truck was like new once the repairs were done correctly.
I hate to see anyone take the loss of trading in an almost new vehicle for another new vehicle, but if you do go that route, I'd suggest getting the new 2004 F-150, which are completely redesigned, the 5.4 has 300 HP for 2004, etc. I would not trade for a 2003, if you're going to take that kind of loss go for the 2004, which will look new & remain current for years & years to come, just like the 1997's did. Just food for thought in case you haven't already thought about that angle................
Good luck with your repairs,
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Jackson, MS
Thanks Mike....
The repairs don't look too bad, I guess it's just in my head. The wreck caused $14,000 in damage. The repair shop ordered a new frame from Ford and placed everything on the new frame. They replace both front fenders and passenger side door skin also. The truck doesn't look any different now than it did before it was wrecked. I'm just having to fight it out with the insurance companies for a loss of value. They believe it lost no value because everything was replaced with OEM parts. The Ford dealership here is telling me a minimum $5,000 loss of value. 
I really like the looks of the 04 F150's but the incentives on the 03's right now are hard to beat.
Back to the subject at hand, do you know how expensive it will be to get the new code for the Tuner? Would I come out better to sell the Tuner and buy one with the 03 codes already in it? Thanks for you response and let me know what you think.....
I really like the looks of the 04 F150's but the incentives on the 03's right now are hard to beat. Back to the subject at hand, do you know how expensive it will be to get the new code for the Tuner? Would I come out better to sell the Tuner and buy one with the 03 codes already in it? Thanks for you response and let me know what you think.....
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
You'll need to contact Superchips directly for that information. We have nothing to do with that, as only the manufacturer can change programs in the Micro Tuner for you. (It's also against the rules here to discuss specific pricing on the message boards, so even if I knew, I couldn't tell you here. 
)
You can probably forget about your insurance company paying you anything for a claim of loss of value over this. Chances are they're not ever going to just hand you another $5000 (or even $500) because you tell them someone at a dealership says your vehicle lost trade-in value because it was wrecked and repaired. And I'd bet a dollar that this same dealership telling you this will *never* put that "loss of value" in writing on their own letterhead. I may be wrong, but I'd bet $1 on that.
There's always a very simple solution, trade the vehicle in somewhere else if you're determined to take a huge loss and buy a 2003 (the loss comes in not because it's been wrecked & repaired, but because you bought it new and would be getting out of it so quickly that you'll take the initial $5K-$8K trade-in loss we all do when getting out of an almost new vehicle for another new vehicle)
I wouldn't trade that 2002 in on a 2003 regardless of the incentives on 2003's. If you want to lose money like that, do it trading in on a 2004 and you'll be much better off in the long run financially, and have a vehicle that still looks new for years, and looks like the current 2005 F-150, the current 2006 F-150, and so on, instead of taking all that loss & still having the previous body style.
A vehicle that is damaged and then properly repaired generally does not actually "lose value," unless it's a brand new vehicle sitting on a dealer's lot that got damaged prior to ever being sold, and has to be disclosed. At least, in my experience. I have no problems buying a vehicle that has been involved in an accident as long as it's been repaired properly; heck, chances are it'll have a better paint job and alignment than it came with from the factory, been there, done that.
This dealership you're talking about, the one that is telling you your vehicle is worth $5K less because it was wrecked, most likely does NOT tell prospective buyers looking at used vehicles on their lot "Oh, this one's been wrecked & repaired, that one's been wrecked & repaired, etc." You can bet that if you trade your truck into them, they will not be telling all prospective buyer it's been wrecked & repaired, and that they will sell it for roughly the same price as another identical truck that had not been wrecked & repaired.
If they think you're entertaining the idea of trading it in and they know it's been wrecked & repaired, OF COURSE they may very well try that sorry ploy of telling you it's worth much less because it was damaged and then repaired. That's when you say, "OK, put that in writing," and then run (not walk) out the door & never come back. Take what they put in writing to a lawyer for proper legal advice. And you'll still probably get nowhere.
I'm not an authority on this of course, that's important to remember that I'm not even remotely qualified to give you advice on this. I could well be wrong, but my understanding is that the insurance companies are responsible for paying for the vehicle to be properly repaired, or to "total" the vehicle, end of story. I think that's what you're going to find their only legal requirements are in this regard.
At any rate, I do hope your new 2002 (hey, it's still an almost brand new truck!) was repaired well and that you will continue to enjoy it now that you have it back. I hope you don't trade it in and take a big loss (which always happens anytime you trade a 1-2 year old vehicle in), and that this all works out for you, my friend.
Good luck!
)You can probably forget about your insurance company paying you anything for a claim of loss of value over this. Chances are they're not ever going to just hand you another $5000 (or even $500) because you tell them someone at a dealership says your vehicle lost trade-in value because it was wrecked and repaired. And I'd bet a dollar that this same dealership telling you this will *never* put that "loss of value" in writing on their own letterhead. I may be wrong, but I'd bet $1 on that.
There's always a very simple solution, trade the vehicle in somewhere else if you're determined to take a huge loss and buy a 2003 (the loss comes in not because it's been wrecked & repaired, but because you bought it new and would be getting out of it so quickly that you'll take the initial $5K-$8K trade-in loss we all do when getting out of an almost new vehicle for another new vehicle)
I wouldn't trade that 2002 in on a 2003 regardless of the incentives on 2003's. If you want to lose money like that, do it trading in on a 2004 and you'll be much better off in the long run financially, and have a vehicle that still looks new for years, and looks like the current 2005 F-150, the current 2006 F-150, and so on, instead of taking all that loss & still having the previous body style.
A vehicle that is damaged and then properly repaired generally does not actually "lose value," unless it's a brand new vehicle sitting on a dealer's lot that got damaged prior to ever being sold, and has to be disclosed. At least, in my experience. I have no problems buying a vehicle that has been involved in an accident as long as it's been repaired properly; heck, chances are it'll have a better paint job and alignment than it came with from the factory, been there, done that.
This dealership you're talking about, the one that is telling you your vehicle is worth $5K less because it was wrecked, most likely does NOT tell prospective buyers looking at used vehicles on their lot "Oh, this one's been wrecked & repaired, that one's been wrecked & repaired, etc." You can bet that if you trade your truck into them, they will not be telling all prospective buyer it's been wrecked & repaired, and that they will sell it for roughly the same price as another identical truck that had not been wrecked & repaired.
If they think you're entertaining the idea of trading it in and they know it's been wrecked & repaired, OF COURSE they may very well try that sorry ploy of telling you it's worth much less because it was damaged and then repaired. That's when you say, "OK, put that in writing," and then run (not walk) out the door & never come back. Take what they put in writing to a lawyer for proper legal advice. And you'll still probably get nowhere.
I'm not an authority on this of course, that's important to remember that I'm not even remotely qualified to give you advice on this. I could well be wrong, but my understanding is that the insurance companies are responsible for paying for the vehicle to be properly repaired, or to "total" the vehicle, end of story. I think that's what you're going to find their only legal requirements are in this regard.
At any rate, I do hope your new 2002 (hey, it's still an almost brand new truck!) was repaired well and that you will continue to enjoy it now that you have it back. I hope you don't trade it in and take a big loss (which always happens anytime you trade a 1-2 year old vehicle in), and that this all works out for you, my friend.
Good luck!