I was at the dealership having my AC looked at, and got to talking to the service consultant (who used to sell aftermarket performance parts) about tuners. He recommended staying away from them altogether, whether it be a "custom" tune or an OTS superchip. He explained that they manipulate the powerband and change shift points to increase the peak HP and torque so they can advertise power gains, but the new power comes in at times when it's not really usable in street driving. He also said that any computer alterations would void the warranty, and they could tell if it had been programmed at one point, even if flashed back to stock. I didn't push the warranty conversation beyond that. He drove a chevy truck, and he said he could have gotten a chip at cost, but passed.
A chip was my next purchase (after all the positive press here), but he has me second guessing.

 

I'm hoping Mike will see this one and respond to your concerns. he can do it better then I can. But I will tell you, your service guy is full of it (you can decide for yourself what "it" is).

Not usable in street driving: My ****! I've got more power from 0-80 then I have ever had. Fully usable and noticable on the streets.

Voiding warranty: He's from the dealership, 'nuff said. Do a search to find out more about warranty and programming. There are some concerns but everybody has to decide what they want to do for themselves.

Knowing you've flashed: I'm pretty sure this one falls under "full of it" as well

 

After lurking here as long as I have, my intial reaction is to agree with you. I just thought it was an interesting conversation. I was hoping some of the Ford Dealer guys here might respond.

 

Hi rt - one already has:

Bottom line - KNOW your rights under the law, do not be intimidated, and be prepared to fight tooth and nail for them.

Also helps to get your performance products from a reputable source - with a track record of successes and who actually R&D's these things. If you've 'lurked' here, you already know who that is

Cheers
Vic

 

Well, a FORD service rep that drives a CHEVY truck? He can't be believed in the first place!

 

rta - I think you will really enjoy the tuner. It has been one of my favorite mods.

Worst case - wait til your warranty runs out and then buy one!!

 

Find a dealer that wants to help you and not pick you're pocket. I bought my truck used from the dealer and is heavely modded, they take care of warrenty items and have even fixed things after the warrenty period. Mf family buys all veh. from them and I let them do the regular maintenance, they are very reasonable and as I say they don't care what I add check my list in my signature.
I might add that a tune is the best thing you will ever do to the truck, properly done you will increase performance increase fuel economy help drivability and actually increase service life.
I would say that the servicewrighter is afraid you're newly tuned Ford will blow his chevy away.Make shure you go with a Troyer custom Tune it is very well worth every penny spent.

 

Of course a person at the dealership will tell you to stay away from programmers. They cant rightly tell you its ok to put somethin other than factory on ur ride. They sell factory parts, so if you go with aftermarket it takes money away from them. Just my .02

 

A service consultant that used to be an after parts dealer..That fed you the crap he did... I surely would find another place to have my truck serviced if it were me.. But if it were me I would have laughed in his face anyhow.....What an @sshole ...... (not you, HIM)

 

I was looking at your mod list , notice a vortec after cooler, I'm an old carb gu ,clue me in, how is this be different than a intercooler, is the difference location, before or after the compressor ?

 

I have one thing to say about what that dealership buffoon claimed - pure BS.

Educate yourself and find out the truth - That individual who told that story (the "gentleman" at the dealership) would be about the last person I;d want anywhere near a vehicle of mine - not only does he not have a clue what he is talking about, he's simply plain dead wrong.

The best way to make sure you NEVER do ANY modification to YOUR vehicle (you do realize it's YOUR property, right?) is to run into a dealership and ask them if it's OK - why? Because they get paid far less to do the exact same work under warranty, so many dealership will do & say just about anything to get out of doing warranty work.

There actually ARE some honest dealerships out there who only care about abiding by the LAW - the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

So if you want to Really know what your rights are, rather than listen to someone's hired help, drop by the www.sema.org web site and rad up on your actual legal rights under the law.

Plain and simple - you have the right to do any modification you want to your vehicle and as long as it does not DAMAGE your vehicle, your warranty remains intact - by law. But don't take my work for it, drop by www.sema.org, the non-profit people who are largely responsible for almost all the right you have, and see what they have to say about it.

To say nothing about reading these boards and seeing all the people that rave about how much better our tuning makes their vehicle in EVERY area of performance - and the fact that you do not see a pattern of posts where we are damaging these vehicles - which we have, by the way, specialized in tuning longer than anyone else.

I can't believe what that dealership "gentleman" told that poster - what utter nonsense...................

Best of luck whatever you decide!