My service writer informed me if I installed a chip in my 2001 it will void my warranty.
He stated, any 2001 and up, Ford can run a scan and see if a chip was installed and if so, the warranty is void.
Is this true?

 

Hi NJG

Did you click on "search" above? mods. void warranty etc...been posted alot...perhaps someone here will give the long reply...short reply..NO..but theres alot more involved.

Now...your told that on 01...scan shows that a chip was installed..hadnt heard that one before.

Yeah...that would grab my attention...as its contrary to what i know and have been told..however i have a chipped 99SC...so?

Good luck....OT

 

Do the service writers (advisors) really know what the truth?

Now when they say it will void the warranty, do they mean the whole thing?

So if you have a problem with a power window motor dose that mean since the chip was installed that they wont fix the window?

I would ask them.

If you have a stereo installed, will that void the warranty also.

I would ask.

Also ask them if they know of the Magnason Moss Warranty Act.

I think that there are service dept.s that just don't know any better, and there are service dept.s that figure they can intimadate. If we don't know, they can tell them anything they want.

I don't know all the answers, but I know enough to know if the service dept. is handing me a load of crap.

Like Old Timer said do a search. This topic has come up many times. I have initiated it myself. There is a lot to learn here. Have a look!

Tom

 

It suxs but I think Troy is right. Look deep in the warranty now. I think someone even posted that at the time of delivery, they were required to sign a waiver stating that they understand that the installation of some aftermarket mod's gives Ford the right to void the warranty. I think there were some parts listed as examples and performance chips were one. Me? I've had zero problems with my truck and I haven't been too worried about warranty at all. Of course I getting close to it expiring too...

I know that when I had a counter on my little website, I found that PC's from Ford Motor Credit were hitting it. You KNOW, that they are watching the boards. Getting ideas for their trucks! Oh, and finding out what we're doing to ours so they know what they need to protect themselves from.

Hi Ford! I know you're there, lurking in the shadows.....

 

This is a topic that has been gone over again and again, usually because somebody's service writer said so, just as in this case. Nothng has changed, it is still absolutely *illegal* to do that, a warranty claim cannot denied just because aftermarket parts are on the vehicle.

Your rights are protected under, among others, the Magnason-Moss Warranty Act, and you can find more information about that here: http://www.sema.org/fedleg/warranty

This web site, F-150 Online, is also a member of SEMA, by the way.

It might interest you to know that in this issue of Ford SVT Enthusiast magazine, published by Ford Motor Company no less, SVT Powertrain Systems Supervisor Bill Lane clearly states "Keep in mind that without establishing a connection between your modifications and actual damage, it's illegal for the dealer or manufacturer to void *anything*." Bill also says that if you use something that actually causes *damage* to the vehicle, then of course you run the risk of having that warranty claim denied, and that is exactly as it should be, per the provisions of the Magnason-Moss Warranty Act.

No, it is not true that there is a tell-tale in the Ford computer where they can determine that a chip was used, once the chip is removed, it's gone, and no changes remain behind that can be detected at the dealership via their diagnostic hardware.

What we all have to remember is that we have the absolute legal right to do *whatever* we want with and to our vehicles, as we should when spending $35K for a new FoMoCo vehicle; the flip side of that, as is only fair, is that if we do *damage* to the vehicle, then that particular repair might not be covered under warranty. What that means is that it all gets down to whether or not what you do *damages* the vehicle. As long as you do not damage your vehicle, your warranty remains fully intact, by law, it's just that simple. Things like the Superchip, a K&N air filter, an airbox elimination kit, cat-back exhaust systems, underdrive pulleys, and even headers, if properly coated (we recommend Jet-Hot) do not damage the vehicle, and thus do not cause the warranty to be voided.

Just because some service writer *says* something like that does not make it true, and this is exactly why the Magnason-Moss Warranty Act is there to protect us, from that very thing, as it is illegal. To be able to legally deny a warranty claim, the automaker must prove that the aftermarket part in question was the sole and direct cause of a failure; they must further prove that had the aftermarket part not been installed, the failure would not otherwise have occured, and that is very strong legal protection. Remember, only you can protect your rights, do not let what someone's hired help claims determine the future of your $35K vehicle, you have very specific legal rights in this very issue, it's *your* vehicle and you have the right to do reasonable modifications.

If anyone wants to go over this in more detail, please feel free to give us a call.

 

Hi NJG

OK...good long reply...so take it from there.

Family Ride...no doubt about Ford reading whats posted here...that was proven with the wrong radiator issue...also..K&N reads these public forums...their letter was posted i think on the ford diesel site? wanting to clear up some remarks that had been posted there about their filters. interesting eh!

Tks. Mike...for your input...thats what i recall your telling me about chip removal and pcm dosent know chip was there.
So, a diag. scan cannot show that a chip had been installed.

Interesting all the stories that keep showing up here...what different dealer service writers or ? say about mods. Geez!

Tks....Good luck...OT

 

Excellent explanation Mike T. I can now rest assured that when I order my chip my warranty will not be affected. By the way.... can I have the chip shipped in a plain brown wrapper to a post office box to be picked up after mid-nite?
J.J.

 

Mike is correct on his statement. The only thing that will give you away is if you have to modify the bracket (like I did) in order to get the computer to fit with the chip installed. I will inquire as to how much these cost and carry a spare.

 

All the dealer has to see is the missing conformal coating, from the edge connector. At the very least, they could deny a claim on the ECU, should it go south. It could just be the "smoking gun" the dealer needs to give you a big headache.

It will all depend on how friendly your service manager is.

 

Hi S-76,

That *presumes* a number of things that we have never seen happen even once in our entire history.

Most people are not aware of the fact that there are no dealer-serviceable parts inside the Ford EEC-IV or EEC-V ECU. Ford has never allowed anything to be serviced inside their ECU's at the dealership level, so aside from connecting to WDS or SBDS to reflash to a newer software revision, which is all done without even seeing the ECU, no dealer ever goes into the Ford ECU, as they can't service it, by design!

This presumes the dealer is suddenly going to do something they have not done before, remove the ECU from the vehicle and disassemble it, something we have never seen happen at any dealership that does not sell and install Superchips, nor has that happened to any customer of ours in our entire history.

Second, this presumes that dealerships, which never remove or alter conformal coating on the ECU board (unless they sell & install performance chips themselves!) and thus are not at all familiar with the appearance or thickness of the conformal coating, which, by the way, varies *quite* a bit from one board to the next, is suddenly going to know all of that and be able to competently examine it to make a determination.

Last, it presumes that the dealership is even going to be able to *see* the conformal coating, which is clear in color, so clear that it without our supplemental Performance Products documentation most people cannot even see the conformal coating or begin to remove it.

This presumes things which we have never seen happen even once in over a decade of doing this.

However, it is only fair to say that it is *theoretically* possible.

However, that is a mute point anyway, as should the Superchip *cause* the failure of the ECU, we can easily test for that and Superchips will *replace* that computer at **their** expense, they have always had that policy, and so the vehicle owner would is covered already.

 

Hi Mike!! Agreed. I don't know if you remember, but I had a "little" run in with my dealer last year about a bad GEM in my truck. The very first thing I was asked was if I had installed an aftermarket "chip". I know the GEM is not the ECU, but it was asked none the less. The dealer stated that they are all interconnected....yada, yada....

Yes, they did check to see if my ECU was tampered with. It was not, so I didn't have a problem with my warranty.

I know about the MM law, even still it's my word against theirs. If it comes down to it, I'm not sure if it is worth the "potential" problems with the service manager.

In all fairness, in the years that I have been viewing this forum, I have yet to see anyone complain about a failed ECU due to a chip.
Knowing that Superchips will stand behind their product to the point of replacing the ECU is comforting.

Thanks for the reply!

 

I DID have trouble with the service department of my local Ford dealer. My truck suddenly died while sitting at a stop light. The engine would turn over, but would not fire. Anti Theft light was flashing. I called the dealer. He said I should call Ford Roadside Assistance for a tow truck. Had my truck towed to Ford dealer. a week later, after they had replaced the GEM module, including my whole dash/instrument panel, and that did not solve the problem, they decided to replace the PCM. So, they order it, install, call me back to tell me my truck is ready and that the computer had been 'messed with' so warranty would not cover it. I was Superchipped, but had taken it out when i left the truck. Well, after much argument with the very angry, unfriendly service department shop manager, we went above him to the manager of the entire Service Department Manager. Turns out he had a superchip in his Suburban! He said they would cover it. We originally had to pay the 1100 dollars just to get the truck back from them. I can tell you one thing, it sure was not a fun experience at all. That was a year ago. I still have my Superchip, but it's in my drawer. I don't even know if it works-maybe it died when the PCM did, plus it's for the wrong computer code now that they replaced the PCM with a new one. So, I haven't even tried it. I really loved driving the truck when the chip was in, but am not sure i want to run the risk of another run-in with Warranty coverage. One other thing, I called Mike right away, and he was extremely helpful. He really knows his stuff.
It was very frustrating, but in the end, i didn't pay for it, and my Superchip is in the drawer.

 

Hi BC

Sorry to read about the problems you had.

Glad you called Mike T. Hes a good man.

Curious...did you pull chip out and try for restart before tow?

I understand your frastration..does tend to make for a lasting impression. Put chip back in? or leave in drawer?

Interesting how many parts Ford mech. throw at a problem..not saying others dont do the same. Been common for along time.

My first ford truck etc. 77/88/99...i can testify on one thing for sure..Ford mech. are consistent...unbelievable the parts they throw at a problem...guess thats how some learn to fix something? Geez...things theyve done to me..thats another story.

I learned something long ago..about warranties...when you do a non-approved mod...you pay your money..take your chances..
Give it some thought..then go/not go for it? Yes, i chipped my 99SC.

Glad they decided to take care of it under warranty...guess that mgr. with the chipped BURB. was the deciding factor...

Good luck....OT