Getting Ready to Get Ugly at Dealership

[AzScorpion]

Either way I hope I don't get into that situation, I once watched a Ford rep go to 3 different diesels in the service dept, plug in and void the powertrain warranty on the spot, they were in for leaking coolant, where the extra boost picks up the heads, the TTY bolts stretch.

It seems like every dealer is different where some just fix it and warranty it where others dig deeper and check. I can see if you threw a rod that they'll probably check into it more. I don't know why they care because they're getting paid for the warranty work from Ford? It's not like Ford sends a rep out there to double check all the warranty claims.

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[Blmpkn]

I thought someone on here figured out how to reset the flash-counter in forscan?


It's easy enough to reflash and then sit there for an hour turning on/off the truck to get your start count up to an inconspicuous number ?

 

[TOMDEE]

So, I finally broke down and bought the Ford Performance Pack for my Tremor. Called my actual dealer and he said it would be 3 weeks. So called the dealer near me last Thursday and he told me that if I brought it in at 7am on Friday they would have it back to me that day. Well, they didn't get it done. Monday or Tuesday either. They finally just called me today and told me it was ready. When I had asked how much before I brought it the guy told me $189. Today when the guy called me he said it was going to be $450. Said it took the technician half a day to program. Hate to be an asshole, but its going to happen.

I USED A DELL LAPTOP AND DID THE ENTIRE INSTAL IN AN HOUR AND I'M AND INEPT MORON SO NOT SURE HOW A FORD TECH OR MECHANIC GOT IT WRONG UNLESS OF COURSE HE IS A DROOLING VEGETABLE

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

It seems like every dealer is different where some just fix it and warranty it where others dig deeper and check. I can see if you threw a rod that they'll probably check into it more. I don't know why they care because they're getting paid for the warranty work from Ford? It's not like Ford sends a rep out there to double check all the warranty claims.

? This - I mean, if they think the owner is going to be loyal, or already is, why wouldn’t they game thesystem? Look what Ford is spending on warranty work.

I know an appliance service tech and 60% of his business is warranty - the manufacturers couldn’t possibly keep up with checking up on it.

 

[JasonTremor]

That's what I thought, the guy at JDM said they can only look at key counts, I question that, I figure they have to be able to see the file that's in the ECU as well.

They can read it out and compare to oem tune.

 

[ppfd]

Comment on that YT vidoe mentions adding the ford tune will void a ford extended warranty? No that sounds insane. Any confirmation?

 

[Frenchy]

Comment on that YT vidoe mentions adding the ford tune will void a ford extended warranty? No that sounds insane. Any confirmation?

It depends. The extended warranty company may have it in writing stating that "Any Aftermarket Performance Part Will Void Warranty". Best to read the fine print on that.

Mind you the Ford Performance tune is technically a Aftermarket Tune Approved by Ford, but turns the Factory Powertrain Warranty into a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty from the original purchase date(as in first owner) of the vehicle.

Something to keep in mind

 

[Trigganometry]

I thought someone on here figured out how to reset the flash-counter in forscan?


It's easy enough to reflash and then sit there for an hour turning on/off the truck to get your start count up to an inconspicuous number ?

We got a tune for that too! ?

 

[MIBuckeye]

Can't even understand the logic in paying 30% more to have something "installed" and have to use a laptop to flash?!?
Livernois tune which I have been using since about 500 miles, 30000 now, has been flawless. It does the same thing plus doesn't require premium, offers 5 different tunes, flashes in about 5 minutes from a handheld purposed device. I'm not sure even the warranty issue is enough to justify it. It's never been an issue in all the times my truck has been to multiple dealers.

... and BTW, Ford has record of each flash. It is uploaded to their servers. I've seen it myself with my own two eyes. Doesn't matter what you do to affect the "count" on the truck... so don't think you're hiding anything.

 

[Fitzmotor]

... and BTW, Ford has record of each flash. It is uploaded to their servers. I've seen it myself with my own two eyes. Doesn't matter what you do to affect the "count" on the truck... so don't think you're hiding anything.
[/QUOTE]

This I believe, that's why I installed it and instantly went to the dealer I used to work at and had the tune guy (an old buddy) flag .2 of an hour to make it officially installed.

I'm guessing the tech who took half a day got schooled on the OP's truck, now he probably brags about being able to do it in 30 minutes, I can hear him now "oh the Ford tune? it's easy, I've done those before"

 

[Gumbo]

I USED A DELL LAPTOP AND DID THE ENTIRE INSTAL IN AN HOUR AND I'M AND INEPT MORON SO NOT SURE HOW A FORD TECH OR MECHANIC GOT IT WRONG UNLESS OF COURSE HE IS A DROOLING VEGETABLE

had Thought to myself before getting to the dealership that I was gonna tell the manager that they were either trying to screw me or his tech was a retard. Never spoke to him though

 

[Dgc333]

... and BTW, Ford has record of each flash. It is uploaded to their servers. I've seen it myself with my own two eyes. Doesn't matter what you do to affect the "count" on the truck... so don't think you're hiding anything.

That may be true with the Ford Performance tune but it certainly won't be with the tunes from Unleashed, Livernois, 5 Star, etc. If there was a way for Ford to do that there would be no need for a flash counter or a long and elaborate diagnostic flow chart that the dealers are directed to use to determine if the vehicle has been tuned.

 

[PltFX4]

So, I finally broke down and bought the Ford Performance Pack for my Tremor. Called my actual dealer and he said it would be 3 weeks. So called the dealer near me last Thursday and he told me that if I brought it in at 7am on Friday they would have it back to me that day. Well, they didn't get it done. Monday or Tuesday either. They finally just called me today and told me it was ready. When I had asked how much before I brought it the guy told me $189. Today when the guy called me he said it was going to be $450. Said it took the technician half a day to program. Hate to be an asshole, but its going to happen.

When I got my FPK and brought it to the dealer, it appeared that they had never done one before and were having trouble with the website getting the file downloaded and such. The tech was a little older (40+ my guess) and was clearly uncomfortable with the computer when he had to do anything other than use the usual daily Ford tech software.
I had to go back into the shop and "assist" with the install. They were doing the FPK along with the install of some other options I chose when I bought the Ranger.

 

[MIBuckeye]

That may be true with the Ford Performance tune but it certainly won't be with the tunes from Unleashed, Livernois, 5 Star, etc. If there was a way for Ford to do that there would be no need for a flash counter or a long and elaborate diagnostic flow chart that the dealers are directed to use to determine if the vehicle has been tuned.

You can believe what you want but I can tell you with absolute certainty that every flash I have done using Livernois tune I can see in my vehicle record on Ford's side. I'm not guessing, I know this and have seen it myself.

As to why there is some long flowchart for the dealer, I have no clue. I can however tell you that the procedures that are given to the dealer are written at the glass house in Dearborn and bear little resemblance to what you and I would do in the field. Still can't get the dealer to simply remove my rear driveshaft and drive it to eliminate that as a vibration source. Four trips, engineers and lots of protocol but no one could just remove the bolts. So i did it myself.

All the noise around warranty issues and I've yet to see anyone that was denied a legitimate claim because of a tune. Maybe it's just me.

 

[Dgc333]

You can believe what you want but I can tell you with absolute certainty that every flash I have done using Livernois tune I can see in my vehicle record on Ford's side. I'm not guessing, I know this and have seen it myself.

I suppose that may be true for Livernois since they developed the FP tune and own the CARB exemption that makes their and the FP tune emissions legal on the Ranger. The FP programming device is also just a rebranded Livernois. The Livernois MyCalibrator software works just fine with my FP programming device too.

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