I know there’s some debate on a tune voiding a warranty.
The majority seem to say yes, it will more than likely void your warranty.
I’m past my 3 year factory warranty, but still within the 5 year 60k Powertrain warranty.
I also purchased a flood Ford ESP.
Ive been thinking about getting a tune.
Can a tune void my ESP?
Has anyone had any experience with this?
Thanks.

 

By law, only if its determined that the Tune was the root cause of a failure....however any dealer can turn you away and refuse to give you service.

I suggest if you go 5 star that you also get the powertrain warranty from Stage 3... it will cover you in the powertrain if Ford denies warranty

 

It won’t “void” your ESP. It will give Ford an opportunity to categorically deny any powertrain warranty claims you make in the future. While there’s no shortage of people who want to come in and cite the Magnuson-Moss act, or say they filed a claim on a tuned truck and it got approved, the reality is that you should not tune the truck if you want to keep your powertrain warranty intact. Ford is guaranteeing the vehicle as built, as designed, as intended. You’re fundamentally changing the operating parameters when you tune it. Regardless of what people tell you, the manufacturer will know if you’ve tuned the truck. The manufacturer will not want to foot a repair bill if you modify it. Should your engine blow up, the conversation will be short. You’ll make the claim, Ford will deny it. You’ll cite the Magnuson-Moss act, they’ll tell you to sue them or **** off. Decide what’s worth it to you.

 

A tune cannot void a warranty. They could deny a warranty claim if they believe that the tune caused the failure. They can't, for example, refuse to repair your power seat under warranty because you have a tune. Not many things can truly void a warranty. Totaling it usually voids warranties, and maybe commercial use that is against the terms of the warranty. If the warranty isn't transferable then selling the truck would void it.

 

Fiddy,

You're pretty much 'right on.' I was told by a Ford A1 tech that there is something embedded in you OBDII port or software that knows or can count external changes. I can't explain it technically but I was assured Ford will know. I told him I had a "Smart Trek" insurance module installed for a few months that wouldn't work with the newer f150 software and he told me that module is different and essentially they are a non-issue.

I'm only the messenger on this..........

 

Your "insurance module" (a stupid idea for entirely separate reasons) isn't altering ECU parameters. It's an OBD2 reader, just like Torque/etc. use, with some other "stuff" added on. It's just reading PIDs.

As for Ford knowing, there are multiple ways they can tell. From fairly simple stuff that a dealer can easily see (flash counters, key cycles since last flash, etc.) to complex stuff that has to go back to Ford to discover.

 

There is zero difference between your 3 year warranty, your 5 year warranty, and the ESP as it relates to the ability to have them not accept coverage due to a tune.

As stated, they have to prove that the tune caused the problem, but sometimes they try.

 

That may technically be the case, but that’s not how it works in reality. Ford is the judge, jury, and executioner on warranty claims. They’re financially motivated to deny your claim, and the presence of aftermarket tuning gives them a lovely excuse to do exactly that. If they determine by fact or convenience that tuning is a relevant factor, they’re going to stonewall you until you give up or hire an attorney to force the issue. They know the average owner does not have both the time and resources to take them to court, and for that reason, they’ll brush you off if given the opportunity.

 

bingo!
ppl are quick to cite Magnuson-Moss, need to realize the onus is on themselves to prove the dealer / ford / engineers wrong, good luck with that!

 

TV,

Thank you for a much better technical explanation than I could ever give.