Black FX2

hey guys just wondering, got into a facebook arguement with a guy and he said the ECM records when a tuner was used, and it can't be erased, even when set back to stock... true or false?

GlobalPilot

Do not have first hand knowledge. But have read here several times that is true. Here's one link talking about it.

https://www.f150forum.com/f70/eviden...ft-pcm-181186/

Half_ton

I replied in another thread about this. My childhood friend and good buddy still today owns a repair shop and I asked him, he said yes and no. They can see when the last time it was accessed ut not for what reason. He said get a tune, and when it needs to go in for warranty work put it back to stock, remove battery cables and hold them together to drain capacitors and re drive for a day or two before you take it in. I don't know if its true, but I hold his word in very high regards.

Black FX2

Okay thanks

NastyFFX4

iTrader: (1)

Yes and no. The previous F150s were undetectable. The PCM would just simply throw a P1000 code which equates to the need of a drive cycle be completed. This could result from removing the battery, dead battery, etc. So if they asked all you had to say was your battery died or something. However from what I've heard from some tuning friends they are possibly getting easier to tell. If they send the PCM to FoMoCo they will be able to bench test the PCM and they can find out. However the likelihood of that happening, especially on a F150, is pretty low. On a Mustang, much more likely. So with that said, if you have to go to the dealer for something motor related I would remove the tune a week prior to going and drive it for that week on the factory tune. Don't just drive around the city either. Take it on the highway as well. Subject it to varying RPMs, etc so it completes the drive cycle. Is this just for future knowledge? Or are you having an issue with your motor or is Ford questioning it?

schizbomb

Ford can see it if they're looking. If your issue is a defective stereo they won't be looking. If your issue is related to your tranny or engine; they might be looking.

Sitedrifter

Leave the tune in and deal with what happens.

dsg2003mach1

the new PCMs have multiple signs that tell Ford its been tuned, if you put a tune on it and suffer a catastrophic failure youd better be prepared to pay for it out of pocket because theres a good chance thats whats gonna happen.

gotta pay to play, thats not a risk Im willing to take hence my truck still being stock performance wise

rancherlee

Basically all the turbo motors have a check system that keeps track of the number of times your ECM has been flashed. So if you take your truck in and the number doesn't match the number of flashes on record then they know something isn't right. Ford started this with the 6.4l after the 6.0l fiasco. The tech I was talking to said to expect all engines to have a "flash counter" in the next few years.

21RRF150

iTrader: (1)

I work at a dealer that used to have Ford/Lincoln/Mercury, lost them in Dec 2011. I know a few of the mechanics, and asked them this question, as it comes up on here every 3 days. They said, yes. They can see that its been tuned, and put back to stock. But (and this is only at my dealership), they don't care! And won't even mention that it was tuned. We warranty pretty much everything anyway. (stone chips etc)