Just got my 2013 5.0
#42
with just about any mod, the engine won't run well or may give you a CEL unless the ecm is tuned accordingly. One you flash the ecm, its an open door for Ford's warranty department to deny any claim they can associate with modifying the ECM. Anything from a block failure to an emissions failure. "Your custom tune overfueled the engine and caused the failure. Denied." You really won't be able to prove them wrong.
Last edited by 2011 Kona Blue; 8/15/13 at 06:57 PM.
#43
Who keeps a mustang stock and worries about warranties? In my experience, Very few people do other than women and old guys (and I'm an old guy Lol). If I was worried about warranties, longevity and keeping a car stock, It would be a V6 accord coupe or Maxima. Both are very nice cars in stock form. I'm of the belief that mustangs are meant to be modded. Tunes are very safe now and are not an automatic warranty void. Everyone is different though and need to respect both mindsets I guess.
As far as CAI, what damage is that going to do to your car. None. What damage is 3:73 gears gonna cause as long as they are installed correctly. Mod away buddy. Other than nitrous , supercharger or turbo what N/A mod is going to jack your car up. If a water pump goes at 30k miles then that's a faulty water pump, not a tuner or other n/a mod.
I have a little 11 v6 and because its an awesome looking stang and respectable base line numbers I spent around 3,000 on power mods. Heck, the car was meant to be modded. Just do it!
Last edited by 2011 Kona Blue; 8/15/13 at 07:08 PM.
#44
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I have yet found any reports of performance tuners destroying engines or transmissions. The only issue I ever heard was about the 5.0 with the #8 cylinder from AM tuners. Which by the way was long solved and AM warranties that. The tunes today are safe and not destroying engines. I would love to see any documented cases in the last 5 years of any reputable tuners destroying engines or transmissions.
If you wish to not believe me and/or them, simply call American Muscle and ask them. They will tell you that NOT all of the Bama tune "Claims" with the #8 Warranty have been covered.
When I called them to ask them to price match the $289 advertised for the ProCal on www.BuyFordRacing.com website, they not only refused to price match but he went on to say: "That if I was worried about a Warranty and did not have the spare cash to pay for a #8 failure out of pocket, to NOT mod the Mustang at all".
It was after he said that, that I asked about the #8 warranty on their tunes, and he flat out told me, "Not all submitted claims are eligible for the Warranty", and then he reiterated "That if I was worried about a Warranty and did not have the spare cash to pay for a #8 failure out of pocket, to NOT mod the Mustang at all".
After that I did some research, read up on Ford Racing's 3 pages of Warranty coverages and exemptions and found a local Ford dealer to install and REGISTER my ProCal so that I would have at least some type or warranty and piece of mind.
#45
Greatest analogy for this topic ^
I ran the snot out of mine for 1000 miles to make sure there were no issues. I installed the Steeda 93 tune and cai and changed the oil to a base 4 synthetic. The car now has 20,000 miles and couldn't be stronger. Steeda has 0 failures BTW. Take off your skirts and Tune your car.
Am I going to waste my money and time to hire a lawyer to file suit for a 114 dollar 02 sensor from AM. Heck no. I'm just gonna buy the new part, fix it myself and move on with it.
#46
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
I have been running my bama tunes for approximately 2 1/2 years. I have a CAI, 3:73 gears, one piece aluminium driveshaft, BBK headers, off road x pipe and Flowmaster exhaust force II mufflers. I now hit 25k miles today and the car runs perfect and run the car pretty good. The only issue I had was just last week my front 02 sensor went bad. I have no doubt the factory sensor went bad because it just was a faulty from the factory and has nothing to do with having headers and off road x pipe. Technically , this factory should be covered under my factory warranty . I know the dealership will fight me on it, not cover the 02 sensor and blame my off road x pipe is the reason it went bad.
Am I going to waste my money and time to hire a lawyer to file suit for a 114 dollar 02 sensor from AM. Heck no. I'm just gonna buy the new part, fix it myself and move on with it.
#47
Feel free to check out this facebook community (https://www.facebook.com/groups/390786757684390/), there are a couple American muscle Bama tuned cars that blew #8 and did NOT get covered.
If you wish to not believe me and/or them, simply call American Muscle and ask them. They will tell you that NOT all of the Bama tune "Claims" with the #8 Warranty have been covered.
When I called them to ask them to price match the $289 advertised for the ProCal on www.BuyFordRacing.com website, they not only refused to price match but he went on to say: "That if I was worried about a Warranty and did not have the spare cash to pay for a #8 failure out of pocket, to NOT mod the Mustang at all".
It was after he said that, that I asked about the #8 warranty on their tunes, and he flat out told me, "Not all submitted claims are eligible for the Warranty", and then he reiterated "That if I was worried about a Warranty and did not have the spare cash to pay for a #8 failure out of pocket, to NOT mod the Mustang at all".
After that I did some research, read up on Ford Racing's 3 pages of Warranty coverages and exemptions and found a local Ford dealer to install and REGISTER my ProCal so that I would have at least some type or warranty and piece of mind.
#48
#49
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I read the issues were because they were still getting familiar with the new engine. But now its been yrs, doesnt seem it would make much sense for them to keep selling it if it was reeeally that bad of a risk, AM is good people IMO. Also, makes sense that the #8 warranty would not cover all claims, given that i doubt all the claims would be caused by the tune. You could tune the car, then add mods and who knows what else to the engine, yet not get your tune updated for the mods, run the same old tune again, and have issues. I wouldnt cover it, shouldve updated the tune first.
Tho it also makes sense that if you dont have at least a second car, or some extra cash, you probably shouldnt do complicated mods. Unless your willing to take the risk.
Tho it also makes sense that if you dont have at least a second car, or some extra cash, you probably shouldnt do complicated mods. Unless your willing to take the risk.
#50
Shelby GT350 Member
ugghh you guys, the issue is not whether the tune can cause a failure or not. The issue is if you have a failure (caused by the tune or not) Ford will deny the claim if they see you tuned it. And they could attribute just about any failure of the engine besides leaks and cooling system to a tune if they wanted to. And they likely will.
#51
ugghh you guys, the issue is not whether the tune can cause a failure or not. The issue is if you have a failure (caused by the tune or not) Ford will deny the claim if they see you tuned it. And they could attribute just about any failure of the engine besides leaks and cooling system to a tune if they wanted to. And they likely will.
Many of us either can fix our own cars or have close friends who can fix whatever breaks, so myself included is not worried about stuff breaking. Ford parts are readable available and for a very reasonable price.
Last edited by 2011 Kona Blue; 8/15/13 at 10:11 PM.
#53
Shelby GT350 Member
Yes, TAMPERED with, but not HOW it was tampered with... We need a real Ford tech in here to clear this up. I've worked with ECM software before for a major engine company, and previous calibration parameters weren't stored, just when/if it was calibrated...
#54
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http://www.themustangnews.com/conten.../#.Ug5REn9-rHs
#55
Gentlemen, one thing that hasn't been talked about is your relationship with your dealers and there service center. If you go to your dealer for more than warranty work then they'll be more willing to help you. I've bought 3 mustangs from the same dealer and while I wouldn't say there my friends they do go out of there way to make sure I'm happy to keep my business and because I think they care a lot about having good customer service. Anyway, to give an example my wifes '08 GT that had a battery that wouldn't keep charge (this at 6k mi) was traced back to the alternator and it was replaced under warranty. This was after we modded the car with tune, intake, cat-back and full suspension. They told us since the tune wasn't the direct cause they were willing to work with us. After a couple years and always getting it serviced at the same dealer we had to take it back again for the same problem (battery not keeping a charge) and a loud squeak coming from the rear (sound was coming form lca). They replaced battery, alternator and lca under warranty. The service manager has always told me to just check with them before hand if I want to know if something I do to the car is going to void the warranty off the bat but he said most common mods they are willing to work with me whether I had it installed there or not.
Last edited by Ajcruz1; 8/16/13 at 10:48 AM.
#56
Shelby GT500 Member
those dealership who sell lot of mustangs have the feel of it, unfortunately i bought mine from a dealer who sells very few... would have been better if i purchased from some other place where they see lot of moded stangs... whn my dealer opend up my hood n saw the CAI.. he was like wow.. wow .. no no.... as if i already broke all the warranty clause
#57
Shelby GT350 Member
According to KC Henry he's been working for Ford for awhile. Read this.
http://www.themustangnews.com/conten.../#.Ug5REn9-rHs
http://www.themustangnews.com/conten.../#.Ug5REn9-rHs
#58
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Freeze Frame Date is one of the "tattle tale" signs that you use to find the required info.
"If aftermarket power/torque-increasing modifications are suspected, care should be taken to record and store the following items: Permanent diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), pending DTCs,freeze frame data, mode 6 and mode 9 data. The data should be printed and attached to the repair drivability issues, DTCs and possibly component order for later reference"
Here is the actual Ford TSB: http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...1-07-07-1-.pdf
"If aftermarket power/torque-increasing modifications are suspected, care should be taken to record and store the following items: Permanent diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), pending DTCs,freeze frame data, mode 6 and mode 9 data. The data should be printed and attached to the repair drivability issues, DTCs and possibly component order for later reference"
Here is the actual Ford TSB: http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...1-07-07-1-.pdf
#59
Shelby GT350 Member
freeze frame data is typically data readings from sensors that were recorded during a failed diagnostic check. The freeze frame data, or ANY data in the ecm will tell what specific parameters were changed or whether it was an FRPP tune, custom tune, or factory tune? This is what I am wondering. I know it records the fact that the ecm was flashed, but does it record what parameters were changed during the reflash??
#60
Shelby GT350 Member
According to the flow chart the technician is supposed to follow, the tech is supposed to check for a P1000 code, which indicates the ecm has been flashed. A P1000 could log from a disconnected battery. The chart doesn't say to check what the previous calibration was or if that is even possible to check. I'm assuming the P1000 is impossible to clear from the ecm?