Does A Performance Tuner Void Your Warranty
Does A Performance Tuner Void Your Warranty? When it comes to enhancing your vehicle’s performance, a performance tuner might be one of the first upgrades you consider. However, a common concern among car enthusiasts is whether using a performance tuner will void their vehicle’s warranty.
Understanding Performance Tuners
Performance Tuners, also known as performance chips or programmers, are devices that modify the engine control unit settings to optimize various aspects of your vehicle’s performance. They can increase horsepower, torque, and fuel efficiency, and improve throttle response.
Does It Void Warranty?
One of the most direct impacts of tuning is potentially voiding your car’s Emissions Components Warranty. This covers parts like the catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, EGR system, fuel system, ignition components, and on-board diagnostics.
ECU remapping by definition alters the factory emissions control programming. Modified engine parameters like fuel maps, boost pressure, and ignition timing inevitably change tailpipe emissions. Even if emission sensor readings remain within acceptable ranges, altering programming violates manufacturers’ legal tampering prohibitions.
So even unrelated failures of covered emissions parts can potentially be blamed on ECU tuning as a breach of warranty. This provides justification for denying expensive emissions warranty claims.
How Performance Tuning Can Be Detected
Modern dealers routinely utilize sophisticated diagnostics tools and ECU scanning to troubleshoot issues during service visits. These scans detect and log any performance tuning modifications.
Even if tuning is unrelated to the repair needed, identifying previous engine tuning provides a basis for voiding the entire vehicle warranty. Changes like power gains, speed limiters removed, and rev limiters raised are difficult to conceal when dealers dig into ECU data. This gives manufacturers justification for denying warranty coverage on parts failed due to normal wear and tear, not necessarily the tuning work itself. It’s best to assume technicians will discover performance tuning modifications during diagnosis and repairs.
Impact of Tuning on Extended Warranties
If you purchase an Extended Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty beyond the factory coverage, be aware these third-party contracts often fully exclude any breakdowns that might be even remotely attributed to modifications like performance tuning or bolt-on parts. Read the fine print closely.
Unlike your inherent Magnuson-Moss rights from the automaker, extended warranty providers can outright deny any claim deemed caused by tuning or even just not recommended by the manufacturer. These agreements have broad exclusions. So, while you might slip some warranty repairs past a dealer under factory warranty, extensive modifications make getting coverage from extended service plans far less likely, as they lack the consumer protections of Magnuson-Moss. Weigh this risk.
What You Can Do
- Research and Documentation. Before installing a performance tuner, thoroughly research both the tuner and your vehicle’s warranty. Keep detailed records of any modifications and maintenance.
- Consult with Professionals. Speak with your dealer or an automotive lawyer to understand the potential risks and benefits.
- Consider the Risks. Weigh the performance benefits against the possibility of warranty issues. If maintaining your warranty is critical, you might opt to wait until the warranty period ends before making significant modifications.
All forms of vehicle tuning from ECU remapping to upgrades can jeopardize factory and extended warranty coverage to varying degrees. Manufacturers aren’t obliged to cover components damaged by modifications that exceed the car’s original engineering. While protections like Magnuson-Moss provide some legal recourse against blanket voiding of warranty work due to unrelated modifications, actually proving your case is difficult. Dealers can usually tell when you’ve performance tuned or installed.
To make informed decisions before customizing your ride, do research on exact warranty exclusions, talk to legal counsel, and be prepared for scrutiny of your vehicle’s software should repairs become needed. Modifications instantly reduce the lifespan of some components.
