Turner verses warranty

[Rawland]

OK here go's. I just want to know who's lying? I've read the info from BD, Edge and Banks they all say almost word for word that, if the tuner is removed before going to the dealer it's undetectable. You know what the dealer has to say, we found a tuner footprint busted no more warranty. I think I'm leaning toward the dealer. What do ya'll think?

 

[SShafranko]

In my opinion if you take a truck with no tuner and scan the computer looking at certain paramaters and "records" i think it would be a day and night difference between a truck with a tuner. I have never seen it done nor have i ever spoken to a tech about it but common sence tells me that there is a lot of information stored in our computers and if they dig, they will find.

 

[osiris]

smarty says its completely undectectable, i dont know for sure because I dont go to the dealer

 

[JDiepstra]

Let me put it this way, with most tuners or boxes or programmers or whatever, they can find something out of the normal paramaters if they try. They can say your warranty is void, the manufacture of the box WILL NOT BACK YOU UP IN ANY WAY, and yo will be left having to decide if you want to get a lawyer to fight the dealer or not. But, they pretty much all lie. I believe the Smarty guys though. Their program completely changes the info in the computer. Supposedly.

 

[Bob4x4]

With the complex system on the 6. 7 and the $ risk involved I would not monkey with it unless you have the resources to handle the consequences on your own. The ECM on the 6. 7 monitors pages worth of data. Freeze frame data that helps diag the truck will also be the data that tells Ma Dodge you played. It's your truck,your money. Make an informed decision.

Good luck.

 

[RVTRKN]

Yes they can see it in the history, on the computer, but it takes a lot of trouble to get it and if you have minor issues Star will not care. But if your talking about an engine replacement Star will look up history.



If you play you pay. Just remember that if you add tuners/chips, the VENDERS WILL NOT BACK YOU UP. If they claim it, get it in writing before you install them.

 

[Bob4x4]

Yes they can see it in the history, on the computer, but it takes a lot of trouble to get it and if you have minor issues Star will not care. But if your talking about an engine replacement Star will look up history.



If you play you pay. Just remember that if you add tuners/chips, the VENDERS WILL NOT BACK YOU UP. If they claim it, get it in writing before you install them.

Actually it is very quick and easy to see a ton of signs with the starscan

 

[RVTRKN]

Actually it is very quick and easy to see a ton of signs with the starscan

Yes, but they don't bother the dealers unless there is a high dollar amount or certain identified parts that must have Stars permission before replacement will be authorized. The safest way is just don't do it.



Now if its out of warranty or you don't care, installing programmers or chips require a professional setup that will know what other components/changes will be required to the engine to compliment them and you should expect a lot more money invested or failure should be expected with a high dollar amount to repair.





Again: "If you play you pay" one way or the other, but the other is the cost to put it back to a stock setup having to pay to reinstall every thing again but also having to pay the proper professionals you should of payed in the first place. The moral of this story is to leave it to the professionals.



Now the 6. 7 is another story because you not only have to worry about Star but you have to worry about the State or Feds on your emissions systems. I haven't heard of any fines yet, but it will be expensive just to reinstall the emission systems then you will have to pay the fine. I bet it will be extremely expensive.

 

[Buffalo]

I have an '03, HO with a Smarty JR. installed. A few months ago, I had to take the truck into the dealer. I talked to the tech about my problem & he ssaid that he had used the scanner but, mentioned nothing about a programmer being involved. I had returned the Smarty JR. back to the stock position. The tech may not have been looking for a tuner, though, or was just giving me a break.



BOB 4X4: If anyone would know, for sure, it would be you. Can the dealers detect the use of a Smarty product in the 5. 9's?



Thanks.



Joe F.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have not seen any trail left by a smarty. ( I have looked at 03-07)... ... ... ..... but I beleive the op has a new 08

 

[jelag]

Remember that there is a group of dealers out there who will install and service trucks with tuners installed by their service department... those dealers are street smart and will often cover items they know are not caused by the tuner and will go above the call of duty to see you are taken care of... .

I know of two of these dealers personally... . on the other hand they will tell you that if you get out somewhere and another dealer sees the mods... your out of luck and might loose your warranty.....

I own several trucks and leave them stock because we are often 500 miles from the shop and that day that truck might have someone who just doesn't care how hard he drives it... . so no mods... we do have exhaust brakes, air bags, air horns, bed liners, etc, etc... but no engine stuff... . and we expect the truck to run 500K miles and my personal thoughts are that these items shorten the life of the engine...