WARRENTY DENIED W/Bully Dog

[Snoxracer]

Well truck developed a miss the other day so I took the BULLY DOG power pup downloader and removed the programing for my truck back to stock. Well come to find out it had a bad piston in number 5 cylinder, and the dealer said that they could tell that the truck had been reflashed with a different program. They couldn't actually tell what the program was but the could tell what the max fuel pressure was and they could tell that the fuel curve was not in check with factory programing.

And yes I know that when I put aftermarket performance items on I am taking a risk of my warrenty being denied. But I want to let everyone else know that when BULLY DOG tells you that there is no way that the dealer will be able to see that you had reprogramed the computer that they are full of fecal matter. So I guess that if anyone out there is looking to buy a BULLY DOG DOWN LOADER and is worried about your warrenty I would suggest something different!!!

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

BullyDog

Were you running the BDDL or the CLDL?? On Extreme?

 

[Whiskey]

what version were you using? the new ver/ is supposed to have fixed that. .

 

[Bob4x4]

what version were you using? the new ver/ is supposed to have fixed that. .

Fixd the melt down issues?



Bob

 

[JFaulkner]

I want to let everyone else know that when BULLY DOG tells you that there is no way that the dealer will be able to see that you had reprogramed the computer that they are full of fecal matter.

I have yet to see where they say that on the manual or on the website. Unless they told you that directly. So far the Smarty is the only one that doesn't erase key cycles and is (so I've read anyway) harder to detect.

 

[KBennett]

Busted!!

Where is the beating a dead horse smiley????



Who cares if the downloader is undetectable. You voided your warranty the minute you downloaded the program.



Like someone else mentioned, I wish companies would have an option to choose a warranty so the rest of us would not have to pay for people hiding their upgrades when things go south.

If you play, YOU pay. Maybe these chip companies should offer an insurance plan with their product.

 

[AK RAM]

According to their software version lineage on their web site, version 2. 2. 5a released back in February corrected the erased key cycles and fuel used history. That doesn't mean there are not other things the dealer can see. Even though, that software version will not be found on any of the original power pups like you have. Mainly just the newer Triple Dogs. That sucks man.

 

[Toy Haulin']

Thanks for the heads up, Snoxracer. I'm always intrigued by more power, but this makes me realize I need to stay away from programmers, as I can't afford an overjealous dealer denying me warranty claims which are clearly in their court.



I also think how everyone views their warranty coverage is their own business, so anyone who wants to dump on this guy just for reporting a fact about his warranty being denied in order to inform other TDR members, please keep your judgments to yourself. It's an affrontive position which does nothing but create discord in what should be a fun, informative forum. These comments belong in a separate post if the topic warrants discussion. Thank you.

 

[2broke2smoke]

Thanks for the heads up, Snoxracer



I also think how everyone views their warranty coverage is their own business, so anyone who wants to dump on this guy just for reporting a fact about his warranty being denied in order to inform other TDR members, please keep your judgments to yourself

AMEN!!! brother

 

[JFaulkner]

I also think how everyone views their warranty coverage is their own business, so anyone who wants to dump on this guy just for reporting a fact about his warranty being denied in order to inform other TDR members, please keep your judgments to yourself. It's an affrontive position which does nothing but create discord in what should be a fun, informative forum. These comments belong in a separate post if the topic warrants discussion. Thank you.

I agree totally. I know that Snoxracer didn't do this however it does irritate me when people are totally surprised when their warranty is voided when they mod their truck. I do wish that you could buy a truck without a warranty, especially since the only reason I bought mine is to modify and I voided mine (authough it's never been offically voided, I stay away from the dealer. ) as soon as I got a chance. I don't need a truck for any reason other than a toy, and if I couldn't mod it I wouldn't own it.



I love it when someone asks a question and instead of answering it they preach about how illegal it is. i. e. removing the cat.

 

[LFJ]

I myself like to here from these do Goodies, " Don't Cheat The Companies" Done Cheat Or You Pay" Would you like to get on "Lift Pumps?" I, and a friend of mine had one to go out. His took the Injection Pump with it. I was lucky. Gauges? Whydidn't the install them on all the Dodges? BTY We were stock. Mine with 51000 his 72500. STOCK

 

[KBennett]

If your lift pump went out before the warranty period then Dodge should cover it.



If you increase the output of your engine why should Dodge cover your engine and drivetrain?

Maybe I sounded judgemental but I am tired of people coming on here acting like Dodge is the bad guy. Sure, Dodge and their dealers have done plenty of things wrong, but two wrongs don't make a right.



Snoxracer, it sounds like you had some bad luck with your mods but are you really saying that Dodge should have covered the problem?

 

[GButia]

Heres my take. This has nothing to do about preaching and so forth. I wonder if when increasing power on a third gen via a fueling box downloader injectors whatever... . that a turbo and open exhaust is MANDATORY. I bet if proper air flow thru the system is established... . more fuel plus more air... . we would reduce the heat... which I bet was the culprit in this and many other cases. ie. heat caused a dropped valve damaging the piston.

 

[woodsrat]

No he was not saying that dodge should cover the warrenty, He said that the bullydog box showed up when they checked for it and that he didnt think it was going to.

But while we are on the subject if you or anyone would take this to court they have to prove beyond a resonable doubt that it was the performance mod that was added that caused the problem. Before they can deny a warrenty. Check out the SEMA site they go into detail on this matter. Cant remember the name of the act it is maugesson somthing or other act.

If your lift pump went out before the warranty period then Dodge should cover it.

If you increase the output of your engine why should Dodge cover your engine and drivetrain?
Maybe I sounded judgemental but I am tired of people coming on here acting like Dodge is the bad guy. Sure, Dodge and their dealers have done plenty of things wrong, but two wrongs don't make a right.

Snoxracer, it sounds like you had some bad luck with your mods but are you really saying that Dodge should have covered the problem?

 

[Spooled-up]

it is maugesson somthing or other act.

It's the Magnuson - Moss Warranty Act

 

[69RoadRunner]

But while we are on the subject if you or anyone would take this to court they have to prove beyond a resonable doubt that it was the performance mod that was added that caused the problem. Before they can deny a warrenty. Check out the SEMA site they go into detail on this matter. Cant remember the name of the act it is maugesson somthing or other act.

Actually, it would be a civil case, and it's whichever side makes the better case for the jury.

 

[DieselFiend]

Not nearly enough people go to court over this stuff. unfortunately, in court for something civil like this situation, DC doesn't have to proof that the mod caused the failure. They just have to show that it was more likely than not but not beyond a reasonable doubt. However, if you're doing the suing, you have show that it was more likely that a manufacturers defect caused the problem. Either way, it would be a big mess.



Kbennett, snox was just giving everyone a heads up. too bad there isn't a downloader that will set your ECM back to stock and reflash. That way there's no fuel curve history beyond what you accrued driving it to the dealer.

No he was not saying that dodge should cover the warrenty, He said that the bullydog box showed up when they checked for it and that he didnt think it was going to.



But while we are on the subject if you or anyone would take this to court they have to prove beyond a resonable doubt that it was the performance mod that was added that caused the problem. Before they can deny a warrenty. Check out the SEMA site they go into detail on this matter. Cant remember the name of the act it is maugesson somthing or other act.

 

[klenger]

too bad there isn't a downloader that will set your ECM back to stock and reflash. That way there's no fuel curve history beyond what you accrued driving it to the dealer.

Even that would be enough for the dealer to void the warranty. It would be evidence of tampering with the engine controls.

 

[starkmr]

The problem with going to court is, as always, costs. Most of us don't want to give some shyster lawyer a lot of money to fight in court. It can easily cost many times more than the repairs you need to get your truck up and running. These corporations have a legal department that knows this and have convinced company managment that the Magnusson Act can be ignored because it will be challenged infrequently. Their costs in the long run will go down, which is what they are looking for.



So unless you've got plenty deep pockets, either accept the responsibility for your mods or wait until the warranty runs out, then BOMB it!!

 

[SKneeland]

id just like to point out that most of the people reporting denied warranty claims on here arent shocked, surpised, whining/complaining about it. they are simply stating facts & warning the rest of us what to be careful with.



everytime, theres allways some "na-sayer,do-gooder" that jumps on the bandwagon to tell us "I TOLD YOU SO".

besides, not all cases of denied warrany are just & on modded engines...