Second ECU to Save Warranty?

[Maverick986]

Reading up on warranty issues after flashes, specifically ECUTek (planning on using). If one were to buy a second ECU to use for tuning, and then have a warranty issue, could the original be placed back in (still being stock), and skip the headache of the dealer claiming a tune voided warranties?

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[Tectoniic]

If you want to deal with that sure but why is everyone so preoccupied with trying to pretend like they haven't modified their cars? If you mess with your car and a nice window appears in your engine why are you trying to get the dealer to pay for your mistake?

/hot take

It seems like such a waste of time vs just flashing back to stock for 99% of situations

[renfield90]

They will have records of you buying it. This is called felony fraud.

Man up and get your tune right or don't play this game.

[new2subaru]

^^I agree. Popping a motor isn't the end of the world.

[Maverick986]

Had not thought about the dealer/manufacturer having a record of the second chip.

Was not looking at this to "play" the system, nor actually planning on doing. More just a thought in an instance where a part fails on a car, that is not related to a tune, but a dealer claims that the tune cause it, or voids all warranties because of the tune.

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[renfield90]

Originally Posted by Maverick986

Had not thought about the dealer/manufacturer having a record of the second chip.

Was not looking at this to "play" the system, nor actually planning on doing. More just a thought in an instance where a part fails on a car, that is not related to a tune, but a dealer claims that the tune cause it, or voids all warranties because of the tune.

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Magnuson Moss is your friend. They can't legally do that.

[COO86L]

They key will always be a good relationship with your service department. I have a very good relationship with my dealership/service department here in Aus, and even though I'm boosted, they have done warranty work for me. Anything short of actually putting a window in the block, they will most likely warrant for me as all they do is request authority to carry out the work from Toyota HQ in Aus and then they get paid to do it. Anything too big would require too much of an investigation for them to pass it off.
And if I opened a window, I'd be building a new block myself

[steve99]

Originally Posted by Maverick986

Reading up on warranty issues after flashes, specifically ECUTek (planning on using). If one were to buy a second ECU to use for tuning, and then have a warranty issue, could the original be placed back in (still being stock), and skip the headache of the dealer claiming a tune voided warranties?

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you can swap ecu using proceedure here

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...91&postcount=1

however to set vin number and to flash correct calibration id your going to need tactrix/ecuflash and techstream software (freely available)

if you going turbo/sc their going to notice that before a tune or assume correctly your tuned.

even if you have just catless header, if it not throwing a cel they can assume your tuned check CVN (checksum) with their tool to prove your tuned.

If your concerned keep car stock

If you want the least or possibly undetectable system choose Openflash tablet or Tactrix as both can flash a 100% stock rom back to ecu.

The checksum CVN will be same as stock.

[steve99]

Originally Posted by Maverick986

Had not thought about the dealer/manufacturer having a record of the second chip.

Was not looking at this to "play" the system, nor actually planning on doing. More just a thought in an instance where a part fails on a car, that is not related to a tune, but a dealer claims that the tune cause it, or voids all warranties because of the tune.

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They dont routinely look for tunes unless the car has an unusual problem or is obviously modded.

ie if you take it in for a cam plate oil leak, known problem then they are not going to complain or start looking for tunes.
unless you have obvious serious mods like turbo/sc.

they probably should still fix the cam plate, but they could refuse if the mods like turbo/sc get in the way of them doing the work in the usual manner, or charge you for extra labor due to your mods hindering the work, but they usually refuse unless you return it to stock as they dont want to work on or arround the mods as they dont want the resposibility for upsetting anything to do with your mods.