Can Ford tell if I tune my car & detune before service?

krzysiek · 10-05-2012, 12:00 PM

Hi,

Not that I am going to do it any time soon, but I've been wondering if I got a tune on the XR6 Ecolpi (want to test how they go) and flash it back to standard tune before servicing, are there any type of computer or memory logs which will give it away?

I suppose I could take it to another mechanic and not ford, and only use ford if I need a warranty upgrade but I don't mind supporting them.

Also, does anyone know how many NM the standard FG XR6 ZF auto can take? Surely it's not the same strength as the XR6T which I have been hearing?

Thank you!

mac_man_luke · 10-05-2012, 12:06 PM

Ford can tell how many times the ECU has been flashed, thats it.

Legit290 · 10-05-2012, 12:20 PM

flash it back to standard
if they work on the ecu you will lose your tune plus you don't want the apprentice fanging a tuned car around

i tell you this from experience mate

krzysiek · 10-05-2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarkey117

flash it back to standard
if they work on the ecu you will lose your tune plus you don't want the apprentice fanging a tuned car around

i tell you this from experience mate

My main concern is voiding warranty if the car has had its ECU flashed. That's why I would flash it back before a service or warranty claim.

If they know how many times its been flashed, they'll know I've played with it then?

tweeked · 10-05-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krzysiek

My main concern is voiding warranty if the car has had its ECU flashed. That's why I would flash it back before a service or warranty claim.

If they know how many times its been flashed, they'll know I've played with it then?

Yes.

But warranty is only knocked back if the change can be shown to have caused the issue.

Being a N/A six, in all likelyhood you will struggle to damage the driveline due to mods, so it will only really affect damage shown to be caused by detonation and the like.

But you play, be prepared to pay.

Smoke Pursuit · 10-05-2012, 12:39 PM

The dealers cannot tell if its been flashed... Only Ford themselves...

**DJM83** · 10-05-2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

The dealers cannot tell if its been flashed... Only Ford themselves...

This.

DJL351 · 10-05-2012, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

The dealers cannot tell if its been flashed... Only Ford themselves...

Really? I thought from FG on the WDS could show ECU flashes etc. ????
I know the B series cars the ecu had to be removed and sent to Ford to be 'checked'.

superpursuit83 · 10-05-2012, 12:45 PM

Really ? I thought the computer at Ford Service centres had a history of the car and if the flash counts dont match ?

DJL351 · 10-05-2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

Really ? I thought the computer at Ford Service centres had a history of the car and if the flash counts dont match ?

Assuming that the Dealer and tech involved wrote up that an ECU flash was done, then yes, they have a record of how many times.

We had an LR focus come in that showed as never having any upgrades so we plugged it in and the version number was only one or two behind (earily LRs had loads of ECU tweaks) - turned out the other dealer that had done some servicing had never claimed them through Ford/Warranty..... so we did

Gobes32 · 10-05-2012, 01:10 PM

Dealer can extract history such as highest speed achieved, highest redline achieved and a history of the fuel to air ratio or something similair to that. Whether they can legally use these things against you in a warranty claim is a grey area.

krzysiek · 10-05-2012, 02:09 PM

So by these comments it seems a bit unclear as to whether they can easily check whether it has been tuned or not. I know if I play, I pay - but if I know I'm going to have to 'pay' beyond a shadow of a doubt (that is: if they can 100% tell I've tuned it), so to speak, then I will avoid it.

The car runs fine and it's not that I need any more power or torque, but I would 'like' some. It's probably the only mod I will be doing for the most part of the warranty period (if I do go ahead).

xisled · 10-05-2012, 04:35 PM

Ford can tell if a car has been tuned and then detuned.

Read this thread it will give you some info.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...hlight=revhead

**DJM83** · 10-05-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

Really ? I thought the computer at Ford Service centres had a history of the car and if the flash counts dont match ?

I know with the Focus ST/XR5 the ECU needs to be sent to Melb to be read, it cannot be read at the dealer.

nstg8a · 10-05-2012, 06:22 PM

i think its more a matter of personal integrity.

i know it seems to be a common pastime to bag ford, but really i think its borderline fraud to tune and detune for warrenty claims.

if your worried about warranty dont tune. if you do tune imo its wrong to then claim for any damages that would possibly be caused by tune related issues.

**Dave R** · 10-05-2012, 06:35 PM

Ford will generally only request the PCM when there is a significant failure.

Bossxr8 · 11-05-2012, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gobes32

Dealer can extract history such as highest speed achieved, highest redline achieved and a history of the fuel to air ratio or something similair to that. Whether they can legally use these things against you in a warranty claim is a grey area.

Thats an old wives tale. It has no ability to log those things, just the number of times its been re-flashed.

To the OP I think the first question you should be asking is who can tune the EcoLPi, cause as far as i'm aware no one has tried it yet. And being a new system it may need to be looked into?

As for the ZF auto, the NA 6 version is rated to 450nm, so you have some headroom, but they can take a lot more than they are rated too anyway if treated properly. Drivetrain durability shouldn't be an issue unless to want to abuse the hell out of it and do a lot of drag strip work, which I doubt you would, then the stock diff may need to be upgraded to the bigger turbo/V8 version.