Ford is getting tough on warranty for mod cars
11-28-2011, 01:29 PM
#31
The broken conrod and shot block story is universal for all brands. Chevy and Dodge dealers also tell the story of thrown conrod piercing the block from stupid turbo or supercharging boost levels. It is actually a bonafide urban legend as popular as it is.
Of course, gross detonation damage and a broken conrod are obvious signs of over boosting the manifold. I personally do not know how to reproduce such damage naturally aspirated.
For this, I side with the dealer techs in denying the warranty even though a turbo or supercharger is not present.
Of course, gross detonation damage and a broken conrod are obvious signs of over boosting the manifold. I personally do not know how to reproduce such damage naturally aspirated.
For this, I side with the dealer techs in denying the warranty even though a turbo or supercharger is not present.
11-28-2011, 04:31 PM
#32
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: IL
Posts: 562
The broken conrod and shot block story is universal for all brands. Chevy and Dodge dealers also tell the story of thrown conrod piercing the block from stupid turbo or supercharging boost levels. It is actually a bonafide urban legend as popular as it is.
Of course, gross detonation damage and a broken conrod are obvious signs of over boosting the manifold. I personally do not know how to reproduce such damage naturally aspirated.
For this, I side with the dealer techs in denying the warranty even though a turbo or supercharger is not present.
Of course, gross detonation damage and a broken conrod are obvious signs of over boosting the manifold. I personally do not know how to reproduce such damage naturally aspirated.
For this, I side with the dealer techs in denying the warranty even though a turbo or supercharger is not present.
11-28-2011, 07:59 PM
#33
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: MD
Posts: 445
There is a bit more to it than that. Plus, the information about your vehicle is much more detailed when viewed with engineering software than it is at a dealership with the IDS scan tool. If Ford really wanted to know everything about your computer they could have the dealer ship it to Dearborn or they could just use WebEx to take control of your vehicle session and do it remotely.
There is only really one way to keep your PCM data virgin and I'm not going to share it. Plus, it still isn't perfect because anyone willing to do what must be done likely has other mods that aren't so easily disguised.
Consider this too..... if everyone knows (including the dealerships) that something as simple as a CAI will not work properly without a tune and you show up with a CAI and no visible tune.... what do you think they will conclude?
The more mickey mouse clandestine warranty fraud games you play, the more games the maker and dealers will play to force you into court.
Here's a good story:
I know of a case that went to arbitration of a guy with a 4.6 3v Mustang that had a broken connecting rod and gobs of collateral damage. Completely wasted longblock. No signs of modification other than a piece of casting on the RH cylinder head that was strangely ground down. Ford was aware that a certain supercharger kit required this exact grounding down of the head casting in order for the blower to be mounted correctly. Eventhough he had no visible modifications to the car, his claim was denied by the arbitrator because there was absolutely no reason for someone to take a grinder to a head in that manner other than do accomodate a specific supercharger kit.
There is only really one way to keep your PCM data virgin and I'm not going to share it. Plus, it still isn't perfect because anyone willing to do what must be done likely has other mods that aren't so easily disguised.
Consider this too..... if everyone knows (including the dealerships) that something as simple as a CAI will not work properly without a tune and you show up with a CAI and no visible tune.... what do you think they will conclude?
The more mickey mouse clandestine warranty fraud games you play, the more games the maker and dealers will play to force you into court.
Here's a good story:
I know of a case that went to arbitration of a guy with a 4.6 3v Mustang that had a broken connecting rod and gobs of collateral damage. Completely wasted longblock. No signs of modification other than a piece of casting on the RH cylinder head that was strangely ground down. Ford was aware that a certain supercharger kit required this exact grounding down of the head casting in order for the blower to be mounted correctly. Eventhough he had no visible modifications to the car, his claim was denied by the arbitrator because there was absolutely no reason for someone to take a grinder to a head in that manner other than do accomodate a specific supercharger kit.
11-28-2011, 09:23 PM
#34
6th Gear Member
11-28-2011, 11:15 PM
#36
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: OH
Posts: 317
11-29-2011, 07:06 AM
#38
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 181
I gave up the idea some time back regarding mod with CAI and a tune. So I got a AEM (made by K&N) dry filter that fits the stock air cleaner. The advantage of the "dry" filter is that it's much easier to clean, but performs like a regular K&N filter. I am thinking of getting a Ford tune which is not so radical,but gets 60lbs of torque at low rpm.
11-29-2011, 07:40 AM
#39
6th Gear Member
The drop-in filters add no RWHP. Yeah, they may flow marginally better than the OE filter (and certainly not as much as even a stand-alone, no tune required CAI) but not enough to make a pubic hair's worth of difference. On top of that, ANY air flow increase without a tune is near-worthless.
And I'm afraid, after seeing you quote the Ford tune's published gains and bellieve the drop-in filter advertised hype, that you seriously need to step back and consider what you're buying. Advertised #'s are 99% BS.