The last few times I've driven my car I've noticed a grinding sound underneath me and it sounds like it might be gear whine or something in the drive shaft. I want to bring it in to Ford to have them check it out and repair whatever it is, but I'm wondering...for them to do any warranty work with the gears or the driveshaft, would they need to plug my car in to their computers? Reason I'm asking is because I have a C&L CAI and a Brenspeed tune and I'm wondering if I should go back to stock tune and parts before I bring it in to them...even though the problem isn't in the engine. Anyone know?

Thanks!

 

deffinately go back to a stock tune. they should warranty the grinding no questions asked.

 

Did you install gears or a drive shaft??? If not A CAI and tune shouldn't cause a problem. BUT if you what to be SAFE, remove the CAI and put your car back to stock. Make note of you strategy code before you take it in to the dealer.

After the dealer is done with your car, confirm the strategy code is the same, and then re install the CAI and tune. If the code was changed, contact your tuner for a new tune.

 

You can also just tell then NOT to flash ANYTHING. I left the tune loaded and the JLT CAI
on the car. They even had to remove it to get to the alternator they replaced. Didn't say a word.

No harm in being safe though. I'd still tell them not to flash ANYTHING.

 

I've never done anything with the gears or drive shaft those are still stock Ford parts.

I really don't want to have to remove the CAI and go back to the stock tune if I don't have to, but knowing how their service dept is sometimes (always trying to weasel out of doing warranty work), I can just imagine them concocting some lame a$$ excuse for not doing the repairs, like because the non-factory too is overly aggressive and puts too much torque on the drive shaft and is the cause of the whine. It'd all be pure b.s., but I can hear it now and that's why I'm wondering if keeping the C&L and Brenspeed tune installed when I bring it to them would matter or not.

I know there's a TSB out about gear whine on these cars, so I'm hoping someone who had Ford do repairs for that TSB would know whether or not they question the CAI and tune or not. Anyone?

 

That would be up to the dealer. If you say they will most likly question it and cause a problem, just uninstall and return to stock. Should take about 30 to 45 minutes.

The CAI should NOT cause the problem and the dealer should NOT deny the claim. But Ford is not doing to well right now and they may to save money.

If you had a dealer that would question the issue, or had a good relaitionship with a dealer, cool. But even if the TSB and a repair has nothing to do with the CAI, the dealer COULD still be an a$$ about it and cause you a hasle that could be avoided in the first place. Just my two cents.

Is your car is still under a warrenty? If not, even if there is a TSB, you will need to pay the repair cost.

 

Why do people say the dealers will always void warrantys for CAI/tunes?? Thats BS! most dealers could care less about a CAI/tune. The techs are mostly young kids out of high school or in their 20s. If you have a problem with your gears then they arent stupid enough to say a cai and tune is causing gear whine. it would cost them more to say that and then have to fight it than to do the repairs.

 

What kind of grinding noise??? Doesn't sound like gear whine to me.

 

why do dealers not want to do warranty work, i would think they would be like ya we'll cover it under warranty vs you not doing business with us...cause then they would get more money right?

 

Actully the dealer and tech will get LESS money if it is done under warrenty. Ford gives them only so many hours to bill of the repair, not the time that is took to do the repair. If you are paying, the dealer will bill you the $50 hour rate for as many hours that it took.

Also if a dealer is doing too many repairs, Ford will have the dealer call for PRE appoval before doing the work. Ford may also ask for pictures of the car. All done via email. So Ford will see the CAI and deny the claim for that. This is not BS. I know people for work at dealerships and Ford is cracking down BIG time. The CAI may not cause the problem, and Ford may have to pay to fix it, But you may have a long wait and big hassle to get it done. Up to filing a law suit.

Why take the change, if you know your dealer is going to be a PIA to begin with?