I recently bought a 2014 mustang gt. It had a CAI on it and I'm guessing it's a no tune required since the dealer didnt give me a tuner. Is there a way to find out if it's a no tune required or if I got stiffed on a tuner? Also if it is a no tune required, can I buy a tuner and it will work with it?

Thanks!

 

Dealers never give tuners to car owners, so you didn't get stiffed on anything.

The CAI was probably installed by the previous owner, not them. You don't need
a tune for a CAI unless the CEL comes on for a lean condition. If they had a stock
intake lying around, the CAI would not even be on there. Dealers will remove
aftermarket items if they can cost effectively replace it with OEM. Used car
lots, you get the car how it was given...

If the car was tuned by the previous owner, they still have it, and are in no way
obligated to leave it in the car, AND the dealer is in no way obligated to provide
it even if it was. In fact, 10:1 says if the tuner was in the car, the dealer took
it back to stock, and tossed the tuner, or gave it to someone else with a Mustang.
They won't be held liable for it, so they get rid of it. Especially on Certified used.

Also fact, the dealer doesn't want anything to do with your mods and add-ons. They
will allow you to remove all your mods and additions, and lighting, they don't want it.
It will not change the trade in value at all, you only get the trade in value on the car
the way it was built. You get nothing extra for modifications, unless they're OEM
parts, wheels, and lighting. You get nothing extra for aftermarket stuff, and they
will let you remove it all. If you put in an aftermarket radio, they don't care, it's still
just a radio.

Lots of times, dealers will remove parts that can be a potential warranty issue that
they do not want to be held liable for. I have seen them remove catch cans, and return
the PCV to stock. They won't cover the catch can and parts under the powertrain
warranty, so they take it off, because they don't want you pushing the issue if they
sold you the car with it on there, and it fails in some way. IF you happen to leave
your $400 boost module on your VW when you trade it in, the dealer will remove it
if it is to be sold as certified used.

..And sure, you can buy a tuner all day.... I got one from Canada for $135 for my '08.

 

Thanks for the reply! It's a used car with a CAI so I know the dealer didnt install it. As for the tuner, if I buy the tuner will I have to do anything special? Since it's a non tuner required CAI, can I just tune it saying it has a CAI or is there something on the tuner that would conflict it since it's not a tune req CAI?

 

Nope, you're good. Some tuners have CAI specific tunes. My predator doesn't though.
Tuner will just take a little more advantage of the CAI, or short ram, whatever is on it.
If you open the hood, and oh, there it is, the air filter, it's not a true CAI.