APR flash and warranty

[Haydennedyah]

Hey All,
Wondering does anyone on here run a tuned car under warranty? I would love to here from people who have 1.4 and are but anyone doing that would help.
Im wondering, have you been caught out when it is put on the computer?
has it voided something you needed to claim as warranty?
Any tips on "hiding it"
Anything.
Yes I know it can void warranty, purpose is to hear what people have experienced to see if its right for me.

[tigger73]

This is one of the reasons why people with new cars (under warranty) that are tuned stay away from dealers for servicing and only go to there for warranty claims. I know your situation is slightly different, however this is how others handle it.

If you know it's going to get connected up to the computer then the safest thing is to get your tune 100% removed before taking your car in and then put the tune back afterwards. If that means taking your car to your tuner on a flat bed truck, getting the tune removed and then transporting it to the dealer then this is the safest way to ensure that your warranty claim is not denied.

Some tuners claim to be undetectable. That may be the case today however it only takes the engineers at HO to change the method for detection and once your vehicle is flagged it will make things a lot more difficult/complicated should you need to make an engine/drivetrain claim.

I guess on the positive side is that you do have a manual gearbox, so hopefully one less thing to worry about

[Transporter]

I think it's always safe to assume that it would get detected. But, look on the bright side, the warranty is only 3 years and you should wait minimum of 6 months, ideally a year, before tuning it anyway. Though, I've tuned my Amarok in less than 3 months.

When flagged in the system, you still have the warranty, it only means in some cases you would have to fight to get a claim. Of course if you run a stage3 tune and break the diff, you most likely don't have a claim.

[Haydennedyah]

Hmm maybe I stay away for the time being, Though I do have friends that work for VW so getting claims would be fine but just the whole thing of the car being connected to the internet, They cant really stop that. I wouldnt be getting one for atleast 3 - 6 months (maybe).
Yes very happy I got the manual, just have to worry about the engine :

thumb

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[Lucas_R]

I tuned my old Golf R within a month or two of buying it brand new. I wasn't too concerned about warranty, so i was upfront when it went in for servicing or warranty related items and told them that the car was modified and that i didn't want them updating any ECU related items. Luckily the few warranty items were only related to the body of the car (faulty speaker, faulty boot lock solenoid and rattly sunroof) and not mechanical.

I ended up going a bit crazy on that car to the point where it was obvious that it was modified both visually and mechanically, but i never tried to "hide" the fact that it was modified, even in the early days when it was just an intake and stage 1 tune.

[blutopless2]

I had a 2008 Jetta 2.0 TSI 6DSG from new and had it APR tuned before the first year was up... I serviced it with an Independent VW/Audi specialist and only took it to the dealer for warranty work. I was experiencing DSG issues and took it in under warranty to get checked. It went in a few times, each time with them trying different things with the DSG and eventually they replaced the DSG under warranty. Not once did they question me on where it was serviced or mention the ECU changes via APR tune. Though one mechanic did comment to me when handing me the keys that the "car goes pretty good!" with a big smile..
So I never had any problems with VW over the car being modified even though they probably could've easily blamed whatever was wrong the with DSG on the modification.

[Haydennedyah]

hmm perhaps I will atleast give it a yr or two (as hard as it is) and get all my potential warranty in.
Doesnt seem like it can be well hidden if I need to get it put on the computer.
Would be ashame if I had to splash out money for something that went wrong due to the actual manufacture but it to be blamed on the tune, thats what is making me really not go ahead with it.

[Reedy]

Never told them it was tuned but always took it off when it went in to main steelers (bluefin). Had N80 purge valve and charcoal canister and I'm on my 3rd intake manifold all done under warranty no questions. The only time they asked if I were tuned is when ever they were going to touch the ECU which was nice of them. Just tune it!


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[Haydennedyah]

Never told them it was tuned but always took it off when it went in to main steelers (bluefin). Had N80 purge valve and charcoal canister and I'm on my 3rd intake manifold all done under warranty no questions. The only time they asked if I were tuned is when ever they were going to touch the ECU which was nice of them. Just tune it!


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What do you mean you took it off? I thought once you get a tune it leaves traces? I could be wrong interested to know though

[Reedy]

Maybe traces yes but always returned the ECU back to stock for a visit to the main steeler just in case they touched the ECU without asking. Not sure how you return an APR tune back to stock though. Again from everything I've read, if it can be proven that the tune is to blame then warranty is voided for that item not the whole car.


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[brad]

If you are concerned & not willing to lose the warranty on the driveline (which is understandable if you rely on others to do your repairs) then don't do it.

My wife's company cars are usually pretty gutless and her fuel card is always for e10 91ron, even if the fuel filler says 98 minimum. I find if you just leave the pedal stuck to the firewall a bit longer then it's almost like having a tune anyway. I've never seen warranty knocked back for excessive use of the throttle.

[jazzyjames999]

I had a 2008 Jetta 2.0 TSI 6DSG from new and had it APR tuned before the first year was up... I serviced it with an Independent VW/Audi specialist and only took it to the dealer for warranty work. I was experiencing DSG issues and took it in under warranty to get checked. It went in a few times, each time with them trying different things with the DSG and eventually they replaced the DSG under warranty. Not once did they question me on where it was serviced or mention the ECU changes via APR tune. Though one mechanic did comment to me when handing me the keys that the "car goes pretty good!" with a big smile..
So I never had any problems with VW over the car being modified even though they probably could've easily blamed whatever was wrong the with DSG on the modification.

Hey, what VW dealer was this?

[tigger73]

If it was a 2008 and was under warranty, likely this warranty claim was done a number of years ago. VW has got quite a bit more sophisticated in how they detect tunes these days.