Question Once and For All - Diesel Forum

higgins · 07-10-2003, 09:15 PM

Do Aftermarket "chips" void the warranty on a new 6.0 diesel, simple question? I think they do. But will stand aside if I am wrong. The reason I ask is that many are choosing to use them, and with some of the problems with the 6.0 I would hate to see a guy left out to hang on an unrelated problem, i.e. injector failure or rear main leak, and let Ford hang it all on the "chip". If you put one in, is that it, can they say regardless of the engine failure, you "chipped" it see ya later on a warranty claim............Hig............. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

lad52 · 07-10-2003, 09:47 PM

higgins:

The Ford dealers don't even seem to have a consensus on this one. Some of the dealers down here don't have a problem with chips and others do. Same with suspension lifts from what I've read here, although none down here have a problem with them.

I agree with you that I wouldn't chip mine until all the problems are ironed out of the 6.0L. Once that happens (and I seem to be in the minority in saying that I think it will happen and fairly soon), I would chip mine if I felt there was some benefit other than MORE POWER. As for me, the 6.0L has more than enough power for what I use it for.

As for those that have had problems and are down on Ford for it, we all knew when we bought the thing it was a new product and 1st year problems have been the rule rather than the exception for every manufacturer. I can't see getting irritated with Ford unless the problems fail to be corrected within the first year.

Cheers

azpsd · 07-10-2003, 10:42 PM

Yep tough question.

We have a guy in Phoenix - top notch shop. Sells chips, does radio and TV spots. This is his web site

http://marksalem.com/
This is what he says about chips see #2

http://marksalem.com/diesel-faqs.htm

I am trying to educate myself abou them. Quad, Edge and TS. I will probably chip the truck at some time after everything is stable with em. To play it safe- I am making criteria one that is easy to install/remove and one that leaves no traces behind computer or otherwise.

higgins · 07-10-2003, 10:50 PM

Maybe the "chip" guys could step up and say, " If you have a warranty claim denied, due to the installation of our chip, we will reimburse you for your repairs"............Not gonna happen, cause they know the truth.............Hig................... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

Gale Simpson · 07-10-2003, 11:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
" If you have a warranty claim denied, due to the installation of our chip, we will reimburse you for your repairs"

[/ QUOTE ]

Your right Hig, there just gonna refer you to the M&M act.

bikenut · 07-10-2003, 11:10 PM

yep, refer you to it, but not help you stand up with it. I guess I can understand that it would be impossible to give legal support to every guy who gets his warranty pulled.

I have nothing against chips, they just have to be used wisely. We have been using a SCMT on our 7.3L for quite awhile now and its great so I cant say I'll never use one on my 6.0, but Im definately waiting until ALL the bugs are ironed out and also until I have a good 20K or more on the motor.

**teamroper60** · 07-10-2003, 11:24 PM

Somewhere (I can't find it tonite, but I know it was on the internet) I read a TSB from Ford on the use of aftermarket chips. It flat out said there was no warranty on a chipped engine, period. I'll do somemore searching tomorrow and see if I can find it.

loi1000 · 07-11-2003, 01:40 AM

Hello Hig...I was told by my dealer that if I chose to put a chip in, they wouldn't have a problem as long as I got it serviced by them. But....if I was towing a trailer 200 miles away and had a tranny problem, or anything else that failed, I would most likely be SOL. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img]
Also, when I ordered my new 2004 F-350, I asked about getting a remote starter put in it as I was going to leave mine in the old truck, instead of swapping things around. The dealer told me that Ford has made it clear to all dealerships (Canada anyway) that they will not install remote starters, or alarms, in any Superduty due to the fact that they have had to many starter failures in the past. But he did say I could get one installed after by another company.
I myself had a remote starter installed within days of taking ownership of my 2003 F-350. And I have started this truck countless times everyday, (I only use the remote in the morning) and I have not had a problem at all. I haven't read of any problems here @ TDS either.
What a crock!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Chat with you all later... Ivan

huch1212 · 07-11-2003, 02:27 AM

I won't be chipping mine untill all the bugs are worked out. I have no intention of voiding the warranty on an engine that costs this much......

George C · 07-11-2003, 06:55 AM

It's up to your particular dealer. If you have a good dealer, there shouldn't be any problem. Mine will fix my truck without question.

If you go out and decide to install that powerFOOL thing, and propane, add in some stacked chips and blow her up on the drag strip, I guarantee a Ford field rep Will come over to your dealer and investigate. He will look for clues to try and see if aftermarket performance stuff was to blame. Then you are guaranteed to be holding the bag.

Motto:

If you chip and start running 450+ HP, you better respect it. Run a pre turbo Pyro and keep it under 1,250 degrees.
Big HP and heavy weight can break parts, be a little easier on your tranny and change your oil every 3,000 miles to get rid of the extra soot. If you use some common sense, there will never be a problem resulting from a module.

frobozz · 07-11-2003, 07:09 AM

Well, the official word from Ford is in bold print on Page 2 of your 6.0 Diesel Supplement booklet.

"Some aftermarket products may cause severe engine and/or transmission damage. There are various manufacturers offering devices to increase turbocharger boost, exhaust brakes to increase stopping/hauling capacity or other such devices to increase the power/torque of the Power Stroke engine. Many owners' past experience with these products has been very poor. Severe powertrain damage may result from the use of these aftermarket products which will not be covered by the Ford warranty."

If you have a mod-friendly dealer, more power to you (hey, I made a pun!) but it doesn't look like you have much of a leg to stand on if Ford questions it. Maybe they couldn't deny a water pump warranty claim, but the tranismission, turbo, injectors, valvetrain, etc. could all plausibly be affected by these power boxes.

Duncan

higgins · 07-11-2003, 02:38 PM

I was reading a post by an Administrator of another site and he stated there is no such thing as a "chip" currently available for the 6.0. He stated the products now available are more akin to the 7.3 "edgebox". He stated a chip actally programs onto the vehicles ROM and entirely changes programming, while the products now available only change the "fuel curve", he said no one has come out with a true "chip" yet............Over my head,........... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

frobozz · 07-11-2003, 03:44 PM

Well there is nowhere to plug a chip in, with the 6.0 PCM, so that is correct, no chip. So far the strategy seems to be to diddle with various engine control signals outside the PCM, with an external plug in box, so nobody is even doing the same thing a chip did, i.e. changing how the program itself in the PCM operates.

Duncan

YODA · 07-11-2003, 03:51 PM

Hig
When I bought my truck the dealer sales and service folks that made a point during the pedelivery walk through to mention that if they found the truck "Chipped" or there were signs of it being chipped (the 6.0 evidently has a way of telling them)(Doc confirmed it) the Warranty on the drive train WOULD BE VOIDED (this could include everything too). It was not their call but that Ford was telling them to do it (no matter what)

Now think about this... your dealer may be mod friendly and then you go on vacation and have a problem. That dealer may not be mod friendly and report the finding voiding the warranty.

Personally I have no problem with safe mods...I just cant afford to pay to play. I do have a problem when someone does do the chip/mod, gets in trouble, then wines he is being treated unfairly by Ford when his real beef should be the chip folks for leading him astray. They then leave them hanging only saying that the M&M act should cover him.

Just my 02...I'm sure this will light some fires. Flame suit on [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

**teamroper60** · 07-11-2003, 05:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Well, the official word from Ford is in bold print on Page 2 of your 6.0 Diesel Supplement booklet.

"Some aftermarket products may cause severe engine and/or transmission damage. There are various manufacturers offering devices to increase turbocharger boost, exhaust brakes to increase stopping/hauling capacity or other such devices to increase the power/torque of the Power Stroke engine. Many owners' past experience with these products has been very poor. Severe powertrain damage may result from the use of these aftermarket products which will not be covered by the Ford warranty."

[/ QUOTE ]

That is what I read and was referring to last night. Duncan, you probably saved me a bunch of time there!!