[kyle702]

If you have to pass smog in your area tuning will make you fail smog also.
Older vehicles you can get by because the tuning companies had no restrictions on bypassing smog with sending fake sensor ready checks and fake air fuel ratios to the smog tester. Now they do and it is regulated.



Newer vehicles you won't find an over the shelf tuner that will bypass smog checks.


Best thing to do is to purchase another ECU and have the dealer program that ECU to your immobilizer. Now you have the stock ECU for smog and warranty, and the "race" ecu to do what ever you like.


Keep in mind also a stock ECU is not going to deal with upgrades well and will likely fail a smog test.


If passing smog is not an issue, than warranties shouldn't be either.

[CHASLT1]

Originally Posted by Chrome383Z

This is what I’m worried about. I’m thinking about pulling the trigger earlier then I planned so that I can get it tuned.

My Tuner is getting out of the game as he got a threat from the EPA and they may start up inspections again in FL to check for all the modded BS. Another reason i got the rid of the Camaro.

[Joshinator99]

Originally Posted by kyle702

If you have to pass smog in your area tuning will make you fail smog also.
Older vehicles you can get by because the tuning companies had no restrictions on bypassing smog with sending fake sensor ready checks and fake air fuel ratios to the smog tester. Now they do and it is regulated.



Newer vehicles you won't find an over the shelf tuner that will bypass smog checks.


Best thing to do is to purchase another ECU and have the dealer program that ECU to your immobilizer. Now you have the stock ECU for smog and warranty, and the "race" ecu to do what ever you like.


Keep in mind also a stock ECU is not going to deal with upgrades well and will likely fail a smog test.


If passing smog is not an issue, than warranties shouldn't be either.

You can definitely pass smog with a stock ECU, assuming the tuner is competent.

[JSH]

You should proceed under the assumption they can or will void your warranty. The language in the warrant gives them broad discretion. Since all of our cars are linked to their website, I've often wondered about the data they can or are collecting.

[FarmerFran]

Originally Posted by JSH

You should proceed under the assumption they can or will void your warranty. The language in the warrant gives them broad discretion. Since all of our cars are linked to their website, I've often wondered about the data they can or are collecting.

The issue here is the ambiguity that " you could have changed "anything""

And unless your lawyer is better - you lose.

Software is still a very broad "thing" = - unlike a "part" that can be "pointed at"

[arpad_m]

Let's be brutally honest and responsible here. Who really thinks that a tuned car should have its powertrain warranty intact? A tune can do anything to the fine balance of a vast and complex set of engine and transmission control parameters, some of which, when messed with, can easily cause catastrophic engine failure... does anyone expect GM to stand $10-15k behind an engine/trans running a tune by Joe Sixpack's Speed Shoppe?

Lacking some sort of aftermarket tuner certification program by GM, which is unlikely the way things are going, there is no way to ensure only experienced pros touch a tune, we have decided to take the risk and, if necessary, pay to play.

I for one despise the various ways to try and cheat with secondary ECMs and TCMs and flashing tricks, because those are one of the main reasons behind stricter lockdowns, security and enforcement, which hurts everyone in the end.

Just like Doc Oc, I had the dealership perform certain things on the car, flush the trans and the rear diff plus fix some smaller non-powertrain issues, but if the LT1 under the supercharger or the A8 craps itself, it'll be on me.

I trust Ted Jannetty's tune as he is one of the best, but one can't expect GM to do the same.

[L78toLT1]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Let's be brutally honest and responsible here. Who really thinks that a tuned car should have its powertrain warranty intact? A tune can do anything to the fine balance of a vast and complex set of engine and transmission control parameters, some of which, when messed with, can easily cause catastrophic engine failure... does anyone expect GM to stand $10-15k behind an engine/trans running a tune by Joe Sixpack's Speed Shoppe?

Lacking some sort of aftermarket tuner certification program by GM, which is unlikely the way things are going, there is no way to ensure only experienced pros touch a tune, we have decided to take the risk and, if necessary, pay to play.

I for one despise the various ways to try and cheat with secondary ECMs and TCMs and flashing tricks, because those are one of the main reasons behind stricter lockdowns, security and enforcement, which hurts everyone in the end.

Just like Doc Oc, I had the dealership perform certain things on the car, flush the trans and the rear diff plus fix some smaller non-powertrain issues, but if the LT1 under the supercharger or the A8 craps itself, it'll be on me.

I trust Ted Jannetty's tune as he is one of the best, but one can't expect GM to do the same.

I completely agree. I also somewhat understand when GM voids the power train warranty for catch cans and other minor mods. It is possible to F-up a catch can install or forget to empty a can and hydro-lock the motor. I understand GM not wanting to either do a forensic analysis to determine if a mod caused a failure or turning a blind eye to mods and eating the cost of a new motor.
I don't necessarily agree when coverage is denied for a known issue such as a failed oil pump because of a benign mod such as a CAI or catch can.

[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by zupesterLT1

Will having my car tuned void my warranty?

Yes.

[GearheadSS]

Yes it will. People need to be careful with tuning now since the EPA seems to be an the hunt for shops and companies that sell tunes and any other equipment that changes the vehicles emissions. The EPA has handed out over $7 million in fines to diesel shops recently and it looks like they're not going to slow down on this.