Anyone here have Warranty Voided due to Chip?

[AudiWxGuy]

Quick Question for everyone...

I was just wondering if anyone here has had there warranty voided due to having software, that has a stock mode, on your car??

I know we make up a small population of A4 owners, but its still a stat worth looking into. I'm thinking about getting a software upgrade...again....and was thinking of going with the STaSIS Software...but $1495 is an awful lot to spend on a software program that will never be compatible with a BT upgrade, race gas, etc...if I decide to go that route in the distant future.

I think I"m just being paranoid...

[Slo.Mo.Shun.]

I have had major warranty repairs on my car just with all the mods listed below on the car.

[gpxluke]

I believe it really depends on the dealer.....if the dealer is being gay, he can void your warranty for replacing an aftermarket light bulb...

[Slo.Mo.Shun.]

I believe it really depends on the dealer.....if the dealer is being gay, he can void your warranty for replacing an aftermarket light bulb...

That is correct.

A dealer tried to void my warranty because of my HIDs, I reported their sorry asses to AoA and got the work done at another dealer.

[AudiWxGuy]

I have had major warranty repairs on my car just with all the mods listed below on the car.

Yeah...but do you go to a mod-friendly dealer? The parts guy at my dealership has been a real dick to me about the warranty. He says if I chip the car, the warranty is Null and Void...unless of course I go through STaSIS and spend $1500 dollars for a basically new warranty through STaSIS, that would only be valid at dealers that sell STaSIS stuff....

[Phrost]

Depends on the dealer. Mine told me to go ahead and get chipped with whatever, and they even pointed me in the right direction (although I already had plans to do it).

Granted, if something goes wrong with the turbo or something obviously related to the chip I won't be covered, but everything else that is normal will be.

Be like me, go to your dealer a lot and make friends there. It can really help you out if you're in a tight spot.

[Noffy]

I have made freinds at my dealer, but they are against it. There is no doubt in my mind if I chipped my car and they found out, something going wrong or not, they would try a void the warranty. For me I just have not decided wether it is worth the worry. I am just one of the people that worry, and I like to be able to take my car in on a whim to have it looked at if there is some sort of funny noise or something. Therefore I have chipped it yet, although i would really like to at least try it out.

I called AoA and they said their policy is that if you goi changing the engine, or the software that operates the engine you will void your warranty. Upon my questioning why some dealers offer to do it for you AoA sounds surprised (yeah right!) and said that it does not mean they will honor the warranty afterwards

[chrislane31]

Get APR with lock out and the dealer will never know anything without sending the ecu out for inspection. And you can deny them this.

[LampyB]

^^i don't think they'd have to send the ecu out for inspection to find out if you're chipped or not. they should just be able to run your boost logs on their in-house computer system. im not 100% positive on this though...


LampyB.

[chrislane31]

Not if you reset it to stock and lock it. I don't think the ecu logs old boost logs.

[Lewie06A4]

It's my understanding that they have to prove the modification you did, did in fact cause the part to fail. For instance if you chip the car, and for some reason your heated seats don't work anymore, or something is up with the ABS, they still have to cover it. It's illegal for a dealership to void the entire warranty because of a modification. Chipping the car will void the warranty on related parts. Putting a new suspension would void any applicable suspension parts, control arms, yadda yadda.

[AudiWxGuy]

I had the APR for about two weeks. I wasn't in love with the software program. I was thinking about going OC.T but since you can't switch between a chipped and stock mode that wont work either. The dealer sells STaSIS software, which I may go with b/c my warranty would still be covered by STaSIS for the 4 year/50,000 miles...however...that is similar to the OC.T program in which there is only one mode....and it's $1495...

So to me...it comes down to paying an extra $700 to keep my warranty.

[Lewie06A4]

Quick question with that. Can the stasis program and it's warranty be applied to a non new car purchase? Like if you have had the car for some time, and you want to go ahead and buy the program. I understood the program as an addition if you were buying the program and the car brandnew from that dealership. If you can apply it to a non new car is that 4 yr 50k mile warranty from the day installed, or based on the reading of the car?

[AudiWxGuy]

i'm not sure on that....i actually just got off the phone with AWE and they basically said if you put the car in stock mode a day or two before you take it in for service everything should come up fine...plus in order to void your warranty the dealer would have to prove beyond reasonable that it was the chip that voided the warranty.

[Lewie06A4]

Bingo! I would save my 700 bucks and just get a program from one of the normal tuners. IIRC stasis is just a modified GIAC right? Just have your dealer flash it back to stock if you need to take it in for service. OR get the flashloader.

[AudiWxGuy]

I'll get the flashloader and save my money. STaSIS says it's there on software...however the torque curve is very, very similar to the GIAC-X.

I would also like to go for a ride with someone that has a GIAC-X before I get one.

[Lewie06A4]

Off their website

Power

· 238 hp 262 ft-lb

· Developed in conjunction with Mahle Motorsport and GIAC for unsurpassed power, reliability and drivability

[bhvrdr]

I would not buy a program at a dealership ever and there is no reason for them to know you are chipped.

If you purchase a stock program and a lockout there is NO way for the dealership to know you are chipped. THERE ARE NO DATA RECORDERS in our ECU that keep track of historical boost logs. Sometimes dealer techs come on the forums and spread that misinformation. Your car will log out exactly as OEM and the current flash program retain the factory flash counter, workship ID, etc information that your original chip came with. If you suspect a catastrophic failure then, sure just have your car first towed to your tuner to load back on your 100% original OEM file, but otherwise feel free to take the car into the dealership for normal visits in stock mode and you will not have a problem. When a dealership says to a customer they found their chip, they are FOS if you were in stock mode and locked out. It is just a way for them to fish. Often if you have aftermarket wheels or an exhaust they will assume you are chipped.

cheers! Mike

[AudiWxGuy]

Thanks! I'll be getting GIAC-X and there is no way to got a security lockout. I can put the car in stock mode and bring it to them. I run the risk of the dealership actually having a flashloader...if they do, then plug it into my car it will show the car is chipped. However, I assume the risk of that is quite low...

[sandspeed]

It's my understanding that they have to prove the modification you did, did in fact cause the part to fail. For instance if you chip the car, and for some reason your heated seats don't work anymore, or something is up with the ABS, they still have to cover it. It's illegal for a dealership to void the entire warranty because of a modification. Chipping the car will void the warranty on related parts. Putting a new suspension would void any applicable suspension parts, control arms, yadda yadda.

You sir, are indeed correct. For any kind of aftermarket part or modification, they must prove that the damage done was caused by that part. Check out the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act. A bit of legislature that proves that not all politicians hate nice cars.

[dave405nyc]

i just got chipped this past wknd, GIAC X and its a totally different car! super smooth, feels like stock except when u punch it it really moves. i was concerned about warranty issues as well, but i found a GIAC tuner 15 min away from me and they will reflash my car 100% stock if major warranty work is needed. AudiWxGuy, i suggest you find a tuner close by that will flash your car to 100% stock in case u need major warranty work. since you weren't happy with APR, try out the X program. Smooooooth, yet powerful

[AudiWxGuy]

That's what I'm going with. I guess to be super safe I could go back to the tuner shop and have it flashed back to stock. I would just like to go for a ride with someone that has it before I pony up and pay the $795 for the software. I was looking for a stock feel when you want it and not when you don't. I found the APR software was not smooth and made it very hard to make the car feel stock.

[dave405nyc]

GIAC X is for you then, very smooth ride. if u were in nyc id be glad to give u a spin

[AudiWxGuy]

THanks for the good info guys. I appreciate it. It has put my mind to ease about getting a chip and keeping my warranty.

[Sanjman]

THanks for the good info guys. I appreciate it. It has put my mind to ease about getting a chip and keeping my warranty.

Don't worry most cars start falling apart after the warranty has expired. [up] Have fun with it. It's just a car... not your life.[drive]

[loucura]

dealer just voided my suspension warranty yesterday....kinda sucks

"the car is too low and the tires are too big...they(mechanics) are too afraid to touch it(suspension)"

[AudiWxGuy]

That sux dude. I'll be putting the audi sport suspension in, so there is no way in hell they will be able to void that...but they probably would if something happened. However, I'm not going to tell them I put it on.

[Noffy]

Don't worry most cars start falling apart after the warranty has expired. [up] Have fun with it. It's just a car... not your life.[drive]


I dunno dude, when my car starts running rough and having troubles so does the rest of my life.


Somewhere, I think here, I read where the dealership said that the owners car was running outside of the general performance cabability and that he must of had it modded and in turn voided his warranty. It kinda seems unlikely but it appear to be reasonalbe when I read it.

Question about the APR lock. How do you unlock it. From what I gather you put in some sort of password. Is there a prompt or something for this, if so couldn't the dealer determine that you had a chip because there was some sort of security lock out on it?

[jimmyrecluse]

I believe it really depends on the dealer.....if the dealer is being gay, he can void your warranty for replacing an aftermarket light bulb...

Gay dealers? Those gays do it to you every time.

[bhvrdr]

I dunno dude, when my car starts running rough and having troubles so does the rest of my life.


Somewhere, I think here, I read where the dealership said that the owners car was running outside of the general performance cabability and that he must of had it modded and in turn voided his warranty. It kinda seems unlikely but it appear to be reasonalbe when I read it.

Question about the APR lock. How do you unlock it. From what I gather you put in some sort of password. Is there a prompt or something for this, if so couldn't the dealer determine that you had a chip because there was some sort of security lock out on it?

More dealership misdirection...

When the car is in stock mode the car is performance exactly as the OEM outputs will perform. There is no running outside of OEM parameters because the car is running the OEM outputs for code. Once again, there is no data recorder that records what your car did yesterday or the day before. This doesnt exist. Add to that that even if you left your car in chipped mode I dont know of any dealerships that even datalog anymore. The VAS 5051 scan tool doesnt even have labels for the measuring blocks. Dont worry if in stock mode.

With regards to program switching, that was another one used for misidirection. Once the car is locked in stock mode, there is absolutely nothing that occurs (no lights blinking, no prompting and the cruise works exactly as OEM) UNTIL you have successfully entered the correct PIN code. Until then it is stealth.

Dealerships will do what you said above when young people come in with rims and the dealership doesnt want to deal with them. They play their hunches and say they know you are chipped. If you bow your head and walk out they have you. It's like the cop that says, "You know how fast you were going?" to you bc he didnt have his radar on. You say "80" and he says "You were going 82mph" :)

cheers! Mike

[Sanjman]

I dunno dude, when my car starts running rough and having troubles so does the rest of my life.


Somewhere, I think here, I read where the dealership said that the owners car was running outside of the general performance cabability and that he must of had it modded and in turn voided his warranty. It kinda seems unlikely but it appear to be reasonalbe when I read it.

Question about the APR lock. How do you unlock it. From what I gather you put in some sort of password. Is there a prompt or something for this, if so couldn't the dealer determine that you had a chip because there was some sort of security lock out on it?

If your happiness is based on your car's well being then good luck with Audi [up] should have gotten a Japanese car, haha. (please one at a time when everyone starts yelling at me [:D])

P.S. our cars generally run rough from the start

[Lewie06A4]

Somewhere, I think here, I read where the dealership said that the owners car was running outside of the general performance cabability and that he must of had it modded and in turn voided his warranty. It kinda seems unlikely but it appear to be reasonalbe when I read it.


Sounds like the dealer was giving somebody a boat load of ish. I always ask the question when something like this comes up. If the dealer is taking your car out for a test drive to make sure everything is working, then why the hell is he getting on my car that hard? Why is he hot rodding my 40k car around? That's the only way he can tell if it's chipped is if it's in 91/93 mode, and takes it for a joyride beating on it. There is no reason this should happen. They would have a hell of a time explaining themselves.

[Noffy]

If your happiness is based on your car's well being then good luck with Audi [up] should have gotten a Japanese car, haha. (please one at a time when everyone starts yelling at me [:D])

P.S. our cars generally run rough from the start

hahah well so far so good, I had plenty of japanese cars and it didn't seem to make me all that happy at the time.

[AudiWxGuy]

Yeah...However, for those of you that have GIAC...as far as I know there is no security code. So you take out your flashloader and put the car in stock mode. The only way the dealer would be able to find out if your chipped or not would be for them to plug in a GIAC flashloader...or if you left yours in your glove box and they got curious if they find it.

So, if you have GIAC, when you take the car to the dealer, I would have it flashed back to stock if you want to be extra safe. However, I doubt the dealers would have a flashloader...

[Noffy]

Sounds like the dealer was giving somebody a boat load of ish. I always ask the question when something like this comes up. If the dealer is taking your car out for a test drive to make sure everything is working, then why the hell is he getting on my car that hard? Why is he hot rodding my 40k car around? That's the only way he can tell if it's chipped is if it's in 91/93 mode, and takes it for a joyride beating on it. There is no reason this should happen. They would have a hell of a time explaining themselves.


lol all true, but you have seen Ferris Buellers Day off right?

[Auditech03]

I have been tech with audi for 4 years now & have never voided a warranty. I have provided estimates for parts that have failed due to (ie- chip, exhaust, so on & so on). I have also replaced a shit tone of parts on car that have been modded. I guess it all depends on the tech that works on your car. We have a couple guy's at the dealer that ar real strict, but for the most part we are laid back, unless the mod is why the part has failed.

[jimmyrecluse]

I have been tech with audi for 4 years now & have never voided a warranty. I have provided estimates for parts that have failed due to (ie- chip, exhaust, so on & so on). I have also replaced a shit tone of parts on car that have been modded. I guess it all depends on the tech that works on your car. We have a couple guy's at the dealer that ar real strict, but for the most part we are laid back, unless the mod is why the part has failed.

Usually what Ive found to be true. Even heard of an engine failing once, somewhere, and the dealer worked with the guy. Put his car back to stock, engine replaced.