Am I screwed?

[S4Mon]

So I bought a 2012 S4 Prestige with 43k miles about a month ago from Vroom. Love the car.

Anyways, I've been suspicious of some kind of tune that's been done to the ECU because it seems a bit fast and throttle response seems a bit touchy.

Well AWE confirmed it has the GIAC Stage 2 software with pulley. This is all dandy but I purchased an aftermarket warranty from the dealership and the dealership did not disclose this modification.

Am I pretty much screwed if my car needs repairing if they determine this tune caused the failure?

[TMurt]

Unless you have some way to prove the tune was installed when they sold the car, then you may be out of luck. I'm not sure if tuning companies have any way to tie install dates to the vin numbers but your best bet may be to contact GIAC about it. I have no experience with tunes though so hopefully someone else can chime in

[SteveYem]

Unless you have some way to prove the tune was installed when they sold the car, then you may be out of luck. I'm not sure if tuning companies have any way to tie install dates to the vin numbers but your best bet may be to contact GIAC about it. I have no experience with tunes though so hopefully someone else can chime in

It never hurts to go back to the dealer and tell them what you've learned. Worst they will do is say TFB.

[agorich]

Unless you have some way to prove the tune was installed when they sold the car, then you may be out of luck. I'm not sure if tuning companies have any way to tie install dates to the vin numbers but your best bet may be to contact GIAC about it. I have no experience with tunes though so hopefully someone else can chime in

I agree with this. They may not have known it had it but you bought the warranty with the car as is. If i'm not mistaken, GIAC should be able to provide you a timestamp with when the software was installed. This is assuming they put the vin w/ the purchase order/software download and upload but I also have no experience. haha....but if I ran that business model, I would. So I assume they would. Good luck!

[EGPhoto]

i mean im sure you can contact GIAC and get the vehicle flashed back to stock and so long as you dont have a TD1 no one would the wiser.

[LINDW4LL]

I don't think it really matters with an aftermarket warranty.

[cspcrx]

Are you under any factory warrantee? I do not know what or who Vroom is but if it is a dealer did they provide a warrantee? As others have said contact GIAC and get the install date from them. I would say nothing unless they turn your down for repair work.

[amz]

I would say nothing unless they turn your down for repair work.

+1

[Johnnycash]

I don't think it really matters with an aftermarket warranty.

im pretty sure if they can deny a claim they will use any kind of information of modification as justification to do so.

[doug97gxe]

So I bought a 2012 S4 Prestige with 43k miles about a month ago from Vroom. Love the car.

Anyways, I've been suspicious of some kind of tune that's been done to the ECU because it seems a bit fast and throttle response seems a bit touchy.

Well AWE confirmed it has the GIAC Stage 2 software with pulley. This is all dandy but I purchased an aftermarket warranty from the dealership and the dealership did not disclose this modification.

Am I pretty much screwed if my car needs repairing if they determine this tune caused the failure?

Get GIAC to give you in writing if they can .. documentation of when the car was flashed .. keep this documentation with you along with your proof of date of purchase .. if you are ever denied warranty work use this to your advantage.. for now don't say anything to the dealer they will try to flash you back to stock and put the stock pulley back on the car. Enjoy the car for now and keep the documentation handy

[Dr GP]

I don't think it really matters with an aftermarket warranty.

It does with Fidelity

[blackfunk]

I don't think it really matters with an aftermarket warranty.

Actually they will on occasion have the dealership scan the car to see if there is a tune installed. I've seen this first hand.

[blackfunk]

It does with Fidelity

Yup. ^This.

[blackfunk]

As to the OP, its my understanding that as long as the car is returned to stock prior to service by Audi you won't be flagged TD1. Take that with a grain of salt however.

[Usa]

Go to the dealership, talk with an advisor, they can pull up your vehicle history, find out if any software updates were applied to the car where they were required to plug in the audi diagnostic tool. If that tool was ran with your tune on the ECU you are TD1.

Shorter path would be to ask them if your car is showing a TD1 Powertrain warranty flag at which point you know that it has been applied. Otherwise, enjoy the free tune and pulley!

[LINDW4LL]

Good to know. Here would be my advice, then. Email AoA with the VIN- perhaps say you're interested in purchasing said car, and ask them to please verify that there aren't any warranty flags. Alternatively, you could go to the dealer and ask them to verify this with your VIN.

If no TD1, then there is no harm. If anything ever happens where you need to make a major claim for something powertrain-related, just have the car flashed back to stock prior to taking it in.

Actually they will on occasion have the dealership scan the car to see if there is a tune installed. I've seen this first hand.

[BoostEasy]

I don't think it really matters with an aftermarket warranty.

This. Audi corp gets reports on the fact you have an non-standard ECU bootloader or whatever but I highly doubt Audi would ever find out you purchased an aftermarket warranty nor would there much benefit to them for ratting you out.

[Johnnycash]

This. Audi corp gets reports on the fact you have an non-standard ECU bootloader or whatever but I highly doubt Audi would ever find out you purchased an aftermarket warranty nor would there much benefit to them for ratting you out.

audi dealerships do repairs for aftermarket service contracts all the time and if the the company ie fidelity is footing the bill for a large repair you bet your butt they will have the car scanned for a tune.

[wack0]

you can always get a refund on your aftermarket warranty. i say keep the tune, get your money back, and stick it in a savings account for future repairs.

[jokingjimmy]

Just get a hot fudge Sunday anda be happy.

[JVDMN]

Contact GIAC with your VIN number to figure out when the tune was done so you can prove it was done before your purchase.

[chaos2984]

I don't think it really matters with an aftermarket warranty.

This exactly. Don't ask don't tell policy. Don't offer up any information without being asked. And if they ask lie lie lie deny deny deny. Make them prove it has a tune. But unless you take it to an audi dealership for repair they won't and can't check for a tune. So you will get offered warranty. And even if its an audi dealer and they fix it, its in their best interests to just fix it so they make money. The aftermarket warranty company doesn't even ask if the car has a tune. I woudnt worry about it. I would only do something if you have engine damage and take it to an audi dealership. But I have yet to see any engine damage due to a tune.

[KRp220]

OP, read your warranty contract. it most definitely does matter to them and its listed very explicitly it most of the contracts i've seen (was a finance manager at a car dealership for a little bit). most complaints about warranties are about them not covering something cuz they obviously look for any reason not to

with that being said, the dealer usually has a ton of pull and can often make them cover something (in my experience). more importantly, like chaos said ^, if they don't know, don't bring it up

[MrFunk]

Here are your options:
1. Return the warranty - get your money back and enjoy the tuned car. I'm sure you can cancel the warranty and get un-used time refunded. Save the money for a rainy day repair if you ever get one.
2. Return the car due to not disclosing this information to you - if you bought from an Audi dealership. Otherwise you are probably SOL.
3. Turn the car back to stock - this will probably cost you some to get a stock pulley. You will probably be just fine.

I would opt for option 1.

[AudBoost]

^^ Option 1

[BoostEasy]

audi dealerships do repairs for aftermarket service contracts all the time and if the the company ie fidelity is footing the bill for a large repair you bet your butt they will have the car scanned for a tune.

I really have no idea. I guess you'd need to know someone work works in an Audi service dept. Logically it would not seem to be automatic though. From what I've heard, in order for Audi AG to pay for certain types of warranty repairs, the car MUST be scanned by Audi software tools that automatically reports back to their HQ and flags the car TD1 if a tune is present.

Where in the case of an aftermarket warranty, I would imagine the tech doing the scan will get some sort of pop-up on a service computer screen that says a tune was detected but it's highly unlikely it's connected to a warranty company's HQ for auto-reporting. What that tech does with the info is now in his hands, presumably. He can either notify the warranty co or just pretend he didn't see it maybe.

[StevenStarke]

none of this matters because even if you can prove the car had it on, they'll still look for any reason to not warranty your car. I DEFINITELY wouldn't go tell them about it. Best case scenario is the dealer gets a refund on the warranty and refunds you the cost of it and you have no warranty anyway

[StevenStarke]

audi dealerships do repairs for aftermarket service contracts all the time and if the the company ie fidelity is footing the bill for a large repair you bet your butt they will have the car scanned for a tune.

I love when people just make shit up. Fidelity doesn't have software to "scan for a tune" on an S4. And they're not going to have the dealer look for a tune on every single expensive warranty bill. They have hundreds of claims a day on hundreds of expensive cars. You think every single one they're like "hey see if the car is tuned". A majority of them don't even know what a tune is. Unless someone involved in the process is an S4 enthusiast familiar with the cars, it would never come up. You think they would ask to have an A6 scanned too? And an A8 and an S5?

[blackfunk]

I love when people just make shit up. Fidelity doesn't have software to "scan for a tune" on an S4. And they're not going to have the dealer look for a tune on every single expensive warranty bill. They have hundreds of claims a day on hundreds of expensive cars. You think every single one they're like "hey see if the car is tuned". A majority of them don't even know what a tune is. Unless someone involved in the process is an S4 enthusiast familiar with the cars, it would never come up. You think they would ask to have an A6 scanned too? And an A8 and an S5?

You my friend are wrong. Fidelity can request that the car be scanned by an Audi dealership. And you best believe that on occasion they have their claims adjusters go and PHYSICALLY inspect the car depending on the issue. I know that for a FACT.

[AudBoost]

I love when people just make shit up. Fidelity doesn't have software to "scan for a tune" on an S4. And they're not going to have the dealer look for a tune on every single expensive warranty bill. They have hundreds of claims a day on hundreds of expensive cars. You think every single one they're like "hey see if the car is tuned". A majority of them don't even know what a tune is. Unless someone involved in the process is an S4 enthusiast familiar with the cars, it would never come up. You think they would ask to have an A6 scanned too? And an A8 and an S5?

Sorry man but this is not true. Insurance companies wouldn't be in business if they just handed over money. They will look for any reason to deny your claim. Do a google search on Fidelity warranty claims and you will see that the process is not as easy as calling them to tell them your car is broke and they just pay the bill. Small claims may fly under the radar but a large claim like a transmission or differential replacement they will send an adjuster to inspect the car and even if the adjuster approves the claim it will still have to go through a few more people before it's approved.

[Johnnycash]

I really have no idea. I guess you'd need to know someone work works in an Audi service dept. Logically it would not seem to be automatic though. From what I've heard, in order for Audi AG to pay for certain types of warranty repairs, the car MUST be scanned by Audi software tools that automatically reports back to their HQ and flags the car TD1 if a tune is present.

Where in the case of an aftermarket warranty, I would imagine the tech doing the scan will get some sort of pop-up on a service computer screen that says a tune was detected but it's highly unlikely it's connected to a warranty company's HQ for auto-reporting. What that tech does with the info is now in his hands, presumably. He can either notify the warranty co or just pretend he didn't see it maybe.

typically on smaller repairs ie a thermostat $1000 or so its a simple phone call with the s.a. and an authorization as long the part is covered, but in the case of a major repair ie transmission, sport diff replacement etc they will have an adjuster physically come out to inspect the vehicle...

with regards to a technician scanning the car after the fact and subsequently seeing a tune present on the car i wouldnt want to be in the position of thinking well i hope he doesnt say anything, specifically an audi tech because he will probably be thinking i need to cover my ass just in case.

now in the event you bring your car to a nice import shop and you have a working relationship with the people there and are getting a claim fixed there particularly a performance orientd shop, i think there is much more solace in the fact that you can simply be %100 honest with those guys up front and they will help you along in the process, and or even the audi dealerships that tend to be more mod friendly.

I love when people just make shit up. Fidelity doesn't have software to "scan for a tune" on an S4. And they're not going to have the dealer look for a tune on every single expensive warranty bill. They have hundreds of claims a day on hundreds of expensive cars. You think every single one they're like "hey see if the car is tuned". A majority of them don't even know what a tune is. Unless someone involved in the process is an S4 enthusiast familiar with the cars, it would never come up. You think they would ask to have an A6 scanned too? And an A8 and an S5?

LOL

you have no idea what you are talking about, and have the audacity to tell me im making stuff up. cool story bro

[jsh139]

Here are your options:
1. Return the warranty - get your money back and enjoy the tuned car. I'm sure you can cancel the warranty and get un-used time refunded. Save the money for a rainy day repair if you ever get one.
2. Return the car due to not disclosing this information to you - if you bought from an Audi dealership. Otherwise you are probably SOL.
3. Turn the car back to stock - this will probably cost you some to get a stock pulley. You will probably be just fine.

I would opt for option 1.

There's a 4th option. Keep the tune and the warranty and hope that the warranty administrator doesn't require an extensive inspection when warranty work comes up. This is what I am doing.

[S4Mon]

The sales manager from AWE informed me that Autoscope in Plano, TX installed the Stage 2 package which my CARFAX indicates as being on 3/26/2015. I will verify that date with the manager. I bought the S4 last November so at least it was installed before the purchase and prior to my knowledge. I plan to keep the tune and warranty and just play dumb if any crap about it surfaces.

[StevenStarke]

Fidelity would have to ask the dealer to check. And unless an inspector noticed modifications in person or the engine was blown, they wouldn't be doing this by default. If you blow a rear diff and the car is not apparently
Modified they're not going to check. Stage 2 flash and pulley with stock intake, exhaust, suspension and wheels and they're not
Going to be checking for a tune. Unless someone gave them the idea to. Never said it was impossible. Just unlikely if those are the only
Two mods.

[josh2424]

Does the ECU not keep this data? I.e when it was flashed, therefore erasing previous tune? Since this date is before you purchased, you have no responsibility in any future faults as you didn't know...

End of the day, dealer sold you a car without fully disclosing info. Don't see how you'd be screwed.

[RudyH]

Here are your options:
1. Return the warranty - get your money back and enjoy the tuned car. I'm sure you can cancel the warranty and get un-used time refunded. Save the money for a rainy day repair if you ever get one.
2. Return the car due to not disclosing this information to you - if you bought from an Audi dealership. Otherwise you are probably SOL.
3. Turn the car back to stock - this will probably cost you some to get a stock pulley. You will probably be just fine.

I would opt for option 1.

Was going to say similar, but you can still take the money and shop around for aftermarket warranty that is modified car friendly.

One catch, and I don't know Fidelity's legal disclosure...until you resolve DO NOT put through a claim with them. That way it's unused, and you don't screw yourself, as I had wording that states I get 100% of my money back if I don't put through a claim by the end of the length of the warranty, regardless if I cancel early or not. Of course I think that doesn't apply to me anymore, because Audi...

[MrFunk]

There's a 4th option. Keep the tune and the warranty and hope that the warranty administrator doesn't require an extensive inspection when warranty work comes up. This is what I am doing.

Agreed

I had a 3rd party extended warranty on my past Stage 3 A4. Tons of warranty claims. No issues with getting the work covered... even when an adjuster was sent out to inspect. The dealership was plenty aware of the mods on the car also...

I think it really all comes down to working with a mod friendly dealership... just like having a tuned car under factory warranty. But on that same note you should be prepared to pay to play...

[blackfunk]

Was going to say similar, but you can still take the money and shop around for aftermarket warranty that is modified car friendly.

One catch, and I don't know Fidelity's legal disclosure...until you resolve DO NOT put through a claim with them. That way it's unused, and you don't screw yourself, as I had wording that states I get 100% of my money back if I don't put through a claim by the end of the length of the warranty, regardless if I cancel early or not. Of course I think that doesn't apply to me anymore, because Audi...

With Fidelity you do not get back ALL of your money even if you don't submit a claim. It's prorated based on time. Imagine if they did that and everyone waited until the 11th hr to ask for their cash back. I sold my 2010 within about 100miles of the factory warranty expiring and I was given a few dollars short of what I paid.