Do I tell my Dealer???

AT/GMC · August 28, 2016

Not a big poster here although I do read a lot and Have learned a lot from everyone on here so I figured I ask this question to see what you all think.

I'm getting ready to order a Blackbear tune for my truck and I was wondering if any of you have ever inquired with your service rep or service manager about having the tune installed and what they would do as far as finding it whether removed before service or not. I'm thinking kinda like feel them out to see what they think about tunes installed on trucks they work on, do they care or don't care. I'll be out of warranty soon but I purchased and extended warranty which will last another 5 years.

I've read an exhaustive amount of posts on the tunes themselves and what some have said to do as far as removing it before service but I didn't see any covering this particular question.

I guess I'm wondering since the manuf. warranty is not in effect anymore and I have a warranty with another company, will the dealer really care? or should I just keep my mouth shut and not say anything?

Thanks.

WilliamBos · August 28, 2016

If they find it, which I don't think it can be hidden, you could have warranty issues.

Binobanbino · August 28, 2016

If you tune your truck your warranty can be voided. It doesn't matter if you remove the tune they can see how many times the ECU has been reset.

It's completely up to you and your local dealer to work on the truck with a truck that has been tuned. One thing to keep in mind whatever you modify your truck has to directly affect the part that requires warranty work. So your drivetrain will have a void warranty but let's say your shocks will still have warranty.

If you tune your truck your warranty can be voided. It doesn't matter if you remove the tune they can see how many times the ECU has been reset.

It's completely up to you and your local dealer to work on the truck with a truck that has been tuned. One thing to keep in mind whatever you modify your truck has to directly affect the part that requires warranty work. So your drivetrain will have a void warranty but let's say your shocks will still have warranty.

If you tune your truck your warranty can be voided. It doesn't matter if you remove the tune they can see how many times the ECU has been reset.

It's completely up to you and your local dealer to work on the truck with a truck that has been tuned. One thing to keep in mind whatever you modify your truck has to directly affect the part that requires warranty work. So your drivetrain will have a void warranty but let's say your shocks will still have warranty.

99silveradoz71 · August 29, 2016

What year truck? On my 08, I bought spare modules from Blackbear and put the stock modules back in before it went for service. I never had a problem. Of course, I didn't abuse my truck either, so it had no powertrain issues.

Colossus · August 29, 2016

You could do that on the GMT-900s for awhile. Not so with the new ones from what I am told.

camcamaro1991 · August 29, 2016

What exactly are your issues, we need more info. if you just want to remove TM and bump some power I say leave it alone and go with some bolt-ons.

personally I think the biggest issue is the transmission shifts along with the v4 to v8 and vice versa, They don't drive exactly like our older trucks but that's the point, its livable for now esp... since I have never gotten this good of fuel economy with a 6.2.

AT/GMC · August 29, 2016

What year truck? On my 08, I bought spare modules from Blackbear and put the stock modules back in before it went for service. I never had a problem. Of course, I didn't abuse my truck either, so it had no powertrain issues.

I have a 2014 All Terrain. I am looking for a little better overall drivability, shifting and a little better gas mileage, although I am getting around 14.5 mpg now city driving. I realize better mileage might not be too realistic, but some have stated that they got better mileage with the tune. If I do, fine , if not that's ok too.

TJay74 · August 29, 2016

What year truck? On my 08, I bought spare modules from Blackbear and put the stock modules back in before it went for service. I never had a problem. Of course, I didn't abuse my truck either, so it had no powertrain issues.

You cant do that on the new Global system GM uses on the new K2xx trucks and newer. That trick ended around 2010ish and newer on any of the new platforms that came out. The ECM or TCM both have to be "re-married" to the vehicle, plus the TCM resides inside of the transmission and is not easily accessible.

Z45 · August 29, 2016

Anything the service advisor etc tells you verbally is no guarantee of anything so I would never bring it up. What they tell you today is no indication of what they will do in the future.

dorkweed · August 29, 2016

So if you do this tune.......................and tear your truck up.........................and take it to the stealership....................and they don't find anything and fix it under warranty..................................guess who pays in the end??!!!

Wanna take a guess why vehicle prices are so very high?????

KARNUT · August 29, 2016

Wow, really? All those trucks are at the dealer being repair because of a tune!? I must have tuned at leased 15 cars and trucks of mine with no problems, that's just not fair. ?

truckguy82 · August 30, 2016

Keep in mind the dealership is just a big private shop that also does warranty work for GM, and they have to pay for all repairs unless GM gives them the green light and foots the bill.

If you have major drive-train damage, GM requires certain information about the ecu before they will authorize a warranty repair. Checking the ECU is literally one of the steps of the repair process for certain big ticket items. It probably doesn't matter how nice the tech or service manager is, I believe it is out of their control.

Silvern Sentry · September 2, 2016

Anything the service advisor etc tells you verbally is no guarantee of anything so I would never bring it up. What they tell you today is no indication of what they will do in the future.

This. A service adviser is like a CSR and they frankly do not know shit about your truck unless they can look it up and read it in GM's system. They are not an expert in anything except answering the phone or taking appointments.

16GmcSlt · September 3, 2016

I think a good option that alot of car guys do is go to a scrap yard and get an ecu/ecm to do their tunes too and then for warrenty they swap back in their original unit. That way it wont show any tunes and remains perfectly stock.