[Euro] A Performance Focus...

[Tobster]

If any modified part causes a problem, it will void the warranty on those affected areas; e.g. a CAI won't void the warranty on your stereo, but if it results in killing your engine then no warranty. Subaru particularly had a lot of problems with people changing exhausts, fitting intakes, etc. on WRXs and killing their clutches and gearboxes. No warranty applied because people were putting the parts under more stress than they were factory engineered to take.

Insurance companies also particularly don't like engine management modifications -- even less than many other mods. Many will just flat out refuse to insure you -- because you're more likely to cause damage to the car.

Of course, if you're on a track, you're uninsured for that period of time anyhow. If anything goes wrong on a track, you're not covered...

[EuroDude]

Thats fair enough I guess, especially looking at it from their perspective.

Though an ECU upgrade is ok in their books right?

[spoondc2]

If any modified part causes a problem, it will void the warranty on those affected areas; e.g. a CAI won't void the warranty on your stereo, but if it results in killing your engine then no warranty. Subaru particularly had a lot of problems with people changing exhausts, fitting intakes, etc. on WRXs and killing their clutches and gearboxes. No warranty applied because people were putting the parts under more stress than they were factory engineered to take.

Insurance companies also particularly don't like engine management modifications -- even less than many other mods. Many will just flat out refuse to insure you -- because you're more likely to cause damage to the car.

Of course, if you're on a track, you're uninsured for that period of time anyhow. If anything goes wrong on a track, you're not covered...

Dealer can blame you still, you need to connect wires for Stero right? and they can blame that your poor labour work affects the ECU signals or **** or it causes problems. It really happens before. IF THEY WANNA BLAME YOU, THEY COULD MAKE UP ANY REASONS.

[Tobster]

Thats fair enough I guess, especially looking at it from their perspective.

Though an ECU upgrade is ok in their books right?

ECU "upgrade" is engine management -- doesn't matter if it's a new chip, reprogramming the old chip, or a stand alone or piggyback controller -- you're changing the way the engine works, generally for more power, which means (a) you're likely to be driving hard and fast (= risk) or (b) more likely to cook the engine or wear out components and make a claim.

You can go to any tuner and get them to tweak your engine at any time -- it doesn't mean to say that they know what they're doing. Something like Hondata is still just a matter of an aftermarket tuner playing with trial and error to see what works and what doesn't, and then bringing out a "these are our tested setting for the X-model". They aren't necessarily concerned about things that the factory have to pay attention to such as emissions or fuel consumption. That's not to say that there aren't some really good tuners out there...

Most insurance companies just don't like you playing with the engine CPU management.

If in doubt, ASK before you do anything!