Dealer detecting if AFM was ever off.

[Cowpie]

Not disputing that contention, but just pondering, how would they have a leg to stand on regarding how many times the AFM activated? Is there some condition that it has to activate 10 times a month? 100 times a month? What? There are some folks, based on what they are doing with their pickup and where they are doing it, that by default, the AFM would never activate! Like typical farm use pickups, or construction site pickups. How about some landscaping outfit that always has a trailer and a load in tow? Now they may never even need to program out the AFM or use something like the Range device, and they would show virtually no AFM time either.

 

Of course, GM could say or use anything, but it really doesn't mean much. If there is no standard AFM usage to measure by, based on the what the vehicle is used for, then it doesn't mean anything.

 

And I really think that a lot of folks just plain worry about crap like this way too much. I mess with ECM's components, etc on my heavy commercial engines that, engine alone, cost more than most folk's personal vehicles. And since I got my first ECM controlled heavy engine in 1996, and racked up over 2 million miles and a fair amount of engine work by the OEM for some warranty issues, I have never had any of them even worry about little nonsense as we are discussing here. And don't you think they would have loved to disavow a warranty claim if the could on a $35,000 engine? Yet, they basically didn't give a rip. Even my present heavy truck engine. It got a ported, polished, ceramic coated exhaust manifold (equivalent of headers on a V8), the waste gate turbo was yanked off before the engine ever went to work and a larger, better performing Borg Warner turbo was installed complete with a turbo blanket. And the ECM was adjusted from the stock 500 hp and 1650 lb torque to 550 hp and 1850 lb torque. The engine has gone in twice for normal periodic top end adjustments, and no one a the OEM has said a peep about these mods. And guess what..... they are the ones who did the mods for me!! And they still honor the warranty!

 

Of course, those dealership guys are pros and not some maintenance counter dweeb at a auto dealership. They understand that what we did were beneficial improvements to the engine. It is somewhat difficult, I know, for some dweeb at a car dealership to understand that the AFM is the problem and that turning it off is beneficial.

 

But alas, I am not losing any sleep over the PCV catch can I put on my engine, the Airaid MIT I put on it, disabling the AFM, and using motor oil that is not on the "approved" dexos list, even though it meets and exceeds the dexos spec. I am able to keep my paranoia gland under control.

[mike94silverado]

I should have worded that better not so much "a leg to stand on" but an Excuse to deny warranty. Anyone with a brain would fight it and likely win but there's always those people who would just listen to them and pay it.... just like when the old woman gets sold 4 new tires and new brakes all around by the "Service Advisor" when she probably has 30% tread left and only needed pads and resurfacing....

[j-ten-ner]

If they tell me that my engine wasn't running in V4 mode for a long time I would probably answer: " ...then you better fix it...!"

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[Cowpie]

I think if they told my my engine had not been in V4 for a long time, I would say..... An engine not in V4 is like constipated dog... a good thing!

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

A work truck with a bed full of tools, a trailer with equipment such as mowers or a skid steer that drives around town all it's life, will more than likely NEVER activate the AFM and if it does, it will be very seldom and not for any length of time

[Cowpie]

Now, let's sit back and thing about this warranty denial thing. I have never even heard of an OEM denying a warranty unless someone really screwed things up. You have folks running around worrying day and night that they might do something to get a warranty claim denied. Those folks probably have nothing to worry about. it is the character that really takes modification to levels that normal folks don't think to do to their pickups. Those guys are the ones who might need to worry. Somehow from here and other forums, there seems to be this fear that the OEM's are chomping at the bit to deny warranty. Yet, on these same forums, I hear of dealers that have done things like making a major repair, out of warranty, and then striking a deal with the customer for half price or something. That is a vehicle already out of warranty (within a reasonable time frame). As far as in warranty, I have yet to actually read of a dealer, for simple mods like most of us do, deny a warranty claim. I just think folks worry about stuff too much. Sure, they should be cognizant that if they go too far with mods that they might have a problem, but you can do one heck of a lot of mods and still not jeopardize the warranty.

 

I guess I have done this kind of thing for so many years and never had any warranty issues (yes, I have had warranty claims), that it is easier for me. I have never been denied warranty by GM, Cummins, Freightliner, Jeep, Ford, Eaton Transmission, or Detroit Engine..... ever. And I have done things to the commercial engines that would cause hair to fall out from some folks here. Especially the "tweaks" I did to a couple of 15L Cummins ISX engines. Yet, when I had a warranty issue, it was honored without so much as a mention of what I had done, since what I did had no effect on what needed covered by the warranty.

[EX-F150 owner]

I would guess that would be a good assumption. From a commercial standpoint, I watch who takes a wrench to my commercial trucks because I have been known to "tweak" things, including ECM settings. But even then, unless it is something that they need to go into the ECM and look for, a dealership shop will usually not waste the time looking. It is similar to going to the doctor, you usually are not going to get and EKG or MRI done, because you stubbed you big toe. Unless you give them a reason to take a peek at whether the AFM is on or off, the odds are such that they probably won't even look.

 

I have had the AFM effectively disabled on my 2013 since I first brought it home from the dealership. It has been at the dealer twice for a couple of minor things, and no one has even mentioned anything about the AFM. I don't volunteer any information. To me the dealership is like talking to police. Don't say anything that might be used against you. I don't mention the AFM. I don't mention the oil I am using. I have a strict don't ask don't tell policy regarding my vehicles. I determine what they need to know.

Well you do have your first and last name under your user info and what state you live in. There are GM reps on here. I don't know what you have posted about what you've done to your truck, but to those that give personal info, posting this stuff on here may not be much different than telling your dealership in person. IMO the GM reps are here for our help as well as to help GM too

[Cowpie]

I have no fear of any GM dealership. To me, this is not even playing with the big boys. I have engines I use that, alone and individually, exceed the total cost of my 2013 Z71 Crew Cab. I have dealt with dealerships for several decades on that type of stuff, and dealerships for my personal vehicles too. I have never seen any dealership void a warranty for me or anyone else doing simple mods like most of us do here. Including ECM tunes. I have done ECM tunes on my commercial equipment, had them at dealer various times for various engine issues, and I have never had anyone even worry about the tune. And they knew I did them. The tunes kept all the adjustments inside the design parameters of the engines, even if it was above the stock settings. You have to use your brain a little bit. It is those nincompoops that go way beyond anything that would be considered a "typical" mod that have any real reason to sweat going to a dealership. As long as you stay within the design parameters, you have a low risk of a problem. And shutting down the AFM is staying within the design parameters. It is simply shutting off a feature available on the engine. No different than my eliminating the daytime running lights, which I did also. Neither of which are required by law to be functional. They are simply OEM features that I choose not to use.

 

The only reason I would consider reverting even a tune to stock on the ECM before going to a dealer, is that they may flash an update to the ECM and I would be in a pickle for getting my tuner to install the tune I really want. So, to that end, I would revert to stock tune before going to dealer. Not out of some fear that I might be "found out".

 

Now, I do understand other folk's concerns, and I have no problem if they wish to take the side of caution. Each person has to live within their own comfort level. What they decide to do is fine with me. I am in no way advocating that anyone else should do what I do. I just think that they need not lose a lot of sleep worrying about a lot that they seem to worry about.

[TJay74]

As Jenna said, only Global A platform vehicles ECM keeps a log of how many times it has been flashed. That is the Camaro, new vette, new GM trucks, anything that is new and being released now.

 

Yes you can flash your ECM and yes it is up to the manufacture to prove the flash caused the issue. NO they wont check the ECM everytime you bring the vehicle in for service, but if you bring the vehicle in for any major drivetrain work GM can request the dealer to look into the ECM and pull the CVN file name from the ECM and send it into them. The CVN tells the dealer if the tune matches what the stock known calibration was when the vehicle left the factory.

 

With the global architecture now the dealer hooks a laptop up to the vehicle now which is how they can see if the ECM has been flashed.

[bmcgowen]

I would wait until you are out of warranty for a tune, my truck just rolled 40,000 with D.O.D./A.F.M, and i had two lifters go bad.

[Cowpie]

That is the beauty of the Range AFM module. You can have the AFM not work while it is plugged in and just unplug it when you take it to the dealer for work. Simple plug and play into the ODB port under the steering wheel. No tune. It does not put in new code or some other thing that says the ECM has been messed with. It just supplies the right signal to prevent the ECM from taking engine into AFM mode. Simple, effective, and those with warranty worries can sleep well at night.

 

Man, I do love the choices we have in this country, and everyone can have something that will fit within their comfort level.

[FastMan]

I called the people at Range Technology and they said not to worry. The dealer can't negate your warranty, because they have no idea that you used it. Be sure though--if you don't drive every day, unplug the device, because otherwise it can drain your battery.