CodyC6

I'm wondering if you all are referring to a new type of smog test? In NOVA I've been through smog test as long as I can remember, and they always put a test sniffer up the tailpipe, and a clamp on the spark plug wire, now they put it on a dyno wheel so they can run it in drive. I've never seen them hook up to the OBD-II port. But, if the previous poster meant that there are new tests coming, then I question if the locked tune would allow the test to run period, not if the exhaust was blowing poor levels.

I don't think a tune will fail a smog test for exhaust readings, unless the tune was way off. I've never failed an emissions test including various cars, various tunes, hiflow cats, or different CAIs. As long as your exhaust readings were ok, they haven't cared what you had done.

bent

Way too many of ya'll are looking for that perfect blanket policy that says wether or not your warranty will be voided if you mod. While GM might have a policy, there is only one person that makes this decision....the service manager. he has the power to ok or deny your claim.

If you are planning to mod your car, go to the local dealer and talk to the service manager and see what he can do for you. Mine is an avid racer (drives pro mod) and is cool with headers/tune/other bolt-ons. He stressed no internal work and no nitrous. Simple. Some are strict by the book and some aren't.

I am confident that if i have trouble even in the powertrain that I am covered.

MNVette

That confidence will last right up to the moment that the zone rep for GM gets wind of your manager's "coolness." Your manager is breaking GM policy, and he knows it. If you think for one minute that he is going to stand behind you if/when GM comes to scream at him, then I wish you all the best.

Personally, I think it's silly to have to count on the "coolness" of your service department - either you accept the fact that messing with your Vette screws your warranty or you don't. Your choice.

C6XTACY

I guess you have a point in that. I can't really see voiding a warranty which bolt ons. That would be virtually voiding one out because you no longer have factory rims . But I guess anything IS possible nowadays.

siffert

This is true...but to pass the new OBD tests, you must also have a oem stock tune . Now your stock tune starts throwing Check Engine Light codes. You flunk for that too, even if your emissions are OK.

MNVette

Really? And, when the guy happens to stick his head under the hood and sees the headers? Unless he's just a brain dead chimp, he'll spot the headers (or hear them as you drive into the test area).

I love this - the very same people who bit*h and moan EVERY time they think some "money grubbing" dealer or mechanic is out to screw them out of a nickel are the ones in here now advocating how to break the law or screw over GM on a warranty repair!

Amazing. Allow me to vomit a little in my mouth.

MNVette

You got it - let's say you bolt on a new set of rims and your rotors go bad or your brakes act up. Now, maybe the new rims were a part of that or maybe not. GM could easily say you put something onto the car that we didn't at the factory, so why do you expect us to pay for the repair? I'm not saying GM would go to that extreme, but they could. You should be prepared to pay if you're going to mod. Period.

C6XTACY

Sickening how true that is if you have an open mind.

LTC Z06

!!!!

C6XTACY

I would love to do that, if I was still in VA. But, now I'm out here in San Diego and getting ready to move to Lemoore-I have to start the search all over again. I'm kinda glad I stumbled across this thread, as I was about to put in some serious work on my C6 once I got the Lemoore for good in March. I know it was only a few years ago, but when I got my '99 Eclipse GS-T, I had everything literally except the seats, dash, and body modded within two weeks, and somehow still had a warranty when the synchros in my transmission just decided to say **** it. Then again, I did only pay 11,000 for it.

My C6 however was 46,000. I'm willing to bet my left *** cheek that GM would have a closer, more trained eye on their investments. Not to mention, California is the bastard state. I just need to answer if goals>potential hassle at this point.

CodyC6

Do you know where we can find info that says the car has to have an OEM tune for the OBDII smog test? I just read up on the system for two states that have that system, but it only says it is to read problem codes, and whether your MIL check engine light is functional. It is a simple way for them to verify you haven't thrown any codes for the emission system.

I know with a locked program, we are still able to use our scan tools to read our check engine codes, etc., so I would like to verify they are also testing for OEM programs. Thanks.

0Chuck CoW

Hey Guys...

Let me start by saying that for anyone who wishes to know THE REAL STORY about tuning or computer locking...YOU CAN CALL ME ANY TIME AND I'LL EXPLAIN it to you in it's entirety.

Unfortunately, the internet is cluttered with "opinions" and mostly unintelligent banter by the small handful whose only purpose for posting the "locking" garbage is to attempt to steer business away from my business.

If you surf this forum, and this thread in particular, you will notice that there are three usernames which continually pop up on this site and others continually posting the same incorrect information while at the same time directly or indirectly implying that you should not get tuned by "Chuck CoW" because he locks his tunes. They do not target other tuners and it is evident by the pattern of posting (if you investigate their posting history) that these posts are not legitimate in nature, but by design repeatedly, directly, and intentionally attempt to discredit what I do and take business away from Corvettes of Westchester.

The fact is that I am the authority on topics like this and be wise not to digest too much of the garbage posted on internet forums most especially info posted by those whose sole intention is to run me out of business.

While I'm in the business of tuning corvettes, I'm prepared to offer anyone with legitimate questions or concerns regarding the topics presented herein a full and complete, unbiased explanation of what it is we do and why. I'm prepared to answer ANY questions you might have.....ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL ME @ 914-332-0049 anytime.

Forgive me for not contributing to this thread or answering questions herein as I'm tired of this and I've posted many times on this forum regarding the "pcm locking".

For anyone who cares to investigate, you will find many pages of information in this site and rest assured, if I posted it....it's legit.

The truth is that I do actually make it optional to lock computers after I tune them and after explaining the options to my customers..Most everyone asks me to Lock them...

If you know how it works, why we do it, and what your options are....In most cases it's your best option.

As for the clowns that pursue me from forum to forum taking every opportunity to discredit what I do and do nothing more than confuse those of you that try to sort through all this garbage.....Some of them have been "banned for life" today....Others will follow if they keep it up.

Unfortunately, The exact same thing happened to me on another forum last night and by now, the same offenders have been banned.

By their behavior, it makes it easier to see what their agenda really is and where the truth lies.

Make informed decisions....with credible information.

STAY TUNED! (and locked )
Chuck CoW

0Chuck CoW

This is absolutely UNTRUE. Another example for totally wrong information.

Most of the nation adopted the IM240 inspection program in 1996 with the advent of OBDII and CAN protocol vehicles.

I have tuned and locked THOUSANDS of computers in the last bunch of years and EVERY SINGLE vehicle has passed it's state exam in every state of the union since then.

Doncha think that If people were failing their inspections because of locked or tuned vehicles we would hear about it by now???

Sheesh....When will it end?
Chuck CoW

siffert

Try contacting member AU N EGL...he says North Carolina is one of the first states to soon have
THE UPCOMING NEW SOFTWARE with the OEM tune:

I dont have to worry about it for awhile. Where I live, you get a "free 4 year stay out of smog jail card" when you buy a new car and you dont have to go to the smog police station until 4 years after purchase. I got my my own HP Tuner(so no locked tunes) and worse case scenario I can take off my headers and put back my stock manifold/cats on in less than 2 hours. Good luck.

AORoads

".Some of them have been "banned for life" today....Others will follow if they keep it up."

wow, there's a lotta peop posting on this thread. you mean many or most could be banned? gonna be a pretty empty place if that occurs....

C6XTACY

That is a very valid point. I don't know the whole deal about the locking, nor will I act like I do. Hell, I don't even know which intake I'm gonna get yet , but I digress.

I see it like this, if you want to get a tune, but don't want to get the PCM locked. The tuners' next words should be: "Roger that, not a problem". You say that you give the driver that option. And if that's true, I don't see what the issue is, excuse me if I'm being blind on that matter. However, if the tuner says he doesn't want to keep it unlocked or whatever, and you get the locked tune anyway, you don't have the right to be pissy with the tuner if you KNEW it was going to be locked, and didn't want it.

MNVette

I've been reading this entire thread, and I don't see anyone bashing a particular tuner. Aren't we being just a little paranoid?

As for "banning" a poster because they are saying things you disagree with, well that's smacks a little of Stalin's Soviet Union, doesn't it? I understand being angry with someone stating falsehoods, but if their opinion disagrees with yours, well, that's America, isn't it?

As for the ORIGINAL purpose of the thread, again, locked or unlocked is irrelevant. Who cares? The real issue is whether or not a tune will get you into trouble come warranty-claim time. I think even Chuck would agree that the answer to that is a resounding YES.

C6XTACY

Ah, I think I get it now. It's my fault for losing the keyword "warranty" when a couple of posts only talked about locking tunes and warranty.

mneblett

My last three checks in NoVa have been by OBDII port -- no sniffer, no engine compartment connections. Just a VIN chec, a (very fast) visual, and start the computer and run the car. The only additional bit is to insert an instrumented gas cap for propery vapor recovery operational check (again, via the OBDII port code output).

autox c6

No, this does not work. I found out the hard way that they can tell if the codes have been recently cleared. I learned this when taking my wife's turbocharged RX-8 in for emissions testing.