Purchased Used C7 with Factory Warranty... Found tune after/warranty void
10-26-2017, 08:20 PM
#1
3rd Gear
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jan 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Purchased Used C7 with Factory Warranty... Found tune after/warranty void
Recently I purchased a C7 with the remaining factory warranty, as well as a remaining certified warranty showing on the Chevy Service Report, from a non GM dealer, out of town... Shortly after, it began having a very loud ticking noise and stopped accelerating. I took it in to get checked out by the nearby Chevy dealer and they found a sunken lifter and loose rods... In addition to aftermarket bolts, denying the warranty. After, they sent the PCM to GM, in which they came back and said the car had been tuned 8-10 times and they would be putting a block on the warranty.
Does anyone know if there are time stamps or mileage stamps on the logs showing the car was tuned? I reached out to the dealer I purchased it from with no luck... Looking at where to go from here.
Does anyone know if there are time stamps or mileage stamps on the logs showing the car was tuned? I reached out to the dealer I purchased it from with no luck... Looking at where to go from here.
10-26-2017, 09:40 PM
#2
Moderator
Yes, they can tell if the PCM has been tuned, even if it has been returned to stock tune.
10-26-2017, 09:44 PM
#3
You want dates to prove to the dealer it was tuned pre you?
I know the system uses a ECM revision counter and that’s how GM knows, but not sure if the revisions are date stamped. I would doubt it.
I know the system uses a ECM revision counter and that’s how GM knows, but not sure if the revisions are date stamped. I would doubt it.
10-26-2017, 09:48 PM
#4
Team Owner
Member Since: Jun 2005
Location: Northern, VA
Posts: 46,100
Received 2,477 Likes
on
1,940 Posts
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I'm sorry to read of this. From about the mid-C6 run, one of the things learned in buying a used Corvette was to have it checked for a tune. It would cost some money but not nearly as much as having a partial or complete powertrain block. Hope someone can answer your question on here.
10-26-2017, 09:55 PM
#5
Safety Car
Member Since: Feb 2016
Location: Bainbridge Island WA
Posts: 4,980
Received 3,818 Likes
on
1,614 Posts
Oops! Sorry, but you're screwed. Doesn't matter if you did not do the tune yourself. It was tuned, therefore warranty is blocked. Not the first time this has happened. 
10-26-2017, 10:22 PM
#6
Sorry to hear. This is what scared me about buying used. I know there are well taken care cars out there. However I'd probably have this luck had I went used. To many dishonest people.
10-26-2017, 10:25 PM
#7
Boy, that is a bigtime bummer. You should try and hold the dealer for selling you pig in a poke. If they advertised it as having a warranty, then oopso on them. How long have you had the car?
10-26-2017, 10:25 PM
#8
Advanced
If he had a way to prove the car was tuned prior to his purchase he may be able to go back to the dealer he purchased it from.
They may have to do something if they failed to tell about the cars history.
Maybe
They may have to do something if they failed to tell about the cars history.
Maybe
The following 2 users liked this post by Hillbilly65:
Landru (10-27-2017),
Rebel Yell (10-28-2017)
10-26-2017, 11:50 PM
#12
This is a good explanation of how the system works:
The flash counter memory segment of ECU stores the calibration ID, programming date (as sent by the programming software) as well as the programming station or repair facility ID from GM MDI unit used.
If a re-flash is done by a third party using a GM TIS subscription the re-flash is stored but does not match any event in the GM vehicle history data base.
If aftermarket software is used the info is blank but the re-flash is stored.
GM can look at the vehicle history data base and see how many re-flashes were done by an authorized GM dealer
If you re-flash your OEM ECU you risk voiding the factory warranty if you have a mechanical problem with the powertrain.
If a re-flash is done by a third party using a GM TIS subscription the re-flash is stored but does not match any event in the GM vehicle history data base.
If aftermarket software is used the info is blank but the re-flash is stored.
GM can look at the vehicle history data base and see how many re-flashes were done by an authorized GM dealer
If you re-flash your OEM ECU you risk voiding the factory warranty if you have a mechanical problem with the powertrain.
10-26-2017, 11:54 PM
#13
Drifting
I had similar issue 2 weeks ago. Scroll back a lil here in general discussion and check my thread out.
I’ll be ordering new short block tomorrow(I believe) from Texas speed and performance, my heads survived.. they’ll get cnc treatment and whole new upgraded valvetrain. Some other misc parts and hopefully I’ll have her back by early December..
I’ll be ordering new short block tomorrow(I believe) from Texas speed and performance, my heads survived.. they’ll get cnc treatment and whole new upgraded valvetrain. Some other misc parts and hopefully I’ll have her back by early December..
10-27-2017, 12:01 AM
#14
Moderator
I had similar issue 2 weeks ago. Scroll back a lil here in general discussion and check my thread out.
I’ll be ordering new short block tomorrow(I believe) from Texas speed and performance, my heads survived.. they’ll get cnc treatment and whole new upgraded valvetrain. Some other misc parts and hopefully I’ll have her back by early December..
I’ll be ordering new short block tomorrow(I believe) from Texas speed and performance, my heads survived.. they’ll get cnc treatment and whole new upgraded valvetrain. Some other misc parts and hopefully I’ll have her back by early December..
The following users liked this post:
LT1pwrd'94 (10-27-2017)
10-27-2017, 12:03 AM
#15
Let me get this straight, your plan would be to purchase another ECM which you would tune? Then, you'd plug in your original factory, unmolested ECM back in after you experienced an engine problem? And, you don't think they'd notice the fact that your original, unmolested ECM has no recent data recorded?
Good luck with that approach.
Last edited by Foosh; 10-27-2017 at 12:52 AM.
The following users liked this post:
DALE#3 (10-27-2017)
10-27-2017, 12:54 AM
#17
Just power train, but that would include all components associated with the engine and transmission.
Last edited by Foosh; 10-27-2017 at 12:55 AM.
10-27-2017, 09:52 AM
#18
Le Mans Master
This is why as mentioned,Check the Car out first.
Warranty is HUGE when spending the Big Bucks..
10-27-2017, 10:27 AM
#19
Melting Slicks
I had similar issue 2 weeks ago. Scroll back a lil here in general discussion and check my thread out.
I’ll be ordering new short block tomorrow(I believe) from Texas speed and performance, my heads survived.. they’ll get cnc treatment and whole new upgraded valvetrain. Some other misc parts and hopefully I’ll have her back by early December..
I’ll be ordering new short block tomorrow(I believe) from Texas speed and performance, my heads survived.. they’ll get cnc treatment and whole new upgraded valvetrain. Some other misc parts and hopefully I’ll have her back by early December..
The following 2 users liked this post by John Ulrich:
Gonzo (10-27-2017),
LT1pwrd'94 (10-27-2017)
10-27-2017, 11:21 AM
#20
Burning Brakes
Aside from the tune, the OP wrote something about "aftermarket bolts" which I take to mean that there was some internal engine work done as well.
Although the selling dealer was probably totally ignorant and technically innocent in this, I don't see why you can't at least try to get them to share some of the cost for repairs.
Best of luck.
Although the selling dealer was probably totally ignorant and technically innocent in this, I don't see why you can't at least try to get them to share some of the cost for repairs.
Best of luck.
The following 3 users liked this post by yeller z06:
