Tuning and warranty

**ROCKATANSKY** · 3rd November 2008, 09:40

I'd like to get a little more power out of our 150, but I'm worried about the warranty still on the car.
I looked at super chips and they remap for about £500 and get 176 brake. It also states thats it's 'invisible' to diagnostic equipment. Does any one have this? If Vaux. were ever to put it on computer for diagnostics whilst still under warranty, would they be able to see that it's been touched?

Also would a K&N panel filter make any improvements to an oterwise standard car?

Thanks

**wickedwillie** · 3rd November 2008, 13:54

I am not an expert but CRC checks on installed computer files can reveal differences. If Vx know what file/s was loaded prior to any remap, any changes from this can be spotted by doing CRC checks. Question is, do they know which file/s were loaded on your car prior a remap i.e. do they maintain a database of files loaded on every car?

**Big-Pete** · 3rd November 2008, 14:00

For £50 more you could get a BSR PPC or the EDS IPF, both will give you more than the Superchips 176bhp.. Both the PPC & IPF can be taken off prior to having your car serviced so no need to worry if its invisible or not as they will simply reinstall your orginal map back on the car as and when you want to do it....

**Big Sig** · 3rd November 2008, 15:22

**diesel dog** · 3rd November 2008, 17:13

Originally Posted by wickedwillie

I am not an expert but CRC checks on installed computer files can reveal differences. If Vx know what file/s was loaded prior to any remap, any changes from this can be spotted by doing CRC checks. Question is, do they know which file/s were loaded on your car prior a remap i.e. do they maintain a database of files loaded on every car?

Actually they do!

I was asked recently by one of the service engineers if I'd recently fitted a tuning box to the car with that knowing look which they knew I had.

Apparently they leave a "tell tale".

So I wouldn't be surprised if other 'devices' left them too.

If your engines ******ed and you've got a mapped 'club' cdti they may not bother to check.But if you've got an SRI,Design or Elite with 19 inch alloys and all the bells and whistles,then they just might.

**ANDY W** · 3rd November 2008, 19:31

I have the EDS map and bought the IPF hardware at the same time because of my car still having a warranty. If and when the car has to go the the stealers I plug in the IPF to my car computer and put it back to 150 and when they have finished with the car I do the same and put my 190bhp map back on, cool piece of kit

**caspy** · 3rd November 2008, 19:56

Originally Posted by ROCKATANSKY

I'd like to get a little more power out of our 150, but I'm worried about the warranty still on the car.
I looked at super chips and they remap for about £500 and get 176 brake. It also states thats it's 'invisible' to diagnostic equipment. Does any one have this? If Vaux. were ever to put it on computer for diagnostics whilst still under warranty, would they be able to see that it's been touched?

Also would a K&N panel filter make any improvements to an oterwise standard car?

Thanks

Some of the newer digital boxes have engine and gearbox warranty to run alongside your Vxl one, and a box is removable if you choose to go that route. I have never seen any residual markers that are interrogatable in the software to say that one has been fitted, or that original software has been reinstalled with IPF/PPCprior to any investigation.

**wickedwillie** · 3rd November 2008, 20:41

Originally Posted by Big-Pete

For £50 more you could get a BSR PPC or the EDS IPF, both will give you more than the Superchips 176bhp.. Both the PPC & IPF can be taken off prior to having your car serviced so no need to worry if its invisible or not as they will simply reinstall your orginal map back on the car as and when you want to do it....

When your original map goes back on, is the software clever enough to store the date from the trip computer that the software was written back onto the ECU and then embeds this date within the file. I think not but if it did, then theyd know by the date when a map went on. Just a thought. If I was a software engineer (as I once was) I would have put this feature in.

**caspy** · 4th November 2008, 09:15

Originally Posted by wickedwillie

When your original map goes back on, is the software clever enough to store the date from the trip computer that the software was written back onto the ECU and then embeds this date within the file. I think not but if it did, then theyd know by the date when a map went on. Just a thought. If I was a software engineer (as I once was) I would have put this feature in.

Not using any diagnostic equipment that VXL dealers use to service cars etc. It wouldnt prove that anything other than a std map was in the car either etc.

**diesel dog** · 4th November 2008, 13:13

Originally Posted by caspy

Not using any diagnostic equipment that VXL dealers use to service cars etc. It wouldnt prove that anything other than a std map was in the car either etc.

Doesn't explain why Vauxhall technician knew my car had previously had a 'box' on it.

Insurance/after-market warranty companies are also getting in on the act of looking for map evidence (even asking dealers to look for them!).They won't miss a trick if it means they don't have to pay out.

Note: The ECU on my bro's Imprezza even tells him when the ignition was switched on and off!