to flash or not to flash

[dolson1120]

O.k I 'am ready to set up my Cobb AP on my 09 WRX! I only have 26,000 miles on it so I will be bringing it in to the dealer for oil changes etc. Everything else is stock for now, so should I even worry about flash'n back to stock for that? I going with stage 1 93 map and i 'am going to see how I like it. I would think the dealer would not know unless they hook it up to something or if something went bad on the car. Any input would be great! Mine is the 09 with the 08/08 build date so I 'am kind of nervous about this mod thing. ************* thanks D

[BigDaddyRex]

It's a good question - and one I hope gets some responses since I was getting ready to ask the same thing in prep for my first oil change since my Stage I flash.

In your varied experiences, when have you flashed back to stock for dealership visits? Have you flashed to the "stock" map or uninstalled?

[MainFrame]

I personally wouldn't worry about it. My dealership didn't care that there was a different block, turbo, UTEC, etc on my car. Of course my dealership at the time sold Access Ports and other Cobb stuff.





AFIK, the only way they would even know would be if they tried to hook up an AP to it themselves.

[shadowpr]

with just a stage 1, i wouldn't worry about it.

after all, you're just getting an oil change.

but just know, that if they can prove you flashed it, and your engine goes (which it might), they can deny your warranty claim.

[EJ257]

If you're worried about a warranty, don't modify your car.

Leave the car stock or flash it and be honest with them. Fraud isn't cool...

[BigDaddyRex]

If you're worried about a warranty, don't modify your car.

Really? That old tired refrain again?

Leave the car stock or flash it and be honest with them. Fraud isn't cool...

That sounds great in a world where everyone deals with each other fairly - including the way dealerships deal with customers - but in the real world dealerships/companies are just as likely to be looking for excuses to deny claims as they are to be flexible. There are plenty of stories of denied warranty claims based on things that clearly were not related to the mods. That's not to say that there aren't times that they are correct - probably the majority of the time - but that doesn't mean an owner who has made a mod doesn't have the right to protect them self a bit from unscrupulous actions. Me - I'll own up to it when it actually could be related to a mod I've done - I want to have things fixed properly and fully weighed the risks of mod warranty issues - but I'm not about to give anyone an easy place to point the finger.

In both the OPs case and mine we are just talking about a mild OTS Stage 1 tune - so warranty issues are very unlikely. Stage 2 or edgier pro-tunes are another step up on the risk meter, and so on.

I would still like to hear from members about when they make changes for dealer visits and whether they change the tune or uninstall - sorry if I am taking this thread further off topic.

[oguitar]

Every time you flash the ECU it is recorded. As far as I know an AP can't change this.

[dolson1120]

I agree with you BigDaddy, If I did not have the build date of 08/08 on my 09' suspected lot of bad engine failers I wouldn't even blink at it and jump right in the the mod world. I just hope Subaru stands benind a known problem if it happens, Stage one is on the way!! I 'am not going to flash back for any reason but I still like to hear more on this one. ************* thanks D

[rage-wrx]

Do your own oil changes ?

[kcwrxfan]

Do your own oil changes ?

^this

[dolson1120]

G you guys got it all figured out!! Why didn't I think of doing my own oil changes********* come on

[rage-wrx]

G you guys got it all figured out!! Why didn't I think of doing my own oil changes********* come on

Any input would be great!

[kcwrxfan]

I honestly wouldn't worry about it, but like stated above, if you are so worried about it, then I wouldn't mod the car in the first place, just my $.02, that being said all I have is an exhaust due to the fact my dealer is a bunch of d-bags and until I find a cool service department I won't be doing stage 1 or higher for a while.

[xFalleNx]

G you guys got it all figured out!! Why didn't I think of doing my own oil changes********* come on

The dealership can find out if it's flashed. If you're that worried about it, don't do it.

Oil changes aren't scary.

[EJ257]

Really? That old tired refrain again?

That sounds great in a world where everyone deals with each other fairly - including the way dealerships deal with customers - but in the real world dealerships/companies are just as likely to be looking for excuses to deny claims as they are to be flexible. There are plenty of stories of denied warranty claims based on things that clearly were not related to the mods. That's not to say that there aren't times that they are correct - probably the majority of the time - but that doesn't mean an owner who has made a mod doesn't have the right to protect them self a bit from unscrupulous actions. Me - I'll own up to it when it actually could be related to a mod I've done - I want to have things fixed properly and fully weighed the risks of mod warranty issues - but I'm not about to give anyone an easy place to point the finger.

In both the OPs case and mine we are just talking about a mild OTS Stage 1 tune - so warranty issues are very unlikely. Stage 2 or edgier pro-tunes are another step up on the risk meter, and so on.

I would still like to hear from members about when they make changes for dealer visits and whether they change the tune or uninstall - sorry if I am taking this thread further off topic.

Every dealership is different, and some claims are out of their hands (like a motor claim, which is up to the regional rep). Talk to the service department or local guys.

There's a lenient dealership by me that does warranty work on modified cars, as long as its in-house; they get paid regardless.

They also have the ability to "good will" portions or entire repairs. If you try to slip one by, however, how likely will the service manager be to throw you one?

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