Mark Ducati

I can't afford the $500-600 for a Dyno right now, so while I have my e-cutouts installed Friday I was going to have them reprogram the ECM as if it were a mail order tune for my mods.

So I'm thinking I'll a few extra ponies... it just wont be optimized to the degree that a fine tuning on a Dyno would do.

My major question is... we all know issues regarding "warranty"...

But what I want to know is, for those of you with just a TUNE.... NO CAM, NO HEADERS, NO MAJOR WORK...

Anybody have any catastrophic failures that were not covered under warranty and you having to pay out of pocket for repairs?

M.

URBAN LEGEND

Unless they are using a Formula 1 dyno there should be no dyno run or runs costing 500-600 dollars. That price you quote has to be for a dyno and tune for sure.

jmalto

Agreed. If that does not include a dyno pull or two I would find another shop.

dvandentop

I have tuned without a dyno to get the car tweaked 100% perfectly on air fuel i would need to get that done.

Otherwise has been running strong for over a year now with a cam and a tune after 2 revisions

Mark Ducati

Sorry, yes the $500-600 was for the Tune and a Dyno run as a package...

What I was mainly getting at here was trying to save a little money.... A tune for $250 bucks and forgo the Dyno. To me, a Dyno run just gives you bragging rights to say you have X amount of HP. That and I was contemplating spending another $150 bucks for a spare E38 ECM to tune in case of warranty issues...

I'm trying to weigh my options of a simple mild tune and the likelyhood of having a catastrophic failure and paying big bucks out of pocket.

So will a simple tune likely give me problems with no other mods (cam/headers)?

How many folks have had problems? I don't see to many, if any, folks saying they blew up their Z06... well maybe, there was one thread IIRC, but I think the guy had some major mods beyond a tune.

3LZZ06

If you have a catastrophic failure and a non stock tune GM will void your warranty...

Even if the failure is not due to the tune it will be your burden to lawyer up $$$ and fight GM.........

DSteck

I've tuned my car entirely on the street. You don't always need a dyno, although it can help with figuring out the best timing map.

redzone

If I'm understanding the question you're wanting to know if the dealer will let it slide since it was "only" a tune and otherwise unmodded.

Since we all know their stance on the subject of tunes, I'd say no. And I don't see the point of a tune on a otherwise stock car,it's worth at the most 15hp(my 06 picked up 12)....but look what it could cost you.

I had my 06 tuned,this was before GM's new mandate,but won't be tuning my 07. I have no intentions of giving them any reason to deny any warranty work.

But at the end of the day it's your car and if you want to massage every last HP out of it you can.

Mark Ducati

Agreed, I know GM WILL void my warranty if I put a tune in... that's why I question how often does a tune cause a problem? 1:100? 1:1000? 1:10,000?

Eh, guess I'll just keep saving for the Dyno/Tune and a spare E38 and this way I'm covered.

lebvette

Some dyno's remind me of a butcher weighing his own hamburger.....sometimes it seems he has his finger on the scales. Dyno's that give you 10 to 15 WHP by just strapping on a intake....seems a little hamburger to me. Before and after dyno's are nice, but does not make your car run any better, unless it spots a problem. Like you said...something to talk about.
As far as the new ECM, If you have a major catastrophic it seems the ECM would show a problem. If you stuck a new one in everything would show OK. Seems that would raise a red flag to the dealer. Just a thought...I don't know for sure.
I think a good tuned engine would be less likely to blow, but in saying that I'm still not risking my warranty.... yet. Although, I think the reflashing will take care of that.
My Z runs so good now that I would only kill myself faster.
Larry

3LZZ06

Really Mark, this question should be answered with the little gain that you'll make (10-15hp)

Even if it's 1/1000 chance of a failure because of the tune you could also have an unrelated mechanically failure. So now your up to 1/500 chance or maybe higher. Is 10-15 hp worth that?

IMO...no

DSteck

Ultimately, you shouldn't cheat GM by trying to revert back to stock. If you modify your car, you give up your warranty willingly.

WeaponsGradeTorque

AFR VETTE

call CHUCK at corvettes of Westchester he is a tuning genius

LFZ

Ok, I'll say it...not trying to **** anyone off, but if you are so worried about warranty being denied, then stay away from a tune. IMO, the Z is fast enough stock, whats another 10-15hp with no headers or intake? If you want a tune, throw all your warranty worries out the door, mod like hell and don't look back.

3deep

Where do you guys get these 12-15 whp figures from.The Z,s I see tuned easily get 30-40 whp.A tune is the best bang for the buck mod in my opinion.

jschindler

I think most have missed the question. If I read it right, he is asking if a tune without being done on the dyno is worth the effort. I know there are folks who do offer tunes without the benefit of a dyno - and I think Chuck (COW) is one of them. He has a tremendous reputation and I would probably trust his tune.

Using a dyno to tune to me is the best way to go, but as someone above stated - you could get someone who does not go to the trouble of making sure that the before and after runs are properly and consistently calibrated.

To me, the answer is that you really need to qualify the credentials of the tuner first whether its a dyno tune or not. Also, thoroughly discuss with the tuner what your objectives are for the tune.

As a final bit of advice, I don't believe anywhere near everything I read on the forum. Many people feel what they pay for. I've also seen people swear by what a great job a tuner did, only to find out later their car is all F____ed up, but they kept saying great things about the tuner on the forum as a way to try to get said tuner to fix what he screwed up.

3LZZ06

CAI, headers and a good tune will get you that...

Just a tune...no, unless someone's feeding you a large pile of

3LZZ06

Didn't miss the question, just making the point that for a net of minimal HP (10-15), may not be worth sacrificing a warranty.

I certainly agree that there are great tuner's out there and our cars can run a little better.............***warranty***...........

It's the individual's decision. Good luck your decision.

3deep

Cai,headers and tune will get you 50whp on 91oct here in cali.: