tune?

[ironhorse2118]

ok, right now my sonic is 100% stock, 1.4t. I really want more power. is there a tune that is just a tune, no intake or exhaust needed? also with warranty i am paranoid, will they be able to tell? and i am not exactly easy on my car, any advice?

 

[sonichead94]

Yes, Trifecta Tune.
Not really unless they really want to look for it. You could always flash back to stock mode if u ever need to take it to the dealer.
Best thing you can buy with money. Everytime I drive my car i love it more and more.

 

[Red Sonic LT]

Yes, you can just get a tune without any other mods. Probably the most bang for your buck you will get. Also it has a transparency, so it is unnoticeable.

 

[ironhorse2118]

can i do a trifecta tune with a stock car. i dont want to spend $ on intake and exhaust

 

[Red Sonic LT]

Yes, you don't need any mods for the tune. Just if you do plan on adding parts later on, you will need to log it so they can adjust the tune

 

[BNRacing]

We can hook you up with a tune for that car since we are Trifecta's number one reseller.

Here's our Sonic page- 1.4 Turbocharged

 

[Maddog2020]

My car is stock except for the tune. I got my tune (full tune) from BNR and have no regrets. I have been in for service twice now, I just load the stock tune before I take it in. The tune makes a huge difference in performance. I still can't get over how much power the 1.4 can produce. Plus I still get better than 40 MPG when I baby it.

 

[Swordsmith]

Not only can you get a tune without any other mods, but the tune itself is the biggest single mod you can make, the gains from other mods are all much more modest... well they are practically nonexistent without a tune since the stock tune is set up to dumb them down, but even after getting a tune, you will see fairly small power increases from each other thing you do.

Like the tune is an extra 40 hp, and each other mod you do (short of switching to E85... and you'll definitely need a tune for that) is good for about 5-10 hp.

Also, if you're not planning on doing other mods, the "budget tune" will do everything the more expensive full tune will do, for less money. And if you change your mind in the future, you only have to pay the difference in cost between the two to upgrade to full.

 

[sx sonic]

Isn't there a thread that answers all these questions in the 1st post!? I think It's even a sticky thread

 

[rdss]

Isn't there a thread that answers all these questions in the 1st post!? I think It's even a sticky thread

Yes, for the most part. There is a lot of meat to the whole thread though. If you're interested in the tune read the thread, bypass the BS. If you're not willing to research the product when there is a ton of info maybe the product isn't for you.

By the way, this isn't directed at you sx.

 

[Fry]

Yes, for the most part. There is a lot of meat to the whole thread though. If you're interested in the tune read the thread, bypass the BS. If you're not willing to research the product when there is a ton of info maybe the product isn't for you.

By the way, this isn't directed at you sx.

Totally true on all accounts. However, I feel for the newcomers directed to that thread. There are 1700+ posts to that thread, and it's 44 pages long for me with the max posts per page. The first post has many answers, but not all. While organized, it could be organized better, considering how often the topic comes up. For instance, it starts with the full tune by listing the price and features for it. But the budget and E85 aren't covered in the same way. They're mentioned, but it's covered in a different way, and it detracts from the readability of the summary. It's not that the information isn't there, but it could be presented better. Who am I to talk though? It's not like I do anything around here.

opcorn:

Oh, and sorry, I think the teacher in me came out.

 

[brownbear64]

Either my dealership is really stupid or really awesome because I went in with my intake on and modified exhaust and they still kept my warrenty:banana: but I'll agree with everyone else and go with trifecta. Impossible to go wrong with them!

 

[$ub$onic]

If your mods did not cause the problem then it's still covered under warranty

 

[$ub$onic]

I have not had any work done at my dealer but they love my car

 

[brownbear64]

Well It's my first car with a warrenty and from what I've heard they could void it even before problems occur. Obviously differs from state to state though

 

[Macehammer]

Well It's my first car with a warrenty and from what I've heard they could void it even before problems occur. Obviously differs from state to state though

Uh, pretty sure since it is a product manufactured in Michigan, sold in all 50 states, the Commerce Clause would come down on "warranty valid in all 50 states." The states individually have no dog in this fight... Warranties cost them nothing.

Pay-for Extended warranties... Well I dunno about that, they are optional...

 

[sx sonic]

If the modification did not cause the problem then in most cases the issue "IS" covered under warranty.

Something about the Magnusson moss or some such court case made it law.

Now why'd I put the "is" like I did? Because dealers can be shady, money hungry, or not willing to go thru the hassle proving your mod caused fault (conversely they may cover you're errors to keep business=awesome)....... They turn you away and you don't argue it and they either get you to pay for the repair (they make more on customer pay than warranty pay), they get you off their back for a non easy repair, they don't have to worry about proving blame on a failure (rare that company investigates but PITA), or they're idiots and don't want to deal with you.

Then we can get into how power mods typically hint at abusive operating habits which are not a warrantable issue and it gets more complex.

Now factor in that certain mods have more of an influence on component longevity than others (scrappy tune=junk engine, intake could be same, exhaust less detrimental in worst case scenario) and figure certain mods they are automatically, without investigating void your powertrain warranty over.

Now figure all the garbage hillbilly mods they see.

Now figure the technician gets paid book time for work and diagnosing aftermarket equipment that may cause the issues the vehicle is in for is not something he gets paid for........ ie you're costing him money.

Now flip the coin and figure if they don't take care of an issue that may or may not be the fault of aftermarket equipment that you will sully the dealerships name and cost them business.

Or the tech is a go fast junkie and likes what you've done with the car and slips you're "ruined the engine because of xx mods" past corporate and got it covered under warranty.


The list can go on and on. It's as complicated as life....... There's money on the line and NO ONE EVER, wants to pay for a problem that they didn't cause (thankfully there is SOME legal backing forcing entities to cover their mistakes... That and future sales=warranty).






So to awnser your question I'll give you the obvious....... If they find out you have an ECM modification that modifies a number of basic stock programing parameters THEY WILL VOID YOUR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. if you visit the official trifecta tune thread in the BNR section if the Vendor forum you can find out why many of us are not worried about using the Trifecta tune and losing our warranty......... And also why the tune ROCKs.

 

[OD3X1]

Good post sx, you left out one scenario.
If someone, tech and or parts dept., drops the ball so badly they turn a blind eye to your mods to keep you happy.
There is a 379 Pete in these parts with a freshly built 12.7 Series 60 Detroit running a Pittsburgh Power piggy back with full warranty. Tech (not me) wrote down wrong serial number at first resulting in a batch of wrong cylinder kits an the wrong head. Parts Dept. then ordered the wrong cam three times. That was a mess.

 

[$ub$onic]

That would be a royal pain