How far can I go without voiding my warranty....CAI? Headers? Exhaust? TGV Deletes? Can dealerships notice ecutek reflashing if put back to stock mapping?

 

You can't do TGV deletes without a standalone ECU, so that's out. Downpipes are grounds for denial of warranty in certain cases, and dealers can't legally touch an aftermarket one anyway even if they'll cover the repairs. Catbacks are fine though. Basically, stick to a catback and a reflash, as you can un-do that easily enough, and a good tuner won't do anything to hurt your car.

 

What do you mean by stand alone? What is the diference between a stand alone and a ecutek flashed or stock ecu? Please give details and what sensors are left out or in, whats different about stand alone as to an I-Speed Ecutek reflash? LINKS? Is there an Faq about a stand alone? Any info, let us know. Thanks for the help.

 

Reflashes do not disable the TGV CEL because it's an emissions part; technically it's illegal even for "off-road use" vehicles. EcuTek would like to continue doing business in this country, so they won't defeat emissions controls. AFAIK no other reflashes (i.e. Cobb) do this either for the same reasons. However, most standalones are adapted to Subarus rather than designed from the ground up with OBDII enabled, so they have more leeway. By "standalone" I am referring to the Hydra, AEM EMS, Link, TEC III, etc.

 

If you do the TGV 'mod' and leave the shaft in place so the motor turns the sensor, it is all good
There is a 'how to', somewhere, on it.

...but any dealer worth a shizzle would likely know that the manifold and TGV housings were removed.....

 

the dealer i worked with didnt like that i had reset the ecu after a catback install, and the intake delete was also an issue too.

 

...go to a different dealer.....and don't tell them anything that you did/do to your car unless you HAVE to.

 

Yeah, don't tell them jack. Resetting the ecu doesn't mean s**t. Did you take the factory intake off, or just the snorkus delete elbow? If it was just the elbow they can't see anything without taking off the fender, wich they're not gonna do. I just had warrenty work done without a problem on my wrx and I have the elbow and an uppipe as well as a few other irrelevant mods.

 

i didnt tell them, they new the computer was reset,there scan tool can tell all until you reset the ecu. they didnt like that the elbow was missing and its pretty easy to see it gone if you know what to look at

 

First, yes it is depending on the part and the exact warranty claim you are trying to make. Second, SOA's lawyers are better than yours, and the dealer won't back down if you take a big attitude with them. they have nothing to lose by not repairing your car, but they do if they authorize it and SOA denies the claim.