Remap has invalidated warranty

**nicktooley** · 23-09-2015,07:20 PM

I had my 59 plate 2.0tdi A5 Sportback mapped by Viezu (economy remap). Last week the dashboard lit up and Nottingham Audi eventually diagnosed the ECU and have replaced it at a cost of over£1k. The Audi used car warranty people have said they won't cover it as the ECU was opened by Viezu and resealed.

Viezu reckon they had to open it as there is a "software lock" (added to VAG cars around 2008/2009) on the usual way to access the cars electronics, so the only way is inside the ECU itself. Audi have now said that isn't correct, the only changes made were to allow them to identify changes made to the vehicles, not restrict them.

I now have a ping pong match between Viezu and the Audi used car warranty (Allianz) as to who pays (in the meantime of course I've had to pay to get my car back).

Does anyone out there have any similar experiences or thoughts on the two sides of the argument?

**zollaf** · 23-09-2015,07:27 PM

my thoughts, even if they hadn't opened it up, if they actually have, you have had a remap and now expect someone else to pay when it goes **** up. talk about having your cake and eating it. you can't have the best of both worlds so suck it up and crack on.

**Guest 2** · 26-09-2015,10:56 AM

Originally Posted by zollaf

my thoughts, even if they hadn't opened it up, if they actually have, you have had a remap and now expect someone else to pay when it goes **** up. talk about having your cake and eating it. you can't have the best of both worlds so suck it up and crack on.

thats the risk you take by remapping when in warranty. even the new "hidden" remaps are still detectable.

you'll not win, you modified the car from its original specification when in warranty so by right the part you modified (ie the ecu) is no longer covered.

**zollaf** · 26-09-2015,12:03 PM

you can 'dislike ' what i wrote 'nicktooly', but thats only cos you know i am right .

**M1tchy** · 26-09-2015,04:54 PM

As above mate, you messed with it, your problem. End of.

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**nicktooley** · 26-09-2015,05:44 PM

When the Tuning Company (Viezu) claim the following I think I have a point, what's with all the negativity?

Will a remap invalidate my car's warranty?

No. A remap or any aftermarket work cannot and will not automatically invalidate a vehicles warranty. It’s a misconception that it will, and sometimes those that know are not always clear about this fact. Its very common for fleet users and companies to fit a speed limiter to their vehicles, some will use us to do this work, other drivers may want to fit a tow-bar, or upgraded sound system to their vehicle, these are common fitments, but they are after market changes just like a remap, your tow-bar does not invalidate your warrant so why should your remap?

**nicktooley** · 26-09-2015,05:45 PM

I'm not sure about that zollaf.

**M1tchy** · 26-09-2015,05:50 PM

I think that is just sales patter mate. It's like these companies offering HID kits and saying "these are special ones for reflector lenses" no they aren't, they are exactly the same and blind everyone but they have your cash and don't care. They say it won't 'automatically' invalidate your warranty, but seems in your case it has.

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**Crasher** · 26-09-2015,06:00 PM

With conventional OBD port remapping, there is no need to access the internals of the ECU. All car manufacturer's had to install software protection systems around 2010 ish due to an EU directive which came an then seemed to fizzy out, it was aimed at stopping people making their cars pollute more than the highly accurate testing systems measure when the car is certified. Hey, I just realised, I can do irony!

For damage to be caused when opening an ECU is something I have never heard of and I am an agent for APR tuning software where we have to carry out this delicate procedure on some cars. As a result of my shaky hands and nervous disposition, I always take the ECU off and send it to APR UK so they can worry about it but I have never had a problem.

If Audi can prove (which it looks like they have by replacing it) that the remap you had carried out is the problem, then it is simply a case between you and the people who opened the ECU and nothing to do with Audi.

I don't know where these tuning people get the idea that a remap will not invalidate the warranty, I only know this for VAG group cars but it is clearly stated time and again that modifications will affect a "NEW" car warranty but this was not a new car under the manufacturer's warranty, you need to find the book of small words and get reading.