Saw some help for this but have a few more specific questions.

I'm a relative diesel noob but have been driving a Ford diesel van with 7.3 and DP Tuner chip. Was happy with that for what it was but traded it in after 150k miles.

Now I have stepped up to a 2011 LML Denali HD and want to explore some modern options. It will be my daily driver as well as tow rig for my 10,000lb trailer. I est it will be towing about 20% of the time.

Questions:

- What features are available?
- What features are most beneficial and useful?
- What features should I avoid?
- What should I expect to pay?
- Where can I find the best deals and info?
- Which products/brands are best?
- Which products/brands should I avoid?
- Which will/wont effect my warranty?


Thx in advance for feedback. Feel free to add any additional info.

JC

There aren't any out yet but a few are getting really close. Bully Dog will most likely have the 1st one since they are already doing beta testing. Unfortunately, they will all affect/void your warranty as of right now. Some people will do the tuner right off the bat because they don't care but I am going to hold off because I would hate to have a warranty problem, which is happening to these newer trucks, and have to pay for it out of pocket.

Unfortunately, they will all affect/void your warranty as of right now.

I am going to hold off because I would hate to have a warranty problem, which is happening to these newer trucks, and have to pay for it out of pocket.

Have any tuning packages been warranty legal in the past on any previous years/models or do they always void warranties?

I am already having issues (after just 50 miles!) so I too will hold off for a while. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=401997

Just looking for info in case I go this route at some point.

Thx

JC

Most people cant really afford the truck so if thats your case keep it stock. Repairs are to expensive on these things to fool around. I have a lmm and its stock, i do play around with my lbz but thats because i can without any warranty issues. 397 hp should be enough to haul a light load like that.

Depending on the dealer really, but yes, it will void you warranty. Especially if you break hard parts and you have been tuned, I wouldn't bank on GM covering it.

Most people cant really afford the truck so if thats your case keep it stock. Repairs are to expensive on these things to fool around. I have a lmm and its stock, i do play around with my lbz but thats because i can without any warranty issues. 397 hp should be enough to haul a light load like that.

Just because I don't want to pay for a motor or trans out of pocket means I can't afford my truck? When you buy a brand new truck you are paying for the warranty. Just because it's not listed on the sticker as a separate line-item doesn't mean GM doesn't amortize the cost of warranties into the cost of their vehicles. They most certainly do.

Depending on the dealer really, but yes, it will void you warranty. Especially if you break hard parts and you have been tuned, I wouldn't bank on GM covering it.

It's not really up to the dealer, depending on what you break. If GM decides to get involved (they can and do audit warranty claims) they will check for previous tunes and deny the claim. Further, they'll void your powertrain warranty going forward. Even if you return your truck to stock before you bring it in the PCM stores that it has been previously tuned.

-TJ

Just because I don't want to pay for a motor or trans out of pocket means I can't afford my truck? When you buy a brand new truck you are paying for the warranty. Just because it's not listed on the sticker as a separate line-item doesn't mean GM doesn't amortize the cost of warranties into the cost of their vehicles. They most certainly do.



It's not really up to the dealer, depending on what you break. If GM decides to get involved (they can and do audit warranty claims) they will check for previous tunes and deny the claim. Further, they'll void your powertrain warranty going forward. Even if you return your truck to stock before you bring it in the PCM stores that it has been previously tuned.

-TJ


It does depend on the dealer man, I am not going to say the name but my dealer will swap ECMs, tires, or anything else to make it pass for GM warranty. Maybe they just will do that for me? :cool:

It does depend on the dealer man, I am not going to say the name but my dealer will swap ECMs, tires, or anything else to make it pass for GM warranty. Maybe they just will do that for me? :cool:

I agree that a helpful dealer can change a lot. But when GM gets involved they will inspect the vehicle themselves and it's out of the dealer's hands at that point. It's rare, but it can happen.

That said, if you keep your ECM and TCM stock, and swap in a second set for your tunes and put the 100% stock never-tuned ones back in before GM inspects (or have your friendly dealer do that) you should be just fine.

-TJ