Tunes, Warranties, And Toyota!

I searched around and read through a few threads and posts with the word "tune" and "warranty" in the body but none really answered my question.

I'm familiar with the Magnuson-Moss Waranty Act of 1975. I think back then when it was written, it was pretty easy to determine of a car modification would have created the situation to void a warranty. But in today's computer controlled world, it seems like it is easy (and asking for trouble) if you put a tune on the vehicle. It feels like it drastically shifts the burden of proof to the car owner.

Are there any Toyota approved tunes? Anything modest that wakes the truck up a little but doesn't void the warranty?

 

I highly doubt Toyota is going to approve any engine management, or any ECU programs, other than their own.

 

I didn't think Toyota had been keeping track of tunes yet. I bet they will for the 4th gen Tacoma though.

 

I did a bit of research before getting a tune and what I found was that you are safe doing the tune. I took my truck in for a service after the tune and the dealer didn't say a thing. All they did was send me a video of the ample arizona pin striping i have on every inch of paint. haha. The tune improves the truck A LOT.

 

I do Warranty Administration at a car dealership. I think a giant misconception is that if you get a tune, you're whole Vehicle Warranty goes out the window. That's not the case. Warranty is coverage for defective components. Can a tune be used as cause for the dealership to not make a claim in your behalf?... sure....they can. But they have to prove that the Tune was the cause. I've had a few Toyota's and Scions in my life. In my past three cars I've gone thru five door lock actuators, a window regulator. a head unit, a water pump, two wiper blade motors, a directional switch, and a tailgate latch, all covered by Warranty even with a modded car. A Tune has nothing to do with components like that. An in my opinion, it's those small components that can be expensive repairs down the line, so I also advocate for extended warranties, but my experience has been good with them.

 

Thank you. I'm new to Toyota coming off a 35 year run of always having at least one Ford in the garage. My family is a Ford family and wife's family worked at Ford. We've been Big-Blue Oval through and Through. But the Ford Service Department and Warranty-Weaseling on the last three cars had us gun-shy enough that we are now a Two Toyota family. And the Warranty-Weaseling they did was on un-modified cars. Everything was a fight. Like a lock down cage match fight. So I'm a little bitter, butt hurt, dealing with some scar tissue from those entanglements. I don't want to have the same experience at Toyota.

 

I got a KDMaxx tune and am super happy I did it. I was also concerned about the warranty issue, or if a dealer can detect it.

From what I understand, the dealer can't really detect the KDMaxx tune, and the tune is fully reversible.

I got mine from a KDMaxx authorized tuner in Burlington, VT on a road trip, and like I said it is a night and day difference. And I gained about 2-3 mpg after the tune, along with better performance.

There's many tunes out there, so do some research and pick which one is suitable. It'll definitely make the truck more drive able and responsive.

 

This is good thread to read about the tune and warranty issue. Post #66 and going down someone asks about the warranty issue.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/burlington-vermont-authorized-kdmax-tuner.764773/page-4