Hi, Guest
01-23-2007, 11:39 PM
Good dealers are out there... it's just important to find the right one if you're an enthusiast / modder.
Everything I've suggested (save the reflash) is warranty-legal. The only grey-area mod is the MBRP, as it eliminates the second cat on the Duratec (the first one is right on the header, the second is further downstream). A proper filter and a properly-installed air intake will NOT void your warranty.
The problem with modding in Canada is that there are no laws (that I am aware of) to protect the rights of a consumer who mods their car properly - unlike the US, which is quite the surprise. So while modding your car technically doesn't void your powertrian so far as you don't go inwards from (and including) the throttle body or inbound from (and including) the exhaust manifold... it IS up to you to prove that what you did has no effect. Which is very, very tough.
With that said, if you install a new intake and exhaust correctly you should be more than fine for the duration of your warranty. If you reflash your ECU, you won't harm the vehicle (provided the flash is provided by an experienced Focus / Duratec tuner) but getting diagnostics done at the dealer may get dicey and you may have to flash back to the stock program before arriving at the dealer.
I guess you have lots of things to consider before you go ahead with this. Personally, I waited until my powertrain was up last time to mod but this time I won't be. My only mods will be an intake, exhaust and likely a reflash via an X-Cal 2.
Everything I've suggested (save the reflash) is warranty-legal. The only grey-area mod is the MBRP, as it eliminates the second cat on the Duratec (the first one is right on the header, the second is further downstream). A proper filter and a properly-installed air intake will NOT void your warranty.
The problem with modding in Canada is that there are no laws (that I am aware of) to protect the rights of a consumer who mods their car properly - unlike the US, which is quite the surprise. So while modding your car technically doesn't void your powertrian so far as you don't go inwards from (and including) the throttle body or inbound from (and including) the exhaust manifold... it IS up to you to prove that what you did has no effect. Which is very, very tough.
With that said, if you install a new intake and exhaust correctly you should be more than fine for the duration of your warranty. If you reflash your ECU, you won't harm the vehicle (provided the flash is provided by an experienced Focus / Duratec tuner) but getting diagnostics done at the dealer may get dicey and you may have to flash back to the stock program before arriving at the dealer.
I guess you have lots of things to consider before you go ahead with this. Personally, I waited until my powertrain was up last time to mod but this time I won't be. My only mods will be an intake, exhaust and likely a reflash via an X-Cal 2.
Daily driver 1: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport "S"
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.