Help BlkMjk won't start and Ford dosn't want to cover it...

[Black Magic]

Well, I am back from FL and the trip was fine. I had a great drive down and arround there. The drive back was fine too, no problems at all. She was great, Great gas milage and so on. However, Tuesday Morning when I went out to go to work it would not start. It would just crank and crank. I had to get to work so I borrowed my Mom's Grand Marquie and went on my way. Ford came out and picked up the truck and had it towed to the local dealer Long Ford in Eureka, MO There the fist day it sat there was not touched since the dumb a$$ service manager hit the remote start button when he tried to open the door and thought that was messed up and just said that the problem is the alarm and not the truck. So I stoped the on the way home and unhooked the alarm and it still would not start. So I ldft it there for them to fix the next day. They have been looking it over and waiting for some one at Ford to call on the codes. They show that they ECU is dead from the Alarm!?! And the best part is since it is from the alarm Ford will not cover the repair or tow or any cost involved. I am very upset. The guys at Best Buy spoke to the dealer and they argued that it would not cause any problem with the ECU at all. I just spoke to Best Buy and they said that they will call DEI (manufacture of alarm) to find out what they can do to help.

I am so upset with this whole thing. I don't care who pays for it, I just want my truck back and I am not paying for any freekin' repairs!

Let me know if you have any suggestions on how to handle Ford or the dealer to get this fixed.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Lifted95X]

Did you take the chip out and try?

 

[zensius]

Maybe your new Apten chip did in the CPU. That's the first thing I thought when I read your thread.

 

[Lifted95X]

Or the chip just fried...take it out, reset the comp, and see if it starts.

 

[jssong]

i just got my chip now.. and now im gettin scared to put it in... hMMm

 

[Black Magic]

Well, I thought of that too. However, the dealer said that the codes they are pulling are not indicating that is the problem. It is at the dealer and I have not said anything about the chip. Hopeing it was not needed to be mentioned. I can't very well just go in there and pull it now. I didn't think it was the chip. I was at work when the truck was picked up and did not have time to pull it. I should have just pulled it to be safe anyway. So now my truck has just been sitting at the dealer for a week with nothing being done. I told them that I know about my rights under the Magnison Moss act and they just keep saying that the alarm caused the problem. I asked him to provide me proof and they just keep saying they will not cover the repairs!

 

[Magicfan25]

Take the chip out before anything else. I've seen this alot on Lightning boards. If you didnt tape the chip down good it may have come lose. I find it hard to believe it could be that the terminals werent cleaned properly since you had it in that long. Please try taking the chip out before anything else

 

[SaleenEXP]

I think that dealer is screwing you, thats the 1st time I have seen or heard of them pulling codes and seeing that the problem was caused by the alarm. I can't remember if DEI makes Viper, am I right, having a brainfart on that? I have and a Viper 600ESP for like 2 or 3 yrs and never had a problem with the alarm causing the vehicle to not start, except when the vehicle disabilizer mode came on and shut basically the whole truck down but that was becasue I started it up while I set the alarm off . Does your alarm have that disabilizer thing on it? Thats what might have happened, but all I had to do was take the key out, arm the alarm, then un-arm it and it was fine.

 

[SaleenEXP]

It could also be the chip, thats why just about everyone that has them on a vehicle will take them out. What happenes over 90% of the time is with an aftermarket chip, when they pull codes it usually comes up as something that isn't causing the problem or they can't even pull any codes. Maybe yours is giving them the wrong code?!

 

[Black Magic]

Also the chip was installed by Brian from Apten him self and it taped in very well.

 

[Black Magic]

Well at this point assuming it is the chip. Do I tell the dealer about the chip or what?!? I don't want to be charged for anything!

 

[SaleenEXP]

It might be in well, but again what happens most of the time is an aftermarket chip causes the dealers to read the wrong codes or no codes at all. I guess it depends on the dealer, my friends with Mustangs have superchip and diablo and some take them out and some don't. If the dealership thinks their getting the wrong code, they'll pull the aftermarket chip to reset the computer, pull the code they need, then re-install it, at least thats what happens to the dealers the Mustangs go to.

For example this is what might happen, say you have an aftermarket chip and take it in to the dealer for a dim lights and they pull codes and it tells them your tranny has problems or whatever ect. ect., but you know where I'm getting at. Actually I was interested in getting the Apten chip when my 02' Mounty gets in.

 

[aldive]

Have you talked to Brian at Apten about this?

 

[yob_yeknom]

REMOVE THE CHIP!!! When I got my Superchip, it came with a notice that when you have anything (the chip) plugged into the computer, it is telling the computer to get it's programming parameters or whatever from an outside source (the chip). If you try to scan the codes, it automatically makes a code come up saying the computer is bad. The scanner doesn't recognize the chip and thinks the computer is bad.

WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING IS NORMAL. Do not fear your chip, just remove it so the codes can be scanned normally.

Saying the ECU is dead from the alarm is BS. It's just them trying to cover up becuase they really don't know why the ECU is bad. (at least they think it is) Remove the chip one night (they'll never know) and have them rescan the codes and show you what it says to prove they're not BSing you. Don't mention the chip or you removing it though or they'll blame the problems on it.

 

[espnfreak]

my chip sucked and caused all sorts of bs problems to my ride

 

[Jason_25]

I think the problem with it not starting is also due to the chip. Many members in the past have complained about their explorers not starting after installing the chip. The chip may have come loose, or maybe gotten damp causing it to short out.

 

[99explorer5.0]

I had a friend with a T-bird with a superchip and his computer totally **** the bed. Pulled out the superchip and reset everthing and no dice. After the new computer was purchased for around $1000 it worked fine.

I dont think your alarm did anything to the comptuer. The chip could possibly have done it.

 

[rvitek]

Well Matt, Dead Link Removed

 

[yob_yeknom]

Dead Link Removed

 

[Robert]

When I had my SuperChip on my '94 4.0L Ranger, it gave a computer error. On my '97 SOHC Explorer, I don't get any errors with my SuperChip installed. Everything scans as it should with or without my chip installed. I do believe there is a high probability that BlackMagic's no start is due to his chip as well. I do not believe it is due to his alarm. If neither Best Buy nor Ford are willing to accept responsibility, the next call should be to an attorney. Advise both Best Buy and Ford that they will be named as parties in a law suit and you'll let a judge decide which is at fault. At least my Superchip came with a note card and a toll-free number to call if the dealer ever gives me hassles about my chip.