KKM.. Install now or wait till cooler weather?

[Fantasymon]

Just got my KKM in mail today. I went out to install it and my Dad flipped. He hates me workin on my explorer since its a 2000. He doesn't trust me and thinks I will mess the explorer up or void parts of the waranty..

Anyways he is making me have it installed at a local auto place.... I know pretty stupid to have something that simple installed profesionally but owell..

My question is should I have it installed now or wait till like October when it gets cooler. I live in Oklahoma and it is extremely hot this time of the year. I hear that the KKM does not perform too well in really hot weather.

Thanks,
Grant-P

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by Fantasymon
Just got my KKM in mail today. I went out to install it and my Dad flipped. He hates me workin on my explorer since its a 2000. He doesn't trust me and thinks I will mess the explorer up or void parts of the waranty..

Anyways he is making me have it installed at a local auto place.... I know pretty stupid to have something that simple installed profesionally but owell..

My question is should I have it installed now or wait till like October when it gets cooler. I live in Oklahoma and it is extremely hot this time of the year. I hear that the KKM does not perform too well in really hot weather.

Thanks,
Grant-P

Did daddy buy the truck for you? If so, do exactly what he says and consider yourself fortunate.

There is absolutly NO REASON not to install the KKM NOW. I live in Florida and the KKM has only give me improvements, there is no negatives.

Let us know what it costs to have it installed by a "pro". Its really only about a 20 minute job.

 

[Fantasymon]

Yea my dad bought for me. Thats why I have to listen to him on this kinda stuff...

Yea I figured it would only take a "pro" like 20 minutes to install it so it can't be too much...well I hope..

I'll probley have it done some time next week...

Thanks

 

[leenjen]

well the install only takes a few minutes, but make sure they leave the battery disconnected for at least a half hour so the computer will reset.

 

[Fantasymon]

Undo the battery while its being installed or after?

 

[leenjen]

they can disconnect the battery before they install it. i'm just saying, make sure they leave it disconnected long enough to reset the computer. the install will be quick, but they have to wait before reconnecting the battery.

 

[KEbert]

Do you change your own oil. If so, the install is about as easy as that. Oh yeah, I forgot, YOU SUCK FOR GETTING A 2000 EXPLORER FROM YOUR PARENTS!

 

[KEbert]

Do you change your own oil? If so, the install is about as easy as that. Oh yeah, I forgot, YOU SUCK FOR GETTING A 2000 EXPLORER FROM YOUR PARENTS!

 

[Alec]

Hmmm, I usually respect my parents and all...but....unless he follows you to the auto place, drive off to say you're gonna get it done and do it yourself in a lot somewhere. Your first time messing with the airfilter, it will take you about 20-30 mins if you've never seen it done before. Take your time.

The thing with the computer is this: the computer needs to relearn it's air/fuel parameters with the new filter. Disconnect the (-) battery lead before you start working. After 20 minutes or so, or when you're done, reconnect it. Start the truck and let it idle with all accessories off for about 10 minutes. The idle RPMs might hunt around a bit (this is normal), then drop to the normal idle. After this, drive the truck around for a bit. Give 'er some gas and drive with a bit of a heavy foot to help the computer relearn. After that, you're golden. Might take a few days for the truck to fully get used to the filter.

Good luck!

 

[99explorer5.0]

One thing you might want to know about the warrenty. By taking out your factory airbox and putting that KKM in there you are VOIDING the warrenty. At least the part of the warrenty that deals with the engine. I purchaced my explorer last year as a leftover and when i was introduced to this site it had only 1000 miles.
Everyone here kept talking about the KKM so i decided to buy one and before i installed it i called up a ford # that delt with warrenties. The second i told her what the KKM was she kept interupting me asking questions like vin # and who purchaced the vehicle etc. After she got all the answers to her questions she decided to answer mine. YES it will void the warrenty and i now have on record that you were interested in replacing the air filter with a non ford product which involves removing the factory airbox. So for the remainder of my warrenty becuase they have on record that i inquired about it my engine is no longer included in my warrenty.
She also went on to say even if it was installed professinoally it didnt matter. It would still void the warrenty. Even if you went to a ford dealer they would probably make you fill out a waiver saying you know that your warrenty will be void. Dont let your dad read this i dont want him to not let you get it. But i just wanted to save you from a beating later on when he finds out he has to pay for engine repairs.
I screwed myself becuase i called and asked about it. But in your case i guess if you keep your factory airbox and if you run into some kind of engine problem while your truck is under warrenty just switch the kkm with your factory airbox before you bring it to the dealer. The airbox is much easier taking out than it is to put back in.

 

[glc8937]

99Explorer,

Not to say you are "wrong" but rather maybe misinformed or confused. But this is coming from someone who is familiar with the law. Ford will not and legally CAN NOT void your warranty for simply "inquiring" about an aftermarket product. The reason a person calls ford is to make sure they do not do anything to void the warranty. So they can't void it simply because you asked. Whether they keep a record or not...maybe? If they do...it would only be for the purpose of you bringing the vehicle in one day with the aftermarket part installed and claim you had no idea. Then they could say "Well you called on such and such date and were told it would void your warranty." Or they could just tell you that as a scare tactic.

You could always do the install and if you need to put it in you replace the factory air box before you take it to them. They would never know!

 

[99explorer5.0]

Umm if you read my post correctly i wrote down what she said to me. So dont say i am confused or wrong. I told you guys what she told me. Now i didnt write a letter to my congressman or call up Bill Clinton at the time to check up on what she said. I just listened to what she had to say and then hung up. Maybe everytime someone says something to me i should investigate it fully before i try to give someone advice. Or maybe i should just ask the professionals here at explorer forum since they obviously know more than the people who work at ford.

 

[Alec]

Yes, aftermarket parts CAN void your warranty, but only to a point. For example: the dealer (actually 2 of them) told me my warranty was only void for the MAS with the air filter mod, everything else was still covered. They can only void the warranty of a part directly related to your mod.

Also, with my supercharger, my warranty was only void for the top of the engine. Everthing from the pistons down was still covered until the time limit ran out.

 

[glc8937]

99explorer,

I have obviously made you mad which was not my intent so I do apologize. Perhaps I was a bit hasty in my thinking but to me if I even remotely thought that someone was telling me that my warranty of my engine (or any part for that fact) was voided because of a mere question about a modification then I would have been saying "wait a minute...." and finding out for sure.

My original intent was to inform of you of the fact that Ford cannot void your warranty becuase you asked a question. If you still have a warranty then I would call Ford back and ask again about the KKM. Alec is correct in saying that the general rule is the aftermarket part will only void the parts that it affects.

Hope that helps my friend

 

[99explorer5.0]

that wasnt anger ..... that was sarcasim .... i dont even know if thats how you spell it. But thank you for claring that up and that is the reason why we have this board is to inform others who dont know or misunderstand things. I just figured that if you had something wrong with your engine they would try their hardest to put blame on the mod. And for a dumbass like me that doesnt know much about engines would believe them. thanx again for the info .... i didnt mean to sound angry i was trying to make it sound like a joke.

 

[Robert]

You might want to refer the woman at Ford to the Magnuson-Moss warranty act. In a nutshell, it basically states that no manufacturer can void a warranty for aftermarket parts unless they provide the parts at no charge, the manufacturer can prove that the aftermarket part caused the damage or there is a disclaimer in the warranty information booklet. If the aftermarket part causes damage then only the items damaged by the aftermarket part can have there warranty void and the manufacturer can refuse to work on the vehicle until the aftermarket parts are removed or they can charge to remove them. They cannot void your warranty on things that have nothing to do with the aftermarket part. For them to have a disclaimer in the warranty booklet, they have to provide evidence to the FTC as to why the manufacturer feels justified in voiding the warranty for a certain aftermarket part. Here is the like to the FTC's web-site regarding the act:
Dead Link Removed

 

[MikeP]

Thanks Robert for the information on the warranty topic. It is my experience that Ford and/or Ford dealers attempt to bluff you into thinking things are not covered by their warranty. I got access to the Ford Technical Service Bulletins which tell which items Ford will pay for the repairs - yet when I went into the Ford dealer they would tell me that the item or defect was not covered - then I would show them a copy of the Ford TSB and get the item replaced or repaired.
Mike in Seattle

 

[Robert]

Yeah, it just ticks me off the way the Ford Service Advisors that I have dealt with act towards customers that do modifications to their vehicles. One of the Ford garages I was in had a hand written notice taped to the wall in the Service Advisors booth that said "Attention: The use of an aftermarket performance chip on the 7.3L deisel may result in the warranty being refused if it is proven to cause engine damage." The statement is fair enough, however the reason I went to this garage was to have them tell me the new computer code in my PCM after they loaded a newer version of software in it. When they asked me why I needed to know the code I told them that I needed it for a Superchip. That is when the Advisor told me that "there was a good chance that Ford would void the warranty on my engine if I put one in and in fact Ford will void the warranty on the diesels, no questions asked if they ever find a chip in it." He told me this before I saw the note in their office, but having already gone over the warranty issue several times with a few different aftermarket companies, I knew he was just blowing smoke. He gave me the computer code anyway, and I left with a bad taste in my mouth again.

I do make it a point of removing my chip and FIPK whenever having any work done that requires lifting the hood though. The only reason is because my extended warranty company looks for any reason they can to deny coverage on my Explorer so the 15 minutes it takes me to remove them saves me from the agravation of argueing with my warranty company over coverage. In the end and with enough time, patience and money I would probably get it covered, however it isn't worth the hassles. I definately didn't let their remarks sway my decision to purchase the aftermarket parts though.

Even my Superchip came with a note card that included the 800 number for the FTC and Superchips and advised that some dealers have been spreading some misinformation regarding voiding the warranty. It then referenced the Magnuson-Moss warranty act and said to call the FTC if your dealer refuses to warranty your vehicle. If needed you could also contact Superchips for further assistance.

 

[GRNHOG]

KKM

I am making a home made KKM kit of my X and I was just wondering .. once you put the open air filter on can I still go mudding ... I mean I love to play in the mud but I also knoe that mud get all under the hood when I start to splash around in it ... will this effect the filter.. will it mess it up? it seems to me that you would have to wash it all the time or either keep buying new ones.. and where can I buy a S&B air filter.

 

[redexplr]

Or maybe i should just ask the professionals here at explorer forum since they obviously know more than the people who work at ford.

In my opinion some of the people on this site know a heck of alot more than many of the guys at Ford!!!!!