Yes, if your car’s engine has been remapped, you must notify your insurance company. Even if you can’t see it, remapping or chipping is considered a car modification by insurance companies. If you fail to notify your insurance provider, your policy may be voided, and you may be prosecuted for concealing facts.
Engine remapping may result in an increase in your car insurance rate. Even though remapping is becoming more prevalent, some insurance companies will refuse to cover your automobile if it has been chipped.
Does insurance check for remapping?
Yes, indeed (probably). While insurance companies may not be knowledgeable about car remapping, if you file a claim, they can hire a professional to examine your vehicle.
You might believe you can get away with it. “How can my insurance company determine if my car has been remapped? There isn’t anything to see here!”
Some professional remappers believe that their work should not be shown on dealers’ diagnostic equipment, as this would prevent them from detecting it. Others, though, believe it is feasible that their efforts may be discovered.
Others provide you the option of resetting your ECU to factory defaults. If you were in a catastrophic accident, however, you may not be allowed to do so before the insurance company takes possession of your vehicle.
Does remapping damage your engine?
Remapping puts a little more strain on an engine, but not enough to be problematic if done correctly. When designing their goods, remapping companies will closely monitor the temperatures and pressures that remaps subject the engine to. Because most automobiles’ engines are designed to be capable of more performance than they really give, the extra power shouldn’t put too much strain on them.
Does remapping devalue car?
This is one of the most common remapping afterthoughts. We’re delighted to explain our answer to this issue because everything that will effect your automobile’s residuals is vital to consider whether you opt to sell privately or trade in your car for a new one.
If you tell the person who is buying your car that you are remapping it, it will only effect the private resale value. Even if you told the person who is buying it, the chances of your remap lowering the value of your car are slim to none. The reason for this is that, in most cases, a remap improves a car’s performance while having no negative impact on its longevity. As a result, it’s not anything a private buyer would be concerned about.
In terms of trade-in value, a remap shouldn’t be a problem. We’ve never had a dealership inquire about modifications while appraising a car, and most wouldn’t be bothered anyhow because the majority of autos will be sold at auction. There are no legal difficulties with not declaring a remap you won’t be fined for not disclosing a remap, however some dealerships may be a little more strict with how they approach things.
Another way to consider a remap or chip tune is the potential value it can provide to your vehicle. When you consider that a high-quality remap with the EPC Powerbox Elite can cost anywhere from £250 to £500 or even more, it could be marketed as added value when it comes time to sell your car. It’s also worth noting that some private purchasers could be ready to spend a bit more for a car that’s been well-maintained and has tasteful/smart upgrades.
To summarize, a remap will have no detrimental impact on the resale value of your vehicle. It’s up to you whether you market your automobile as tuned or disclose this information when selling it; if a potential buyer inquires, it’s best to be forward and honest. After all, a remap isn’t something to be embarrassed about, and many people anticipate performance vehicles to be tweaked in some way. A remap is also only a software upgrade, therefore it’s completely safe.
Have you ever purchased or sold a remapped vehicle? What are your thoughts on the matter? Please share them with us by leaving a comment below or joining the conversation on Facebook.
Is remapping your car legal?
There is currently no law prohibiting car remapping, but it is suggested that it be done by a qualified specialist. After remapping, the only thing left to do is notify your insurance carrier of the change.
Can remapping damage your Turbo?
We’ve gotten a lot of queries about whether or not a remap can harm a vehicle’s engine, so we thought we’d answer them to help you determine whether or not a remap is right for you.
Understanding the ECU
The electronic control unit (ECU) is the computer in your vehicle. It uses data from sensors including the AFR sensor, LAMBDA sensor, throttle sensor, and MAP sensor to regulate a range of engine systems in real time, including air-fuel ratio, ignition timing, idle speed, variable valve timing, and valve control.
The vehicle manufacturer built the ECU’s original software, and pre-defined parameters allow the ECU to evaluate sensor data as normal or malfunctioning. For example, if the car’s air-fuel ratio is off, the AFR sensor will alert the ECU, and the ECU will display a check engine light on the instrument cluster.
The problem with the ECU’s original software
The original software for the ECU lacks slack parameters. Because the OEM must create software that takes into account low fuel quality, a lack of servicing, and overall neglect, these parameters are as they are. Simply put, the original software was created to handle the worst-case situation. This is a problem because we have excellent fuel in the UK (even supermarket fuel) and no petrolhead would ignore his vehicle. So, even though the worst-case situation never occurs, the car continues to run as if it has been ignored.
Where remapping comes into play
Remapping is the process of changing or replacing the ECU’s existing code with new software to optimize it for the best case scenario. Most automobiles have two crucial points on their map idle and part throttle cruising because of the way the ECU operates. The ECU in your car controls all of the locations in between in a preset manner. This pattern is changed via a remap, and the car is no longer controlled by the OEM’s generic software. Boost pressure, ignition timing, air-fuel ratio, and fuel pressure calibrations (among other things) are all adjusted based on the engine being tuned.
Is this safe?
Yes, if the code is correctly adjusted. There are no two automobiles that are alike, and there are no two engines that are alike. We have remapped thousands of automobiles, vans, trucks, tractors, and other agricultural machinery in our experience, and we can clearly state that remapping is a safe modification. We’ve remapped brand new automobiles straight from the dealer, and owners have reported no problems after tens of thousands of miles on the road.
You should have your car tuned by a respected and capable tuning business that can back up their work with research. It also helps if they have a huge list of positive testimonials and reviews. All remaps aim to improve engine performance by burning the air/fuel mixture as efficiently as possible, but not all are created equal.
It’s also crucial to remember that additional power and torque come with increased responsibility if you drive about at full speed all the time, you’ll be placing more stress on the engine and drivetrain. That’s why, in order to increase track day longevity, many individuals upgrade additional vehicle components like the intercooler and ignition pack. If you take care of your car and drive it ‘normally,’ there’s no need to do the same with your daily driver.
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What are the disadvantages of remapping a car?
- A basic engine remapping will only assist turbo-powered engines. If your automobile is a non-turbo petrol model, a remap alone is unlikely to make a significant change in horsepower.
- Extra power might put the engine under more stress. Expect to have your automobile serviced more frequently as critical components, such as the clutch, may wear out faster.
- You may need to purchase higher octane fuel once your automobile has been remapped, which is normally more expensive.
- Your car warranty may be void if you acquire a remap that isn’t permitted by the manufacturer or an authorized dealer.
- Your car insurance may be affected if you remap your vehicle. Some insurance companies will not cover remapped automobiles as all.
Does remapping your car affect warranty?
It’s fair to argue that driving the same car for a long time might become monotonous. Not only will the limitations of your car’s performance become apparent over time, but you’ll also see a slew of new automobiles arrive on the market that are both quicker and more efficient than yours. If you’re having trouble with this, a car remap should be at the top of your to-do list this year to rekindle your passion for your prized possession.
Before you get your automobile remapped, you should think about your warranty. The thrill of driving a new car isn’t complete without the assurance that if something goes wrong, your car will be repaired for free by the manufacturer. Manufacturer warranties normally run 3-7 years (or up to a specified mileage, whichever comes first), and they provide you with a hassle-free maintenance option for the duration of your ownership.
A car remap will void the warranty on your engine (including the turbo or supercharger), as well as your clutch and gearbox. If you’ve heard something different somewhere, you’ve been duped. Modifications to components that are not allowed by the OEM will void the warranty, according to car manufacturer warranties.
If your automobile is still under warranty, you should absolutely think about it especially if the engine has previously had warranty repair, as your car will be at a higher risk of requiring additional maintenance in the future. Of course, your car may not require any warranty service at all. It makes no difference if you’ve had your car remapped in this scenario. However, if your car still has a significant warranty, it’s a risk.
The question is whether or not they will notice that your car has been remapped.
Most dealership garage diagnostic equipment isn’t sophisticated enough to scan ECU software for differences with the original software. If a dealership uses a diagnostic instrument, no fault codes will be found. If your head gasket has blown, for example, and your OEM is faced with a pricey warranty repair, they may send your ECU out for further investigation. In 99 percent of cases, this additional investigation will reveal your remap, and your OEM will be justified in refusing to fix your car under warranty.
Your engine warranty and perhaps your drivetrain warranty will be voided if you remap your engine. There are doubts regarding a dealership’s ability to inspect and validate that an ECU has been tuned, but it’s a risk in any case. We’ve adjusted a number of brand new cars, including the MK7 Volkswagen Golf R, and they’ve operated admirably without requiring warranty service. When cars require warranty service after being tuned, we’ve found that warranty work is performed without hesitation in 90% of situations.
Warranty-safe remaps are now available in 2018 and 2019. To learn more about warranty-safe remaps, click here.