Procal Tune voids Ford Extended Warranty?

TechnicalDisaster

Jul 01, 2025

I don't want to make too big a deal out of this (yet), but I got some interesting news from my dealer. My buddy called me to tell me not to install the Ford Procal tune because it voids the Ford extended warranty. In his case, he was having engine troubles and took his Bronco to the dealership. They entered his VIN and told him his VIN is flagged and they are not honoring his extended warranty.

I called the dealership to schedule the install of my Procal tune, and the service manager scared me off. He said that the tune voids the factory warranty and replaces it with a different, limited warranty that is not as good as the full Ford factory warranty. He then told me that it would completely void my factory extended warranty for the power and drive train. My Bronco has not been very reliable and I don't want to risk losing my expensive (but worth it) extended warranty.

I called Ford customer service to return the Procal tune, but they refused. It is a non-refundable part. I think this pretty unfair since Ford does not disclose anywhere on their website that there is material ramifications of installing this part. I'm not going to sacrifice any part of my $2,000+ warranty for a $700 tuner. But now I have a very expensive brick.

Even here on Bronco Nation, there is no disclosure that the ProCal tune will void important parts of the Ford Extended warranty, and there is no information about the limits of the warranty that is applied when using the tuner.

I've initiated a case to my credit card company to try and get my money back. Ford is clearly not informing buyers how their official performance parts installed by factory authorized mechanics have significant change to the warranty.

BuckYeah, Johnny Mo

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Jul 01, 2025

TechnicalDisaster
I don't want to make too big a deal out of this (yet), but I got some interesting news from my dealer. My buddy called me to tell me not to install the Ford Procal tune because it voids the Ford extended warranty. In his case, he was having engine troubles and took his Bronco to the dealership. They entered his VIN and told him his VIN is flagged and they are not honoring his extended warranty.

I called the dealership to schedule the install of my Procal tune, and the service manager scared me off. He said that the tune voids the factory warranty and replaces it with a different, limited warranty that is not as good as the full Ford factory warranty. He then told me that it would completely void my factory extended warranty for the power and drive train. My Bronco has not been very reliable and I don't want to risk losing my expensive (but worth it) extended warranty.

I called Ford customer service to return the Procal tune, but they refused. It is a non-refundable part. I think this pretty unfair since Ford does not disclose anywhere on their website that there is material ramifications of installing this part. I'm not going to sacrifice any part of my $2,000+ warranty for a $700 tuner. But now I have a very expensive brick.

Even here on Bronco Nation, there is no disclosure that the ProCal tune will void important parts of the Ford Extended warranty, and there is no information about the limits of the warranty that is applied when using the tuner.

I've initiated a case to my credit card company to try and get my money back. Ford is clearly not informing buyers how their official performance parts installed by factory authorized mechanics have significant change to the warranty.

Damn! I bet you could sell the tune, at a loss, and get some of the cash back if the CC company can't help.. Assuming you have not already tied it to your VIN that is..

onX Trail Guide & Tread Lightly Member
2023 Badlands 2 door in Hot Pepper Red 🌶️ 🌶️

Jul 01, 2025

raqball
Damn! I bet you could sell the tune, at a loss, and get some of the cash back if the CC company can't help.. Assuming you have not already tied it to your VIN that is..

Nope, it's still in the box and not tied to my VIN. There is no reason at all for Ford to not take it back. I really wanted to buy the HOSS 3.0 steering rack, and I need the procal for that. I could use the device to program the rack without installing the tune, but then I'm still out $300. But I'm probably going to pass on the rack because I'm not sure this Bronco is the platform to spend any more money on. Every two steps forward is one step back when it comes to Ford.

Jakob1972, Chief Ron

Jul 01, 2025

TechnicalDisaster
Nope, it's still in the box and not tied to my VIN. There is no reason at all for Ford to not take it back. I really wanted to buy the HOSS 3.0 steering rack, and I need the procal for that. I could use the device to program the rack without installing the tune, but then I'm still out $300. But I'm probably going to pass on the rack because I'm not sure this Bronco is the platform to spend any more money on. Every two steps forward is one step back when it comes to Ford.

Agree!

I went with the 74Weld kit on my Bronco.. I am happy with the kit..

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Chief Ron

Jul 01, 2025

"There is no reason at all for Ford to not take it back." He said before they told him NO. Hope this doesn't happen ,but it wouldn't surprise me if they say no.

I saw a news clip, made up, where the line was...due to all of the quality and service issues Ford is experiencing, Ford has included a 3 year Uber service with your 36 month warranty.

Chief Ron

Jul 01, 2025

TechnicalDisaster
Nope, it's still in the box and not tied to my VIN. There is no reason at all for Ford to not take it back. I really wanted to buy the HOSS 3.0 steering rack, and I need the procal for that. I could use the device to program the rack without installing the tune, but then I'm still out $300. But I'm probably going to pass on the rack because I'm not sure this Bronco is the platform to spend any more money on. Every two steps forward is one step back when it comes to Ford.

It looks like the ProCal is labeled as a Non-Returnable Item on their website.

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Jul 01, 2025

broncorob3
It looks like the ProCal is labeled as a Non-Returnable Item on their website.

Sure but IMO, it's deceptive if they do not disclose the loss of extended warranty that gets replaced by another that's limited... Since it's deceptive, they should amend their webpage to state such and honor the return.

I'd get it if it had already been tied to a VIN..

onX Trail Guide & Tread Lightly Member
2023 Badlands 2 door in Hot Pepper Red 🌶️ 🌶️

Jul 01, 2025

broncorob3
It looks like the ProCal is labeled as a Non-Returnable Item on their website.

They withheld important material information that would have changed my buying decision. And the impact would have been a very costly one. Not just in the cancellation of my power train warranty, but the cost of a power train repair as well. If they don’t disclose that that this device would cancel my warranty, they need to refund me and update their disclosures.

Karl_in_Chicago, Johnny Mo

Jul 01, 2025

Dang that sucks. But you said it has not been reliable what issues are you having?

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Jul 01, 2025

That is troubling since I just picked one up as well.

Jul 01, 2025

#10

TechnicalDisaster
Nope, it's still in the box and not tied to my VIN. There is no reason at all for Ford to not take it back. I really wanted to buy the HOSS 3.0 steering rack, and I need the procal for that. I could use the device to program the rack without installing the tune, but then I'm still out $300. But I'm probably going to pass on the rack because I'm not sure this Bronco is the platform to spend any more money on. Every two steps forward is one step back when it comes to Ford.

BTW, you don't "need" the ProCal tune to install the 3.0 Rack.
It's completely doable with just Forscan & FDRS ($50 for a 2 day license) & the correct scan tool.
It's how a lot of us have done it for our Broncos that don't have the "correct" VIN for a 3.0 Rack, like my 22 WT that was built 5 months before the 3.0 was standard.

But if you're super concerned with warranty, that might not be a good option either. Not sure how it would affect it.
I'm out of both by bumper-bumper & Powertrain, so I didn't care.

Jul 01, 2025

#11

Jakob1972
Dang that sucks. But you said it has not been reliable what issues are you having?

For engine and drive train I have replaced cam phasers at 20k miles and both CVs at 25k miles.

Cam phasers may not ever be an issue again, but that doesn’t change the fact the motor was pulled and taken apart. I want my extended warranty.

Chief Ron, Jakob1972

Jul 01, 2025

#12

Maybe it's just me, but I don't know how any dealer can say installing the tune voids any part of your warranty. They must prove the tuner caused the issue you are facing to deny a claim, even if it was caused by the tune being installed. Plus, why would Ford sell a gazillion of the tuners if they had any indication it caused a drivetrain problem?

Jul 01, 2025

#13

jtgensler
BTW, you don't "need" the ProCal tune to install the 3.0 Rack.
It's completely doable with just Forscan & FDRS ($50 for a 2 day license) & the correct scan tool.
It's how a lot of us have done it for our Broncos that don't have the "correct" VIN for a 3.0 Rack, like my 22 WT that was built 5 months before the 3.0 was standard.

But if you're super concerned with warranty, that might not be a good option either. Not sure how it would affect it.
I'm out of both by bumper-bumper & Powertrain, so I didn't care.

I’ve considered the donor VIN option. I’m waiting on my case to progress through the credit card company. If I can’t have a refund, I need to see the procedures for installing the procal device without installing the tune.

Jul 01, 2025

#14

RobWTx
Maybe it's just me, but I don't know how any dealer can say installing the tune voids any part of your warranty. They must prove the tuner caused the issue you are facing to deny a claim, even if it was caused by the tune being installed. Plus, why would Ford sell a gazillion of the tuners if they had any indication it caused a drivetrain problem?

What my dealer told me is that when you get the Procal Tune, your factory warranty is replaced with a Ford Performance warranty. My friend is going to show me proof tonight that his VIN has been red flagged. When he makes a warranty claim, the dealership has to call the Ford Performance warranty number and see if it is covered. According to my dealer. the limits in the Ford Performance warranty are not nearly as good as the Ford factory warranty.

What's worse, is if you buy the Procal tune when you purchase a vehicle new, and also buy an extended warranty. You won't find out until 3 years or 36K miles that your extended warranty is useless. In my friends case, he will most likely cancel the extended warranty and get a refund for the remainder of time.

Maybe @Ford Motor Company can publish the warranty information for these tuners?

Chief Ron, Sven

Jul 01, 2025

#15

My understanding... based on what my dealer told me. This also matches with what Bronco Nation has listed on the Gear Store, and what Ford Performance has on their website. Not an expert on it, so I could be wrong, but it all lines up and makes sense once you read all of the materials.

The ProCal tune—when installed by an ASE certified tech/dealer—comes with it's own 3-yr/36,000 miles warranty that starts when the vehicle is put in-service (date of first sale). This basically works in tandem with the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty, but it's technically a different warranty.

After that first 3-yr/36,000 miles, the warranty on the tune (and the factory bumper-to-bumper) expires. The factory 5-yr/60k mile powertrain warranty continues, and obviously any extended warranty you buy also continues. But any issue related to or caused by the Ford Performance tune may not be covered. The factory warranty and extended warranty generally only covers factory configurations/components, and the Ford Performance tune is obviously not factory. It's effectively treated as an aftermarket part.

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RobWTx, JoergH

Jul 02, 2025

#16

RagnarKon
My understanding... based on what my dealer told me. This also matches with what Bronco Nation has listed on the Gear Store, and what Ford Performance has on their website. Not an expert on it, so I could be wrong, but it all lines up and makes sense once you read all of the materials.

The ProCal tune—when installed by an ASE certified tech/dealer—comes with it's own 3-yr/36,000 miles warranty that starts when the vehicle is put in-service (date of first sale). This basically works in tandem with the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty, but it's technically a different warranty.

After that first 3-yr/36,000 miles, the warranty on the tune (and the factory bumper-to-bumper) expires. The factory 5-yr/60k mile powertrain warranty continues, and obviously any extended warranty you buy also continues. But any issue related to or caused by the Ford Performance tune may not be covered. The factory warranty and extended warranty generally only covers factory configurations/components, and the Ford Performance tune is obviously not factory. It's effectively treated as an aftermarket part.

This is very helpful and correct under some conditions, but still very problematic in regards to the tuner. I'll post an update tomorrow.

Johnny Mo

Jul 02, 2025

#17

TechnicalDisaster
I’ve considered the donor VIN option. I’m waiting on my case to progress through the credit card company. If I can’t have a refund, I need to see the procedures for installing the procal device without installing the tune.

Sorry, I may not have made it clear enough. You don't even need the device if you're using the donor VIN method. So what you decide to do with the ProCal doesn't have to effect your ability to put a 3.0 rack in your Bronco.

TechnicalDisaster

Jul 02, 2025

#18

TechnicalDisaster
This is very helpful and correct under some conditions, but still very problematic in regards to the tuner. I'll post an update tomorrow.

Makes sense - but sounds like there may be some dealer discretion involved and a certain unwillingness to submit warranty coverage requests. Hopefully I have that covered in a different way so I'm less concerned now.

Jul 02, 2025

#19

New information - I have talked to two different Ford warranty representatives that have stated the Procal Tune voids the Ford extended warranty. I recorded the phone calls so I can share the audio later. The second representative was very straight forward and told me not to install the tune or I would lose my extended service plan.

raqball, Sven

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