Threw a code today - Did the Trifecta Tune cause this?

[PamPurrs]

With only 3,400 miles on it, my Sonic LT threw a code today. P0324 - Powertrain Knock Control Error.


I called the dealership, and reported the code. He asked if I had performed any modifications to the engine and I lied. I asked why, and he said it had to do with the warranty.

I'm concerned that the Trifecta Tune that I installed may have caused this problem, and perhaps when the service department discovers it, I may not be covered under the warranty.

I have an appointment for Friday morning. Should I removed the tune?

I've also contacted Trifecta support and am awaiting their response.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Pam

 

[navyjag10]

Yes if it's easy you don't want to give them any excuses to not fix it

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[Mr.turner85]

Not sure but I could see how it could. If you can then remove the tune. Knock otherwise known and prespark detonation occurs when the air/fuel mixture explodes at a time other then when ignited by the spark plug. Usually this can occur by air/fuel mixtures being off, cylinder pressure or temperatures being too high or ignition timing being off. I personally don't know what the trifecta tune does to achieve more power but I would assume it would have to do with making the air/fuel mixture less conservative and possibly retarding timing. Either of which could cause an increase in knock. All motors can experience some knock, hence why they have knock sensors but usually it is very limited due to things like advanced fuel and timing control. Considering your car has only 3400 miles it is very unlikely under normal circumstances that your car would experience excessive knock that is why the service writer became suspicious and asked if you had done any modifications. If it is possible to remove any trace of the tune then by all means do that and take it in, but most likely by doing this, you will erase the fault data (only an assumption not certain about this) that made this code occur. This may lead to you bringing it in and the dealership saying there is no issue, unless you broke something that is. But if does erase the fault data and some of the readiness monitors have not reset or it has a counter listing the last time codes were reset than you may be outed as having at the very least cleared codes from the ecm. The dealer may hold it for sometime and take it for a spin but if the tune was the cause of the issue and no physical damage was caused they will probably give it back and say nothing is wrong. To that end you would be wasting yours and the dealers time. If that does happen, drive it for a while without the tune and see if it comes back if it doesn't, load the tune back on and see if it comes back. If it comes back then you know it's the tune causing the issue and you can take it up with trifecta. Possibly one of the parameters of the tune is not set properly. These are the risks you take modifying a car still under warranty but if you can get rid of any trace of the tune then the dealer cannot refuse you service or refuse to uphold your warranty. And if they claim you have modified your car then ask them to prove it, stand your ground " if they say the only way this code would appear is to have modified something " then ask to show you what has been modified. If they can't then they have no reason not to fix it. They can't deny your warranty based on suspicion.


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[PamPurrs]

The odd thing is, the car still performs great. I don't hear any knocking.

 

[PamPurrs]

Oddly, the light on the dash disappeared today, and I was able to clear the code with my Torque app.

I'm working with Trifecta to see if we can learn what may have caused this.

Pam

 

[suitcasejefferson]

Car manufacturers are denying more and more warranty claims due to even very minor modifications, like installing a cold air intake or a cat back exhaust. Part of it is just greed on the part of the manufacturers, but part of it is because today's cars are so precisely designed that even the slightest modification can cause a problem. I recommend waiting for the warranty to expire before making any mechanical or computer related modifications.

I'm an old school mechanic who has built many engines (the small block Chevy is my favorite engine) from street to full on drag race use. I am a vintage car enthusiast, and love working on cars without computers. I am also a hot rodder, and the days when you could hot rod engines are pretty much over. Todays engines are not tolerant of any changes. We have the EPA to thank for this.

 

[boostiboo]

Car manufacturers are denying more and more warranty claims due to even very minor modifications, like installing a cold air intake or a cat back exhaust. Part of it is just greed on the part of the manufacturers, but part of it is because today's cars are so precisely designed that even the slightest modification can cause a problem. I recommend waiting for the warranty to expire before making any mechanical or computer related modifications.

I'm an old school mechanic who has built many engines (the small block Chevy is my favorite engine) from street to full on drag race use. I am a vintage car enthusiast, and love working on cars without computers. I am also a hot rodder, and the days when you could hot rod engines are pretty much over. Todays engines are not tolerant of any changes. We have the EPA to thank for this.

No joke. My first vehicle was a '76, no "computer" to speak of unless you count the controllers I had to install for custom light setups but damn I miss that 392ci 4 barrel carb goodness.

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[shibbs]

Car manufacturers are denying more and more warranty claims due to even very minor modifications...

On Camaro5, there was a guy whose engine ate itself with very few miles on the odometer. Obviously built wrong somehow.
Well the owner of the car had installed a catch can, and GM voided his warranty - leaving him to foot the bill on a brand new engine.

 

[shibbs]

I'm an old school mechanic who has built many engines (the small block Chevy is my favorite engine) from street to full on drag race use. I am a vintage car enthusiast, and love working on cars without computers. I am also a hot rodder, and the days when you could hot rod engines are pretty much over. Todays engines are not tolerant of any changes. We have the EPA to thank for this.

Ebb and flow, man. Old cars have carbs, new cars have computers. Techs now have no clue how to tune a carb, but know computers inside and out; just like you don't like the computer controls, but know your way around a carb.

Funny story - I work at a BMW dealership, and someone brought in a 1973 Bavaria.... Only one tech here knew how to rebuild and tune the carburetor on it. lol