I have a technical question. I was reading all about the Sprint Booster and am thinking about buying one. Does anyone know if using one leaves any info on the onboard computer that Chrysler might use to void a warrantee? I know they can tell if you redline or exceed other limits and I just want to be sure this can not be used against a warrantee claim.
I purchased the extended warrantee and don't want to waist all of that money.

 

Don't worry, those goofballs working at the dealerships, have a hard enough time tying their shoe laces. And no there is no record of the SB being installed on the OBC.

I'm also wondering, who told you they can read how many times you redline the engine?

I know the computer stores data, for accident information retrieval, but I never heard about this.

 

I read it in Road and Track, I believe, a few months back. They did not specify manufactures but warned that "Big Brother is Watching" and you would be surprised by the data available to dealers and manufacturers to be sure their products are not abused and then brought in for warrantee repairs. I'll try to locate the issue again.

 

Please do, I would like to read that.

 

What MYCROSS is referring to is black box technology which many auto manufactures have been installing for years and that what the National Transportation Safety Board want to mandate to be installed in ALL cars. There are benefits that can be gained from this technology, but the presence of this technology can also be incriminating. Here is a blip from the Fox New website:
You can read the entire article here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,132056,00.html

I can't say whether our car actually does or does not have an Event Data Recorder (EDR). Many of the manufactures are reluctant to release whether they are or are not installing them into the cars. However, MYCROSS's concerns are justified because if there is an EDR installed the throttle response curve will be different. The real question is would DC provide a dealership with comparison data throttle response with the Sprint Booster and without? I guess that would depend on the amount of the repair.

With all that said I have the extended warranty and before the car comes out of storage next spring I plan on installing the Sprint Booster. Then again I routinely drive my car at speed in excess of a 100 mph. Definitely my judgment is flawed but I figure life is too short to let the grass grow under your feet and there is nothing worse then an opportunity missed.

 

If you are concerned about the SB voiding your warranty, why not remove it before taking it to the dealer for service. It only takes 5 minutes to re-install.

 

My understanding was it recorded a history, over a period of time, like the black box on an airplane. I feel a bit better though after reading the reference from IDAHO because i am in California and it says that is the only state required to tell you when you buy the car. Of course this won't do any good if the dealer is ignorant of this law. I guess I worry to much !!!
I just don't trust dealers.

 

I have not tried to read the XF computer but it very well may record information on the car when the check engine light comes on. There are ECM's that record data such as engine over-speed and absolute overheat but the Sprint Booster will not cause that, those issues are caused by driver error. Also the SB cannot be seen by the computer because it does not report to it and it can't be seen by the tech who by the way if he did see it would probably think it belonged there.

 

If the car did have EDR it would be very easy to identify if the Sprint Booster had been installed. The information that I have read on the Sprint Booster is that it is integrated signal amplifier that will shift the throttle response curve making it more reactive. All a person would have to due is compare the throttle response times with and with out the Sprint Booster to the data stored in the EDR.

 

You guys worry too much.
If you have any motor problems and you need service just remove it.
I worked at a dealer and we had a 25th anniversary trans am come in with a blown motor.
It had a nitrous purge valve on the hood but he removed the rest of the system first.
We know it has nos but gm told us it would be too costly to prove so we put a motor in it.
The dealer also is not as sharp as you may think they are. Plus many times the tech working on the car just wants the work so they are not going out of their way to prove you did something to your car.
Just my .02
Do what you think is best for you.

 

One thing I CAN tell you is that the Sprint Booster just makes it easier to get to full throttle position. It does NOT alter the throttle limits or increase horsepower output.

You can make the car perform the same with a REALLY heavy foot.

If you always pushed the throttle half way to the floor during take-offs then it would be similar to driving with a Sprint Booster installed.

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

YIKES... Why didn't I think of that before ? IT would be great if we had a black box and I could access the information... This could be some valuable stuff especially if it logs g forces, brake pedal pressure, throttle angle, speed, RPM, etc...

If anyone finds out more, let me know... It will save me from purchasing a $1,000 data acquisition system.

 

I assure you even with the latest ECM's the computer can not see the SB and I agree with stryfox -- there is nothing to worry about. You either wont one or do not want one. I have worked in dealerships for over 30 years and it just will not be an issue.

 

Paul I am not referring to the vehicles ECU I am talking about a Event Data Recorder (EDR) a totally separate unit that is in many of the car manufactured today. This is the same technology that the FAA uses to determine the cause of an airplane crash. Here is just a list of the minimum
requirements called out in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 49 CFR Part 563

Notice that the Speed and throttle position are recorded two times per second so a change in throttle response could easily be seen.

If you would like to read the article it can be read here: http://www.harristechnical.com/downl...le_Aug2006.pdf

So far only Ford and General Motors have been installing EDRs in cars starting in 1997; our Crossfires do not have an EDR installed. Here is a list of all cars with EDRs: http://www.harristechnical.com/downloads/cdrlist.pdf

 

I apologize that the tables didn't turn out correctly but you can see them starting on page 197 of the report. http://www.harristechnical.com/downl...le_Aug2006.pdf

 

Well if we have an EDR (and I really don't know if we do or not) looking at that reading would not show a devise in the line only a reading that may or may not be out of range in turn leading the technician to look for why the TPS command was different from the event and all of this assumes the tech understood the data he was looking at. I can tell you on the shop floor they are going to look at what is damaged and the age and mileage of the car going no further. The study of data in that fashion would bring the shop floor to a stand still and just won't happen. As bad as I hate saying this the "5-STAR" dealerships I know and almost all I have read about can't figure out how to reset the service reminder in the dash much less understand ms and mv command times.

But in a different world wouldn't car manufacturing company's and insurance company's love that stuff ..... Ahhh sorry sir you were hammering the throttle in the curve when....... and that isn't a covered....

But to answer the main question, No there is no warranty issue today.

It aint no thang... Forget about it...