going off of the thread triton started, does anybody else run a smarty or know someone who does? i really want to get one but i want more proof that these things are invisible to dealers. with only 600 mi on my truck i really want to keep my warranty intact. parts/service, if you read this, do you have any insight to this? ive heard that any programmer/downloader resets the number of times the key has been turned over so it lets the dealer know if its been changed... truth?

 

I have heard from numerous sources that the dealer can't catch a smarty. I can also tell you how the dealer catches programmers (My family owns a dealership). When a vehicle comes in for warranty work and consumer damage from a performance programmer could have caused the problem, Chrysler has the dealer download the vehicle's brain and send it in, Chrysler then tells the dealer whether or not it will be covered by the warranty. Basically, I've heard the smarty is really good and Chrysler can't find it, but if you wanna play you better be prepared for the possibility of getting caught. I'd compare it to always going 10mph over the speed limit, or running off-road diesel every day.

 

I've talked to several guys about this with not just smarty but any programmer or module...2 in particular that stand out...One on here a dodge service tech 9 years I believe he said and said itsmainly on the tech that diags it, if their good or bad at catching it....and my brother (diesel mechanic) has caught tons of programmers and several Smarty's but he's not at a shop that does warrenty work so it don't matter really to him, he just like to try to catch um and see what their runnin, he's only been in the diesel game for about 3 years at that so even though a great mechanic he's still considered less exsperienced than most yet still finds them

I'm still considerin runnin one b/c they must prove that your mods are what messed up the truck to not warranty it, but is it worth the pain of provin it didn't...and that chance that you do break something from usin the programmer....I'm still debatin it with myself

 

I find it hard to believe your brother found the smarty. Unless there is a serious problem with the truck or unless someone didn't return the truck to stock, on a basic visit to the dealer it will NOT be detected. Other progrmammers are a different story. The smarty doesn't change the key count like most other programmer. Now, I'm not saying it's 100% fool prove but, for them to post in bold on their site " it's not detectable " makes a big statement.

Now, if you blow your engine up, fry a injector...etc, D/C and Cummins are going to want to now what happen. That's when to deep digging in the ECM will likely reveal the use of a programmer.

I would suggest talking to Bob Wagner about this and have him tell you their thoughts on this.

There's a thread going at DTR which is the Smarty owner club. There's almost 100 people on the list. That just those that joined in on that list. There's many more people running it.
It's had it's issues with software over the year but, they're always working on improvements.

 

I know nothin about finding programmers, but just off of what he said he has caught 2 guys runnin Smarty, wether or not they were returned to stock may have been the culprit,bein they were most likely outta warranty by not goin to the dealer they pry didn't care... So Triton you make a good point

Another good point is that the dealer woudn't catch it on your standard visit cause since your not getting serious work done, their not looking for it...

One he mentioned he was over looking all the history for the truck on his laptop b/c of a fuel injection problem and caught it from higher than normal numbers...I got no idea when it comes to that stuff I'm not a big eletronics guy...lol... but I'll try to get ahold of him sometime and see what he says...

I'm trying to figure this out to cause I have never heard of a starscan catching one....and if they can't who cares I'll buy one then....

 

from the research Ive done on smarty the dealership itself cannot find it once returned to stock. . .however the whiz kids that know the software that is used to run the engine can find it due to some very small differences in the lines of code. the only way the dealership can see it is if the TOOL that put it on his truck didnt return it to stock.

 

what about superchip, it it detectable if removed? does it delete the key cycle?

 

If it's warranty work and the code gets sent to Chrysler (this will happen in any major case) I'd bet it's going to be found. I know from the tech at home about work that was denied, he didn't have specifics on brands of programmers. The age old equation applies: How fast do you want to go? = How fast can you AFFORD to go?

 

I don't know about Superchip but the smarty is the only box on the market that makes the claim of not being detectable.

Batpheak It's not all about going fast. The mpg's are outstanding and the additonal power for towing is nice to have. Yes, I would bet that... if like I said, you blow the engine or have some sort of catasrophic failure.... they will want to know why it happen and dig deep looking for the problem and find it. On your basic trip to the dealer though.... you woun't have a problem.

 

Agreed, don't get me completely wrong here, I'm not trying to be against all programmers. Heck, I'd like to put a Smarty on my truck, I don't have the cash for a rebuilt tranny right now and I know the temptation would be far too great. Then again, my truck has 194k on the clock and I don't have to worry about warranty denial. I just don't want to give those that want to play with their truck AND preserve a warranty a great deal of hope that they can just get away with it. If you monkey with your vehicle (for any reason, mileage included) be prepared that the factory can come back and deny your warranty. This is the reason Drew is so proud to proclaim that he is his own warranty station.