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Getting charged by dealer for a PCM update?

sinners-inc

Full Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
30
Location
Southern Oregon Coast
I'm just wondering if your local dealers charged you when you went in for an update to your computer (PCM)?  Our local dealer (the only one within 200 miles of here), charges $85-100 to update the software....this just dosent seem right to me.

What have been your guys/gals experiences been with this? 
 
Updated parts/software upgrades/defective parts/some adjustments/etc (with a few exceptions) are covered during the Basic Warranty Period...

If purchased and also depending on the level of coverage selected by the customer, an extended warranty may also cover "updates" to software

However, in the fine print of almost EVERYTHING you buy there is a clause which allows the manufacturer to change/upgrade his product at any time and without prior notice and with no obligation to "retrofit" prior purchases...this applies to automobiles as well...of course

TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins) and "software upgrades" and updated parts (take the intermediate steering shaft issue on the Avalanche as an example)...are covered as needed under the Basic Warranty (and some extended policies) if/when needed to facilitate a repair or customer concern/complaint.  However once the Basic and/or Extended policies are over or don't cover the item/s you are on your own.

As consumers...we are NOT entitled to have every "software patch"/upgrade"/updated parts/etc "given" to us during our ownership
at no charge

These TSBs are sometimes incorrectly identified by consumers as recalls when in fact the manufacturer is supplying information to field technicans on how to address issues and concerns

Recalls not always but almost always involve safety issues (seat belts/child restraint systems/brakes/items which may cause an engine to quit and might cause a hazard to the occupants/ etc) when issued are covered for the life of the vehicle regardless of number of owners unless otherwise stipulatedd in the recall campaign.  Some recalls have had time/milage limits attached but those have been few and far between.
 
So you should be entitled to every version upgrade of Windows from Microsoft, because you bought it once?

You get updates as needed under warranty.
 
If you specifically went in for an update this is a perfectly reasonable charge. If you went in for some other service(s) and the dealer, on their own, chose to install the latest patch I would expect it for free.

Don't know how it works currently but with my previous truck I had to duct tape off my OBD port to keep my dealer from automatically attempting to install the latest updates and screwing up my tune.
 
DougD said:
So you should be entitled to every version upgrade of Windows from Microsoft, because you bought it once?

You get updates as needed under warranty.

I see what your saying...I agree, no.  Sticking with analogies, you need (should) purchase each version or upgrade of windows you run, however, updates are provided for THAT version are free.  Its the manufacturer providing a "fix" for a problem or deficiency with their product.  The updates are not provided because of something the end user or owner did or caused.      
 
sinners-inc said:
I see what your saying...I agree, no.  Sticking with analogies, you need (should) purchase each version or upgrade of windows you run, however, updates are provided for THAT version are free.  Its the manufacturer providing a "fix" for a problem or deficiency with their product.  The updates are not provided because of something the end user or owner did or caused.      

um, youre new, eh?  :cool: dont argue with DougD...  :laugh:
 
DougD said:
So you should be entitled to every version upgrade of Windows from Microsoft, because you bought it once?

You get updates as needed under warranty.

XP to Vista = upgrade?

Couldn't help myself. I had Vista for about a week. Other than all the cartoony stuff, which was halfway amusing, I hated every second of it.
 
DougD said:
Windows 7 = UPGRADE!

Boy, I sure hope so. Waiting for Oct 22 to get here. Don't have any spare machines to stick the beta on at the moment and didn't make a separate partition in my current drive.

Oh, well. The anticipation is good!
 
sssMOkinAV said:
um, youre new, eh?  :cool: dont argue with DougD...  :laugh:

Speaking of DougD, I vote that he brings back a Belushi avatar! Kind of easier to argue with him thinking that I'm arguing with Blutarsky from Animal House.

Oh, I could never argue with DougD. He'd mop the forum with me.  Okay, no more  :jacked:
 
ramonday said:
Boy, I sure hope so. Waiting for Oct 22 to get here. Don't have any spare machines to stick the beta on at the moment and didn't make a separate partition in my current drive.

Oh, well. The anticipation is good!

Virtual machines :)
 
ramonday said:
Yeah, I guess I could use something like VMware. I'll see what I can "software-borrow" from work.

MS Virtual PC - free
 
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