When you’ve enhanced your car’s performance with an ECU tune, routine servicing might bring up questions you hadn’t considered. A key point to understand is that modifications like ECU tunes can trigger diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), including what’s known as a “tamper code.” This tamper code essentially functions as a DTC itself, signaling that something outside of the factory settings has been altered within your vehicle’s computer system.
Pro-tuners are often aware of this, and a “tamper code delete” feature in their tunes is designed to prevent this specific DTC from being generated. Without this, your car will likely log this fault. This is crucial because during a service check-in, a vehicle key read will scan for DTCs. Therefore, if a tamper code is present, it becomes part of your car’s diagnostic data, potentially viewable in systems analyzing FASTA data.
It’s also worth noting that systems like BMW’s ISTA can track fault occurrences, frequency, mileage, and other related data. While it’s not fully clear how deep manufacturers delve into FASTA data analysis during standard services, the capability to identify deviations from factory parameters likely exists. Understanding the implications of these logged tamper codes is essential for anyone considering an ECU tune and subsequent vehicle servicing.
