Will Headers Void Warranty?
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Hendersonville NC
Will Headers Void Warranty?
Ready to do cat back exhaust and x-pipe and would just as soon do headers and highflow cats while the car is in the shop. However, I can't get a definitive answer about their effect upon the engine warranty (03 MN6 Coupe). Local dealers aren't much help and claim the warranty will be void. My belief is there should be a causal relationship to the mod and the part failure, such as lack of oil flow caused xyz to seize. I can't see where headers would negatively impact engine endurance, but fear that they will be the scapegoat for any mechanical failure. Technically, changing out the stock air intake could also be used as an excuse. Appreciate any opinions or first hand knowledge with this. Thanks. 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Southern Indiana
It will only void the warrenty if the header directly causes the failure. It will not affect the warrenty on any problems not caused by the headers. However, many GM Delears will tell you differently. Some people have had to invoke a lawyer to get GM to pay up...
Safety Car
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From: St. Joseph MO
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The servicve manager will fight it every step of the way, if the problem is near or related to the headers. Let me put it this way I spent $930 for a factory clutch replacement 
. The charge was just to remove my headers and for replacement gaskets, which actually the same ones my car went in with 
. The charge was just to remove my headers and for replacement gaskets, which actually the same ones my car went in with
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Sounds like your dealer would cause you all sort of headaches on this. I can see if you had a problem which required the removal of the headers to fix, that they charged you extra for it. But to void the entire warranty is 
. However, unless you have another dealer to go to, this may be an issue you have to fight with them on if you install the headers.
. However, unless you have another dealer to go to, this may be an issue you have to fight with them on if you install the headers.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Southern Indiana
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
Sounds like your dealer would cause you all sort of headaches on this. I can see if you had a problem which required the removal of the headers to fix, that they charged you extra for it. But to void the entire warranty is . However, unless you have another dealer to go to, this may be an issue you have to fight with them on if you install the headers.
. However, unless you have another dealer to go to, this may be an issue you have to fight with them on if you install the headers.It also completely depends on the dealership. Some are
about mods and don't give them a 2nd glance. Others will fight you tooth and nail if you do something as minor as an exhaust.
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Roswell Ga
It depends on the dealer a great deal.
From their point of view, a non-warranty repair beats hell out of a warranty repair so if there's the slightest excuse to blame a failure on your headers, they'll do so (i.e. fuel injectors clogged? Too close to those headers and made 'em get hot)
Technically, the warranty is only void when a demonstratable cause and effect can be shown but as noted above, who ya gonna call?
From their point of view, a non-warranty repair beats hell out of a warranty repair so if there's the slightest excuse to blame a failure on your headers, they'll do so (i.e. fuel injectors clogged? Too close to those headers and made 'em get hot)
Technically, the warranty is only void when a demonstratable cause and effect can be shown but as noted above, who ya gonna call?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,088
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From: NC
I swear, some dealers and their so-called tech are morons. And to
add insult to injury, they think the customers are morons too.
I had a rattling alternator on my 2001 coupe.
The tech writes up, "Customer complains of rattle near alternator.
Could not confirm due to the resonance of the aftermaket exhaust."
Corsas resonate at idle? Then when I aksed the service writer to
explain what the noise is, he says it is "normal."
You mean the noise that he can't hear because of the resonance?
Two different stories in 2 minutes. Unbelievable.
Talked to service manager and he ordered up alternator, pulley and
harmonic balancer and told me, "In the future, just give him a call first."
Had it fixed in one day at shop.
Whenevr I go to any dealer for service, I go right to manager.
Screw the morons he has to hire.
add insult to injury, they think the customers are morons too.
I had a rattling alternator on my 2001 coupe.
The tech writes up, "Customer complains of rattle near alternator.
Could not confirm due to the resonance of the aftermaket exhaust."
Corsas resonate at idle? Then when I aksed the service writer to
explain what the noise is, he says it is "normal."
You mean the noise that he can't hear because of the resonance?
Two different stories in 2 minutes. Unbelievable.
Talked to service manager and he ordered up alternator, pulley and
harmonic balancer and told me, "In the future, just give him a call first."
Had it fixed in one day at shop.
Whenevr I go to any dealer for service, I go right to manager.
Screw the morons he has to hire.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
if there's the slightest excuse to blame a failure on your headers, they'll do so
sad; but mostly true. There's a few Chevy dealers that will allow these type of mods without warranty problems... only if you buy the parts through them and pay them to do the install.
Kinda sounds like blackmail - a little bit.
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Team Owner
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Originally Posted by HHC5
Do air intakes cause any warranty issues???
Thing is, there is at least one dealership in my area which carries a line of mods. Vortex intake, airbridges, and even gave me a long tube header install price using my stock cats.
That said, the people who have hydrolocked their engines with an aftermarket intake seem to get the damage covered under the auto insurance policy as opposed to the warranty.
Come to think of it. The dealer I purchased my C5 from brand new, carried the Corsa exhaust system, recommended the Tiger tips as this is what was on his car, and wanted me to have it installed before delivery, for an extra $1000.00 total.
Headers could be a problem for the MN6 guys as they have to be removed for warranty clutch work and removing them takes time and carries some risk. For the A4 guys though I don't see how they would be an issue, but thats just to my way of thinking.
In any event they cannot void the entire warranty for headers. If your windows stop working, they can't say that it was cause of the headers.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Hendersonville NC
Originally Posted by HHC5
Do air intakes cause any warranty issues???
I don't think that they do, but I hypothesized that in my post because an unscrupulous dealer could take issue with air/fuel mixture causing some type of engine part failure.
Team Owner
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From: All that glitters is Gold - Hockey Is CANADA'S game
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It is up to GM to prove that any mod done to the engine is a direct cause to the failure.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
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From: North Augusta, SC
Originally Posted by Zilla
It is up to GM to prove that any mod done to the engine is a direct cause to the failure.
100%A DEALER can NOT void your warranty. No matter what they tell you, only GM can declare your warranty is void. If you're local dealer claims an aftermarket part caused the failure of something that would otherwise be covered, unless it actually did then you need to get the regional rep involved and/or call the GM customer service number. I know, I know, regional reps are in the dealers pockets, but you only have to convince one person to authorize the repair as you're going up the ladder.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,779
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From: LOS ANGELES CA.
Headers Void Warrantee?
I had a charging problem and the Service Manager stated to me the reason my altenator wasn't charging is because I have modded my car. Well,if a set of LONG HEADERS has anything to do with the charging system,there really is a problem with my car.DUH! 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Murphy TX
Originally Posted by markcz
100%A DEALER can NOT void your warranty. No matter what they tell you, only GM can declare your warranty is void. If you're local dealer claims an aftermarket part caused the failure of something that would otherwise be covered, unless it actually did then you need to get the regional rep involved and/or call the GM customer service number. I know, I know, regional reps are in the dealers pockets, but you only have to convince one person to authorize the repair as you're going up the ladder.
It depends very much on the dealer, and your relationship with them. Just schmooze 'em for the little stuff, and then one day when it comes to something like this they'll want to help you out.
They really have no reason not to - the dealers aren't charged for warranty work GM is.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
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From: SoCal
Originally Posted by tattooed
don't expect things like a starter to be covered if you have headers. heat from the headers will fry the solenoid.
