MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going???
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 35
From: Fairview Hts. IL
MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going???
About one month ago, I posted to find out if anyone knew of good tuners in the St. Louis area. I had a few responses. So, I called Elco Chevrolet today to find out what they would charge to put in a rear differential and a torque converter. . .they told me to hit the road because making any mods like that would void the entire bumper to bumper warranty on the car. . .
So, now the question. . .I already have the gears, do I go ahead and move forward with the mods? Or, should I wait until the warranty is gone? On the other hand, if they would void my engine warranty anyway, what is stopping me from going inside the engine for making mods??? I guess it is time for a CAM!
The bottom line, if you are going to play, you might have to pay!! I will probably scale back on the mods so that I can keep extra cash on hand, in case something breaks!!! Thoughts? :cry :cry :bs :cry :cry :bs :nopity :smash: :smash: :bs
So, now the question. . .I already have the gears, do I go ahead and move forward with the mods? Or, should I wait until the warranty is gone? On the other hand, if they would void my engine warranty anyway, what is stopping me from going inside the engine for making mods??? I guess it is time for a CAM!
The bottom line, if you are going to play, you might have to pay!! I will probably scale back on the mods so that I can keep extra cash on hand, in case something breaks!!! Thoughts? :cry :cry :bs :cry :cry :bs :nopity :smash: :smash: :bs
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (hogurt)
You said it - you wanna' play, you gotta' pay. :yesnod:
Some dealers, though, are more "mod-friendly" than others. We have a pretty decent one here in Atlanta with a great tech. Now, that's not to say they're going to warranty my h/c car when the stuff I did breaks or causes something else to break.
As long as you're realistic about your responsibility and aware of the pitfalls, it's your choice to mod. I knew I was tanking a big part of my warranty but I went in with my eyes wide open. Then again, if my motor breaks, I pull it myself and make it better. :reddevil
Some dealers, though, are more "mod-friendly" than others. We have a pretty decent one here in Atlanta with a great tech. Now, that's not to say they're going to warranty my h/c car when the stuff I did breaks or causes something else to break.
As long as you're realistic about your responsibility and aware of the pitfalls, it's your choice to mod. I knew I was tanking a big part of my warranty but I went in with my eyes wide open. Then again, if my motor breaks, I pull it myself and make it better. :reddevil
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,188
Likes: 0
From: not speeding just flying low
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (hogurt)
Mods don't void the entire warranty! Dealers lie about this all the time! If you have modded your car and somthing breaks, the dealer has to prove that the mods you have done caused the failure.
Check out this link:
http://www.mlmlaw.com/library/guides...s/undermag.htm
If you put a stroker in your car and the power seat quits working did the stroker cause the seat to fail? Obviously no. I don't have a problem with a dealer saying a mod caused the failure if it's true and they can prove it, but to say the entire warrantee is void because of a torque converter and rear gears is BS.
I wish they would offer a car without a warrantee for x amount of dollars off the price of the car. I would have done this in a heartbeat. I don't like to take my car to the dealer, because every time I have it has come out with scratches and they take forever to diagnose somthing that I told them what it was in the first place. I have had my car in for "service" at my local tuner a whole bunch of times and they have never left a mark on it.
Sorry for the rant. I get really :mad over this subject.
Check out this link:
http://www.mlmlaw.com/library/guides...s/undermag.htm
If you put a stroker in your car and the power seat quits working did the stroker cause the seat to fail? Obviously no. I don't have a problem with a dealer saying a mod caused the failure if it's true and they can prove it, but to say the entire warrantee is void because of a torque converter and rear gears is BS.
I wish they would offer a car without a warrantee for x amount of dollars off the price of the car. I would have done this in a heartbeat. I don't like to take my car to the dealer, because every time I have it has come out with scratches and they take forever to diagnose somthing that I told them what it was in the first place. I have had my car in for "service" at my local tuner a whole bunch of times and they have never left a mark on it.
Sorry for the rant. I get really :mad over this subject.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,294
Likes: 1
From: Coral Springs Florida
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (SAXN8R)
Mods don't void the entire warranty! Dealers lie about this all the time!
[Modified by vstella, 5:34 PM 12/16/2002]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 35
From: Fairview Hts. IL
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (vstella)
Yeah, I understand that some dealers will be more cooperative. But, the truth is that they can void pretty much anything when you add gears and a torque converter. They can claim that the change in torque managment is what caused the engine problems. . .
A friend of mine is going through this right now with his '03 Cobra. The alignment was so bad, from the factory, that his tires starting scaloping. He took them to the dealer and they said that since his car was putting down so much power that is probably what caused the problem. Next, he was having issues with his cruise control. . .because he installed a shiftlight, they said they couldn't do anything about it.
Bottom line, I have had several brand new cars and I have never had a major problem. :smash: on wood. So, I am going to take the car into the shop before I start the major mods and just have them fix the little things that I am aware of. . .after that, I don't anticipate going back. . .but I will set some cash aside, just in case!
A friend of mine is going through this right now with his '03 Cobra. The alignment was so bad, from the factory, that his tires starting scaloping. He took them to the dealer and they said that since his car was putting down so much power that is probably what caused the problem. Next, he was having issues with his cruise control. . .because he installed a shiftlight, they said they couldn't do anything about it.
Bottom line, I have had several brand new cars and I have never had a major problem. :smash: on wood. So, I am going to take the car into the shop before I start the major mods and just have them fix the little things that I am aware of. . .after that, I don't anticipate going back. . .but I will set some cash aside, just in case!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 10
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (hogurt)
I guess they can walk on the entire drive train and who knows what else? Seats no, radio no, get the picture.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,294
Likes: 1
From: Coral Springs Florida
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (hogurt)
Best advice is to get cozy with one the master tech at the delerships ..Many of them do work on the side and will assist you even if the dealer doesn't..I have a very cooperative dealer and a master tech on the side just in case..worth a try..a six pack goes a long way.. :yesnod:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 35
From: Fairview Hts. IL
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (vstella)
Best advice is to get cozy with one the master tech at the delerships ..Many of them do work on the side and will assist you even if the dealer doesn't..I have a very cooperative dealer and a master tech on the side just in case..worth a try..a six pack goes a long way.. :yesnod:
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (hogurt)
A friend of mine is going through this right now with his '03 Cobra... he was having issues with his cruise control. . .because he installed a shiftlight, they said they couldn't do anything about it.
You do understand the difference here... right?
By federal law (Magnisun-Moss Warranty Act) the manufacturer can not void an entire cars warranty because of the installation of an aftermarket part. The law reads that they can only refuse to warranty a specific repair if the afetrmarket part is the cause of the malfunction.
With all this going for you, though; the M-MWA is only as good as the lawyers you have hired to represent you.
.
[Modified by Mike Mercury, 7:03 PM 12/16/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,188
Likes: 0
From: not speeding just flying low
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (hogurt)
Yeah, I understand that some dealers will be more cooperative. But, the truth is that they can void pretty much anything when you add gears and a torque converter. They can claim that the change in torque managment is what caused the engine problems. . .
A friend of mine is going through this right now with his '03 Cobra. The alignment was so bad, from the factory, that his tires starting scaloping. He took them to the dealer and they said that since his car was putting down so much power that is probably what caused the problem. Next, he was having issues with his cruise control. . .because he installed a shiftlight, they said they couldn't do anything about it.
A friend of mine is going through this right now with his '03 Cobra. The alignment was so bad, from the factory, that his tires starting scaloping. He took them to the dealer and they said that since his car was putting down so much power that is probably what caused the problem. Next, he was having issues with his cruise control. . .because he installed a shiftlight, they said they couldn't do anything about it.
I don't think a car manufacturer should have to pay to fix somthing that broke as a result of mods, but I don't think they should just make a blanket statement like "sorry, your entire warranty is void because you added an airbox...." This is BS! When you bring your car in to the dealer, have a printed copy the warrantee act in your hand. If they try and say you have voided your warranty for whatever reason, ask them to explain how said mod affected said problem and show them that you know the law and you know what your rights are as a consumer. Talk to the service manager. Tell them you don't expect them to pay for somthing that is broken through fault of your own, but you do expect them to explain and show how your mod broke their warranteed part.
:mad :mad :mad :boxing :boxing :boxing
BTW, you will get better results if you don't go off on them like a raving lunatic. But you guys know that! :jester
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 35
From: Fairview Hts. IL
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (SAXN8R)
I actually just called my friend with the Cobra. . .he may want to mention that this act states that they cannot refuse to cover his problem under warranty unless they can show that the modifications caused the problem.
Remember I have a Vette. . .no problems here!!! :cheers: :cheers: :jester
Remember I have a Vette. . .no problems here!!! :cheers: :cheers: :jester
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 3
From: Southern Maryland Maryland
Re: MODS void warranty??? Do I keep going??? (hogurt)
Mods will not void your entire warranty, they will void that portion of the warranty that the modification is related to. Let a dealer tell me that installing a set of 3.90s will void my warranty on power windows or electrical system. I work for a dealership so I know. Dont let them tell you that BS. Now if you add a set of 3.90s and you blow the rear/tranny they will not honor the rear under warranty. Better yet, if you install a set of 3.90s and you have oil consumption problems are they going to tell you the gears caused it? :nono: :nonod:
Phillip
Phillip
