While I have previously seen threads on the forum describing a GM bulletin regarding aftermarket tunes, none of my fellow Corvette Club members had been subjected to this...until now.

I recently took my 2006 coupe to a the dealer who sponsors our local Corvette Club (Berglund Chev. in Roanoke, VA) to determine why my MN6 gearshift lever is hard to move when cold. When I picked the car up (after the service department was closed) the invoice stated that "no work performed- see bulletin 08-06-04-033b id 2182477 has aftermarket program install and aftermarket clutch, supercharger, sway bars front and rear, brake hoses and rotors, and hood, programmer for the supercharger". The attached bulletin was then highlighted "Non-GM issued engine calibrations subject driveline components to stresses different than the calibrations which these components were validated to. Repairs to engine, transmission, transfer case and/or other driveline componenets where a non-GM engine calibration has been verified are not covered under the terms of the New Vehicle Warranty".
The bulletin, dated Aug. 26, 2008, then provides instructions for "Confirming Calibration Verification".

This should serve as a warning for those contemplating almost any aftermarket mod, including 'dyno tunes'. I was not only troubled by the rejection, but the listing of my modifications on the invoice as well. Surely, if GM is to survive in these troubled times, it should avoid alienating its most loyal customer base.

 

Why should GM honor a warranty that has nothing to do with the car that they built? I would believe that you should go to the tuner/after market suppliers and have them fix your car.

 

They could fix it and bill back GM under your GMPP warranty if you were over you basic warranty. I assume you are still under the basic warranty. Try to find another dealer who will work with you.

 

OK...Here goes...ANYBODY who mods a warranted Corvette DESERVES TO HAVE THEIR WARRANTY RULES ENFORCED! As a taxpayer being asked to help save these companies and someone who pays very high service rates I say that it is not a race car and you should be on your own! Any company in big financial trouble who lets you mod then gives you warranty coverage needs to have their heads examined.

I hear a lot of bitchin' about how the unions make too much money and how these big 3 don't know how to run their companies. You who mod and then race these cars and use your warranty to fix "related" problems are a part of the problem.

From a business aspect, WHY should GM pay for your issues which may very well be caused by your mods? If you don't like the standard Corvette, buy something else or don't use your warranty. Just don't make me pay higher rates because you can't go fast enough with a stock Vette. Flame on...

 

You are kidding, right?

If GM is going to survive, GM can not pay for problems created by unauthorized modifications.

 

 

You do have to wait for the trans to warm up in these cars. It doesn't take very long, just take it easy untill it warms up.

 

I don't think OP is really complaining that they voided his warranty on certain parts but just stating "This should serve as a warning for those contemplating almost any aftermarket mod, including 'dyno tunes'."

I'm sure OP wouldn't expect a new tranny due to his mods.

 

Ya gotta pay to play. I modded my 06 a6 and it's never seen a dealer and never will!

I figure if i break it then i pay to fix it.

 

I agree, not gettin' on the OP. I just wanted to express my frustration that, like insurance fraud, we all eventually pay for these kind of warranty and service issues. I'm not surprised that there are notations being put into the car's record. Just the fact that another poster said: is a good indicator that these records need to be kept up-to-date.

 

Wow, I just uploaded a new tune to my car 10 minutes ago. I can always reload my factory tune if needed. I wonder if they can detect the modified tune if I put the original factory tune back?

 

I hear that they can. But who knows.

 

Unfortuanely, they can. However, a lot depends on how tech savvy your dealership is... in these troubled times, you can bet even the most unsophisticated Chevy dealerships will be shoring up their service department quality control processes to ensure they detect any/all modifications to GM cars, rejecting warranty coverage.

 

You're kidding right? You have a blower, tune, and a variety of other mods and your upset that they are not warrantying your car?

 

Well, he said this..."I was not only troubled by the rejection"

 

No flames from me!

The GM response quoted by the OP seems honest and reasonable.

By the way I understand that once the modifications are discovered and documented by the dealer, they become part of the warranty database for that vehicle's ID number and will show up at any dealership. Can anybody confirm this?

 

I went through this when I owned a 96 Impala SS. I installed a Hypertech Power Tune. While under Warranty, the cruise control stopped working. The service manager called me and said that they couldn't work on the car under warranty with the altered computer. Fortunately, he let me remove it (the tune) for the work and they fixed it. The tune had nothing to do with the failed cruise control. That was when I learned, nothing but cosmetic mods while under warranty. Fourteen months down, twenty two to go!

 

I believe they can. They can supposedly look at the last 10 uploads.

 

I think he is complaining - he said he was troubled by the rejection.

If you modify you're on your own. We can spend all day here stating our opinions and what's right and wrong - but the dealer is going to have the final say.

 

You have some nerve thinking that GM should honor a warranty with those modifications. They built the car to their specs and know the limits. Why should they repair after someone else put stresses and changes on the engine/car that GM had nothing to do with. It's your nickel to do any repairs. Why should those who follow the rules have to pay for someone who doesn't?