same thing with my old Ninja. Very little if any performance gain. Only if I didn't drive the 08 with NPP. I can't stand the way the stock exhaust sounds now. I thought about mufflers only but I'm really concerned about drone with my A6 and the Magnaflow mufflers seem to go for about 1G. Believe me, I don't like paying so much for just for sound.

The tips given about the other mods are much appreciated. I'm going to discuss the CAI in the future with the tuner. Probaly will go with Chuck Cow.

 

Mod the car lightly and if engine blows up take the car to Lingenfelter about 4 hours away and get the 403 package?

BTW, why didn't you go with the 427 package?

 

Not only is this guy totally correct....... but, Do you have any idea how TOTALLY ON TARGET THE ABOVE QUOTE REALLY IS???

Here's the deal....The dealership is not anything like a STATE TROOPER tucked away hiding on the side of the road late at night with his lights off hoping for someone to happen by speeding or whatever....

Nor is your GM dealership waiting, salivating, hoping that you come in for an oil change, inspection, or unrelated warranty claim so that they can pounce on you and "catch you in the act enjoying aftermarket mods to your car" and laugh in a sinister sort of " ha ha we got you now!" sorta tone while they rip up your warranty papers right in front of you.....

It's just not like that.....

Really, most dealerships could care less and quite honestly would be hurting their bottom line if they were to turn away service because of aftermarket parts.

Additionally, how much corvette related services would the dealer get if they voided just 1 single warranty for aftermarket parts.???? Likely, if they voided your warranty, you would be on the Corvette Forum in 2 seconds telling the rest of the world that XYZ delaership frowns on aftermarket parts and voided your warranty..... and a very short while later that dealer's service business would be cut in half... since we all know that just about EVERYONE has some form of aftermarket parts on their car.

Like the guy said....Buy the service rep some coffee and dough nuts, or maybe flip em' a $20 and maybe the tech who works on the car too...Know what works really good... I know this is a tough one...but....."Hey man....THANK YOU..." is always nice. or "Please take care of my baby....here's a tip for ya....have lunch on me...."

All these things are INTELLIGENT ways to handle yourself....

Here's where the problems start.... You have a procharger and you're looking to warranty a motor or trans.... Your 05 Corvette rear fails and the back tires are bald and the fronts are not....oh yeah... and the rubber on the quarter panels behind the back tires when the flatbed drops your baby off at the dealer.....oh, and NyTrous solenoids... and big blue bottles with braided lines under the hatch..... These things hurt your chances of warranty service.

It's not the dealer....Realize that the dealer can start out to warranty the job, but GM's not stupid.... There's a Zone Rep that comes around and inspects certain jobs and also audits the dealers warranty claims from time to time..... Some things are just too risky and trust me, they are not gonna stick their necks out for you....

In these cases, the dealer is not gonna void your warranty, but if you drop off a big mess with nytrous and a blower lookin' for a tranny warranty.... The local zone rep (not the dealer) is gonna flag your car in GM's computer.... POWERTRAIN WARRANTY....GONE.

Things like Vararams, cat back exhausts, stats, tuning (done properly) and other things like that.... NO PROBLEM... If your deal had a problem with them... He's a fairy.... Move on...There are plenty of dealers that would be very happy to have your business....'

REMEMBER: They must be able to PROVE that the modification you made CAUSED the failure. But, if push comes to shove....don't EVER ARGUE the point....Tell them "thank you" and take your vehicle to someone who is happy to have the work.

Additionally, shops like Corvettes of Westchester encourage you to bring your aftermarket warranty claims to us....I'll be sure to keep your best interests in mind never let the warranty company push you around for items that should be covered....regardless of what mods you have....

KEEP IN MIND...You have rights... Should you chose to enforce them... However, just my 2 cents, if you have to flex your muscles and make demands on your uncooperative dealer... Just walk away quietly and take your business elsewhere.....

The basic mods like intakes, exhausts, headers, and tuning are not things that can rightfully void your warranty A) unless there is a failure that can be directly attributed to the specific modification.

B) you can roll into ANY DEALERSHIP ANYWHERE with all the mods you like of ANY type and be rest assured that your warranty is not at risk. REALIZE that if you roll into your dealer for any particular reason....IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE CAR OR THERE IS NO CURRENT FAILURE OR PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE MODS YOU'VE MADE...THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO JUSTIFICATION TO VOID YOUR WARRANY WHEN NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND YOU'VE MADE NO CLAIMS ON GM....( ie. if you go to the dealer for an emissions inspection or wiper blades...there is no reason for him to care that you have a supercharger...just get your wiper blades and move on...DON'T BE AFRAID to go to the dealership with a modified car that has no problems....

GM KNOWS you're gonna mod your car....Cause if they were against it....you would just go buy a FORD MUSTANG...AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT....

Think about all this...it makes perfect sense....

DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR WARRANTY....JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID EITHER AND YOU'LL BE FINE.

Chuck CoW

 

Totally wrong COW,
It is not up to GM to prove anything, it would be up to the car owner to prove in court GM was wrong
In fact most of what you claim to do as custom tuning is illegal not only to GM but also a federal crime since talking off or modify smog devices is illegal but so is changing the software in the PCM that EPA owns and requires not being touched and why EPA requires the ECM to be locked by GM.
Even swapping the CATs for high flow is illegal as the law states GM to warranty parts like the ECM and the CAT for 8 years so there is no excuse to buy high flow CAT when they was under warranty

We heard that O2 simm were not illegal for years until last month EPA nailed the vendor who made them and not only fined them 100'nds of thousands of dollars but the maker now must contact every customer who bought them and buy them back :

The Department of Justice and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today a landmark settlement requiring Casper's Electronics, of Mundelein, IL, to pay a penalty and stop selling devices that allow cars to release excess levels of pollution into the environment, in violation of the Clean Air Act.

Today's settlement is the first of its kind, and requires Casper's to stop selling the electronic devices known as oxygen sensor simulators or "O2 Sims."
The company must also recall the devices and pay more than $74,000 in civil penalties to the United States.

These O2 sensors simulators are considered illegal "defeat devices" under the federal Clean Air Act. Casper's has sold approximately 44,000 defeat devices through retailers and from its Web site since 2001.

The EPA is currently investigating other automobile parts manufacturers and sellers that may also be using, making and selling similar products.
EPA has found that some companies are advertising O2 Sims and other defeat devices as a way to enhance a car's performance.

The recall required by the settlement requires Casper's to implement a mandatory repurchase program under which it must notify its customers that Casper's will buy back any O2 Sims sold by Casper's or its distributors.
. . . .

Customer when buying the car signs a contract and agrees then to the warranty and there is no law saying a carmaker must prove anything before voiding all or part of their warranty.

Document ID# 2005633

Subject: Warranty Admin. - Use of Parts and Components (Including Control Module Calibrations) Not Issued Through General Motors #07-00-89-043 - (08/23/2007)

Models: 2008 and Prior GM Passenger Cars and Light/Medium Duty Trucks

General Motors tests and validates the genuine GM parts originally installed on it's vehicles, including the control module calibrations GM issues for use in it's vehicles.
Among the many factors GM considers when validating parts and calibrations for it's vehicles are reliability, durability, safety, emissions, fuel economy, and the effect on other components in the vehicle.

Warranty Coverage
General Motors does not warranty non-GM parts and/or calibrations.
The use of Parts and/or Control Module Calibrations not issued through General Motors will void the warranty coverage for those components that are damaged or otherwise affected by the installation of the non-GM part and/or control module calibration.
The only exception is that non-GM parts labeled "Certified to EPA Standards" are covered by the Federal Emissions Performance Warranty.

New Vehicle Limited Warranty
General Motors Corporation will provide for repairs to the vehicle during the warranty period in accordance with the following terms, conditions, and limitations:

What Is Covered
Warranty Applies
This warranty is for GM vehicles registered and normally operated in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Repairs Covered
The warranty covers repairs to correct any vehicle defect related to material or workmanship occurring during the warranty period. Needed repairs will be performed using new or remanufactured parts. See Things You Should Know About the New Vehicle Limited Warranty for further details.

Warranty Period
The warranty period for all coverages begins on the date the vehicle is first delivered or put in use and ends at the expiration of the coverage period.

Bumper-to-Bumper Coverage
The complete vehicle is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first, for Chevrolet and Pontiac, and 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, for Buick, Cadillac, and Saab, except for other coverages listed here under "What is Covered" and those items listed under "What Is Not Covered" later in this section.

Powertrain Coverage
The powertrain is covered for 5 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, except for other coverages listed here under "What is Covered" and those items listed under "What is Not Covered" later in this section.

Engine: Cylinder head, block, timing gears, timing chain, timing cover, oil pump/oil pump housing, OHC carriers, valve covers, oil pan, seals, gaskets, turbocharger, supercharger and all internal lubricated parts as well as manifolds, flywheel, water pump, harmonic balancer and engine mount. Timing belts are covered until the first scheduled maintenance interval.

Transmission/Transaxle/Transfer Case: Case, all internal lubricated parts, torque converter, transfer case, transmission/transaxle mounts, seals, and gaskets.

Drive Systems: Final drive housing, all internal lubricated parts, axle shafts and bearings, constant velocity joints, axle housing, propeller shafts, universal joints, wheel bearings, locking hubs, front differential actuator, supports, front and rear hub bearings, seals and gaskets.

Tire Coverage
The tires supplied with your vehicle are covered for defects in material or workmanship under the Bumper-to-Bumper coverage. Any tire replaced will continue to be covered for the remaining portion of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

Following expiration of the Bumper-to-Bumper coverage, tires may continue to be covered under the tire manufacturer's warranty. Review the tire manufacturer's warranty booklet or consult the tire manufacturer distributor for specific details.

Accessory Coverages
All GM accessories and parts sold by GM and permanently installed on a GM vehicle prior to delivery will be covered under the provisions of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. In the event GM accessories are installed after vehicle delivery, or are replaced under the new vehicle warranty, they will be covered, parts and labor, for the balance of the vehicle warranty, but in no event less than 12 months/12,000 miles. This coverage is only effective for GM accessories permanently installed by a GM dealer or an associated GM-approved Accessory Distributor/Installer (ADI).

GM accessories sold over-the-counter, or those not requiring installation, will continue to receive the standard GM Dealer Parts Warranty of 12 months from the date of purchase, parts only.

GM Licensed Accessories are covered under the accessory-specific manufacturer's warranty and are not warranted by GM or its dealers.

Notice: This warranty excludes:Any communications device that becomes unusable or unable to function as intended due to unavailability of compatible wireless service from the wireless communication carrier that provides service for the OnStar® system.

Sheet Metal Coverage
Sheet metal panels are covered against corrosion and rust-through as follows:

Corrosion: Body sheet metal panels are covered against rust under the Bumper-to-Bumper coverage.

Rust-Through: Any body sheet metal panel that rusts through, an actual hole in the sheet metal, is covered for up to 6 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first; 6 years/unlimited miles for Buick, Cadillac, and Saab.

Important: Cosmetic or surface corrosion, resulting from stone chips or scratches in the paint, for example, is not included in sheet metal coverage.

Towing
Towing is covered to the nearest GM dealer if your vehicle cannot be driven because of a warranted defect.

No Charge
Warranty repairs, including towing, parts, and labor, will be made at no charge.

Obtaining Repairs
To obtain warranty repairs, take the vehicle to a GM dealer within the warranty period and request the needed repairs. A reasonable time must be allowed for the dealer to perform necessary repairs.

What Is Not Covered

Tire Damage or Wear
Normal tire wear or wear-out is not covered. Damage to the tire such as punctures, cuts, snags, and breaks resulting from pothole impact, curb impact, or from other objects is not covered.
Also, damage from improper inflation, high speed spinning, as when stuck in mud or snow, tire chains, racing, competition, improper mounting or demounting, misuse, negligence, alteration, or misapplication is not covered.

Damage Due to Accident, Misuse, or Alteration
Damage caused as the result of any of the following is not covered:

• Collision, fire, theft, freezing, vandalism, riot, explosion, or objects striking the vehicle.

• Misuse of the vehicle such as driving over curbs, overloading, racing, or other competition.
Proper vehicle use is discussed in the Owner Manual.

• Alteration or modification to the vehicle including the body, chassis, or components after final assembly by General Motors.

• Coverages do not apply if the odometer has been disconnected, its reading has been altered, or mileage cannot be determined.

Damage or Corrosion Due to Environment, Chemical Treatments, or Aftermarket Products
Damage caused by airborne fallout, salt from sea air, salt or other materials used to control road conditions, chemicals, tree sap, stones, hail, earthquake, water or flood, windstorm, lightning, the application of chemicals or sealants subsequent to manufacture, is not covered. See "Chemical Paint Spotting" under Things You Should Know About the New Vehicle Limited Warranty for more details.

Damage Due to Contaminated or Poor Quality Fuel
Poor fuel quality or incorrect fuel may cause driveability problems such as hesitation, lack of power, stall, or no start. It may also render gauges inoperable or degrade functionality for components such as spark plugs, oxygen sensors, and the catalytic converter. Damage from poor fuel quality, water contamination, incorrect diesel fuel or gasoline may not be covered.

It is recommended that gasoline meet specifications which were developed by automobile manufacturers around the world and contained in the World-Wide Fuel Charter which is available from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers at http://www.autoalliance.org/fuel_charter.htm. Gasoline meeting these specifications could provide improved driveability and emission control system performance compared to other gasoline.

Damage Due to Insufficient or Improper Maintenance
Damage caused by failure to follow the recommended Maintenance Schedule intervals and/or failure to use or maintain fluids, fuel, lubricants, or refrigerants recommended in the Owner Manual is not covered.

Important: This warranty is void on vehicles currently or previously titled as salvaged, scrapped, junked, or totaled.

Maintenance
All vehicles require periodic maintenance. Maintenance services, such as those detailed in the Owner Manual or Maintenance publications are at the owner's expense. Vehicle lubrication, cleaning, or polishing as well as items requiring replacement or repair due to vehicle use, wear, or exposure are not covered. Items such as:

Items such as:

• Audio system cleaning

• Brake pads and linings

• Clutch linings

• Coolants and fluids

• Filters

• Keyless entry batteries *

• Limited slip rear axle service

• Tire rotation

• Wheel alignment/balance **

• Wiper inserts

are covered only when replacement or repair is the result of a defect in material or workmanship.

* Consumable battery covered up to 12 months only.

** Maintenance items after 7,500 miles.

Failure or damage of one component due to vehicle use, wear, exposure or lack of maintenance of another component is not covered.

Extra Expenses
Economic loss or extra expense is not covered.

Examples include:

• Inconvenience

• Lodging, meals, or other travel costs

• Loss of vehicle use

• Payment for loss of time or pay

• State or local taxes required on warranty repairs

• Storage

Other Terms: This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights.


General Motors does not authorize any person to create for it any other obligation or liability in connection with these vehicles. Any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose applicable to this vehicle is limited in duration to the duration of this written warranty. Performance of repairs and needed adjustments is the exclusive remedy under this written warranty or any implied warranty. General Motors shall not be liable for incidental or consequential damages, such as, but not limited to, lost wages or vehicle rental expenses, resulting from breach of this written warranty or any implied warranty. *

* Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty will last or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.

 

most mods don't cause failure - if they do,you probably screwed up. Take the responsibility and if it was going to fail anyway, that's the risk you should accept.

 

Nobody has mentioned anything about aftermarket clutches. Piemonte Chevrolet just voided my Trans/Rear End Warranty because of my aftermarket clutch. I just posted the whole story in another thread, but I put a new clutch in at 22,000 miles on my 2005 C6 and at 23,000 miles the rear end started whining. Took it in not even thinking about the clutch and they voided it because it is a "powertrain modification" according to Piemonte Chevy's Service Director. My only other mods are CAI, and B&B Exhaust and they never mentioned those items just the clutch.

 

Mr. BOOSTED ZO6.... you're at it again.....

The point you're trying to make would be better received if you didn't jump down people's throats trying to impress them with your "cut and paste" intelligence.

We could all run around the internet "cutting and pasting" little tid bits of knowledge plagiarized from technical websites if we were desperate for attention too....

But, most of us don't do that...
Chuck CoW

 

My rep at my dealership knows my car is modded and he encourges me to allow them to do all my warrenty work. There was a 07 Z06 with 3k miles on it. The owner installed Heads and a Cam and the rear end blow. Believe it or not, they were fixing his rear end under warranty.

 

If I were you, I would file a complaint with the FTC and talk to a lawyer. This Manuson-Moss Warranty Act was passed to prevent manufactuers from voiding warranties for not using "factory" parts.

 

Totally wrong boosted_z06, you are talking apples while the rest of us are talking oranges.

The Manuson-Moss Warranty Act forbids voiding a warranty claim because some unrelated modification or aftermarket part caused a failure. It places the burden of proof on the grantor of the warranty to show a DIRECT cause of failure of a WARRANTIED part by an aftermarket part or modification. If the burden of proof were not on the grantor of the warranty, the Act would be worthless.

The Act also states (and in the bulletin you posted) that aftermarket parts are NOT warranteed by the manufactuer.

If you replace your O2 sensor with an aftermarket one (illegal or not), this would not void a warranty claim of your factory water pump. It would void a warranty claim if you went to the dealership because the car failed an emissions test.

Like COW said, you have to use some common sense when modding your car as to what warranty work would be covered and what would not.

 

I usually dont get involved in warranty threads since I think they are silly in nature to begin with. Why hang out in a tech section and whine about failures once a mod is in....wait till your warranty expires and then mod...simple right?

What I dont understand is why a dealer wouldnt want a warranty job. Its a repair job he didnt have. A guy comes in with a blown motor and GM is going to cut you a check for the replacement....you make money doing an engine swap.

Is anyone in the know about how it hurts a GM repair/dealership to replace a motor or do any repair for that matter, for a guy with an exhaust, air cleaner, headers? I would do the job, get my check, and smile.

Pleasd dont type some silly answer about rumors you heard from a friend. I was looking fror a real answer from someone that factually knows first hand either from actually being an owner of a dealership of having worked at one.

 

I found a dealer that said they would take care of it for me. I will ask him if he has any idea why another dealer would not want to warranty it.

 

This is good information.

A friend went through this a few years ago. Dealer refused to make warranty repairs based on mods to his car and then entered the information into their system to try and stop others from making repairs.

Bottom line - the manufacturer was not going to fix the car on their dime. He took them to court because the law sounds straight forward. Once there, he found himself having to prove the manufacturer was incorrect. Who do you think they believed; him - or a certified power train engineer from the company with countless tests results and reports to back up their position?

And, who do you think could afford the better lawyer?

How things are supposed to work and how they actually work are not the same.

 

AGREED...BUT............ I would also urge everyone to consider that EVERY claim is different and has it's own unique circumstance....Additionally, EVERY dealer service manager, and every zone rep have different personalities and agendas.

There are no stead fast rules here....but....The point I'm trying to make is that MANY new car corvette owners are rightfully concerned about their warranties being valid after making aftermarket modifications.

While you should be concerned, You have almost nothing to worry about......(sounds strange, right)

The dealer gets paid by GM to do warranty work on your car. BELIEVE ME, THEY WANT YOUR MONEY AND YOUR BUSINESS.

But, remember, he's not gonna stick his neck out too far.... As I stated in my earlier post..... Don't ask them to warranty a motor for you when you've got a NYTROUS bottle in the back under the hatch.

But, when you go to the dealer for unrelated service...and you've got a tune, vararam, headers, exhaust, or whatever bolt ons....YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.....

Very clearly, EVERY circumstance is different....and there are no RULES that dictate EXACTLY what will happen.....but, you are 99.5% safe taking a modded car to the dealer for any reason.....

Now, be intelligent...if you go to the dealer complaining that the car dosen't run well or it stalls....and you've got mods....what do you think the tech is gonna blame first.????

If you go to the dealer for service, and nothing is wrong with the car....they have no reason to complain about your mods...

Some dealers are cool to work with and have no problems with mods of any kind.....While there are those that are uptight, and you should definitely take your business elsewhere.

Remember, Coffee & dough nuts or a $20 bill and some "PLEASE" and "THANK YOU" and you'll likely have nothing to worry about.

Chuck CoW

 

I talked with my serive advisor about installing after market mods. They recommend that they would have to install themselves like Corsa sports, x-pipe, and the cold air intake. These items are covered since they installed themselves. They even sell aftermarket mods. On the other hand, headers would void the warranty.

 

I was worried about this warranty issue also. That's why I played it safe and went with the GM Performance offroad exhaust (same as the Borla). Got is used from another member here. It roars just like I want, but has the right stamp on the mufflers. I've also got a CAI, 160 stat, and a tune. Only the Halltech Stinger is obvious. Last week I got warranty work done on the squeeling Z51 brakes, and nothing was questioned. If the engine was smoked, then I could see it coming up. I was also told by the tuner (who is a vendor here) that the dealer can't tell it was done.

 

Depends on the dealer. They get paid from GM to do warrantee work. Seems to me that a CAT back is really streaching the issue. I waited until my 36 mo was about to expire before I did my major mods - H/C package headers etc. I fully expect that elec work is still on the table.