Engine Warranty???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
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Originally Posted by thebiggman
I plan on getting headers, high flow cats and Ram Air Intake. Will this void my warranty? I've heard a few different stories, just need to know the real facts.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,563
Likes: 2
From: Dallas Tx
The answer is in your warranty booklet under "What is not Covered."
Here is the exact wording:
Original Equipment Alterations
This warranty does not cover any damage or failure
resulting from modification or alteration to the vehicle’s
original equipment as manufactured or assembled
by GM. Examples of the types of alterations that would
not be covered include installation or use of any
non-GM parts, accessories, and materials, or the cutting,
welding, or disconnecting of the vehicle’s original
equipment parts and components.
So only if the failure is caused by the aftermarket part could warranty be denied. Bad part is your at the mercy of the same dealer grease monkey barely capable of changing oil to determine if your aftermarket parts caused the failure in question.
The only thing that can void your entire warranty is the vehicle having a salvage/scrap/totalled title. Those title brandings get sent to the auto companies by the states and the warranty is voided.
Here is the exact wording:
Original Equipment Alterations
This warranty does not cover any damage or failure
resulting from modification or alteration to the vehicle’s
original equipment as manufactured or assembled
by GM. Examples of the types of alterations that would
not be covered include installation or use of any
non-GM parts, accessories, and materials, or the cutting,
welding, or disconnecting of the vehicle’s original
equipment parts and components.
So only if the failure is caused by the aftermarket part could warranty be denied. Bad part is your at the mercy of the same dealer grease monkey barely capable of changing oil to determine if your aftermarket parts caused the failure in question.
The only thing that can void your entire warranty is the vehicle having a salvage/scrap/totalled title. Those title brandings get sent to the auto companies by the states and the warranty is voided.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Originally Posted by thebiggman
I plan on getting headers, high flow cats and Ram Air Intake. Will this void my warranty? I've heard a few different stories, just need to know the real facts.
You don't need ram air if you remove the hood.
Talk about if you can't take the heat in the kitchen stay out..don't forget to leave your hood up to let out all of that extra heat you just created
Your hood will be up anyway at the dealership once you get an appointment with them once you tamper with this heavily computerized C-6 machine and mess up a thorough breed by making it unreliable and at the same time find out you no longer have a warranty because you voided it. Can't wait to see that bill $$$$.
It is so much easier to just get an older 60's car and do all the mods you want to have more space to work with and at the same time depending on your state laws not to have to worry about big brother having to conform with those smog laws, equipment etc.
Last edited by LS WON; Oct 25, 2004 at 01:43 PM. Reason: add information
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Thanks Michrider, I had read the same thing but also heard different interpretations of that information. It is obvious to me that removing the head covers and changing out the lifters and springs, putting in a new cam, or putting on a new manifold will definitely void the warrently. But, adding an intake and headers seemed like a grey area to me, since I'm not really opening the engine to install these mods. I was hoping to get an answer from some of the guys over here in the Tech area that have done modifications to the C6 already. They don't seem to be concerned about warrenty and I would like to know why not or what exactly voids the warrenty and what doesn't. There seems to be two types of people in here, those that do mods and those that are terrified to do anything to their car. I want to MOD my C6 but, I have been hearing mostly from the ones who seem terrified to do anything, and I am a bit aprehensive because of their advice.
Last edited by thebiggman; Oct 25, 2004 at 02:07 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Try changing out your factory stereo for an aftermarket one and see what happens? You better make sure the PCM accepts the proper code from the aftermarket stereo. This cost someone a $2,700 tab and that was to return it back to its factory system cause it wouldn't work with the aftermarket system.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Rockville MD
My local dealer ( and possibly yours too ) has done many mods on C5's. They are the initial determining factor for warranties. I am told major engine problems are not repaired and that the entire engine must be returned to GM, which replaces the entire engine and examines the old one as to cause.
As to minor mods,i.e. intake, airbox, exhaust, chip..... they sell and or install your mods. They give you back the removed parts and tell you to save them in case there is a problem and they have to reinstall the originals. They keep an adequate supply of radiator mshrouds, fog light covers and the parts that may have been altered from the install of cold air systems. They have a dedicated service writer and three techs that work on nothing but vettes. Since they recieved money from either selling you or installing various mods, they make a concerted effort to shield you from any warranty issues.
As to minor mods,i.e. intake, airbox, exhaust, chip..... they sell and or install your mods. They give you back the removed parts and tell you to save them in case there is a problem and they have to reinstall the originals. They keep an adequate supply of radiator mshrouds, fog light covers and the parts that may have been altered from the install of cold air systems. They have a dedicated service writer and three techs that work on nothing but vettes. Since they recieved money from either selling you or installing various mods, they make a concerted effort to shield you from any warranty issues.
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio Texas
Originally Posted by thebiggman
I plan on getting headers, high flow cats and Ram Air Intake. Will this void my warranty? I've heard a few different stories, just need to know the real facts.
With respect to your proposed mods.... personally I'd wait on any of them until LS2 Edit is out and the car can be tuned. Chances are you will not see any real gains from the mods until you can tune the car. You may even lose some power.
Andy at A&A proved with his C6 that A/M intake was not worth much; like about 2 HP. Headers did help some, but he also showed a real minimal gain (1 HP) by running an open exhaust. Based upon that, I'd wait on the intake and the cats until tuning is available.
I've also seen an Ease scan of a new C6. The data shows the car running pretty lean through-out the rpm range. Adding mods like headers and intake will make the car run even more lean without any tuning. In other words, make a less desirable situation even worse. I'm betting that once tuning is available, bone stock C6's will show some good HP gains just by tuning.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
GM has stated that if an aftermarket filter that uses an oiled gauze element is installed they will not warrant problems caused by a malfunctioning MAF due to the transferring of oil. This includes PCM and A4 transmission shifting problems. You are taking a chance with your warranty when you start making modifications.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by JoesC5
GM has stated that if an aftermarket filter that uses an oiled gauze element is installed they will not warrant problems caused by a malfunctioning MAF due to the transferring of oil. This includes PCM and A4 transmission shifting problems. You are taking a chance with your warranty when you start making modifications.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 40,020
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From: Frisco, TX
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '26
Originally Posted by Michrider
The answer is in your warranty booklet under "What is not Covered."
Here is the exact wording:
Original Equipment Alterations
This warranty does not cover any damage or failure
resulting from modification or alteration to the vehicle’s
original equipment as manufactured or assembled
by GM. Examples of the types of alterations that would
not be covered include installation or use of any
non-GM parts, accessories, and materials, or the cutting,
welding, or disconnecting of the vehicle’s original
equipment parts and components.
So only if the failure is caused by the aftermarket part could warranty be denied. Bad part is your at the mercy of the same dealer grease monkey barely capable of changing oil to determine if your aftermarket parts caused the failure in question.
The only thing that can void your entire warranty is the vehicle having a salvage/scrap/totalled title. Those title brandings get sent to the auto companies by the states and the warranty is voided.
Here is the exact wording:
Original Equipment Alterations
This warranty does not cover any damage or failure
resulting from modification or alteration to the vehicle’s
original equipment as manufactured or assembled
by GM. Examples of the types of alterations that would
not be covered include installation or use of any
non-GM parts, accessories, and materials, or the cutting,
welding, or disconnecting of the vehicle’s original
equipment parts and components.
So only if the failure is caused by the aftermarket part could warranty be denied. Bad part is your at the mercy of the same dealer grease monkey barely capable of changing oil to determine if your aftermarket parts caused the failure in question.
The only thing that can void your entire warranty is the vehicle having a salvage/scrap/totalled title. Those title brandings get sent to the auto companies by the states and the warranty is voided.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
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From: delmont pa
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by vette6799
I believe that it is very plausible to interpret the language to mean that the increase in horsepower increased engine wear or the potential for damage significantly, thus causing failure and then denying warranty coverage for the engine/drivetrain.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 14,542
Likes: 5
Originally Posted by LS WON
Try changing out your factory stereo for an aftermarket one and see what happens? You better make sure the PCM accepts the proper code from the aftermarket stereo. This cost someone a $2,700 tab and that was to return it back to its factory system cause it wouldn't work with the aftermarket system.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=936261
Wonder if his PCM is accepting the proper codes?
Now, back on topic.
When you fool with the emissions side, remember that the emissions warranty (depends on states too, I believe), is longer than the engine warranty.
Technically, the dealer (well actually the zone rep ultimately) can void the warranty.
Practically, you always set yourself up for a "discussion" if something goes wrong and it's clearly related to the mods -- sometimes even if it isn't.
Realistically, most dealers I know, know about the "mod" thing and don't cause the customer any grief. Remember, they make money on the warranty work as well. If they don't do it, they lose the business. It would be silly to have a dealer work on a car that he just denied you a warranty claim on.
So approach the thing properly. I know dealers who will install aftermarket parts (like headers, for example), so that might be the best way to go.
That way, everyone's "in on the deal."
