After Market Parts DO NOT Void Warranty!?

[blackf0rk]

While searching through the Chevrolet Impala Forums, which I own and opperate because I used to own an Impala that was custom Turbocharged someone posed about a "computer chip". Seeing pretty much everything under the sun for Impala and chips, I took a look at it.

What struck me wasn't the chip, the peice of crap that they usually are - just like everyone here can attest to. I was actually struck by this comment on the site...



Will the Zero Gravity Module void my warranty?
No. It is illegal for the vehicle manufacturer to void your warranty just because aftermarket parts are installed on your vehicle. You are protected by the Magnuson-Moss warranty, Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act.
Does anyone know anythings about his "Improvement Act"? :rolleyes:

[jjaguda]

Here it is.

http://www.granatellimotorsports.com/magnusonmoss.htm

[RF Overlord]

Does anyone know anythings about his "Improvement Act"?
I've said this so many times, it should be a sticky...

ANY mod you make to a car CAN void the warranty...it depends on how much of a hard-ass your dealer is. Although you are THEORETICALLY covered by the Magnuson-Moss Act, Ford owns a whole flotilla of lawyers whose sole purpose in life is to deny warranty claims. All Ford has to do is say "denied", then YOU will have to prove they are wrong. They can tie you up for YEARS, until you can't afford to fight them any more, irrespective of whether you are right. Winning can cost you more than the car is worth, and they know it.

The moral of this story is: Although you may have theoretical rights, don't count on them. If you mod it, be prepared to absorb the cost of repair.

[Rick-n-Miami]

The moral of this story is: Although you may have theoretical rights, don't count on them. If you mod it, be prepared to absorb the cost of repair.

What's funny is that even if you do not put any mods on a vehicle, the dealer is still likely to deny a claim and cause you the same grief. Nearly everything I've ever taken a car to a warranty claim has been deemed "normal" and "not their problem" which in turn caused me to go dealer hopping until I found one to honor the warranty. The real moral of this story is: The dealers will give you a headache regardless what you do or don't do.

[David Morton]

I worked for car dealerships for 10 years and I can tell you this from my experience.

90% of anybodys success getting questionable warranty repairs hinges on the relationship the customer has with the dealership and not the manufacturer.

Lots of repairs are common to the car, that is to say 3% or more of them develop the fault, this one will get repaired, no problems. As long as the dealership can get paid by the manufacturer to do the repair, most dealerships won't balk.

I've seen cars that had the factory oil filters on them get warranty engine rebuilds or even shortblocks because the dealership valued the customer. Remember, the dealership is the defender of the warranty claim, Ford doesn't have a spy sitting there watching everything that goes on, checking every car. But they do send reps down to check every now and then and when the types of claims or the numbers of claims start to put up red flags, like 15% of the cars are getting a certain repair when only 5% are failing nationwide, or something that never goes bad gets a warranty claim, like a radiator at 5000 miles. Then they're under a microscope.

It can take time to develop the kind of relationship with a service department that will get you a new engine when you've never changed the oil. Actually this one was a mystery to me, maybe that one was a cousin of somebody important, but what you need to do is find a good service department and stick with it, then show them you will give them your business if they will watch out for your interests. Get your oil changed there, all your fluid changes, get your alignments done there. Sure you can shave 10 or 15% off these regular costs by taking it to the greasy monkeys, but when you need a warranty repair, don't expect the dealership to think of you in glowing terms when you've been spending your money elsewhere. The extra 10% for regular maintenance spent at the dealership will pay high dividends if you ever need that questionable repair done on an engine with a chip flash re-tune.

[STLR FN]

I worked for car dealerships for 10 years and I can tell you this from my experience.

90% of anybodys success getting questionable warranty repairs hinges on the relationship the customer has with the dealership and not the manufacturer.

Lots of repairs are common to the car, that is to say 3% or more of them develop the fault, this one will get repaired, no problems. As long as the dealership can get paid by the manufacturer to do the repair, most dealerships won't balk.

I've seen cars that had the factory oil filters on them get warranty engine rebuilds or even shortblocks because the dealership valued the customer. Remember, the dealership is the defender of the warranty claim, Ford doesn't have a spy sitting there watching everything that goes on, checking every car. But they do send reps down to check every now and then and when the types of claims or the numbers of claims start to put up red flags, like 15% of the cars are getting a certain repair when only 5% are failing nationwide, or something that never goes bad gets a warranty claim, like a radiator at 5000 miles. Then they're under a microscope.

It can take time to develop the kind of relationship with a service department that will get you a new engine when you've never changed the oil. Actually this one was a mystery to me, maybe that one was a cousin of somebody important, but what you need to do is find a good service department and stick with it, then show them you will give them your business if they will watch out for your interests. Get your oil changed there, all your fluid changes, get your alignments done there. Sure you can shave 10 or 15% off these regular costs by taking it to the greasy monkeys, but when you need a warranty repair, don't expect the dealership to think of you in glowing terms when you've been spending your money elsewhere. The extra 10% for regular maintenance spent at the dealership will pay high dividends if you ever need that questionable repair done on an engine with a chip flash re-tune.And there my friends you have the real story.

I can actually vouche(sp?) on that scenario. I had a very good relationship with a dealer here in Detroit. Took care of quite a few claims outta warranty for me.
(1) Replaced my heater core under warranty when I had 48K on the odo, only because I had a history of problems with it and two I always took my truck there.
(2) Replaced both of my truck doors during the infamous "Door Crack" issue for the '97-'99/'00 model year F-150's with 68K on the odo. And a few others but alas one day a new Service Advisor just completely ruined my relationship with that dealer by being a total a55. To this day I have not been back to that dealer and I also have not been able to find a dealer that did the kind of work that they did. They were that good. Maybe I should give them another chance.

[Todd]

I couldnt have said it better myself....

They can void your warranty for any reason. As stated below, it is then up to you to prove that the warranty claim is valid.

The magnuson-moss act really points to the seller of a item not requiring the purchaser of said item to use their maintenance products. In other words, the dealers oil, oil filter, air filter, repair parts, etc..... People lump aftermarket upgrade parts in there as well.

The warranty on my mass air was voided by Volkwagen (on a HIGHLY modified Passat) because of a cold air kit. Even though no one at the dealer could explain how the cold air kit caused the failure. A family member took it to another service advisor and not my normal guy... So what would have been a walk in the park turned into no coverage. But it was their excuse to not pay for the mass air which only cost them $45 approx. So now I will not go back to VW for another car. They made their choice, and I made mine.

So it is dealer specific. Some are cool, some arent. Just make sure you know your dealer!






I've said this so many times, it should be a sticky...

ANY mod you make to a car CAN void the warranty...it depends on how much of a hard-ass your dealer is. Although you are THEORETICALLY covered by the Magnuson-Moss Act, Ford owns a whole flotilla of lawyers whose sole purpose in life is to deny warranty claims. All Ford has to do is say "denied", then YOU will have to prove they are wrong. They can tie you up for YEARS, until you can't afford to fight them any more, irrespective of whether you are right. Winning can cost you more than the car is worth, and they know it.

The moral of this story is: Although you may have theoretical rights, don't count on them. If you mod it, be prepared to absorb the cost of repair.

[Haggis]

I worked for car dealerships for 10 years and I can tell you this from my experience.

90% of anybodys success getting questionable warranty repairs hinges on the relationship the customer has with the dealership and not the manufacturer.

Lots of repairs are common to the car, that is to say 3% or more of them develop the fault, this one will get repaired, no problems. As long as the dealership can get paid by the manufacturer to do the repair, most dealerships won't balk.

I've seen cars that had the factory oil filters on them get warranty engine rebuilds or even shortblocks because the dealership valued the customer. Remember, the dealership is the defender of the warranty claim, Ford doesn't have a spy sitting there watching everything that goes on, checking every car. But they do send reps down to check every now and then and when the types of claims or the numbers of claims start to put up red flags, like 15% of the cars are getting a certain repair when only 5% are failing nationwide, or something that never goes bad gets a warranty claim, like a radiator at 5000 miles. Then they're under a microscope.

It can take time to develop the kind of relationship with a service department that will get you a new engine when you've never changed the oil. Actually this one was a mystery to me, maybe that one was a cousin of somebody important, but what you need to do is find a good service department and stick with it, then show them you will give them your business if they will watch out for your interests. Get your oil changed there, all your fluid changes, get your alignments done there. Sure you can shave 10 or 15% off these regular costs by taking it to the greasy monkeys, but when you need a warranty repair, don't expect the dealership to think of you in glowing terms when you've been spending your money elsewhere. The extra 10% for regular maintenance spent at the dealership will pay high dividends if you ever need that questionable repair done on an engine with a chip flash re-tune.

...don't forget the donuts. :buttkisser: