Mods verified to have voided warranty..

[JTodd]

Hey Guys,



Aside from the obvious, well on second thought lets include the obvious, I would like to create a list of mods that have caused warranties to be voided, and those generally accepted by DC. Primarily for new owners like myself itching to create a little more power, I think the list would be a great guide. . So weigh in with those mods and your experiences with the warranty status.



I'll create document available to all who would be interested in the results. .



JT

 

[BHolm]

I think you can get away with an exhaust and an intake change with most dealers. What you will not get away with would be any of the programmers or downloaders that add real power. The dealer can detect those and they are getting REALLY tight on it these days. Certainly there are cases where dealers have replaced several turbos under warranty with the obvious use of a programmer, but those are the exceptions. If DC has anything to say about it they will void your warranty first and ask questions later(if at all).



All of the manufacturers are tightening up on warranty claims, lots of fraud costing them and us millions. There was even a period of time when the Isuzumax first came out that if you changed the tire size, they wouldn't look at it for drivability problems until you went back to the stock size. That was insane, but true

 

[Signal73]

I would say if you add anything that adds power you can expect a slap from DC. They warranty stock parts at factory power levels. Now on the other hand what dealers may let slide by is another story. That depends on your relationship with the dealer. I think your idea of a document is baseless because every dealership service dept is different.

As the very old sayings on this board goes "Ya gotta pay to play" and "I am my own warranty station" come to mind



Good luck, Jim

 

[steved]

First, your idea is flawed because what is ok and what is not varies dealer to dealer...



Secondly, I had warranty denied for a transmission... I had installed a plug in the pan... I have read other getting away with programmers installed...



steved

 

[klenger]

Read the warranty agreement that came with the truck.

 

[steved]

Read the warranty agreement that came with the truck.

Obviously it doesn't allow for installation of programmers and some guys are getting warranty with them on...



The warranty isn't worth toilet paper. It is all about the individual dealer and what they "allow".



The main thing that bothers me about warranty and dealers is that you are never sure what is "allowed"... for those of us that travel any, you don't know if the mods that your main dealer accept will be ok at the one that you're forced to use on the road.



I'm glad my warranty is gone... it was more stress than it was worth...



steved

 

[TCluff]

MY WARRANTY WAS VOIDED OVER A LEVEL LIFT AND 315 BFG ATs, BOMBS AWAY NOW, BYE THE WAY I HAVE BUSTED SEVERAL DRIVELINES AND U-JOINTS AND THREE SETS OF FRONT AXLES ALL IN 57,212 MILES, I HAVE ALSO LOST SIX PISTONS, ONE CYLINDER HEAD, A SET OF INJECTORS, ONE POWER STEERING PUMP, ONE ALT BRACKET, ONE ALT, TWO BATTERIES, COUNTLESS HEADLIGHT BULBS, ONE CP-3 FAILURE,A SET OF BALL JOINTS, A SET OF TIE RODS, TWO SETS OF SHOCKS, TWO TURBOS, ONE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, ONE SET OF UPPER SHOCK BUSHINGS, ONE TRANSFER CASE AND TWO CLUTCHES, IM SURE I HAVE REPLACED MORE, BUT ITS FUN AND I AM ALSO MY WARRANTY STATION, I DONT BLAME DC, BUT THEY ARE PICKY ABOUT THINGS EVEN IF IT DOESNT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT ACTUALLY FAILED, IF YOU GET AWAY WITH IT, MORE POWER TO YOU, I GOT BUSTED FOR B. S. , BUT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT... . TRUCK HAD NO POWER MODS WHEN A FRONT AXLE SEAL WENT, THEY SAID MY ATs WERE TOO AGGRESSIVE..... :-laf

 

[jokerzwild]

I agree it all depends on dealer some are mod friendly others are not. I know a dealership which changed a head gasket under warranty for a customer of mine that had a BDDL,MP8,3flow inj, 6'ex, an a SPS 62 all on truck an nothing was removed when takin in. But another dealership 25 miles away will viod your warranty if you even have catback exhaust so its hard to say. Me Im my own warranty station I just puchased an 06 auto the truck only has 500 miles an my warranty is void with turbo back 5" an TST with injectors an transmission parts on the way an twins sitting on shop floor so like others have said you play you pay.

 

[FLynes]

There was a guy with a CTD at my dealership who had put in a K&N filter. Apparently he didn't know how to periodically clean it, or it was a piece of crap, but long story short is he dry-washed a few of his cylinders and the dealership attributed it to the K&N. DC voided his warranty.

 

[steved]

I agree it all depends on dealer some are mod friendly others are not. I know a dealership which changed a head gasket under warranty for a customer of mine that had a BDDL,MP8,3flow inj, 6'ex, an a SPS 62 all on truck an nothing was removed when takin in. But another dealership 25 miles away will viod your warranty if you even have catback exhaust so its hard to say. Me Im my own warranty station I just puchased an 06 auto the truck only has 500 miles an my warranty is void with turbo back 5" an TST with injectors an transmission parts on the way an twins sitting on shop floor so like others have said you play you pay.

Exactly... It's not fair to the customer to have one dealer do this and another dealer do that... especially if you anticipate something not being an issue and then it turns out warranty denied and costing you several $$$$$.



It's definately not fair to those of us that who don't mod, but are questioned on every turn... because of those who try to put it to the dealer at every turn...



I gave up on the warranty after dealing with DC over my clutch and driveline vibrations... not to mention the computer screing I took...



steved

 

[JLetcher]

Maybe two lists by state, maintained on TDR: dealers mod-friendly and dealers mod-hostile. No reason to subsidize hostile dealerships - - dollars speak louder than words.

 

[CDyksman]

I dont want to put words in Jtodds mouthbut... I think what he wants, is a list of things that have voided warranties, not to get everyone's opinion on the quality of his question, or how he asked it, or if he should bomb, or the didderence in dealers across the th planet! So far no one has given even a remote answer.

 

[BHolm]

Maybe two lists by state, maintained on TDR: dealers mod-friendly and dealers mod-hostile. No reason to subsidize hostile dealerships - - dollars speak louder than words.

How long do you think it would take DC to catch onto that? Probably not long at all. Besides, not only does coverage vary dealer to dealer but customer to customer at the same dealership.

 

[steved]

How long do you think it would take DC to catch onto that? Probably not long at all. Besides, not only does coverage vary dealer to dealer but customer to customer at the same dealership.

Well then maybe DC should be made aware...



steved

 

[RMalone]

The list is simple



1. If the mod makes more power than stock, DC and the dealer can and likely will void the warranty.



2. If the mod is not a DC part it might void the warranty.



If DC is alright voiding a warranty over a cat back exhaust, then I am alright with people removing mods before dealer servicing. I am sick of hearing people claim that modded trucks are taking money out of the pockets of people who own unmodded trucks. A very small percentage of total trucks sold are modded.



Now on the other hand DC has every right to void a power/drive train warranty on a truck with more horsepower than stock. Especially with the massive hp and tq gains you can add to these trucks.



Bottom line, if you need your truck and can't afford to fix it when it breaks DO NOT increase the power. Adding the "right" programmer or downloader to preserve a warranty is like trying to smoke the "right" cigarette to avoid lung cancer.

 

[JTodd]

Well this got a touch more heated than I anticipated. . The original intent of the question was quite simple, and from the previous posts I have learned that the "Warranty" issue certainly isn't a simple issue.



To my current (admittedly simplistic) understanding, only DC can actually VOID the warranty, but each dealer may choose to deny warranty coverage, justifying the decision by whatever means they deem acceptable. Does DC penalize Dealersips in some fashion for warranty submittals in excess of some pre-determined ratio? Has anyone successfully invoked the Magnesson-Moss Act in a case of denied warranty coverage? If I were to take my truck in for an issue I feel is a valid warranty claim, and it is denied as a result of an unrelated mod, can I "Dealer-Hop" until I find one that will warranty the repair, or is there a global service record that will preclude my ability to do so?



I am personally conflicted on the whole mod/no-mod warranty war. . On one side I might have trouble sleeping if I knowingly secured warranty repairs for an issue I know was caused by a mod, directly or in-directly. On the other hand, I also feel like the warrenty is a part of the value I purchased when I signed the papers, no less tangible than the radio, and I would have a seriuos problem if DC tried to take back my radio. .



Keep it civil, it's about sharing thoughts and information. .

 

[klenger]

The problem with trying to put this list together is that a new member might actually read it and trust it. After all, it's on the internet, so it must be true. So now, he goes out and mods his truck thinking that his warranty is still intact, takes it to the dealer and ... surprise.

 

[DieselLady]

I think you will find that to hire an attorney to fight for you right to warranty under the MM ACT would cost more than the cost of the repair, even on some of the most expensive issues. I think a lot of dealers know this and so don't worry about voiding your warranty even for the most rediculous items. Also, it takes a long time to get court dates even if you where to fight them. Hardly worth the time money and effort if you ask me.

 

[BHolm]

If DC actually voids your warranty, your VIN is tagged and no matter which dealer you go to, they will know



I think DieselLady hit the nail on the head with the Magnuson Moss. Sure you can contest a warranty issue, but can you afford to?



One thing I find interesting, and therefore tempting, is that most guys running mods do not have problems. The Cummins is very robust and as long as you are smart about the mods it is fairly rare that an issue comes up. The guys having problems are normally not looking at the whole picture when doing the mods. Many don't think twice about overspeeding their turbo, or using excessive rail pressure, or respecting the limits of a stock drivetrain trying to handle way more torque than it was designed for. Abused trucks are usually the ones with issues.



I see you dilema though. If something lets go, like a plastic tanked 2005 intercooler, that is a known issue on stock trucks, shouldn't DC replace it period? I think they should, but if you modded the truck now they have an excuse to deny you.



I have left all of my trucks stock so far. My '03 dually is about to turn 100k miles and I think I might just go nuts and buy and Edge EZ for it :-laf I'm going to be my own warranty staition anyway, so why not have some fun.

 

[RollOver_Pete]

oK JT..... Back to the original question... .

Changing a small hose clamp can and will get your warranty voided.

It happened to me on my 2003 (RIP) #@$%!

While looking under the right front fender, I noticed a small plastic hose clamp that had come loose and being plastic and all I thought to myself, "self, how cheap. I can fix it!"

So, I changed out the cheap plastic clamp for a nice, secure, stainless steel clamp. Problem solved

Now when I take my 03 back to the shop for what I thought was an injector noise, they see the new high performance clamp that I added and since it went to the bottom of the turbo and those dumb-***e$ couldnt find the reason for the noise, they do the next best DC thing. Void my warranty at 50000 miles. After having words :-{} I pulled my truck out and went home to fix it my own self... .

The noise? ends up being a loose or bad connection in a injector plug.

Problem solved