Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Pusher pump voids warranty

[cyborg]

Will adding a pusher pump as prevetive medicine cause DC to void my warranty?

 

[andrewkoperdak]

It all depends on your DC relationship. I have a great relationship with mine. I have even copied procedures for them to follow from the WWW when they work on my truck.



My first response to your question was " do you want to worry about you warranty or be stuck in the middle of Tim Buch Two on the side of the road?

 

[jgillott]

As AKoperdak said, it really all depends on your dealer of choice. If you really want to be technical, DC and their representative service department (the dealer) could void the warranty on any "non stock" vehicle. Now, DC along with GM and Ford, realize that the truck accessory market is a huge profitable business. So they tend to work closely with aftermarket suppliers and tend to overlook many if not all "non performance altering accessories" (ie. . wheels, tires, running boards etc).



There is a huge gray area when you get into altering the way the vehicle functions. Even though we all know that a pusher pump for example, is a logical upgrade to the fuel system on a 24-valve Cummins, it is not the manufacturers original design. Therefore, you have technically changed the fuel system outside the parameters of the original engineering. After making such an alteration, you have to realize that some service departments may refuse a warranty repair on a VP-44 for example, sighting the pusher pump as the problem.



With that said... most of us have come to the point that the warranty is not our major concern. We know that the lift pump is a "weak link" in the overall design of our trucks and have chosen one of the many options out there to deal with the problem.



I have a fairly close friend who is a DC service manager at a local dealer. Basically they are aware of the problems concerning the LP and associated VP-44 failures and the aftermarket fixes that we owners have come up with. They, in their department, will "overlook" certain modifications to our trucks when dealing with warranty repairs. However, they can't do this all the time and for all people. As it has been explained to me, there is a fine line between keeping the customer happy and returning to the dealer, and angering DC. Some dealers will "toe the line" a little more than others.



My suggestion is to talk to your dealer's service manager "off the record". You may be surprised at what they may tell you. The worst they can say is that your proposed modification, whatever it may be, will void your remaining warranty. But then, you at least have an idea how they will react before you need them and end up with the answer you were not looking for.



Justin

 

[WTBurke]

Justin is correct. I am receiving a new VP-44 under warranty today.

I have been into several Dealerships and all have remarked to not modify the system. The good ones (Dealerships) know the problem of the LP starving the VP-44 but, they don't like the chance of a field STAR person coming to observe a replacement and finding a sub-system hanging from the frame.

None the less... I'm at 77k miles now and as soon as I get my rig back I will place a substantial fuel feed system to avoid any future trouble. My rig is stock and I'm on the back side of 5years or 100k due to mileage so..... I will be my own warranty station from here forward.

My opinion... . never drop below 13psi at WOT under any circumstances. Bombed or stock.



William

 

[Beast2B]

William,

I've seen a couple places where you mention a "substantial" fuel system change. Are you still researching your options of existing pumps/filters/hoses or do you have something planned new and different?

I'm trying to decide on an upgrade myself...