voiding the warranty

[mazda_tres]

My 06 6s has a warranty till sometime in 2010 or 50k miles. I'm someone who loves to do some tasteful mods to my cars but this is the first time I've had a car with some of the warranty left. So my question to you guys is, what will and won't void the warranty??

I'd like to do exhaust, either catback or custom. I really like the sound of the bosal catback system. The magnaflow is also nice and I've had good luck with them in the past.

I'd also like to put on a CAI if I do exhaust because I've heard (and seen dyno charts) that I'll gain about 10-15 engine hp with those two mods.

The only other idea I've been toying with is putting on lowering springs. I have no idea if that would void the warranty on the whole car or not...

I suspect the CAI will void the warranty for sure and I don't want to have to put it on and off every time I go to the dealership, that'd be a huge pain in the ass. But will exhaust or springs void the warranty or am I safe there? I have no problem waiting until the warranty is up to mod the car but if I can start before then that'd make me happy. TIA

Jeff

 

[Workdawg]

No bolt-ons void the warranty unless the dealer can PROVE the mod caused things to break.

 

[LASERBLUE135]

^^^ while that is true, it's easier said than actually the way it is. I've had the scare of a dealer telling me an $800 part was NOT covered just because they assumed it was something I did.

They EVENTUALLY got the issue resolved, but not something that I found easy to deal with. Mod at your own risk. Basically cai I wouldn't worry about, exhaust too shouldn't be an issue. Electronics afc etc should be avoided. Be carefully, but don't worry to much about usual bolt ons.

 

[dmention7]

Intake/catback/springs should be no big deal--in fact you can often get all those parts straight from the dealer. You always take a risk with aftermarket parts, but I honestly can't see any dealer giving you crap about them unless, say, you come in with a hydrolocked motor and a CAI.

 

[DrWebster]

My understanding is that dealers won't ever give you crap about Mazdaspeed-branded parts, unless the problem is due to you installing it incorrectly. Otherwise, they may try to say something's your fault, but as said before, they can only not cover something under warranty unless they can prove the aftermarket part caused the damage. Also, the warranty for your entire car cannot be voided in one fell swoop as some dealers would like you to believe; a dealer can refuse to cover a part or subassembly of the car, but cannot say the warranty on your power steering pump is void because you installed an intake.

 

[AJ]

Actually, a dealer can void the warranty for replacement of any OEM part for a NON OEM part. You want to know specifics, don't go to a car forum, read your paperwork.

Any intake will open up more doors for voiding than an exhaust, but generally both are pretty safe. I never had a problem talking with the Serivce department at Brookdale about modding my car and what items would void what. An example would be putting coil overs on, don't think anything suspension related will be covered after that. Just be smart about it, and don't be afraid to talk to the service people a bit. Asking the question ahead of time can help you more than in can hurt you.

 

[keke]

A CAI could void your warranty. There have been people that have had their warranties voided over it. At Walser, I said I was thinking of a CBE and their service manager said if anything happens to the engine, then my warranty is no more.

Last time I was at Morries, when I pulled into the service bay, the first thing they came over and did was pop the hood and proceed to lecture me on how my intake (MSCAI) could void my warranty. Not cool.

 

[mazda_tres]

Well thanks for the info, guys. I think I'm going to just ask the people down at burnsville mazda next time I'm in for a free oil change they've been pretty nice to me so far. And hopefully they'll let me put on exhaust and springs at least and maybe the cai.

Does anyone have any experience with Walser Mazda and aftermarket parts voiding the warranty or not?

 

[mazda_tres]

A CAI could void your warranty. There have been people that have had their warranties voided over it. At Walser, I said I was thinking of a CBE and their service manager said if anything happens to the engine, then my warranty is no more.

Last time I was at Morries, when I pulled into the service bay, the first thing they came over and did was pop the hood and proceed to lecture me on how my intake (MSCAI) could void my warranty. Not cool.

Ahh see that's what I figured. I'll probably stay away from the cai for a while but I'll see what they say about springs and exhaust. Those shouldn't void my warranty....

 

[Workdawg]

Here's some reading for you...

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/Keeping-Your-Mod-s-Warranty-Intact.id-2669.html


Unless it says specifically in the warranty that you can't add aftermarket parts (which I doubt it does since there are plenty of people getting stuff fixed with mods) then simply adding a part won't void the warranty by itself. If modding itself doesn't void the warranty, then the dealer has to prove that the specific aftermarket part you added caused the failure.

As AJ suggests, adding something like coilovers, or any suspension part, will give the dealer some major ammo to deny you suspension work, simply because the suspension of the car is finely tuned and messing with one part will throw the rest out of whack from the way it came when you bought it.

Adding an intake or exhaust increases power. That's typically fine, however if the dealer can prove that the increased power caused a failure, that's some pretty solid ammo for denying you as well.

It all depends on what part you mod and what fails...

 

[dmention7]

There is a difference, though, between voiding a warranty outright and refusing to do warrant work. That's where it gets tricky.

 

[Workdawg]

Well... if they refuse to do the warranty work, then you start up the bitching I guess. A letter from a lawyer with the Magnusson-Moss act stapled to it might help in that regard.

 

[dmention7]

True, but that is far far easier said than done. At the end of the day, unless you're talking about something big like getting a motor replaced, it will not likely be to your financial advantage to get a lawyer involved.

It's sad and unfair, but that's how it goes down in the real world.

That is, IF the dealer chooses to be an ass about doing warranty work. For example, Morries didn't say a word to me about replacing a cooked turbo on my MSP even though I had an intake and exhaust on it when I brought it in.

 

[Big Nate]

There is somthing int the state of MN called the right to refuse service to any one. That is how bars can not let people in. And that is also how a dealer can refuse to service your car.

 

[keke]

Just be careful of what you put on your car. If you bring it in for service, take whatever off prior to coming in.

 

[Workdawg]

There is somthing int the state of MN called the right to refuse service to any one. That is how bars can not let people in. And that is also how a dealer can refuse to service your car.

That's true... however I think if you have a legit warranty that REQUIRES Mazda to fix your car, the dealer would probably get some heat from Mazda for pulling that crap on you.

 

[Workdawg]

Just be careful of what you put on your car. If you bring it in for service, take whatever off prior to coming in.

This is also excellent advice.