Voiding the warranty?
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Mugen freak
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Miami, Fl
Voiding the warranty?
I went to the Acura dealership a few weeks back for a routine oil change, and while i was there, i asked my service advisor a few questions about voiding the warranty. At this time, my TSX had no mods on it and i was curious to what mods would void the warranty on specific parts, as my car is a lease. I asked my service advisor about a rear sway bar, and he said that it would void the warranty on my entire suspension, so i asked him what about an intake? He said that i could go ahead and put one on without voiding the warranty on the engine. If im not mistaken, isnt there more of a chance of messing up the engine of a car with an intake than there is messing up the suspension with a rear sway bar? How come the intake would not void the warranty but a rear sway bar would? 
Summer is Coming
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 647
From: Houston
Doesn't make any sense to me. I just installed a RSB this weekend and can't imagine it will be doing any harm to the suspension. But I can see how Acura may disagree, especaily if it is in their financial interest. I have heard of people installing a CAI and damaging thier engines but sucking water in through the CAI. I can understand Acura not wanting to pay for that. Like all mods you do so at your own risk.
iVTEC no koe
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
I think the service advisor's comment regarding the RSB is due to the added stress to the rear suspension. I remember a mechanic telling me that if you run the risk of excessive strain on the (stock) rear suspension if the RSB is too thick (>1inch). So if you go thick, then you'd have to run a stiffer suspension. Not sure how much validity that has, but it does sound logical.
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,594
Likes: 4
From: Cincinnati, OH
Originally Posted by HoRRo
I think the service advisor's comment regarding the RSB is due to the added stress to the rear suspension. I remember a mechanic telling me that if you run the risk of excessive strain on the (stock) rear suspension if the RSB is too thick (>1inch). So if you go thick, then you'd have to run a stiffer suspension. Not sure how much validity that has, but it does sound logical.
VSA Rocks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by crazybaboon6000
<....>, so i asked him what about an intake? He said that i could go ahead and put one on without voiding the warranty on the engine. If im not mistaken, isnt there more of a chance of messing up the engine of a car with an intake than there is messing up the suspension with a rear sway bar? How come the intake would not void the warranty but a rear sway bar would?
Looks like someone at the dealer didn't follow their script on gool ol' CAI's...
http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SN/B050400.PDF
Cold Air Intake Systems and Low-Restriction Air Filters:
A Word to the Wise
Cold air intake systems and low-restriction air
filters are hot aftermarket accessories. Popular
among the import tuner crowd, these items may
improve engine performance by letting the
engine breathe more deeply, reducing the intake
air temperature, and cutting down on weight. And
for that all-important sound when you wind up
the engine, cold air intake systems help produce a
deep, throaty tone.
Stock air intake systems are designed to clean the
intake air, minimize intake noise, and keep water
from getting into the intake tract, all the while
putting out the most horsepower and torque.
Although cold air intake systems and lowrestriction
air filters kick up engine performance a
notch, they also have their dark side. They can
really mess up the engine, and that’s not covered
by warranty!
With cold air intake systems, you run the risk of
engine damage from hydrolocking if you drive in
wet weather or plow through standing water.
These systems are usually designed to draw air
from the bottom of the engine compartment or
from the front of the radiator where the air is cold
and dense. The air filter used in these systems
doesn’t sit in an air box, so water that gets sucked
into the filter gets sucked right into the engine.
When enough water gets into the engine, the
piston can’t fully compress the air/fuel mixture
(water doesn’t compress) so it stops before
reaching top dead center (TDC). Even though the
piston stops, the crankshaft just keeps turning
from inertia. As a result, the connecting rod bends
and gets shorter. With each compression and
power stroke, the connecting rod flexes until it
eventually fails from metal fatigue.
With low-restriction air filters, you run the risk of
premature engine wear and contamination. Many
of these filters just don’t work as well as stock air
filters do. Microscopic debris can get past the filter
causing premature wear of the pistons, piston
rings, cylinders, and valves. It can also foul up the
throttle body, and the components of the intake
manifold runner control (IMRC), intake manifold
tuning (IMT), and idle air control (IAC) systems.
So what’s the bottom line here? Tell your clients
they’re taking a really big risk if they run the
vehicle with a cold air intake system or a lowrestriction
air filter. Engine damage caused by
these items isn’t covered by warranty, and that
could take a big bite out of their pocketbook.
A Word to the Wise
Cold air intake systems and low-restriction air
filters are hot aftermarket accessories. Popular
among the import tuner crowd, these items may
improve engine performance by letting the
engine breathe more deeply, reducing the intake
air temperature, and cutting down on weight. And
for that all-important sound when you wind up
the engine, cold air intake systems help produce a
deep, throaty tone.
Stock air intake systems are designed to clean the
intake air, minimize intake noise, and keep water
from getting into the intake tract, all the while
putting out the most horsepower and torque.
Although cold air intake systems and lowrestriction
air filters kick up engine performance a
notch, they also have their dark side. They can
really mess up the engine, and that’s not covered
by warranty!
With cold air intake systems, you run the risk of
engine damage from hydrolocking if you drive in
wet weather or plow through standing water.
These systems are usually designed to draw air
from the bottom of the engine compartment or
from the front of the radiator where the air is cold
and dense. The air filter used in these systems
doesn’t sit in an air box, so water that gets sucked
into the filter gets sucked right into the engine.
When enough water gets into the engine, the
piston can’t fully compress the air/fuel mixture
(water doesn’t compress) so it stops before
reaching top dead center (TDC). Even though the
piston stops, the crankshaft just keeps turning
from inertia. As a result, the connecting rod bends
and gets shorter. With each compression and
power stroke, the connecting rod flexes until it
eventually fails from metal fatigue.
With low-restriction air filters, you run the risk of
premature engine wear and contamination. Many
of these filters just don’t work as well as stock air
filters do. Microscopic debris can get past the filter
causing premature wear of the pistons, piston
rings, cylinders, and valves. It can also foul up the
throttle body, and the components of the intake
manifold runner control (IMRC), intake manifold
tuning (IMT), and idle air control (IAC) systems.
So what’s the bottom line here? Tell your clients
they’re taking a really big risk if they run the
vehicle with a cold air intake system or a lowrestriction
air filter. Engine damage caused by
these items isn’t covered by warranty, and that
could take a big bite out of their pocketbook.
Trending Topics
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,594
Likes: 4
From: Cincinnati, OH
Originally Posted by Black_6spd
Looks like someone at the dealer didn't follow their script on gool ol' CAI's...
http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SN/B050400.PDF
Regardless, I've used a CAI on my cars for the past 10 years. On my Integra, it was on for almost 200k without any problems.
Idiots.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 361
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by moda_way
I love the hydrolocking statement. If you get water up that far to hydrolock, then the TSX has become a boat. Idiots.
Idiots.
Moderator
Regional Coordinator (Southeast)
Regional Coordinator (Southeast)
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 44,123
Likes: 4,434
From: Mooresville, NC
Originally Posted by Zoopa
Coming from the Midwest, you probably have seen idiots that will go through a flooded street (e.g under a bridge) and will hyrolock their car even without CAI.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Rocket_man
Doesn't make any sense to me. I just installed a RSB this weekend and can't imagine it will be doing any harm to the suspension. But I can see how Acura may disagree, especaily if it is in their financial interest. I have heard of people installing a CAI and damaging thier engines but sucking water in through the CAI. I can understand Acura not wanting to pay for that. Like all mods you do so at your own risk.
how bout short ram intakes..do they do the same?
04 A-Spec TSX navi
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Fl
the answer i got from a dealer in Orlando was if the CAI was not the cause of the problem, the warranty is not affected. Now, something like a tie bar or sway bar that is altering the factory set up of the suspension could more easily be blamed for damage to the car. Also, look out for other things that may get voided- i know of people who lowered cars who lost the warranty on paint and the bumpers since they increased the likelyhood of damage occuring.
Let me help you!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 12
From: So. Cali
Originally Posted by taylor314gh
look out for other things that may get voided- i know of people who lowered cars who lost the warranty on paint
Although I don't think we have a paint warranty...
Originally Posted by tsxlapaz87
how bout short ram intakes..do they do the same?
Hydrolock issues are usually associated with CAI's because they move the filter down close to the bottom of the car, which then makes it easier for it to suck up water. SRI's usually can't get alot of water, unless if you put in some special routing/tubes to feed air from the bottom of the car to your filter (to redirect air to blow onto your SRI). In that case, water could probably make it's way to your SRI, albeit smaller quantities.
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