Just came back from a nice evening at the bahhh (bar to you non-Bostonians) and had a heated discussion about mods and warranty with my brother (Saab 900, Dodge pickup, Toyota Matrix). He admits that mods won't change the warranty officially...but he insists that if there is ANYWAY to assume that something is related to the mod then it isn't covered. Makes sense I think. But that means that even a CAI or change of exhaust could be at "fault" for any failed part of the engine. After all, you feed one end, it is going to change the whole engine equation. I assume (and someone said at one point) that our engines are "good" for way more than 260hp. But if we are pushing out over 300hp..say 350hp (nice!), will Acura say that those normal parts are rated at less than that?

So what is the story...if I have a problem (I don't)...say low idle or stalling...and they say it is because of the OBX headers (even though they performed fine for a year) are we screwed because we modded? Even though we "didn't void the warranty" by putting on the headers...did we in fact VOID the warranty because we can't claim repairs if there is even a chance that the problem is mod related? Example of repairs after mods are appreciated....

I know some dealerships are more mod freindly than others but I suppose I mean legally...the "law" is that mods don't void the warranty but it could be REAL easy for the dealership to turn that around...

 

You get right if mod directly result in a failure of a part and the dealer can prove that, then that said part is not covered under warranty.

BTW, did you get the IceBox?

 

I wouldn't worry so much about the engine as I would about the transmission, as is the case for us "tiptronics" heehe :P

 

as for the tranny, Acura sent us all a letter extending the warranty on the tranny, in other words, they implicitly agrees with the assumption that the tranny has "a birth defect". It has nothing to do with CAI or headers...

BTW, Just with atmospheric conditions, Air pressure can Varies up +- 15% so a mod that would improve the air flow by 3% (CAI) should not result in failure of mechanical part.

 

the burden of proof is on the dealer that the mod was a DIRECT cause of the problem. He can't "assume" that your CAI or headers caused an idle problem, he has to PROVE it.

 

Nashua, the Icebox is on it's way....estimated arrival on Friday.

So it sounds like it is up to the dealer whether they @#$%$ you for mods or not? Seems like potentially they can blame almost ANY mod for problems, or NOT blame them if they are "nice". mrdeeno, it was all hypothetical, I love my headers, in reality I have no idle problem. I was just called "stupid" a few too many times last night for modding my car so I was posing the question to ultimately defend my position...which is very similar to what you said. Thanks!

I didn't think there was such a defined line between my bro dropping in a K&N fliter and me doing other mods. He thought there was. Mods are mods and even a K&N drop in filter is going to let the car breath easier and technically "change the powertrain" as he says.

 

nate'sCLS. Sorry but I must admit to having a 2003...supposedly a corrected tranny. I am not covered by the 100K extension that Honda threw at you guys thinking it was going to save you when your tranny drops.

FWIW, the tranny in my tiptronic Prelude (last car) dropped on the way home from work one day and I was lucky to not cause an accident.

 

Read this:

http://www.duramaximizer.com/magnuson_moss.htm