If i was to install a takeda cold air intake, would that void the warranty for the car? because when i asked my local dealership, the guy told me that it would void the warranty for the car... so im jus wondering is this true??:S

 

Yes. Any non Acura installed aftermarket part would technically void your warranty. Why? B/c if anything goes wrong, the stealership could then just blame that part.

 

That is not technically correct, docboy. The act of installing an aftermarket part, does not automatically void your warranty.

Should a problem arise with a car that is still under warranty, and said car has an aftermarket part installed, the dealership would have to prove that the aftermarket part caused the problem to not honor the warranty.

 

True. Better written than I.

You might be better off modding your car after the warranty expires.

 

Something like an aftermarket DVD system or back up sensors, which are pretty much a "plug and play" install won't void a warranty but when I try and sell these products to my customers, our service department always cries about it - no matter what the mod is, they will say it'll void the warranty to save their ass but in the end it's just not that cut and dry.

 

Here's a good explanation.

http://www.trdsparks.com/warrant_aft..._products.html

 

Anecdotal... I remember hearing a story about how a dealer claimed the warranty on an engine repair was voided because the owner had put after-market wheels on the car.

Yeah. Dealer$ are lame. Hold their feet to the fire if they try to do crap like this.

I had CAIs on my Hondas before I bought an Acura and it was never a problem with service. Even when the service was related.

Also, an ounce of sugar goes a lot further than a quart of vinegar. Be nice to your dealer, chances are they'll do the same in return.

 

Acura doesn't have to "prove" anything. They can simply say that it had something to do with it. and it must been something reasonable. ie. an intake can't cause your power windows to fail.

That being said, it also isn't always up to the discretion of the dealership. The dealership may say yes, go ahead, but the warranty department from Acura US or Canada may say no.

 

well, not that it will "automatically" void the warranty but any mod you do on the engine might void the warranty..that's according to a service writer at the dealer i work at. He said that any modification to the engine structure voids the warranty, they're forgiven when it comes to electrical mods (remote starters, etc..) With that being said he stated that if you fight your way to court, they will honor the warranty regardless. Judges hate dealerships...

 

Guys, bottom line-if your engine locks up due to water intake and you've got a CAI on your TL-you'll get nothing from the warranty. You are arguing semantics here with the verbage. You'll have a very difficult time proving that the CAI did not cause the problem to Acura. You'll be fighting this for a LOOOONG time.

You won't have a problem getting your car serviced with a CAI on it. But if you have engine lock or other related problems that you want covered under warranty-forget it.

Look-you've paid a lot of money for your 4G TL. All you're really getting from a CAI is a $250-$350 output of cash for a
little more growl. The extra horsepower has been debated endlessly here on Acurazine.

Are you really saying your willing to risk voiding your warranty for alittle growl????

 

I agree that if there's a problem that can even be remotely related to a mod like an intake, it's going to be tough getting warranty covereage--the engine lock you describe is a perfect example.

But installing an intake isn't going to preclude warranty coverage for everything on the car.

 

I realize that there are people out there who believe that any performance modification will make their car explode or transpire into limitless warranty problems. But the things you're not looking at is that the Takeda intake isn't even a cold-air intake, it's a ram-air intake. If anything, it actually puts your intake in a higher position and if water ever comes up that high, you've probably already damaged your engine.

Also, when an intake is dyno proven to gain 14 horsepower, it's not really debatable if it makes the horsepower, at least initially... (I added that last comment to cover my butt from another thread here) There are just some people who are so set that things are the way they are and if they're proven wrong, they still won't drop their misguided beliefs.

Putting on an intake will probably never throw a check engine light either. Besides, if an intake does throw a code and if you get your car checked out and it is something to do with the intake (which I can't even fathom what code it would be throwing) then why not put your stock intake box back on to get it fixed for free?

 

I forgot he asked about a Takeda CAI. I'm not familiar with those-just the Injen and AEM's. Sorry!

Maybe do a search on Acurazine to see if anyone has used a Taked CAI on their TL.