What voids the warranty?

[slooper]

Hey guys,
Just so I can start planning my mods, do y'all know what mods I can get away with without totally voiding the warranty? And don't give me the RTM reply because I read the manual back to front. Do you have to have all your mods done by dealers? Do you have to use only Mazda certified parts? Your experience with this would be very helpful!
Thanks!

 

[hihoslva]

This is NOT from experience, but I'd think that Mazda will void your warranty any way they can. It's in their best interest. Rather than draw lines of "this is okay" and "this is not", it's better for them to say "anything voids the warranty".

That doesn't make it true, but I'd be careful. For example, they can't void your transmission warranty because you changed the stereo, or say that your head gasket blew because you put an air horn in the car (both mods I have done). But it is very possible that they could say your head gasket blew because you modified the stock intake, or that your tranny fell apart because you changed the cams in the engine, producing "too much" power. Not to say that these would be true at all, but Mazda will probably try to say so, and you just won't win. Plus, you'll be without your car while you fight it if anything this bad should happen.

Obviously you care about your warranty, as I do. I've decided that I won't do any "irreversible" mods - at least until the warranty is up. Intakes and exhuasts can be removed if a problem occurs. I'm planning on an intake, knowing that it really isn't that much of a horsepower upgrade. But at least I can rip it out quickly if I need to have other warranty work done.

I figure, why give Mazda a chance to screw me over. I can do plenty of that myself once the warranty expires!

Just my 2 centz....

 

[Greg S]

Do a quick web search under Magnum-Moss Warrenty Act on the web. Basically what it says it that no part of your warrenty can be voided unless they can prove that a modification do to the vehicle dirrectly caused the problem. So say you added a 150 shot of N2O then they could reasonably say thet the reason your valves melted was because you added the N2O. I have to deal with dealerships on behalf of my customers one htis all the time. They try to tell them that because they had stereo work done that the electrical warrenty is void. All you have to do is act to see their Magnum-Moss binder, which they are supposed to have available for all customers. Read through the Act though and you'llsee what you are protected by.

 

[hihoslva]

True, they can't just throw anything they want at you, but it's more of a "why go through the hassle" thing with me.

Mazda could say that an intake caused your ECU malfunction, or that the aftermarket exhaust is what fouled your emmisions control equipment - again, not to say that they would be correct, but I know I can't afford to pay costly repairs out-of-pocket or be without a useable car while I debate the Magnum-Moss Warranty Act with Mazda USA. Who knows how long that fight might be. Just showing them this "Act" doesn't guarantee that they immediately repair my car under warranty. It took me nearly 3 months just to get a bumper re-paint approved, for cryin' out loud. Imagine what it'll take to get a "questionable" repair done that costs in the thousands.

I'd like to have my Pro5 for a long time. I don't think I'm gonna be tinkering with too much. I feel safe with an intake, possibly exhaust, and stereo equipment. Messing with engine internals gets me a little nervous - I rely on my car every single day, and love that peace of mind.

Big ups to all of you who are ripping the motors apart in search of horses. You are blazing the trail for the rest of us, as well as showing the big-name aftermarket tuners that we are here, and have real interest in some reliable mods. Keep it up - we all benefit from you. But I can't disable my ride for even one day, so these types of mods are not for me, at least not yet.

 

[NC_MP3]

Sigh, you coulda done a SEARCH, there have been several threads about this, one was really long too.

My tranny broke and I have a 6 puck racing clutch and a light flywheel and they replaced the tranny with no hassle. Why? Cause there is a defect in the tranny's in Protege's and MP3's and they don't want to admit it, at least thats what I think.

 

[freekwonder]

like they said do a search. but the main things to remember is that the DEALERSHIP has to prove the MOD caused the problem. you do not have to to prove it DIDN'T.

 

[hihoslva]

FreekWonder - you are right that they have to prove the mod caused the problem, and you don't have to prove that it didn't - the problem is that, IMO, Mazda will try to prove the mod DID cause the trouble any way they can. Furthermore, if they need to investigate it, they're not going to fix anything until the investigation is done - that could be quite a while without your car, and good luck getting them to front the cash for a rental or loaner. Loaners are covered by WARRANTY repair, but they probably aren't gonna just give you one unless you're on good terms with the dealer or something. So you'd have to pay for it, and let them reimburse you if the repair is then warrantied.

It's just a situation I don't want to put myself in - but I still have mad respect for the serious modders out there and in here.

 

[chdesign]

Technically the Fuzzy dice hanging from your mirror could void your warrany. LOL I mean the fux clogs up the fan and then it burns out causes a short in the system frys part of the ECU and then causes your motor to go lean and BOOM....all in all cause....of your fuzzy dice....ROFL