Warranty Void?

[SKY 07]

I was talking with Jayman today about this matter and he told me to post it on the forum and someone would know the answer.
Confused about voiding my extended warranty. Friday I called my Saturn dealership and asked them if I buy another kind of intake will it void my Warranty? After waiting a while on the phone, he told me if I did not buy a Saturn intake it would be voided. He also said that they have to install it to or I void the warranty. TRUE or false? does anyone know for sure? T.

[stretch246]

From what I have seen on the forum they would have to prove the intake caused the failure to occur. There is another post where they replaced this guys whole engine after it had a detonation failure. I beleive he had done something to the intake but it did not cause the failure. Hope this helps.

[Gator Jeff]

You can also just keep your OEM stuff and if something does go wrong, just bolt the old stuff back on. Obviously this is easier with some things more than others.

[dengel]

It will not void your warranty, but it could result in denial of warranty coverage for a particular problem if the dealer can implicate the air intake as the cause of the problem. (Note: there is a legal difference in the terminology of "a voided warranty" versus "denial of coverage for a particular problem")

You should look at your Sky owner's manual and your extended warranty paperwork to see exactly what they say about modifications or changes of the OEM equipment.

Also, there is a law called the Magnusson Moss Act which covers this issue. You can check out this link for more info on it: Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act - Read the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act here Part 1

[JohnD]

Originally Posted by SKY 07

I was talking with Jayman today about this matter and he told me to post it on the forum and someone would know the answer.
Confused about voiding my extended warranty. Friday I called my Saturn dealership and asked them if I buy another kind of intake will it void my Warranty? After waiting a while on the phone, he told me if I did not buy a Saturn intake it would be voided. He also said that they have to install it to or I void the warranty. TRUE or false? does anyone know for sure? T.

There is a thing called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. You can read about it here, from a maker of custom exhausts.

Borla Performance Industries - FAQs

What it basically says is that the dealler CANNOT - by law - void your warranty because of aftermarket parts or work that you do yourself. Honda got into trouble for this, where if you got an oil change anywhere but the dealership they would void your warranty. That is bogus.

What it comes down to is that IF (and it's a big if) the part causes the failure, then the manufacturer can void the warranty. But the burden of proof is on THEM, not on you.

When SPIRIT blew her engine I had a custom intake, intercooler pipes and exhaust. None of it was GM. They gave me crap for a while, but eventually they did a complete engine replacement under warranty. Now, if you radically alter the engine's operation (like by adding NOX, or adding a supercharger) then obviously if the engine blows up then they have a really good case that you altered the compression. The same is true for an ECM re-flash - they could argue that the engine is operating outside of its designed parameters.

But a different intake path, or air filter, or going to polished versus factory pipes? Or a different exhaust? None of these alter the internal operation of the engine, and therefore the warranty must - by law - be honored.

And that goes for if you do the work yourself or if they do it.

Now, if you drop a bolt down the pipes when you are doing it yourself then that is a different matter. But they still would have to prove that, too.

[JohnD]

Originally Posted by stretch246

From what I have seen on the forum they would have to prove the intake caused the failure to occur. There is another post where they replaced this guys whole engine after it had a detonation failure. I beleive he had done something to the intake but it did not cause the failure. Hope this helps.

Yeah, that was me. Read all about it here:

Tearin' Down a Red Line (SPIRIT)

[Bogie]

IANAL

In a nutshell, what they told you is false. It's not false because it's always untrue. It's false because it is not always true. They probably said it will void the warranty because they couldn't say it wouldn't void the warranty. There is a middle ground. It "might" void the warranty. Or, more precisely, void that part of the warranty that obligates Saturn to fix certain failed parts.

A warranty is a contract between the buyer/owner and Saturn. The contract specifies the obligations of both parties. Saturn is obligated to fix certain things if they break or don't preform properly. The owner is obligated to maintain the vehicle as described in the Contract (i.e. Owner's Manual). The owner's obligation includes not doing anything that contributes to the failure of a part outside the limits noted in the manual. Specifically, if you mod your vehicle, and the mod causes a failure (directly or indirectly), then Saturn is not obligated to fix that failure under the warranty.

The problem occurs when something fails and Saturn refuses to honor the warranty because Saturn believes the owner has failed to honor the owner's requisite part of the contract. As to burden of proof, things can get tricky. If Saturn says the mod caused or contributed to the failure and you say it didn't, what then? You have a broken vehicle. They refuse to fix it under warranty. Regardless of which party has the burden of proof, YOU will be the one that has to bring action because you will be the one seeking relief. You may or may not win, but it will likely involve lawyers, court/arbitration, have hearings, get expert opinions, present evidence..yadda yada yada.

Bottom Line: Simply modifying a vehicle will not void your warranty. However, it can cause legal entanglements if Saturn claims the mod caused a failure normally covered under warranty, and you challenge that claim.

IANAL.

[xmicro_Redline]

I agree with all of the above..... how ever, if your dealer is telling you they will void it, well be ready for a fight or find another dealer that gives you a better answer. Who needs the head aches, and with what we witnessed your dealer doing to your front apron, I would probably find a new one anyway.

And when asking them this question, talk to NOBODY BUT the SERVICE MANAGER, he is in total control in these manners in most cases. Asking just anyone is pointless. Like they say above, unless they can prove to you that it caused the problem, they have no grounds for denial or coverage...BUT who's car is layed up while you battle??

If you cannot do your own work to MOD and FIX your own issues, I say leave it OEM...but that is just me, I tend to "Play it safe" in these manners.
GOOD LUCK!

[xmicro_Redline]

Originally Posted by SKY 07

Boy I need to make a discussion before Thursday. It is a lot of money, but I have wanted to do this for 19 months. I wish I had done it when I ordered my baby. Lots to think about. Good info. above. I love to have different opinions it help me make up my mind. Thanks T.

Take it to Danbury and ask their SKY tech MIKE, he is pictured here in SKYCRUZR's Post (Last picture, on the right in the photo). Bob and Cathy told me he knows his stuff. They install RPI and other aftermarket and do not talk crap about warrantee coverage being voided!

RPI GT Exhaust Installed Today!


Good Luck!

[dengel]

IF the only mod your are currently considering is an air intake, I would buy it, and learn to install and remove it yourself. Keep the original Saturn intake - store it in the basement, attic, whatever.

It is a very easy part to install if you have a few basic tools on hand. If you are considering other mods that are harder to return to stock, then it may be a harder decision.

[gadget]

If it's the GM intake and it's installed appropriately they aren't going to know or say anything. What are they going to do say our intake sucks. The only way there's going to be problems with the aftermarket one's is if it's installed wrong or the filters allow a bunch of garbage into the intake just put it on right and air tight and make sure the filters are good quality like Fugita or Ingen.

[sidejam]

My advice, find another dealership.