Will Racing Void the GM warranty?

[EvilZL1]

How do you mod and obtain your warranty though?I plan on headers, CAI, CAM

[Vroom]

Originally Posted by joeybsyc

As I said, there are work arounds for everything. If the dealer wants the business they can and sometimes do get around all of that. Believe it. I know it's common belief around here that you can't get any powertrain items replaced or warranted with a tune, or if it breaks at the track... but that's not always the case if you have a good dealer that's willing to work with you.

I'm actually in the process of trying to get my engine repaired/replaced under warranty right now. GM has a lot of song and dance you have to go through before they'll do it. Requires a GM field engineer just to have the conversation. The dealer has been working directly with GM specialists to determine the cause of the engine failure and has already replaced the heads which required direct authorization from GM. There's nothing the dealer can do to speed the process up and they can't order a new engine without approval directly from GM. The reason dealers always lean towards denying your warranty is because they don't even get paid unless GM approves the work, that includes all diagnostics work. So if they strip down your engine to find the problem and GM finds out your tuned your car, the dealer doesn't get paid. Which is why dealers will send in your tune prior to even touching it. Besides trying to get my engine in my ZL1 replaced/rebuilt, my GTO's LS2 prior to this also needed to be rebuilt and it took 45 days of the same dance.

Any illusion you have that a dealer that can some how "work around" GM is seriously flawed. If you cant afford to pay for any damage your tune does to the power train, then don't get it tuned.

Originally Posted by SSSylentZL1

How do you mod and obtain your warranty though?I plan on headers, CAI, CAM

You'll be fine with a CAI like rotofab since there's nothing it can really do to damage you engine. A cam is going to require a tune, so you can kiss you powertrain warranty good bye. Don't play if you can't afford to pay.

[EvilZL1]

Originally Posted by Vroom

I'm actually in the process of trying to get my engine repaired/replaced under warranty right now. GM has a lot of song and dance you have to go through before they'll do it. Requires a GM field engineer just to have the conversation. The dealer has been working directly with GM specialists to determine the cause of the engine failure and has already replaced the heads which required direct authorization from GM. There's nothing the dealer can do to speed the process up and they can't order a new engine without approval directly from GM. The reason dealers always lean towards denying your warranty is because they don't even get paid unless GM approves the work, that includes all diagnostics work. So if they strip down your engine to find the problem and GM finds out your tuned your car, the dealer doesn't get paid. Which is why dealers will send in your tune prior to even touching it. Besides trying to get my engine in my ZL1 replaced/rebuilt, my GTO's LS2 prior to this also needed to be rebuilt and it took 45 days of the same dance.

Any illusion you have that a dealer that can some how "work around" GM is seriously flawed. If you cant afford to pay for any damage your tune does to the power train, then don't get it tuned.



You'll be fine with a CAI like rotofab since there's nothing it can really do to damage you engine. A cam is going to require a tune, so you can kiss you powertrain warranty good bye. Don't play if you can't afford to pay.

Headers require a tune as well? Im doing Rotofab next month, just trying to see how much I can do without voiding anything. Probably will stick to cosmetic mods after that like the technogstalia tail lights, P13W for Fogs and DRL, oracle side marker(eventually), and electric cutouts(noweeds diverting system)

[Todd in Vancouver]

Went to my GM service department this morning and asked. No problem with warranty and tracking the car as long as I don't modify it. That's the stickler as to what defines modify and I think as long as you stay away from an aftermarket tune it will be fine. I'm going to add CAI and other bolt ons but won't be tuning it until I'm off warranty. It's my DD so the warranty is nice and I also bought the extended so mine will be mostly stock for a long time. But I've got a lot of driver improvement to do before I can out drive what I've already got.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Todd in Vancouver

Went to my GM service department this morning and asked. No problem with warranty and tracking the car as long as I don't modify it. That's the stickler as to what defines modify and I think as long as you stay away from an aftermarket tune it will be fine. I'm going to add CAI and other bolt ons but won't be tuning it until I'm off warranty. It's my DD so the warranty is nice and I also bought the extended so mine will be mostly stock for a long time. But I've got a lot of driver improvement to do before I can out drive what I've already got.

That is smart, many people need to learn how to handle the power they have before resorting to adding even more. Lots of people think they are better than they actually are and get a rude awakening when they get in over their head..

[EvilZL1]

I think I have the extended warranty too, I think. But other than CAI idk what else you can do


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[Vroom]

Originally Posted by SSSylentZL1

I think I have the extended warranty too, I think. But other than CAI idk what else you can do

its a 580hp supercar that will put the hurt on almost every car you run into while installing a permagrin mod...what else do you really need to do? Not that another 20hp or so from the CAI isn't nice

[The_Blur]

No.

Does that answer your question?

[EvilZL1]

Originally Posted by Vroom

its a 580hp supercar that will put the hurt on almost every car you run into while installing a permagrin mod...what else do you really need to do? Not that another 20hp or so from the CAI isn't nice

Though this is true ha, I'm just ready to make the exhaust note louder and deeper with the noweeds, headers and cam later on down the road. With the sound of the Z will be more intimidating than it already is.


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[strych9]

I get so disgusted with the warranty chatter on this site, because everybody posts up things they've read, heard, or formed their own opinion on. As a former new-car dealership service manager, I can tell you from experience that:

1. All warranty claims are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. There are NO absolutes. All warranties are LIMITED and CONDITIONAL.
2. The dealer holds the cards. If they say no to a warranty repair with supporting reasons behind the decision, the automaker will back them.
3. If you disagree with a decision that has been made, you have dispute procedures available to you if you wish to pursue them.
4. Any modifications that you make to your car could be scrutinized and blamed for any type of failure. When you mod, you are openly risking a denied warranty claim. Courts favor the dealer in these cases because their written warranties ALL have disclaimers concerning modifications.
5. You are naive if you think that GM's "track warranty" on the ZL1 will grant you immunity from warranty denial. One word: abuse. No warranty will cover abuse. Sure, you can track your car and break something. If deemed a failure due to parts and/or workmanship, they will cover it. If you do a 6k RPM launch and break an axle, guess again. The failure WILL be scrutinized, and if labeled as abuse, you're SOL. Therefore, so-called ZL1 "track warranty" is exactly the same as the rest of the Camaro line, with the exception of the, "you track it and break it, you own it" disclaimer that is excluded from the ZL1 warranty.

Summary: you mod it, assume your warranty is gone. All risks are yours at that point. In most cases, simple mods won't create an issue, but they certainly could. You tune the ECM, chip it, whatever...game over; you just gave up your powertrain warranty. Internal engine/transmission/differential mods, again...the dealer may attempt to blame your equipment on a given failure, and the burden of proof now falls on your shoulders to prove otherwise.

This is how vehicle warranty really works. You may get away with a few things because your dealer wants your continued business, but just know that GMs warranty is very clear, and in big-ticket failures, don't be surprised if they won't help you if any of the above applies.

[EFI]

Dealers can deny waranty even if you have waranty. they are still a privatly owned business.

Dealers can refuse to do warranty work, but that does not mean that GM will or that your warranty is null. These "privatly owned businesses" are not the ones that are offering the warranty, GM is. They are just there as an extension of GM.

So if a dealer denies your claim, you can take it up to GM or another dealer.

[ZL1-V]

Originally Posted by strych9

I get so disgusted with the warranty chatter on this site, because everybody posts up things they've read, heard, or formed their own opinion on. As a former new-car dealership service manager, I can tell you from experience that:

1. All warranty claims are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. There are NO absolutes. All warranties are LIMITED and CONDITIONAL.
2. The dealer holds the cards. If they say no to a warranty repair with supporting reasons behind the decision, the automaker will back them.
3. If you disagree with a decision that has been made, you have dispute procedures available to you if you wish to pursue them.
4. Any modifications that you make to your car could be scrutinized and blamed for any type of failure. When you mod, you are openly risking a denied warranty claim. Courts favor the dealer in these cases because their written warranties ALL have disclaimers concerning modifications.
5. You are naive if you think that GM's "track warranty" on the ZL1 will grant you immunity from warranty denial. One word: abuse. No warranty will cover abuse. Sure, you can track your car and break something. If deemed a failure due to parts and/or workmanship, they will cover it. If you do a 6k RPM launch and break an axle, guess again. The failure WILL be scrutinized, and if labeled as abuse, you're SOL. Therefore, so-called ZL1 "track warranty" is exactly the same as the rest of the Camaro line, with the exception of the, "you track it and break it, you own it" disclaimer that is excluded from the ZL1 warranty.

Summary: you mod it, assume your warranty is gone. All risks are yours at that point. In most cases, simple mods won't create an issue, but they certainly could. You tune the ECM, chip it, whatever...game over; you just gave up your powertrain warranty. Internal engine/transmission/differential mods, again...the dealer may attempt to blame your equipment on a given failure, and the burden of proof now falls on your shoulders to prove otherwise.

This is how vehicle warranty really works. You may get away with a few things because your dealer wants your continued business, but just know that GMs warranty is very clear, and in big-ticket failures, don't be surprised if they won't help you if any of the above applies.

Great points some people ignore completely. I have purchased a few vehicles over the years and have had very little problems with modded cars. As you stated the dealer wants repeat business from you. My Cadillac dealer covered my drive train on my AWD Escalade even when I had added an aftermarket supercharger. I really hit it off with the service manager who was into cars himself. It seems some service managers are burnt and hate their job. I know having to deal with the public all day will wear on you. IMHO it appears that the cool dealers are the ones with service managers that aren't bitter and angry at the customers because they have nicer cars. I have had that happen to me. I have noticed that the dickheads usually fold after a few years anyway due to mismanagement.


Doesn't the dealer have to show that the particular aftermarket part caused the failure? That would certainly apply to internal mods but who takes their modded ZL1 with 600 plus RWHP to the dealer to fix it once it's been torn into? Define abuse please? Is it subjective and case by case? I was pretty sure I read that the dealers will ding you when you re-flash the computer. You are making it sound like if you change anything the dealer will blame you and not the part itself. How many posts have you read on here that are titled GM denied my warranty. There's an old post here the owner had modded it slightly and GM gave him a new engine.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by ZL1-V

I have purchased a few vehicles over the years and have had very little problems with modded cars. As you stated the dealer wants repeat business from you. My Cadillac dealer covered my drive train even when I had added an aftermarket supercharger. The cool dealers with service managers that aren't bitter and angry at the customers because they have nicer cars get my repeat business. I have noticed the dickheads usually fold after a few years anyway due to mismanagement.


Doesn't the dealer have to show that the particular aftermarket part caused the failure? That would certainly apply to internal mods but who takes their modded ZL1 with 600 plus RWHP to the dealer to fix it once it's been torn into? Define abuse, you can't as it is subjective. I was pretty sure I read that the dealers will ding you when you re-flash the computer. You are making it sound like if you change anything the dealer will blame you and not the part itself. How many posts have you read on here that are titled GM denied my warranty. There's an old post here the owner had modded it slightly and GM gave him a new engine.

Yep I have seen several local dealers go under because of their service departments being less than they should be. And usually if the service department sucks the sales department isn't much better. Bad management....

[EvilZL1]

My dealer knows about mods but IDK if they will cover if something goes wrong. They are fine with cold air intake, and when I first got my Z a few months later they questioned did I have the Exhaust commander because my exhaust was louder than any other Z they've dealt with


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