Went to the dealer with mods

[BudUMfan]

Warranty schmarranty.

[skawt01]

Hey OP. Thanks for the post. It's a good heads up, regardless of the critics.

[guitarist302008]

i've had 2 Evo's and when it came to warranties, they were VERY picky... some dealerships are cool with it and some not, but in all honesty, you should have known better... SUPPOSEDLY a CBE and intake are ok, but that's about it as far as I know. From your mod list it's honestly no wonder they turned you down my friend... sorry about that either way though.

[Wildfire]

Originally Posted by dsmluck Its not hard to call the local dealerships and find out if they are mod friendly. You don't even have to give your name just call explain the issue and ask if they will do warranty work with X mods.

I can't imagine calling them will go well either. My luck it will prob go like this:

Me: I have a MS3 GenPU. My turbo is blown. I have DP, SRI, CBE, HPFP, RMM, Cobb AP. Will it be covered?
Dealer: Nope.
Me: Ok, thanks.
*hangs up*

Dealer to tech: If a MS3 comes in w/ a blown turbo make sure it didn't look like they removed the mods. We'll deny the warranty.

**I spend a whole weekend removing the mods. Show up at dealer.**

Me: Hi!
Dealer: Was it you that called me last week about a blown turbo?

Maybe I'm just pessimistic. I just don't have faith in a dealer. They're not your friend no matter what they say.

[spoof3r]

Originally Posted by forcedinduktion Wait who still has their warranty? Nuff said

You and me both, man. Glad to see you think you've said enough; I agree.

@Wildfire, that is unfortunate situation, but makes for a pretty funny story.

I'll be GT3076R in about two weeks so I'm thinking I'll throw my stock TIP/Airbox, bolt the muffler back on (hopefully its quiet enough with that), and try again before I completely wave it goodbye. Hopefully this works. At this point, though, it seems I have no other choice but to find another dealer since it's only a week later

[guitarist302008]

Originally Posted by spoof3r You and me both, man. Glad to see you think you've said enough; I agree. @Wildfire, that is unfortunate situation, but makes for a pretty funny story. I'll be GT3076R in about two weeks so I'm thinking I'll throw my stock TIP/Airbox, bolt the muffler back on (hopefully its quiet enough with that), and try again before I completely wave it goodbye. Hopefully this works. At this point, though, it seems I have no other choice but to find another dealer since it's only a week later

Honestly man, I think they put your name, and VIN in their computer once you have been modded so i'm not sure that will work... good luck with it either way though.

[dsmluck]

Originally Posted by Wildfire I can't imagine calling them will go well either. My luck it will prob go like this: Me: I have a MS3 GenPU. My turbo is blown. I have DP, SRI, CBE, HPFP, RMM, Cobb AP. Will it be covered? Dealer: Nope. Me: Ok, thanks. *hangs up* Dealer to tech: If a MS3 comes in w/ a blown turbo make sure it didn't look like they removed the mods. We'll deny the warranty. **I spend a whole weekend removing the mods. Show up at dealer.** Me: Hi! Dealer: Was it you that called me last week about a blown turbo? Maybe I'm just pessimistic. I just don't have faith in a dealer. They're not your friend no matter what they say.

That exact scenario worked for me and I didn't de-mod it except for the FMIC. I am not saying it is the norm but it can work. I have a new turbo and was pretty much fully bolted.

[dsmluck]

Originally Posted by socks not quite the case most of the time. a dealer may want to be "mod friendly" and may think they are, but a district manager will have say on any major warranty work. my dealer told me they were mod friendly. i told them the mods i had, and they said come on in, you wont have a problem. guess what... i had a problem. not only that, the dealer can warranty work, and then get denied for warranty funds from MNAO. then they get screwed, and thats when they have to be "non mod friendly"

Yes it depends on what you are getting done. Small shit is not a big deal. Even the turbo is relatively not a big deal because of the bad history of the K04 on these platforms and multiple TSBs. Now I'm not stupid enough to believe that if I go in with a blown transmission or engine that it will be covered nor do I believe it should be.

Factory defects are one thing but issues caused by spirited driving/bad tuning would be all my fault. I broke the plastic "plunger" on my master cylinder a while back. Maybe could have took it to the dealer and had it fixed under warranty but i am sure it was my fault for my driving style so I didn't. I don't think anyone should scam a dealer for their fuck-ups but at the same time i don't think anyone should lay down when the dealer is trying to fuck them on a legitimate repair.

[NCZ13]

Link in my sig: read it.

Ive been with my dealer for about 2.5 years now. Dealers dont not want to do warranty work. Its PAID WORK. Especially in this economic climate, the last thing they want to do is refuse work they get paid for. When a dealer denies a claim, its to cover themselves from being DEBITED the cost of parts and labor if in my case Hyundai Motor America decides to not cover a particular claim.

Lets say a gencoupe comes in with an intake and smoke out the tailpipe. The tech HAS to note that the car came in with an intake. When that engine gets sent back, or the regional tech comes for inspection (which they will do for high dollar claims), he could determine the engine blew due to lean fuel conditions caused by a aftermarket intake. Why should HMA or the dealer have to cover your mistake of installing a shitty made intake? Thats the only reason a dealer will deny a claim, they dont want to risk getting denied and debited by the company they represent.

Also from talking to my service advisers, who have in total have worked almost every single brand (including mazda) they have never entered in "VIN flags". Hyundai most definitely does not have this. Like you guys I thought we did, but we dont.

[spoof3r]

@guitarist302008, I hope not. As originally stated, he gave me the heads up with modfications and warranty work for my future reference. He did mention that informing Mazda of the situation could happen, but wanted to assure me they didn't do anything like that. They know I've been a good customer so I believe him.

I will update this thread after my next experience. Obviously we will find out then on Round 2!!!

[dsmluck]

Originally Posted by NCZ13 Link in my sig: read it. Ive been with my dealer for about 2.5 years now. Dealers dont not want to do warranty work. Its PAID WORK. Especially in this economic climate, the last thing they want to do is refuse work they get paid for. When a dealer denies a claim, its to cover themselves from being DEBITED the cost of parts and labor if in my case Hyundai Motor America decides to not cover a particular claim. Lets say a gencoupe comes in with an intake and smoke out the tailpipe. The tech HAS to note that the car came in with an intake. When that engine gets sent back, or the regional tech comes for inspection (which they will do for high dollar claims), he could determine the engine blew due to lean fuel conditions caused by a aftermarket intake. Why should HMA or the dealer have to cover your mistake of installing a shitty made intake? Thats the only reason a dealer will deny a claim, they dont want to risk getting denied and debited by the company they represent. Also from talking to my service advisers, who have in total have worked almost every single brand (including mazda) they have never entered in "VIN flags". Hyundai most definitely does not have this. Like you guys I thought we did, but we dont.

Exactly. If the dealer thinks they will get paid for the work they will do it.

[guitarist302008]

Originally Posted by spoof3r @guitarist302008, I hope not. As originally stated, he gave me the heads up with modfications and warranty work for my future reference. He did mention that informing Mazda of the situation could happen, but wanted to assure me they didn't do anything like that. They know I've been a good customer so I believe him. I will update this thread after my next experience. Obviously we will find out then on Round 2!!!

That's always nice to hear... I heard (although never experienced it myself) that they did that with Mitsu's once you came in with mods... Mitsu is likely the WORST company to deal with when it comes to warranties from what i've heard.

I am lucky enough that my Fiancée had a friend of hers that works at a local Mazda dealership, so I could likely get by with a bit more... of course right now all I really have is the K&N SRI and the Cobb stage 1 map.

[JTMS3]

As NCZ said... work is work and they do it for the money, they will not if the concern of it being taking out of their own pocket, it's a business. I have a buddy that is the parts guy for my local Mazda dealer. I had this same conversation with him and the service manager. After recently purchasing a Mazda 6 for the wife (4th car from the same dealer), I was confortable enough with them to start talking about the mods and a chance that my K04 pops in the Genpu. This is what the service manager told me about aftermarket parts. As long as we do the install, there is no chance of me voiding/denying claim on warranty work. I specifically asked them, so with all my bolt ons, would it get replaced under warranty. The answer was yes for two reasons, previous TSB reports on it and because they installed the aftermarket CBE, TIP & DP which all connects to it. Now would I expect them to fix a rod because I am 18psi+, all the power mods and tuned (which is the only thing the srv mgr doesn't know about), hell no. It all depends on the work needed.

But in regards to a loose sound in the dash, if there was a defect with your dash then they would fix it. They aren't going to rip apart the dash to find the loose nuts because the cause of that is... your CS CBE which is loud as fuck and rattles my center console because it has loosened a screw somewhere. Just my knowledge and opinion about your issue with dash.

[327whp]

It's even hard to call a dealer and ask them about mods because a lot of them are lying and just want you to come in for the work regardless and then all of a sudden, they pull out the "you modded your car" crap so I don't trust any of them. Always best to be stock but good info none the less.

[Bucker]

Originally Posted by socks i think its funny how much misinformation there is about the magnusson moss act. lawl.

Magnuson

Agreed.

[spoof3r]

*** UPDATE ***
Round 2:

Stocked out, and went to a different dealer. Figured this time they can't give me some bull crap answer that my exhaust is too loud for them to hear the rattle that anyone could hear even with a loud exhaust...

This time, they claimed they couldn't hear it due to the road noise stemming from my coilovers. Seriously? Yeah, that's what I said...literally. Went to pick it up and told the guy I would help him identify it. Sure enough we get in the car and he wasn't able to deny it in front of me. "Oh yeah, I hear it now! Yeah our mechanic has really bad ears"... Whatever. Get it fixed. They were also "unable to hear anything wrong" during a cold start even though you can seriously hear the idler or some sort of belt issue (hopefully not VVT).

Told them that I didn't need the car and I wanted them to keep it overnight because I know for a fact they would hear it on a cold start. The next day they called and claimed to have ripped up the dash but found nothing, and same with the cold start noise.

Do I seriously need to take the dash apart myself? Do I REALLY need to take these idiots a video of the sound to prove something is wrong? Well, we'll see here next week after round 3 when I try this approach.

If that doesn't work, Round 4: Fire mission...

[Raider]

Round 4 should be go truly stock. Like as if the day it rolled off the showroom stock, WTF noise do your coilovers make, though?

[SSinstaller]

You need to find a different dealer, and develop a rapport with the service adviser..

I got my steering column and drive shaft warrantied with a built motor and gt35...

[Blindeye_03]

What a load of crap - by them saying 'we ripped the dash apart and found nothing', they meant "we really have no idea whats causing the rattle, so we said we looked for one when we really didnt".

[indianaryan]

Originally Posted by Blindeye_03 What a load of crap - by them saying 'we ripped the dash apart and found nothing', they meant "we really have no idea whats causing the rattle, so we said we looked for one when we really didnt".

+1

[spoof3r]

I should make a video of the vibration and post it. It would make this thread a million times better if each of you could hear how obvious this constant vibration is.

Oh, I mentioned that I could take a video of it making the noise on the cold start, but they said it would do no good. Okay now I understand it would be best to personally hear it, but don't you think a video would help out since once you start my car you'll have roughly 30-45 seconds to hear as much as you need to before digging into a repair?

IDIOTS!

[John]

My 1st gen MS3 started pouring white smoke out the tailpipe, took it to the dealer and they asked about my AEM CAI and if I had the factory airbox. I do still have it and was fully willing to replace it, but they said it was fine and replaced my turbo under warranty.

They did say that if Mazda requests records of oil changes then I am expected to provide them and that if Mazda had an issue with the mods then I should return it to stock.

[duy215]

Originally Posted by Rich-PMS i just got warranty work done with after market intake, boost pipes, and forge BPV. they didn't say a single word about any of the above. and my car has CEL for running lean. which could "easily" be blamed on an after market intake... i would put your stock exhaust back on, and see if the vibration is still in your dash- if it is- bring it back to them and ask them to kindly figure it out now

Lol I got warranty work on my old ms3 with my 3" catless cpe turboback.. sri. Hks bov rmm and they didn't say anything either.

[Transam1998]

I used to work at a dealership, and, after being royally chewed out and threatened with my job for informing a customer who to contact for help, I learned never to go to a dealership for anything. I have witnessed service writers and mechanics coming up with ways to get out of warranty work, and, if you are mechanically saavy at all, I can guarantee you, that you know as much as most of them anyway. Your mileage may vary.

Originally Posted by spoof3r I just wanted to take the time to share my first experience with the dealership with my modded Gen2. I have an excessively bad vibration coming from the dash, and rather than rip it up myself I gave the dealership a shot at it. I have purchased two cars within a year from this dealership, and went in friendly and happy with everyone. Shook hands with some of the techs and all as I dropped it off. Went back a few hours later, and they were unable to identify the vibration which, as they stated, was "due to the exhaust being too loud". There words to me were as follows: At this point with the exhaust, and we see you modified the suspension and removed the stock airbox (TIP/SRI), you are pretty much out of your basic warranty. Powertrain warranty is still unaffected. For your knowledge in the future, adding aftermarket parts may void your warranty. We want you to know you haven't called up Mazda and voided any of your warranties, but just be aware of that in the future. Conclusion: I want to exercise a word of caution to those of you preparing to take your modded vehicle to the dealership. I know there is plenty of material out there regarding what can and cannot legally be done with "voiding" warranties, but things change quickly once you're actually facing the demon. I studied up before I modded my car in regards to warranty coverage and thought I was prepared. I have to recommend some serious thought before taking it to the dealer once modified. Regardless of what is and isn't legally right, it felt, in my opinion, like a dark, scary, endless tunnel trying to fight them later down the road once they render your warranty as "void". Just like some people think they know it all when it comes to the law and what their rights are, I feel the same goes for some of us who feel we are strong as steal and can fight them on what is "legally" right. It could come back to bite you in the butt when you realize they have people on their end who are trained to fight those of us who think we may know what they can and cannot do. I'm not recommending you do or do not take it to the dealership once modified. I'm simply saying be careful and want to open your eyes to what I feel an experience could end up being. I am not on the "black list" and still have my warranty, but it made me concerned enough to not take my vehicle back to the dealer until it is stocked out again. Happy modding!