Potential costs for violating warranty?

earwicker7

I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience with having engine problems that weren't covered by warranty due to adding on aftermarket parts (it doesn't have to be the 370Z, but some type of Z). I've been itching to put some stuff on, but I'm worried that it could end up costing a lot of money if something goes wrong. My dealership originally said that they would honor the warranty with Stillen parts (as long as they installed them), but now they have changed their tune to Nismo only. The Nismo stuff seems like a lot of money for very little HP gains.

I guess my question is this... what kind of potential repair costs could I be looking at with the Stillen "chain" (ie, intake to exhaust) if something goes wrong?

Are there any 370Z tuning shops that offer some kind of warranty on their work? When I had the engine on my 911 rebuilt, the mechanic said that he would repair any engine problems with no labor charges. All I ever had to buy was a set of gaskets.

g96818

simple, keep ur stock parts and just swap em back when u go for any warranty work. i know, it's a hassle, but atleast they have a harder time of rejecting your claim.
imo, i dont think they'll reject ur claim, i've had engine work done with cai still bolted on and didn't pay a dime.

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CZP are lying thieves!

GMZ

Ive seen main seals replaced under warranty on a built TT 350!! It pays to get to know your service people sometimes

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Z-less once again

earwicker7

I'm just looking for worst case scenarios... I don't want to go to the dealer and have someone say, "Yeah, it's going to be $5,000 to repair this." If that's the case, it's really not worth it to me. I don't know a whole lot about engines, but I'm sure there are quite a few parts they can claim were damaged because of the aftermarket stuff.

On the other hand, if all that's likely is that I might have to throw $300 here and $500 there over the next few years, it's worth it.

earwicker7

Unfortunately, I'm the type of person who could never be dishonest about something like this. It sucks, because I'm sure the dealership has it coming in karma.

mrmixitup

In accordance with the Magnuson Moss Act, the dealership should prove that the modification was responsible for the failure.

The problem is, that an intake can be blamed for anything wrong with the engine.

Long story short: Unless you are buying mods that are easily removable, don't plan on having a warranty.

westpak

if you are this worried before doing anything, leave the Z stock and just enjoy it

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Dee@Amplified

+1. The mod inch will bite ya, just keep your stock parts and interchange them when you want to take it in. Most basic bolt ons are not too bad to remove so its not too unreasonable to change it back, plus i dont see any basic mods causing a catastrophic failure of the car. So if you want to mod do it, its fun!

-Steven @ Amplified

earwicker7

I've talked to the guy again recently and he says he's seen a lot of modded 350s come through and they have yet to turn down the warranty.

FuszNissan

It depends on the part; If you have your strut go out and need it fixed, we will fix it even if you have a TT kit. But if you have a MAF sensor go out, we won't fix it. It just depends on the part, and if it is a direct relation to the mod. So if your MAF sensor goes out and your still under warranty, you better rip out the 15K TT kit and put it back to stock to get the MAF sensor fix under warranty. I think you guys have better things to worry about, then this. They only job that I know I turned down was a JWT clutch and flywheel. He blew the clutch and fluid got all over the flywheel, so Nissan wasn't going to replace JWT parts. Hope that helps.

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Mods: Too Many to list!
LouFuszNissan
ZDAYZ 2012

370Zsteve

I'm bringing this thread back from the dead. Looking for feedback from regular posters who have heavily modded Zs (RCZ, Semtex, Trip, etc). Any dealer issues, comments, warnings, raised eyebrows?

edit: Fusz doesn't count, he's a dealer.

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SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

terrycs

Like everyone says, it all depends on the dealer. I took my lowered car to Riverside Infiniti in Southern CA for what I thought was a front suspension noise and their tech agreed with my guess after a ride along. They were going to fix it under warranty and even set me up with a loaner car.

Turned out to be an intercooler pipe hitting frame, but it was still no charge for the diagnosis.

DooDooBrown

Not a Z, but my first car was an 06 Kia Spectra... I put a K&N air filter (drop in type, nothing fancy), and they tried to tell me that that was the reason that my Tranny was going bad at 20K miles..... Don't trust them man, if they see a way to get out of having to spend money, they will!!

Snakes709

iiunno if anyone coverd this. But if you add parts to your car it doesnt really void your warrenty. The issue has the be caused by the part to void the warrenty. For example. If you install intakes on the car and your axles go for some reason, your warrenty is still good. I know this because when i had my supercharged cobalt the manager told me this. I had a aftermarket supercharger, header,downpipe, exhaust, headlights, intakes, transmission mounts, meth kit, heat exchanger and a bunch of other stuff. The timing chain went on the car, they had no proof anything caused it so the warrenty was good. Same thing when my sway bar end links were shot...they couldnt prove my lowering springs caused it so the warrenty was good. Some dealerships will bs you and try and get you to pay for it...but thats because, well they are bs.

Prosport Gauges

did you punch the guy in the face and laugh?