how do i not void the warranty?

[GaryTucker]

GM doesn't allow cross-brand warranty work...unless the car has a catostrophic failure right in front of the non-approved dealer (read engine blown, trans out, rear-end shelled...things that disable the car entirely). I've tried this route too...I have an incredible Pontiac/Buick/GMC dealer that I would love to use (80 miles away...but better than anything in my town). GM says no.

I'm glad the OP is realistic in his realization that his mods are his babies...I can't express how glad I'm see someone as mature and wise as this person regarding mods...if others were so responsible warranty costs for GM would be down and car prices could follow.

As sad as I am with the dealer's reaction on the headers and oil leak...its the real world. The OP could stand in the service drive screaming Magnuson-Moss all day long...what would it get him? A hoarse voice, potentially an armed escort off the property, but no movement from the dealer. This is reality folks. You don't see American Racing running to provide the OP an attorney, nor is the federal government rushing to defend his "rights" under their law.

Just because there is a law, does not mean there is a guarantee of protection. The aftermarket parts and service providers want you to believe there is some "crack squad" of M/M lawyers "just waiting to defend the innocent" that buy their headers, intakes, tunes, etc. The reality is that NO ONE and I mean no one is going to foot your attorney bills should you decide to fight the dealer.

OP...I hope you find a good solution to your problem. There are reasonable dealers that will look at your oil leak...but if it is anywhere near anything you touched in putting on the headers...it may be difficult to get it fixed. You may need to get a regional person involved, but that risks a full-fledged powertrain warranty void also...its a decision you'll have to make on your own. Good luck!

[thiggin2]

Sorry but not totally true. I work at a Chevy dealer and we do work on some cross brands. We can do warranty work on any vehicle we sell, new or used and that even goes for Saturns and we have even done a Hummer before. We have also done cross brand on some vehicles that we didn't sell. It all depends on the service director and the GM rep we have. They have had me take training on cross brand vehicles so we can do warranty work on them,

Originally Posted by GaryTucker

GM doesn't allow cross-brand warranty work...unless the car has a catostrophic failure right in front of the non-approved dealer (read engine blown, trans out, rear-end shelled...things that disable the car entirely). I've tried this route too...I have an incredible Pontiac/Buick/GMC dealer that I would love to use (80 miles away...but better than anything in my town). GM says no.

[camarowa]

Talk to your service manager and see how mod friendly they are. So far it seems my dealer is quite supportive of upgrades. His only comment was; "as soon as you bolt on a supercharger all bets are off".

[HondaPowered]

Originally Posted by camarowa

Talk to your service manager and see how mod friendly they are. So far it seems my dealer is quite supportive of upgrades. His only comment was; "as soon as you bolt on a supercharger all bets are off".

lol time for a turbocharger. haha. but to the OP, basically to sum up what people have been saying, if your mod causes the problem, its your fault, but if not, the dealer would most likely still blame it on that.

[clg_98ta]

Originally Posted by GaryTucker

GM doesn't allow cross-brand warranty work...unless the car has a catostrophic failure right in front of the non-approved dealer (read engine blown, trans out, rear-end shelled...things that disable the car entirely). I've tried this route too...I have an incredible Pontiac/Buick/GMC dealer that I would love to use (80 miles away...but better than anything in my town). GM says no.

I'm glad the OP is realistic in his realization that his mods are his babies...I can't express how glad I'm see someone as mature and wise as this person regarding mods...if others were so responsible warranty costs for GM would be down and car prices could follow.

As sad as I am with the dealer's reaction on the headers and oil leak...its the real world. The OP could stand in the service drive screaming Magnuson-Moss all day long...what would it get him? A hoarse voice, potentially an armed escort off the property, but no movement from the dealer. This is reality folks. You don't see American Racing running to provide the OP an attorney, nor is the federal government rushing to defend his "rights" under their law.

Just because there is a law, does not mean there is a guarantee of protection. The aftermarket parts and service providers want you to believe there is some "crack squad" of M/M lawyers "just waiting to defend the innocent" that buy their headers, intakes, tunes, etc. The reality is that NO ONE and I mean no one is going to foot your attorney bills should you decide to fight the dealer.

OP...I hope you find a good solution to your problem. There are reasonable dealers that will look at your oil leak...but if it is anywhere near anything you touched in putting on the headers...it may be difficult to get it fixed. You may need to get a regional person involved, but that risks a full-fledged powertrain warranty void also...its a decision you'll have to make on your own. Good luck!

The local Chevy dealer is going to get all the warranty work on my G6 now. But I've never had problems with any GM service dept working on a GM product (includes Pontiacs, Buicks, and Chevys).

But you're exactly right about many a service managers attitude on Magnuson-Moss. If they see certain things (like headers or tuning) that causes them to suspect any form of racing, they can just cross their arms and refuse to honor the warranty (as well as annotate this in the computer - meaning any other GM shop you go to sees it). Not all do this, but many do. You can quote M-M all day long and see how far you. Then you're left with contacting a GM regional rep. I've never heard of anyone getting anywhere with one of them. So your only recourse is hiring a lawyer and suing GM. You can win, but at what cost?

Intake systems and catbacks rarely lead to warranty issues, unless the service manager just dislikes you. But the heat from headers can cause enough problems that not many service managers won't overlook them.

[Apex Paul]

Originally Posted by clg_98ta

The local Chevy dealer is going to get all the warranty work on my G6 now. But I've never had problems with any GM service dept working on a GM product (includes Pontiacs, Buicks, and Chevys).

But you're exactly right about many a service managers attitude on Magnuson-Moss. If they see certain things (like headers or tuning) that causes them to suspect any form of racing, they can just cross their arms and refuse to honor the warranty (as well as annotate this in the computer - meaning any other GM shop you go to sees it). Not all do this, but many do. You can quote M-M all day long and see how far you. Then you're left with contacting a GM regional rep. I've never heard of anyone getting anywhere with one of them. So your only recourse is hiring a lawyer and suing GM. You can win, but at what cost?

Intake systems and catbacks rarely lead to warranty issues, unless the service manager just dislikes you. But the heat from headers can cause enough problems that not many service managers won't overlook them.

I'm certain that you are right that some service managers are going to blow you off when you throw Mag-Moss at them, but you don't have to hire a lawyer to make them think twice. In most places it is a very nominal charge to file a small claims suit on your own. Then, the Mag-Moss is really going to be on your side because case law has held that it is the warranty writer that carries the burden of proving that your aftermarket changes caused the problem at hand. That doesn't mean presenting evidence that they *think* might have caused the problem, it means providing reasonable evidence that it has caused the problem.

The only way for the warranty writer to keep you from using aftermarket parts is to provide similar parts to you AT NO COST, so if gm will give you headers for free, they can void your warranty just for putting on a different brand.

Legal action is 50% intimidation, 40% paperwork and 10% law. A lot of things can be handled on your own with a little due diligence.*

The SEMA action network has some good information that may help you if this ever becomes a problem for you.

*Legal Disclaimer - I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. If you do something crazy that would require the services of a good legal professional I suggest you get one on your side.

[O2BQIK]

Originally Posted by GaryTucker

I'm glad the OP is realistic in his realization that his mods are his babies...I can't express how glad I'm see someone as mature and wise as this person regarding mods...if others were so responsible warranty costs for GM would be down and car prices could follow.

I think you're overestimating the number of people who modify their cars.

[GaryTucker]

Originally Posted by O2BQIK

I think you're overestimating the number of people who modify their cars.

No, I'm speaking from experience as a technician and also from the reading I do on EVERY GM forum I'm on about people modding and "sneaking" warranty claims in on items they have modified.

[mstrfdsstr]

Originally Posted by JohnInSoCal

this is a perfect example of the difference between the moss warranty act theory and the real world. In the real world the dealer/GM decides what is and what is not covered under warranty and if your mod had anything to do with it. You are always at the mercy of the dealer and GM. They don't have to prove squat, they simply say "in our expert opinion your mod caused the problem", case over. Unless you decide to sue them, hire an expert, and a lawyer, etc. Everybody needs to keep this in mind with mods, having a good relationship with a competent dealer is the most important thing here. The moss act isn't worth the paper it's written on for the most part.

agreed!!!!!!!!!!!!