Will putting headers on my car and tune void my supercharger

[camarodude87]

Hey everyone

I am about to buy some TSP headers with an X pipe and I am just curious if installing headers and tuning my engine will void my supercharger warranty. Car is stock minus Roto-Fab

Thanks Ray

[SecondZ28]

The tune will likely do you in

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

Yes it will. The chances of a dealer warrantying something with a computer/ECU tune, very unlikely. Hell even just the presence of an Intake or Headers (no tune) will scare most dealers if your problem is related to the engine. There's not really a set rule book, some dealers won't even care, others will void it just for different spark plugs. Take it to another dealer if so.

According to GM, an ECU Tune/"Re-Calibration" does void warranty. Though the law claims that they must be able to prove the mod caused the problem, they'll always win. They have more time and money to fight it than you do. If multiple dealers won't do it for you, forget about it. It's the price you pay for more power/fun.

[hntrgthrs]

Originally Posted by Can'tHave2MuchHP

Yes it will. The chances of a dealer warrantying something with a computer/ECU tune, very unlikely. Hell even just the presence of an Intake or Headers (no tune) will scare most dealers if your problem is related to the engine. There's not really a set rule book, some dealers won't even care, others will void it just for different spark plugs. Take it to another dealer if so.

According to GM, an ECU Tune/"Re-Calibration" does void warranty. Though the law claims that they must be able to prove the mod caused the problem, they'll always win. They have more time and money to fight it than you do. If multiple dealers won't do it for you, forget about it. It's the price you pay for more power/fun.

The best bet is to just honestly ask your dealer. Find out if your dealer is mod friendly. Find out what they will cover. I've seen dealers that will not void you out as long as they are cool about the parts beforehand. It all depends.

Not being an asshole obviously helps as well, but less than a mod friendly dealer in the first place.

[KaBoom1701]

Simple answer, YES.

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by camarodude87

Hey everyone

I am about to buy some TSP headers with an X pipe and I am just curious if installing headers and tuning my engine will void my supercharger warranty. Car is stock minus Roto-Fab

Thanks Ray

If you find a dealer that's willing to work with you and not flag you are good to go. Big Misconception about what GM has to approve and what the dealer can authorize, as in the Z there are only two Items that need GM approval, the Short block, or complete replacement, and the trans. Everything else is dealer discretion. If they tell you otherwise just take that as they don't want to work on it or don't have the resources, but they still get paid from GM if they do.

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

Originally Posted by ZMEnow

If you find a dealer that's willing to work with you and not flag you are good to go. Big Misconception about what GM has to approve and what the dealer can authorize, as in the Z there are only two Items that need GM approval, the Short block, or complete replacement, and the trans. Everything else is dealer discretion. If they tell you otherwise just take that as they don't want to work on it or don't have the resources, but they still get paid from GM if they do.

GM will audit you regularly and they'll look into the case files and if you're replacing parts without following the proper procedure they'll bust the dealer. And in the proper procedure, an ECU scan/copy is part of all serious fixes so they'll know if it's tuned/messed with. If a dealer starts replacing a lot of something, raising a red flag, or just a routine audit, GM will catch you and you'll get busted. There's a very limited number of parts that a dealer can just say "Oh yeah we'll replace it" unless it's something like a coolant hose or something. Even sensor replacement can get tricky. If it's an expensive or hard to break part, suspension, diff/rear end, drive shafts, brakes, etc. they'll take a close look no matter what.

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by Can'tHave2MuchHP

GM will audit you regularly and they'll look into the case files and if you're replacing parts without following the proper procedure they'll bust the dealer. And in the proper procedure, an ECU scan/copy is part of all serious fixes so they'll know if it's tuned/messed with. If a dealer starts replacing a lot of something, raising a red flag, or just a routine audit, GM will catch you and you'll get busted. There's a very limited number of parts that a dealer can just say "Oh yeah we'll replace it" unless it's something like a coolant hose or something. Even sensor replacement can get tricky. If it's an expensive or hard to break part, suspension, diff/rear end, drive shafts, brakes, etc. they'll take a close look no matter what.

Don't believe this, just go ask the dealer as I stated, my info is solid..

[SecondZ28]

Originally Posted by ZMEnow

Don't believe this, just go ask the dealer as I stated, my info is solid..

Don't believe the guy who actually owns a GM dealership?

[camarodude87]

I called one of my dealers. They wont even install the headers and tune it. They said it would void my supercharger warranty. Off to another one

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by SecondZ28

Don't believe the guy who actually owns a GM dealership?

If he does yes..

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

Originally Posted by ZMEnow

Don't believe this, just go ask the dealer as I stated, my info is solid..

...Lol

Originally Posted by SecondZ28

Don't believe the guy who actually owns a GM dealership?

Originally Posted by camarodude87

I called one of my dealers. They wont even install the headers and tune it. They said it would void my supercharger warranty. Off to another one

A Dealer cannot legally install ANYTHING that touches factory emissions. In fact, dealerships cannot legally sell vehicles with altered emission systems unless they're unaware. So of course they turned you down flat, and every other ethical dealer will also turn you down flat. Even performance shops get in trouble. Katech got busted not too long ago. The car has to come on a trailer with no plates, and you have to sign it's for "track use only" or some similar waiver. Or, you can operate like most shops do, and hope that you're not big enough to be on the EPA's radar.

Originally Posted by ZMEnow

If he does yes..

I do, my father does, and what I said is truth. Again there's a small chance GM will never investigate it but more than likely they will. You ask them to foot the bill for a supercharger, transmission, rear end, axels, engine, cam, heads, etc, they're going to have questions. They're going to put the claim on hold, make their field tech come out and verify everything, he reports to a zone manager and then they decide whether the failure is their fault/design flaw or if they can blame the customer. This isn't as simple as people think. The "Ask the dealer, then you're good" mentality doesn't hold water. Just because your service advisor or service manager says yeah we'll cover it under warranty, does NOT mean you're in the clear. Again, GM catches you putting a supercharger on a modified car, which they can and will do VERY easily, this isn't like getting caught without your seatbelt by a cop, they check every case file where an expensive warranty claim is made, and if your case file doesn't include a computer scan, you're busted, and if it does include a computer scan and it's tuned, they're going to deny the claim, and BILL the dealership for the part. Most dealers aren't going to close a case until they make sure that GM paid for the work, if GM doesn't pay for the work, the case is still open and YOU are responsible for the costs.

Don't forget, you can't sell the car as if it has a warranty just because your dealer is helping you out.

[SecondZ28]

Originally Posted by ZMEnow

If he does yes..