Warranty and modifications

[rev]

Just for discussion. I have an 2011 FG XR6 LE and was considering changing the springs, wheels and adding a sway bar. So I thought I would check with my dealer re warranty issues. My dealer doesn't mind working on modified vehicles but said, for example, that lowered springs put an an extra strain on ball joints so the springs and joints would not be covered. So changing a rocker cover would be fine but extractors may be a problem.

So I decided to spend $1500 and get the extra 3 years full Ford warranty. The consequence of doing it means I have to keep it stock. So in effect I saved myself a lot of time and money I guess and gain some peace of mind.

Cheers

[Majestic]

I have our dedicated family car (Magna VRX)that is dead factory standard (no warranty hassles and no insurance hassles). This gives me peace of mind like your ford.

Then I have my dedicated fun car - GTR 450awkw. This is the car that I modify and have all my fun in.

Finally I have my lil runabout that is highly reliable and gets me to work every day - my lil ford laser. Some of my mates give me crap about my lil laser - but I truly love this car! it's cheap on fuel and has never once broke down.

[DJM83]

A lot of the time it depends on how friendly you are with your dealer aswell.

[ConradP]

I was told I can mod mine, but if what I've changed is the cause of what goes wrong it's not covered.

So springs and catback exhaust for now wont do any harm.

[FG_Frodza]

I asked my dealer about this when it went for the 3000km check-up.

I have an XR6 LE as well.

The service guy there said that technically you have to keep it dead stock, but the dealer will rarely enforce this unless the mod is the cause of the problem.

He said that cars come in all the time and claim things under warranty with minor mods like catback exhaust, CAIs and such.

He gave me an example of a car that was overboosting due to the aftermarket extractors that were put on the car and told me that warranty claim got knocked back.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by FG_Frodza

a car that was overboosting due to the aftermarket extractors.

Come again?

[Fev]

Yes - what? haha

I've spoken to my service manager about this and he's said any mods which make a noticeable increase in power - so an exhaust system would void the warranty of things like the gearbox and diff..

Just stick to lowering as you won't have a problem with the ball joints for a long time, wheels, intake (as its easily swapped back for services)

Unless you're happy to swap an exhaust system over every time it goes in for a service so they don't know

[2011G6E]

Basically, no matter how many "assurances" you get from a dealer that mods wil "probably be OK" and "nothing to worry about", either don't bother or get it in writing...and even then your warrantee is what matters.

A guy I work with has a brand new WRX, and straight after picking put up took it in for about $7000 of mods to the exhaust, suspension, and other areas of the engine with a new intercooler and show-off valve (not a misprint ). He was assured by the company modifying it that it wouldn't affect his warrantee, but when the Subaru dealer themselves made a mistake during servicing that had to be fixed, nothing to do with the mods, they questioned long and hard about whether they should fix anything, as it had been modified away from standard.

I'm not touching our G6E until it's well out of warrantee...

[FordFalconBF]

Overboosting with extractors? lol, since when do you fit extractors to a turbo car? lol. Sounds like he was shoveling bs.

[BigBlue]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Basically, no matter how many "assurances" you get from a dealer that mods will "probably be OK" and "nothing to worry about", either don't bother or get it in writing...and even then your warrantee is what matters.

As said above.

Dealers will give virtually any assurance (to keep you coming back to their service department) until it looks like it might cost THEM money and all of a sudden its : Stock standard or no warranty.

If the dealer is knocked back by the factory (and YES it does happen) for a warranty claim then the dealer pays the cost.

They are in business to make money simple as that.

Peter.

[ozrunner]

My experience was a little different than most

In 1991 I brought a Toyota SR5 4Runner and had the usual 12 month warranty plus I paid extra for an additional 3 year extended warranty on the drivetrain and other bits etc.

In 1993 I finally decided it needed more grunt and also being a Ford guy I ditched the Toyota engine and fitted a trusty Ford EFI 5.0 and mated it to the Toyota auto.

My next visit to Toyota raised a few eyebrows when I asked jokingly if my extended warranty still applied. The dude went away and bugger me he came back and said obviously we can't warranty your engine but yes the drivetrain is still covered. Unreal even though it now had a V8 in front of it.

In late 1994 I had an issue with the transfer case whining and thought crap the engines screwed it. I took it to Toyota to get their opinion before I started to pull things apart to fix it myself.

After some drive tests etc etc eventually they said its probably the input bearing meaning the transfer has to come out and when did I want to book it in. I thought ok they can do it as it will save me time and asked what will it cost. Nothing he said, its recorded as now being a V8 but its still under extended warranty.

They did it all for zip and replaced all the major bearings to be sure

Can't recall the exact date but a few years ago Toyota Australia did a precaution recall on the 4Runners steering rod due to issues with the Surfs in Japan and I got a letter advising to take it in for a replacement and sure enough the details in their letter showed it as having a Ford V8.

They certainly won me over.

I still have this puppy as she's rock solid and a joy to drive with some grunt but now she's a 347

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...light=ozrunner

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