New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty

blackhawk444 · 04-19-2008, 07:59 PM

Hello. I just picked up my black 08 STI with the BBS wheel option. I am so excited. The car looks so much better in person and all the people that I have talked to agree. However I am already wondering about what kind of aftermarket parts to install, but I was worried about the warranty being voided. I was wondering what can be done to the car without voiding the warranty. I don't want to do to much, but the AP with new map sounds like it will help performance and also mileage. I was also looking at a new exhaust. Any help would be great, and I am happy to be a new member to the 08 STI club. Thanks guys.

solovus · 04-19-2008, 08:03 PM

The warranty thing is really dealer dependent...

blackhawk444 · 04-19-2008, 08:10 PM

Does it have to from the dealership that the vehicle was purchased at? I drove 2 hours to get the dealership that I bought the car from, but was planning on using a closer dealership for maintenance, ect. Can they detect the AP?

JD_STI · 04-19-2008, 08:22 PM

If you're worried about your warranty don't mod it, at all.

In some cases it's a pretty straight forward warranty denial, in other's it's a test of ethics.

jb97gsx · 04-19-2008, 08:24 PM

i had, intake, header, tbe, utec, fuel pump, injectors, and i brought my car in multiple times for warranty stuff. None of them were engine related but they did replace the struts,power steering pump, throw out bearing, and clutch all for free.

They are supposed to warranty everything unless they can prove that the modifications are what made something break.

blackhawk444 · 04-19-2008, 08:28 PM

I should be pretty safe with an exhaust and AP because those couldn't do much right? Or could the AP potentially be blamed for an engine/trans problem? Thanks for the help.

JD_STI · 04-19-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackhawk444

I should be pretty safe with an exhaust and AP because those couldn't do much right? Or could the AP potentially be blamed for an engine/trans problem? Thanks for the help.

engine yes, tranny no.

twigg107 · 04-19-2008, 08:58 PM

If you dont want to fight them to warrant anything..... dont mod.

blackhawk444 · 04-19-2008, 09:12 PM

Realistically how would an exhaust affect the warranty? Thanks...

Bishop · 04-19-2008, 09:35 PM

Freer flowing, removes either both cats, or just 1 (catless vs. 1 high flow in the downpipe).... in some cases can cause boost creep, or worsen it.... prolly something related to backpressure.... the accessport does alot of things like adjust fuel delivery and blah blah blah... so theres a mess of engine stuff that could be related there....

But like it was said above, dont mod at all, or mod smart and be smart....you can keep your warranty in tact in most cases.... if they deny you a new headlight because of the exhaust, then you laugh in their faces.... like it was said, it has to be proven that said mod caused said damage....

if you can, try to find a mod friendly dealer.... there are 2 local dealerships here, 1 is ANTI-mod to the extreme, and the other actually sells and tunes accessports, and TONS of aftermarket stuff.... in the case of warranty worries i would probably go to the dealer who sells the aftermarket stuff...

Can anyone chime in, or gimme some info (i know, sorry to threadjack) on the warranty w/ the clutch? i have heard people are getting it replaced under warranty, and some being denied because of it.....any info on the subject would be nice, i'll look around and see if i cant find the answer myself

hope this helps

inpuressa · 04-19-2008, 09:35 PM

AP will probably do more good than harm since the stock tune runs the engine dangerously lean and the AP fixes that. You can unmarry the AP, and then send it in.

Bishop · 04-19-2008, 09:40 PM

In real life driving and such, the AP is the smart way to go because of the tune, i did it on my 07 and im glad i did.... however, because it isn't OEM.... a dealer could possibly turn you down.... like it was said above, it probably comes down to whose mod friendly and such, and what kinda ethics the dealer sticks to

pwn · 04-19-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackhawk444

Realistically how would an exhaust affect the warranty? Thanks...

Off topic, do you live in blackhawk?

jb97gsx · 04-20-2008, 06:37 AM

it all depends on how your dealership is, they may or may not warranty it. The dealership here is really good about warranty. If you bring it in just take out the acessport, they arent going to be able to tell if the ecu has been flashed.

kts262 · 04-20-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackhawk444

I should be pretty safe with an exhaust and AP because those couldn't do much right? Or could the AP potentially be blamed for an engine/trans problem? Thanks for the help.

engine yes, tranny yes.

they could claim the AP changed the engine's output which put more stress on the transmission which cause it to break.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackhawk444

Realistically how would an exhaust affect the warranty? Thanks...

same as above, the less restrictive exhaust changed the engine's output causing it to fail.

in both cases it's a stretch but it really depends on the dealer you go to and what the problem is. it's a gamble when you mod a car and have a warranty claim.

04-19-2008, 07:59 PM	#1
blackhawk444 Amateur STI Driver Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 42 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty Hello. I just picked up my black 08 STI with the BBS wheel option. I am so excited. The car looks so much better in person and all the people that I have talked to agree. However I am already wondering about what kind of aftermarket parts to install, but I was worried about the warranty being voided. I was wondering what can be done to the car without voiding the warranty. I don't want to do to much, but the AP with new map sounds like it will help performance and also mileage. I was also looking at a new exhaust. Any help would be great, and I am happy to be a new member to the 08 STI club. Thanks guys. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

04-19-2008, 08:03 PM	#2
solovus The Next Petter Solberg Car: STIzzle Fav Mod: Tint Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 996 Join Date: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty The warranty thing is really dealer dependent...

04-19-2008, 08:10 PM	#3
blackhawk444 Amateur STI Driver Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 42 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty Does it have to from the dealership that the vehicle was purchased at? I drove 2 hours to get the dealership that I bought the car from, but was planning on using a closer dealership for maintenance, ect. Can they detect the AP?

04-19-2008, 08:22 PM	#4
JD_STI Spec C Club Car: 07 STI OBP Fav Mod: Zzyzx Coilovers Location: SoCal Posts: 1,154 Join Date: Jul 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty If you're worried about your warranty don't mod it, at all. In some cases it's a pretty straight forward warranty denial, in other's it's a test of ethics.

04-19-2008, 08:24 PM	#5
jb97gsx Junior STI Driver Car: 08 AW, 07 SWP Fav Mod: hydra! Location: Fargo nd Posts: 52 Join Date: Dec 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty i had, intake, header, tbe, utec, fuel pump, injectors, and i brought my car in multiple times for warranty stuff. None of them were engine related but they did replace the struts,power steering pump, throw out bearing, and clutch all for free. They are supposed to warranty everything unless they can prove that the modifications are what made something break.

04-19-2008, 08:28 PM	#6
blackhawk444 Amateur STI Driver Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 42 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty I should be pretty safe with an exhaust and AP because those couldn't do much right? Or could the AP potentially be blamed for an engine/trans problem? Thanks for the help.

04-19-2008, 08:58 PM	#8
twigg107 Spec C Club Car: 08 DGM STI Fav Mod: Me..... Location: Vancouver, Wa Posts: 1,341 Join Date: Jun 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty If you dont want to fight them to warrant anything..... dont mod.

04-19-2008, 09:12 PM	#9
blackhawk444 Amateur STI Driver Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 42 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty Realistically how would an exhaust affect the warranty? Thanks...

04-19-2008, 09:35 PM	#10
Bishop HowTo Contributor Car: 07 OBP STi Fav Mod: Cobb Stg 2 - Wrapped DP Location: Chief Left Hand, CO Posts: 1,648 Join Date: Oct 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty Freer flowing, removes either both cats, or just 1 (catless vs. 1 high flow in the downpipe).... in some cases can cause boost creep, or worsen it.... prolly something related to backpressure.... the accessport does alot of things like adjust fuel delivery and blah blah blah... so theres a mess of engine stuff that could be related there.... But like it was said above, dont mod at all, or mod smart and be smart....you can keep your warranty in tact in most cases.... if they deny you a new headlight because of the exhaust, then you laugh in their faces.... like it was said, it has to be proven that said mod caused said damage.... if you can, try to find a mod friendly dealer.... there are 2 local dealerships here, 1 is ANTI-mod to the extreme, and the other actually sells and tunes accessports, and TONS of aftermarket stuff.... in the case of warranty worries i would probably go to the dealer who sells the aftermarket stuff... Can anyone chime in, or gimme some info (i know, sorry to threadjack) on the warranty w/ the clutch? i have heard people are getting it replaced under warranty, and some being denied because of it.....any info on the subject would be nice, i'll look around and see if i cant find the answer myself hope this helps

04-19-2008, 09:35 PM	#11
inpuressa STI Driver Car: 08 STi SSM Fav Mod: Cobb AP Posts: 258 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty AP will probably do more good than harm since the stock tune runs the engine dangerously lean and the AP fixes that. You can unmarry the AP, and then send it in.

04-19-2008, 09:40 PM	#12
Bishop HowTo Contributor Car: 07 OBP STi Fav Mod: Cobb Stg 2 - Wrapped DP Location: Chief Left Hand, CO Posts: 1,648 Join Date: Oct 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty In real life driving and such, the AP is the smart way to go because of the tune, i did it on my 07 and im glad i did.... however, because it isn't OEM.... a dealer could possibly turn you down.... like it was said above, it probably comes down to whose mod friendly and such, and what kinda ethics the dealer sticks to

04-20-2008, 06:37 AM	#14
jb97gsx Junior STI Driver Car: 08 AW, 07 SWP Fav Mod: hydra! Location: Fargo nd Posts: 52 Join Date: Dec 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: New 08 owner wondering about the factory warranty it all depends on how your dealership is, they may or may not warranty it. The dealership here is really good about warranty. If you bring it in just take out the acessport, they arent going to be able to tell if the ecu has been flashed.