Modifying the s2000...
Registered User
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dealer can only void the warrenty if they can prove the part you changed caused the problem..
example
nitrous on a motor and it has a cracked piston.. its not covered
you lower the car and have a blown headgasket. its covered
read up on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975
example
nitrous on a motor and it has a cracked piston.. its not covered
you lower the car and have a blown headgasket. its covered
read up on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,796
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From: San Diego, Wess-Side!!
Originally Posted by veilside_s2k,Mar 1 2008, 11:24 PM
dealer can only void the warrenty if they can prove the part you changed caused the problem..
example
nitrous on a motor and it has a cracked piston.. its not covered
you lower the car and have a blown headgasket. its covered
read up on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975
example
nitrous on a motor and it has a cracked piston.. its not covered
you lower the car and have a blown headgasket. its covered
read up on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975
The soft top is not a mechanical modification. It would be hard for the dealer to prove foul play.
Anything mechanical...they could really turn the screws and make it difficult for you to collect free parts and service.
You play, you pay. If you're mechanically inclined, get your money back. If you're not, keep the warranty.
Every time this subject comes up, someone brings up the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975.
When is the last time you used that?
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
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Obviously any engine mod would void the warranty on the engine.
Any other mod that affects engine proformance could be argued but you could easily lose.
Suspension mods could be enough to void problems with wheel bearings, axels and rearends.
If you can imagine any after market part that may have an effect on any other OEM part, you are probably going to have a problem.
High performance addons that produce HP above stock may void warranty on your clutch and transmission and your entire driveline.
If your intention is to mod your car, I agree with everyone else, cancel your extended warranty.
Any other mod that affects engine proformance could be argued but you could easily lose.
Suspension mods could be enough to void problems with wheel bearings, axels and rearends.
If you can imagine any after market part that may have an effect on any other OEM part, you are probably going to have a problem.
High performance addons that produce HP above stock may void warranty on your clutch and transmission and your entire driveline.
If your intention is to mod your car, I agree with everyone else, cancel your extended warranty.
Registered User
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From: Georgia
I didn't buy my car through a honda dealer. If I were to add an exhaust and take it to a dealer they would void my powertrain warranty, right? But lets say that I took it to a different dealer with the oem exhaust back on, would they have records from the previous dealership that my warranty is void?
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I think you can get away with an exhaust system. They could be a phoney point of contention but in the end they would have to concede.
(I think)
I noted you have an '06 also. I have put an exhaust system on my car and have no worries about any warranty problems that may come up.
This doesn't mean that someone might not say something.
(I think)
I noted you have an '06 also. I have put an exhaust system on my car and have no worries about any warranty problems that may come up.
This doesn't mean that someone might not say something.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,666
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From: Georgia
Originally Posted by JackS,Mar 2 2008, 06:45 AM
I think you can get away with an exhaust system. They could be a phoney point of contention but in the end they would have to concede.
(I think)
I noted you have an '06 also. I have put an exhaust system on my car and have no worries about any warranty problems that may come up.
This doesn't mean that someone might not say something.
(I think)
I noted you have an '06 also. I have put an exhaust system on my car and have no worries about any warranty problems that may come up.
This doesn't mean that someone might not say something.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,075
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I never even thought about an intake.
Basically an inert chunk of metal that attaches to the engine.
I can understand why it may be something mentioned but I can't understand what in the world this would have anything to do with the clutch.
I think you should have argued this point a little further up the chain of command.
Basically an inert chunk of metal that attaches to the engine.
I can understand why it may be something mentioned but I can't understand what in the world this would have anything to do with the clutch.
I think you should have argued this point a little further up the chain of command.
Former Moderator
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,821
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From: Jacksonville, FL
This question comes up so often I think we need a sticky.
Here is the scoop:
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act only applies to a manufacturer's warranty. For the Honda, that is 3 years and 36 months. During that time you can mod, and if something breaks the burden of proof is on the dealer to show that the mod contributed to the failure. So if you lower the car and the engine blows...the dealer has to prove how they are related to void the warranty.
An extended warranty such as a HondaCare or CPO'd is not a manufacturer's warranty and as such is not covered by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. An extended warranty is really a maintenance insurance policy. Like any insurance policy there are exclusion clauses. For all the extended warranties I've ever seen, modding has always been an exclusion. Any mod can be a basis for denying a claim. Yes, a claim...a claims adjuster will be sent to review the work being performed and the claims adjusters job is to find a way to save the warranty company's money by denying the claim. So if your engine blows and you have lowered the car, you can expect the claim to be denied.
Will this happen all the time? No...there have been some folks, Enthralled is one, who have had things like their tops replaced under warranty...but those are considered "good will" repairs (note that a HondaCare warranty would not apply to the top anyway since it is not "drivetrain"). Also, you may get a dim claims adjuster who doesn't happen to notice a mod. But, should an adjuster deny a claim and you have a mod, you really don't have a legal leg to stand on to get the decision reversed.
Here is the scoop:
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act only applies to a manufacturer's warranty. For the Honda, that is 3 years and 36 months. During that time you can mod, and if something breaks the burden of proof is on the dealer to show that the mod contributed to the failure. So if you lower the car and the engine blows...the dealer has to prove how they are related to void the warranty.
An extended warranty such as a HondaCare or CPO'd is not a manufacturer's warranty and as such is not covered by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. An extended warranty is really a maintenance insurance policy. Like any insurance policy there are exclusion clauses. For all the extended warranties I've ever seen, modding has always been an exclusion. Any mod can be a basis for denying a claim. Yes, a claim...a claims adjuster will be sent to review the work being performed and the claims adjusters job is to find a way to save the warranty company's money by denying the claim. So if your engine blows and you have lowered the car, you can expect the claim to be denied.
Will this happen all the time? No...there have been some folks, Enthralled is one, who have had things like their tops replaced under warranty...but those are considered "good will" repairs (note that a HondaCare warranty would not apply to the top anyway since it is not "drivetrain"). Also, you may get a dim claims adjuster who doesn't happen to notice a mod. But, should an adjuster deny a claim and you have a mod, you really don't have a legal leg to stand on to get the decision reversed.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2007
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Originally Posted by negcamber,Mar 2 2008, 07:38 AM
This question comes up so often I think we need a sticky.
Here is the scoop:
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act only applies to a manufacturer's warranty. For the Honda, that is 3 years and 36 months. During that time you can mod, and if something breaks the burden of proof is on the dealer to show that the mod contributed to the failure. So if you lower the car and the engine blows...the dealer has to prove how they are related to void the warranty.
An extended warranty such as a HondaCare or CPO'd is not a manufacturer's warranty and as such is not covered by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. An extended warranty is really a maintenance insurance policy. Like any insurance policy there are exclusion clauses. For all the extended warranties I've ever seen, modding has always been an exclusion. Any mod can be a basis for denying a claim. Yes, a claim...a claims adjuster will be sent to review the work being performed and the claims adjusters job is to find a way to save the warranty company's money by denying the claim. So if your engine blows and you have lowered the car, you can expect the claim to be denied.
Will this happen all the time? No...there have been some folks, Enthralled is one, who have had things like their tops replaced under warranty...but those are considered "good will" repairs (note that a HondaCare warranty would not apply to the top anyway since it is not "drivetrain"). Also, you may get a dim claims adjuster who doesn't happen to notice a mod. But, should an adjuster deny a claim and you have a mod, you really don't have a legal leg to stand on to get the decision reversed.
Here is the scoop:
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act only applies to a manufacturer's warranty. For the Honda, that is 3 years and 36 months. During that time you can mod, and if something breaks the burden of proof is on the dealer to show that the mod contributed to the failure. So if you lower the car and the engine blows...the dealer has to prove how they are related to void the warranty.
An extended warranty such as a HondaCare or CPO'd is not a manufacturer's warranty and as such is not covered by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. An extended warranty is really a maintenance insurance policy. Like any insurance policy there are exclusion clauses. For all the extended warranties I've ever seen, modding has always been an exclusion. Any mod can be a basis for denying a claim. Yes, a claim...a claims adjuster will be sent to review the work being performed and the claims adjusters job is to find a way to save the warranty company's money by denying the claim. So if your engine blows and you have lowered the car, you can expect the claim to be denied.
Will this happen all the time? No...there have been some folks, Enthralled is one, who have had things like their tops replaced under warranty...but those are considered "good will" repairs (note that a HondaCare warranty would not apply to the top anyway since it is not "drivetrain"). Also, you may get a dim claims adjuster who doesn't happen to notice a mod. But, should an adjuster deny a claim and you have a mod, you really don't have a legal leg to stand on to get the decision reversed.