Mods and Warranty [Archive]

wtom

09-09-2004, 10:55 AM

Originally posted by mazda3ride

I was just wondering what mods we can do to our cars without voiding the warranty?

I\'d be an arse and say TINTS but no... I won\'t go there. :)

I\'d say RIMS and better rubber. Unless of course you get rims that\'ll **** up your calipers.

FLIPDADY

09-09-2004, 12:32 PM

Axela badges, LED tail lamps, pretty much any Mazda bolt-on accesory.;)

Now when you start altering some engine management parts; cutting and splicing stuff that\'s when you start running into problems with warranty.

RedRaptor

09-09-2004, 02:30 PM

How about an HID kit?

FLIPDADY

09-09-2004, 02:57 PM

Originally posted by RedRaptor

How about an HID kit?
If the kit requires you to tap into any kind of wiring; which it probably does then it will void any warranty relating to the lighting or harness at the front of the vehicle.

mazda3ride

09-09-2004, 08:41 PM

What about a CAI?

bluntman

09-09-2004, 11:14 PM

Thankfully, there\'s no splicing of wires involved in installing a CAI. Essentially, a CAI replaces an existing \"pipe\" for a larger, smoother \"pipe\".

Xenon

09-09-2004, 11:45 PM

Originally posted by mazda3ride

I was just wondering what mods we can do to our cars without voiding the warranty?

Our affiliate Westowne Mazda has told us that they will overlook modifications to the car, provided it is not the modification that caused the problem.

Example: If the radio malfunctions starts to do weird things and you have added a CAI, the CAI will not affect your warrenty. However if you have lowered your car and the suspension acts up, then your warranty on your suspension may be affected.

Ontario Mazda (according to members of the TOprotege club) apparently doesn\'t like modifications. There have been cases where they have taken pictures of the modification and have sent them to Mazda Canada to have the entire vehicle warranty voided. This is one reason why they were not considered for our affiliate program.

mazda3ride

09-10-2004, 08:51 AM

Thanks for the info. I will think long and hard before I do any mods to my car.

Edited for spelling (mods instead of modes)...honestly I didn\'t think I can do that!

FLIPDADY

09-10-2004, 09:34 AM

Xenon\'s right it really depends on what the modification is. Working at a few dealerships myself it\'s really up to the dealership to decide wether or not the modification caused the problem. One example using the Protege, customers replaced the stock bulbs with aftermarket ones that over-heated and melted the sockets. In this case there is no warranty.

civiclad

09-10-2004, 12:37 PM

I did have a warranty issue with my old Civic as I had changed the header and exhaust. When the o2 sensor failed, Honda would only replace one of the 2 o2 sensors.
Some dealers can be retards when it comes to being bitchy about warranty issues.

FLIPDADY

09-10-2004, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by civiclad

I did have a warranty issue with my old Civic as I had changed the header and exhaust. When the o2 sensor failed, Honda would only replace one of the 2 o2 sensors.
Some dealers can be retards when it comes to being bitchy about warranty issues.
I had the same issue with my Civic. I swapped in a DOHC VTEC motor and had to do some warranty work. One dealer said that my warranty was void b/c of the swap. I took it to Formula Honda and they took care of me no problem.

aabase

09-19-2004, 06:31 PM

does replacing a 15\" wheels to 17\" voids some warranty?

bluntman

09-19-2004, 07:45 PM

Originally posted by aabase

does replacing a 15\" wheels to 17\" voids some warranty?

No.

Ogata

01-07-2009, 08:37 PM

Does changing to say Royal Purple void warranty? The service guy i spoke to said it will. REBIRTH OF THREAD but I did not want to get flamed for not using the search function.

STeeLy

01-07-2009, 08:54 PM

Does changing to say Royal Purple void warranty? The service guy i spoke to said it will. REBIRTH OF THREAD but I did not want to get flamed for not using the search function.
As long as you do your service every 8K/4 Months, I don't think changing it to RP voids warranty... or any other approved engine oil for that matter.

Someone clarify if possible please.

aris

01-07-2009, 09:13 PM

RP shouldn't affect your warrenty....my dealer cares RP

Ogata

01-07-2009, 09:32 PM

RP shouldn't affect your warrenty....my dealer cares RP

funny...my dealer said they can do Synthetic for $90ish bucks. Is that the standard price for dealer Synthetic oil changes? They told me there was a recycling fee and such..

Soyabean

01-07-2009, 09:47 PM

You can bring in your own oil and have them change it for like $40ish

mit-gee-mui

01-07-2009, 09:53 PM

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=126055&postcount=18
?

Ogata

01-07-2009, 10:35 PM

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=126055&postcount=18
?

Whats what RP says but not what Mazda says or maybe i'm just running into a bad service rep...

Ogata

01-07-2009, 10:35 PM

You can bring in your own oil and have them change it for like $40ish

They said it costed $90...i'll have to confirm again my 2nd oil change is due.

aris

01-08-2009, 01:00 AM

They said it costed $90...i'll have to confirm again my 2nd oil change is due.

ya thats what i got chraged...you are better off to bring your own oil...my dealer chrages $14.56 a liter

Ogata

01-08-2009, 11:04 AM

ya thats what i got chraged...you are better off to bring your own oil...my dealer chrages $14.56 a liter

Really? They said it costs $90ish even if I bring my own oil....thats absurd...let me call them again today..sigh.

zoomzoom33

01-08-2009, 01:41 PM

customers replaced the stock bulbs with aftermarket ones that over-heated and melted the sockets. In this case there is no warranty.

This is what happened to me, but I had this issue PRIOR to changing it over to the aftermarket bulb, but because the dealer saw an aftermarket bulb, they refused to warranty the harness. I eventually got another dealer to look at it and they are taking care of the issue for me.

However if you have lowered your car and the suspension acts up, then your warranty on your suspension may be affected.
There have been cases where they have taken pictures of the modification and have sent them to Mazda Canada to have the entire vehicle warranty voided. This is one reason why they were not considered for our affiliate program.

If you lower it with mazda springs and they install it, then they have to look after it, but sometimes they will still give you a hard time for having mods done with OEM parts ( speaking from experience ) It all comes down to the dealer. As for taking the pictures, are dealers allowed to do this with out you knowing?

CamelFilters

01-13-2009, 09:19 AM

Really? They said it costs $90ish even if I bring my own oil....thats absurd...let me call them again today..sigh.

$90 for synth oil sounds about right for what a dealer charges. That's what i paid when i changed the oil in my prius about 3 years ago during winter time. the thing only uses 3 litres of oil and scarborough toyota charged me that amount. at that time i was still living at home with my parents who didnt have a closed garage.

if you're lucky enough to have the tools and facilities, try to learn how to do your own oil changes.

Ogata

01-16-2009, 12:57 AM

$90 for synth oil sounds about right for what a dealer charges. That's what i paid when i changed the oil in my prius about 3 years ago during winter time. the thing only uses 3 litres of oil and scarborough toyota charged me that amount. at that time i was still living at home with my parents who didnt have a closed garage.

if you're lucky enough to have the tools and facilities, try to learn how to do your own oil changes.

Well I corrected them and they only charged me $35 for labour and parts so I paid about $50 for my own oil.

aris

01-16-2009, 01:25 AM

Really? They said it costs $90ish even if I bring my own oil....thats absurd...let me call them again today..sigh.

No it shouldn't cost that much if you bring your own oil...They can't charge you for oil when you bring it...double check at the dealer cause they are blowing smoke up your ass by telling you that.

Ogata

01-16-2009, 01:59 AM

No it shouldn't cost that much if you bring your own oil...They can't charge you for oil when you bring it...double check at the dealer cause they are blowing smoke up your ass by telling you that.

Read my last post =) The service rep probably thought I wanted their Synthetic Oil...oh well..

5_Alive

01-16-2009, 06:21 AM

aris

01-16-2009, 10:47 AM

Read my last post =) The service rep probably thought I wanted their Synthetic Oil...oh well..

ya i just scrolled back and seen what you wrote:chuckle

aris

01-17-2009, 09:08 PM

would a remote start void my warrenty?......i am thinking about getting one for my car but i don't want to void my warrenty.

omalak

01-17-2009, 11:03 PM

Would dropping my car with a prokit and putting in a CAI (PRM, more like an SRI) void my warrenty :chuckle

Even though i know the CAI answer i might as re ask in this thread for search purposes lol

But i would like to know about the drop..

x_o_k_x

01-17-2009, 11:07 PM

the only warranty that is voided about the drop is if something happens with your suspension, so only suspension part warranty is voided

zoomzoom33

01-20-2009, 01:41 AM

1flycdnM3

01-25-2009, 01:14 PM

you need to buy mazdaspeed springs and installed buy a mazda dealer for your warranty to be in good standing. From my understanding, there seems to be alot of issues with the rear shocks leaking and if you were to install prokits or teins and then have the issue, who knows if the dealer will service it. It may just be up to the dealer to decide.

This is why you should always consider getting new shocks when you replace your springs with aftermarket! I was told "the pro-kit springs should hold up on stock shocks/struts for a year or two" but my rear shocks went in 2 months so i put on Koni FSD which are fantastic!

just be prepared... my $0.02...

whiteomega

01-27-2009, 08:18 AM

Will removing the factory resonators void any kind of warranty? The cat and downpipe are still on, same with the muffler. I don't feel like spending $600 on a cat-back that does the same thing for $100.

Since I didn't see an answer to this, here's my take. Depending on the dealership, this likely won't void your whole warranty, although some may void the engine warranty, as you are messing with the exhaust. If your exhaust starts leaking, however, that will almost certainly not be covered.

5_Alive

01-27-2009, 08:10 PM

Since I didn't see an answer to this, here's my take. Depending on the dealership, this likely won't void your whole warranty, although some may void the engine warranty, as you are messing with the exhaust. If your exhaust starts leaking, however, that will almost certainly not be covered.

Thanks for shedding some light on this for me.. I appreciate it..

Donutz

01-27-2009, 10:43 PM

This is why you should always consider getting new shocks when you replace your springs with aftermarket! I was told "the pro-kit springs should hold up on stock shocks/struts for a year or two" but my rear shocks went in 2 months so i put on Koni FSD which are fantastic!

just be prepared... my $0.02...

I totally agree with this. For anyone interested, keep in mind that it is likely very close to the same cost to install springs only vs. springs and struts.

Dante

01-27-2009, 11:34 PM

b.rabbit

01-28-2009, 12:09 AM

would a remote start void my warrenty?......i am thinking about getting one for my car but i don't want to void my warrenty.

+1, I'm thinking of getting an alarm/starter for my 3 and have been hesitant in getting one because I'm unsure if it would void my warranty.

5_Alive

01-28-2009, 02:12 AM

I called Mazda canada to find this out, You can take out anything past resonator.

So does this mean I can remove the two resonators and not have any problems? Or I can just remove the actual muffler?
The factory downpipe and cat are still there. All I did was remove the mid-resonator and axle resonator.

1flycdnM3

01-28-2009, 11:07 AM

So does this mean I can remove the two resonators and not have any problems? Or I can just remove the actual muffler?
The factory downpipe and cat are still there. All I did was remove the mid-resonator and axle resonator.

Not sure as I haven't called Mazda to ask, but I do know from past experience that people who have done this have had troubles passing the e-test. I would think that because of this alone, Mazda would frown on this as well (don't quote me on that though).

zmtomako

01-29-2009, 10:10 AM

i dont see how removing resonators and/or muffler affects the e-test...
both those components only deal with sound

as long as we leave the cats alone...

JordanAndrew

02-06-2009, 07:09 AM

To answer the questions about aftermarket remote starters, as long as you get it installed at a reputable company (for example futureshop) then you should be okay. I know this sounds stupid but that's what the Dealership General Manager told me before I put my Compustar car alarm/starter combo. He said that it's a lot safer for me in the long run to get them installed from a reputable company and as long as the car starter/alarm is also from a reputable company then there shouldn't be any void in the warranty. The dealership would have to prove that the remote starter/alarm caused any damage to the car for them to VOID the warranty. But even when that happens you are now able to get warranty from the company you got it installed, if that makes any sense. I've always had compustar car alarms/starters in my car and I've never had any problems with it. I'm on my 4th brand new car already, 2 of the last ones being Mazdaspeed3 and a mazda 3 GT sedan.