What did you do to your car today?

AARodriguez Corp. · May 21, 2014

That Guy said:
I heard that the dealers will void the warranty if you tune your car. You know how they like to jerk people around on warranty as it is...didn't want to give them ammo to work with. It's the reason that I waited to tune my 01 TDI. I still haven't tuned the GTI, but then I'm happy with the way it is now.....for now.

I have not heard that. Can you point me to 1 VW customer who has had a warranty voided due to tuning?

crashtested · May 21, 2014

AARodriguez Corp. said:
I have not heard that. Can you point me to 1 VW customer who has had a warranty voided due to tuning?

Yes and No: according to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act:

"No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name..." (15 U.S.C. 2302©)

So basically, if you have a warranty claim, the dealer (or warrantor) must prove that the part that you modified directly caused the failure. For example, if you chipped your car and the exhaust falls off, then the car is still under warranty.

Clipped from - ARP

AARodriguez Corp. · May 21, 2014

crashtested said:
Yes and No: according to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act:
"No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name..." (15 U.S.C. 2302©)
So basically, if you have a warranty claim, the dealer (or warrantor) must prove that the part that you modified directly caused the failure. For example, if you chipped your car and the exhaust falls off, then the car is still under warranty.
Clipped from - ARP

As a customer service rep for Malone Tuning, I can tell you that we have never had a single VW customer tell us that their warranty was voided due to a tune.

1.9glstdi · May 21, 2014

They have to prove the tune caused the failure that has happened to void warranty.

MikeS_18 · May 21, 2014

But then again if you blow up a turbo or cause the engine to overheat causing damage and they find that the engine software has been modified, I think they would have a case. I think we all have to be reasonable. In this example, I don't think they would have to prove how the tune blew up the turbo.

1.9glstdi · May 21, 2014

Tune your car conservertly.

WindsorFox · May 21, 2014

AARodriguez Corp. said:
As a customer service rep for Malone Tuning, I can tell you that we have never had a single VW customer tell us that their warranty was voided due to a tune.

In a thread about the APR tune for the TDI it was noted that if your car has been tuned and the dealer plugs the computer to it The VW knows it is tuned. It hasn't been said they void a warranty but like mentioned above you throw a rod or blow up a turbo they can decline it. How much proof they have to show I don't know.

AARodriguez Corp. · May 21, 2014

WindsorFox said:
In a thread about the APR tune for the TDI it was noted that if your car has been tuned and the dealer plugs the computer to it The VW knows it is tuned. It hasn't been said they void a warranty but like mentioned above you throw a rod or blow up a turbo they can decline it. How much proof they have to show I don't know.

Sure, but OP alluded to the idea that VW + tune = voided warranty

That's not accurate.

WindsorFox · May 21, 2014

AARodriguez Corp. said:
Sure, but OP alluded to the idea that VW + tune = voided warranty

That's not accurate.

Yeah, no. I don't believe that. BUT. I'm waiting til my warranty is up to do anything past the APR tune

Geobmx4life · May 21, 2014

I've been busy with a few mods...but the latest...I got ahold of a set of Wolfsburg seats...and I have to say, I shoulda done this a long time ago...now to get the heat set up in them.

That Guy · May 22, 2014

Ya, I was just saying that I heard that was the case. That they could tell if the car was tuned when they hooked up their equipment, and that they could use that to deny warranty claims.
Knowing how dealers can be, I played it safe and waited until the warranty was up before making any modifications to my vehicle, which included the tune.

I do love my modifications though....which includes a Malone tune.

I've got better more reliable parts on the car now, about the same mileage, and more power. Can't complain.

TDI<wagen> · May 22, 2014

JSW is just shy of 91K kms so last weekend was busy busy

-90K kms service
-Brake fluid flush
-Tranny fluid flush (6 speed)
-Malone stg 1.5 tune

Left to do:
- Dieselgeek short shifter

90K kms service is crazy expensive but mostly because of the labour. Local dealer quoted me ~$800 not including brake fluid flush. So I just looked up the schedule of what they do besides oil/filter, fuel filter, air filter, etc. and did it myself. Plenty of guides written here. I must say, ECS brake power bleeder so handy when doing flushes!

Malone tune Stg1.5 @ German Car Specialist. Quite like it! More torque in the lower range and I've noticed more MPG surprisingly! I thought it would be my worst tank ever due to much joy after the tune

AARodriguez Corp. · May 22, 2014

That Guy said:
Ya, I was just saying that I heard that was the case. That they could tell if the car was tuned when they hooked up their equipment, and that they could use that to deny warranty claims.

That frustrates me, because I think that everyone that "heard that" got it from someone that "heard that".

I've never seen anyone post, "My VW warranty was voided because I got a tune."

tothemax · May 22, 2014

1.9glstdi said:
They have to prove the tune caused the failure that has happened to void warranty.

If I had a new car, I would absolutely never take the chance of having to fight with VW over the cause of the failure... Most stealers around here have questionable integrity at best and I would not put it past them to blame absolutely everything that failed on the car on the tune..

If I experienced a serious issue which requires warranty work, I would swap out the ECU to my stock ECU or simply put the original tune back in.

No point in taking a chance on that... The Golden Rule.. he who has the gold rules.. .and when you need a new fuel injection system... VW has the gold.. whatever they decide goes..

That Guy · May 23, 2014

And that's the issue. Getting most places to honour a warranty is usually a fight as it is. So anything that might make the fight harder is something to avoid. It's frustrating for people who want to purchase upgrades too.

But then I had more money to spend later anyway, and the tunes and hardware got better in the few years I had to wait.

Of course now my wife keeps bugging me to get a new car. The 01 in many ways is better mechanically and better looking than when I bought it new. And there are a few upgrades yet to buy for it.

But if I even hint at getting say a $60 part, I have to hear "you could just get a new car".

Makes it hard to add posts to this thread.

romad · May 23, 2014

Tell her that paying $60 is cheaper than $600/month for 60 months.

1.9glstdi · May 23, 2014

Lol my wife started a goal based savings account just for a vnt17 for my car lol she put more money than I do in it.

1.9glstdi · May 23, 2014

You could buy a new car off the forums here already tastefully modded of coars.

Geobmx4life · May 23, 2014

glass...about time

Had a new windshield installed today...love being able to see clearly again.

8v-of-fury · May 23, 2014

Within the last few weeks.. took care of my lower valence on the rear rotting out from bad tail light seals.. Welded in some angle iron, and got fancy with some fiber glass and por 15. Had the windshield out to see a perfect frame, new seal and fought that back in to place..

Also tore up the floor and removed ALL THE FACTORY tar, and sound deadener and laid down some Bed Armor truck bed lining. Dangg! Even if it fills with water again, the bed armor will never be penetrated. **** lasts in a truck bed, it will never go away on a floor. Hoorahh.

Shouldn't though that i fixed the damn window seal! lol

WindsorFox · May 23, 2014

Geobmx4life said:
Had a new windshield installed today...love being able to see clearly again.

What?

TDI_G · May 23, 2014

1.9glstdi said:
Lol my wife started a goal based savings account just for a vnt17 for my car lol she put more money than I do in it.

Ummmm she's a keeper. My wife would probably secretly pull money out to buy more clothes and shoes that she already doesn't have space for.

8v-of-fury · May 23, 2014

^^ Mine logically talks me down from my pipe-dreams.. lol

fruitcakesa · May 24, 2014

Rear brake job

I am more than half way through a much needed rear brake R&R.
Of course, once everything was apart, I was forced to confront the rusty backing plates and so...I wired brushed, washed and dried them and am now waiting on the Rust Reformer to cure before repainting.
The actual brakes will probably go on tonight or tomorrow.

1.9glstdi · May 24, 2014

TDI_G said:
Ummmm she's a keeper. My wife would probably secretly pull money out to buy more clothes and shoes that she already doesn't have space for.

haha I keep her as happy as I can she hasent had to work in the 5 years we have been married if she doesnt want to and we have a 3 year old. For our 5 year anniversary got her got a lil crazy and got her a matching band for the wedding set and about $2000 pair of ear rings. She knows I am pretty into maintenance and i will replace it by 300k miles anyways.

FJ40Jim · May 24, 2014

What I did today on my vacation:
Installed brand new Behr/Hella AC compressor.
Evac & recharge AC system.
Found it had a defective (dead shorted) clutch coil.
Removed new compressor.
Reinstalled old compressor.
Adjusted parking brake handle. (SOMETHING went right)

TDI_G · May 24, 2014

Scored a set of GTI 20th AE Recaro seats for a steal. Need to get the bolsters repaired on the drivers seat but they are in great shape overall

Geobmx4life · May 24, 2014

new windshield

WindsorFox said:
What?

Haha...I was going to do it way earlier, but took a job in northern AB this past December... So held off until now as I would've destroyed a new one. Sooooo....love seeing through a perfectly clear and clean windshield.

dremd · May 25, 2014

Plugged/ patched 2 tires that have been leaking and setting off the TPMS every few days since late March (yeah, I've been busy).

Shimmed left rear camber (alignment) + .5 degree and wished that smaller shims had been available. That should stop my heavy inside tire feathering that is crazy loud on some roads. Unfortunately I guess this means that I have to buy a new tire for that corner since it is already loud and feathered.

Noted that the rear brakes will need replacing this year. Now I have to decide if I want the 10.1" vented rear brakes off a 20th/ etc or just stick to the stock slightly smaller diameter non vented setup.
Any opinions?

SD26 · May 26, 2014

Finally put the mud flaps on the "new to me" A4 Jetta I got in January from ID Parts. Rotated tires, oil change.

What did you do to your car today?

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