Thoughts on warranty and 2 micron kits

I've already been a victim of a HPFP early on (11k miles) and am now turning my attention to the long term future. I currently have Geico MBI till 100k but wanted to get some thoughts on purchasing the 2 micron kits now versus just waiting till I hit 100k miles and then installing. I currently have 40k miles on the car. Anyone buy the kits even though they have an extended warranty?

you will give the extended warranty company reason to deny any claim that is to do with your fuel system (anything from a tank, to a sender unit all the way to the injectors). You might win in court in the long run, but is that really worth your time?

That would depend on if the mechanic thought the filters caused the problem and/or reported this to geico. If any exuded warranty wanted to deny repair they could easily claim misfuel.

A good mechanic would support the use of the filters.

03_01_TDI said:

That would depend on if the mechanic thought the filters caused the problem and/or reported this to geico. If any exuded warranty wanted to deny repair they could easily claim misfuel.
A good mechanic would support the use of the filters.

Click to expand...

True but how does the warranty work? Can he use anyone? Must he use a VW dealer? If it is a dealer they would for sure say that since these filters are here it must have caused... I dunno, VW seems to be pretty good these days about fixing HPFPs even after warranty is expired. I would wait beyond the extended warranty personally, not because I don't think 2micron's kits arent amazing but because there is possible denial of warranty with them in place...

I have a 2013 and also have the Geico MBI. My plan is to do nothing while under the warranty. If I still own the car at 100,000 miles, at that point I will see what's going on with VW's coverage of HPFP issues and then decide if the 2 micron kit makes sense. By that time, I figure we will have more data on the kits performance and how current and replacement HPFP's are holding up. VW might also come out with some sort of long term stated warranty on the HPFP given it's a known issue.

All - thanks for the responses. I think waiting till 100k miles to see the status of the HPFP issue and determine how long I'll own the car past 100k will be the determining factor if I go forward with the 2 micron kits.

I cannot see any reason a warranty would be denied for added filtration and I would think any fuel pressure problem would trip a CEL. I am at 50k and am planning to install an additional filter between the main filter & aux pump once I get the right fuel line & have enough time to mess with the install. My Ram has a 2 micron kit after the main filter and has no problems. Lasts approx 13k miles before needing a swap (will go on the 10k filter swap schedule along with the main filter moving forward).

I am in the same boat, and was just wondering this. Once again TDI Club delivers! Thanks all!

emerscape said:

I've already been a victim of a HPFP early on (11k miles) and am now
turning my attention to the long term future. I currently have Geico MBI till
100k but wanted to get some thoughts on purchasing the 2 micron kits now
versus just waiting till I hit 100k miles and then installing. I currently have
40k miles on the car. Anyone buy the kits even though they have an
extended warranty?

Click to expand...

2 Micron (Andrew) is a great guy, does great work and his fuel filter/bypass
and his timing belt guard are clever, great. I don't know of any "saves" with
his system. It will not eliminate all cost but should save the two Aux pumps
and injectors, as well as need to flush all lines and tank out. The belt guard
should keep the timing belt safe from crap getting in there including a
shredding serpentine belt.

The issue is with any modification and warranty/maintenance service plans,
not just these modifications. The belt guard is pretty benign but it is a Mod.
The fuel system mod is more involved and could be reason to deny a repair
claim, with anything to do with engine. Transmission? Who knows.

I had VW warranty (actually CPO warranty through another company) about
to expire. In anticipation I bought another plan with another company. So I
was double covered. However because I had the 2 Micron on it they both denied
paying for repairs.

YOUR HPFP is now covered by VW until 10years, 120,000 miles.

So the answer is don't modify your fuel system until after 120,000.
You already have your powertrain warranty by until 60k miles. Which
covers your turbo (another big expensive failure point. Also the turbo
can take out the DPF (emission) is covered until 80K (by Fed law).
Keep in mind Geico will let VW pay for these if they can, Geico is
secondary. Clever having customers pay for something you are already
covered for. Your service plan really only kicks in after 80K or 120K...
which is of course after your secondary coverage ends. They know
this.

The extended "warranty"/service plan folks will make sure the manufacture
pays first before they come into the picture. They sold you some thing you
already have with VW.

Service plans are expensive, $2000 to $6000. I would take that money and
invest it for rainy day (repair). Since you have the policy, read it again and
make sure you cover yourself for not being denied due to one of the many
exclusions.

Read the terms of your warranty carefully. They never pay for wear
items, tires, brakes, hoses and belts. More important if there is damage
or repair required because a brake, tire, belt, hose failed that is NOT
covered. Example, say tire blows up and it goes into the drivetrain or
suspension. OK you have to pay for tire. However all damage caused
by the tire is NOT covered. It is because they do NOT cover tires...
Hose breaks and causes car to overheat. Damage is not covered because
hose is not covered. READ YOUR POLICY, in vague terms this is the
implied coverage or lack thereof.

ANY modification you do may void plan or violate exclusions. Even if the
repair you are claiming for is not related to Mod, they may balk at paying.
If it is an expensive issue: HPFP, Turbo, Serpentine Belt taking out Timing
belt, they will send an adjuster. They will see the fuel modification and if they
can connect it, they will not pay. They will claim the HPFP and Turbo were
effected by Mod. They will say fuel contamination caused belt to fail. They
don't cover belts remember..... Trust me, the bigger the repair, the more
they will try and deny your claim.

Bottom line I would NOT Mod your car. I would do regular maintenance and
inspections and DOCUMENT IT WELL. Another disclaimer is they will try to
prove you did not get proper maintenance or bad maintenance to deny claim.
This may be an issue for DIY'ers who change their own oil.

Recommend you keep an eye on the serpentine belt, replace it every 40K.
They tend to fail about 60K although I recall recommended replacement is
120K. If it fails it can (does) go under timing belt cover, causing the cam
timing belt to be fouled and might cause valves and pistons to collide. Belts
are NEVER covered, so your belts are on you and any damage they cause.
If they fail and cause major damage you are not covered, like my tire blowing
example above.

The other big items that fail and cost big money, Turbo fails and takes
out DPF and EGR valve with oil. However it ismy opinion VW covers
your Turbo until 60K miles. The DPF is covered until 80K miles.
I could be wrong on this VW coverage. Your mileage may vary
(pun intended).

Last the 2 Micron protects not the HPFP but the rest of the fuel
system from a HPFP failure. Since the HPFP has 10yr/120K mile
warranty (true warranty) by VW, including collateral damage, I
would not do the Mod at this time. VW has NO MOD exclusion.
Live life and don't modify your car (until out of warranty). When
you hit 120,000 miles I would not hesitate putting on the 2 Micron
system.

Of course you could always put it on and make sure you take
it OFF before you have your car towed into VW?

Read policy. Modifications are almost always forbidden. Now if you
put on fancy aftermarket rims and your transmission failed would they tell
you NO to suspension or transmission repair/replacement? May be. I guarantee
they will send someone out to look at your car and "adjust" the claim. If the
EXPERT says the non-OEM rims caused it, you are done. This is a made up
example, but a thread on this forum had a VW warranty claim on clutch
denied due to a reprogramed ECU and shifter Mod....

General Info on Maintenance Service Plans or Insurance (not really warranty)

People buy these plans and think they are covered like a OEM factory new
warranty. No. It is ont warranty", it is really a "maintenance service plan".
Geico is good about this. I give them credit for calling it maintenance insurance.

Geico calls their product MBI, Mechanical Break Down insurance. It is not warranty.
It has a fairly higher $250 deductible (per occurrence may be?). To their credit
it seems like they are trying to give you access to the policy to read. Many companies
will make it a mystery, difficult to see the actual policy until you buy it, mostly
because they are shopping it around to different companies with different policies.
Even Geico has MBI exclusions on this link and tells you to read your the
other exclusions:

https://www.geico.com/getaquote/auto/mechanical-breakdown-insurance/

Geico is discount insurance, not full service (State Farm, USAA) and not cut rate.

http://thelawdictionary.org/article/why-is-geico-auto-insurance-so-cheap/

Another game played, the company you buy a policy from may NOT be underwriter!!!!
You think you bought a maintenance service plan from company ABC, but really
it is with another company you never heard of (unless you read your policy). Many
other companies are only brokers. Say you have a claim denied, it is going sour
big time and fast, faced with $6000 repair claim denied, you call they company ABC.
They will be nice and say, sorry we don't control what company XYZ does... They
inform you they only sold you this policy; your problem is with XYZ, bye bye.

Also if you financed your policy your are dealing with a third company and
THEY WANT THEIR MONEY. If you have an issue and want to cancel you may still
have to pay the policy, at least for awhile. So you are out the repair and still paid
$2000-$6000 for a useless policy! Buyer beware. Know what you are getting. Not
saying these products are all bad, just know what you are getting.

BY THE WAY. IT IS LIKELY YOU CAN NOT SUE THEM. Plans often have you
waive your rights to sue, and you must be subjected to binding arbitration with
some specific arbitration company. To bring claim you must pay this specific
arbitration company money ($1000) to bring a claim, travel to the arbitration
city (airfare) or host a place for the arbitrators to arbitrate in your town (pay for
a meeting room at a hotel). There is no guarantee you will prevail. In fact since
this service plan company specified them (gives them business) I bet they will
side with the maintenance service plan company.

I know VW factory new warranty has same exclusion against Mods!
The CPO (Cert Previously Owned) Warranty VW gives on their low mile
used cars for 24mo/24,000 is by a company in Florida. They're exclusions
against Mods. The CPO warranty is pretty vague. It is a brochure. You
might assume it is equivalent to new car warranty, but it really is not.
It really is based on GOOD FAITH of VW and the company in Florida.
Regardless of the policy it is all about the people you deal with. Even if
you are in the right, it sucks to have to fight with them, and they can make
it time consuming and expensive to get satisfaction (i.e., hire a lawyer).
If I may rant about lawyers, I found a good one, but it is hard to find
a lawyer that does consumer protection claims. Most want personal injury
or some other more lucrative cases or more cut and dry cases.