Mods / Builds - Warranty Issue?

[MaximusTX]

Just found out that a guy here in town is getting his engine replaced and he is on 40’s.

I picked up my jeep yesterday and talked to the service advisor for a little bit. He told me that technically any vehicle that comes with tires larger than 35s and a lift larger 3inches they are supposed to tag the vin for warranty work. They only do that if the customer is being a jerk or not willing to work with them on anything but as long as the customer is being cool they have no problem working with the customer on any issues they have. He told me my suspension, drive train is not cannot be warrantied obviously so the only thing can warranty now is just the engine & transmission. He also said that I need to make sure I have the Tazer installed with the tire calibration because if something does happen and they have replace the engine or transmission then Stellantis requires the information from the vehicle with the transmission and engine along with pics of the vehicle and if the tire size of the vehicle do not match the tire calibration they will deny the warranty work. Along with that he said I need to just work with him as if the Tazer is installed the witech system will automatically flag the vin when it gets plugged in so I need to work with him to avoid that when I do bring it in.

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[Jrgunn5150]

MM exists to prevent truly unrelated warranty denial... like voiding a drivetrain warranty because you added wheels or denying an interior issue because of a lift. If you mod, expect that you will have no related warranty.

It exists because in the 60's and 70's it was common for sleezy dealers to say, sorry, that's not a Mopar oil filter purchased from us, your engine failure is on you.

 

[TRLSKR]

I picked up my jeep yesterday and talked to the service advisor for a little bit. He told me that technically any vehicle that comes with tires larger than 35s and a lift larger 3inches they are supposed to tag the vin for warranty work. They only do that if the customer is being a jerk or not willing to work with them on anything but as long as the customer is being cool they have no problem working with the customer on any issues they have. He told me my suspension, drive train is not cannot be warrantied obviously so the only thing can warranty now is just the engine & transmission. He also said that I need to make sure I have the Tazer installed with the tire calibration because if something does happen and they have replace the engine or transmission then Stellantis requires the information from the vehicle with the transmission and engine along with pics of the vehicle and if the tire size of the vehicle do not match the tire calibration they will deny the warranty work. Along with that he said I need to just work with him as if the Tazer is installed the witech system will automatically flag the vin when it gets plugged in so I need to work with him to avoid that when I do bring it in.

Good to hear. I will purchase the Tazer and recalibrate it. I understand I won’t have a warranty on aftermarket suspensions and running gear. I don’t have an issue with that. I was just curious about engine/trans warranty being voided if I didn’t stay within their recommended limits. From what I found out yesterday and from you as well it sounds like they are willing to work with you. I appreciate your input!

 

[MaximusTX]

Good to hear. I will purchase the Tazer and recalibrate it. I understand I won’t have a warranty on aftermarket suspensions and running gear. I don’t have an issue with that. I was just curious about engine/trans warranty being voided if I didn’t stay within their recommended limits. From what I found out yesterday and from you as well it sounds like they are willing to work with you. I appreciate your input!

No problem, I don't think it necessarily has to be a tazer but just one of the many options to recalibrate the tire size.

 

[TRLSKR]

No problem, I don't think it necessarily has to be a tazer but just one of the many options to recalibrate the tire size.

I will probably just do the Tazer but I can see what else is out there. Thanks again!

 

[Mr._Bill]

I will probably just do the Tazer but I can see what else is out there. Thanks again!

Look at a JScan setup. You plug it in, makes the changes, and disconnect it. The changes stay in the computer.

The problem with a Tazer is that ZAutomotive (the maker) recommends it be unmarried and removed before taking it to the dealer for service. When doing so, the changes are removed and the computer is put back to the state it was in when the Tazer was married to the vehicle.

There are Tazer owners that are using JScan to make the changes before adding the Tazer. That way, the image the Tazer makes when married, that it restores when unmarried, has the changes in it so they are not lost.

 

[TRLSKR]

Look at a JScan setup. You plug it in, makes the changes, and disconnect it. The changes stay in the computer.

The problem with a Tazer is that ZAutomotive (the maker) recommends it be unmarried and removed before taking it to the dealer for service. When doing so, the changes are removed and the computer is put back to the state it was in when the Tazer was married to the vehicle.

There are Tazer owners that are using JScan to make the changes before adding the Tazer. That way, the image the Tazer makes when married, that it restores when unmarried, has the changes in it so they are not lost.

Will do. Thanks for the info!

 

[Stan H]

Warranty ?? What's that ???

 

[LostWoods]

You literally just spelled out the law protecting consumers? Unrelated to lift, still covered. Sure there are unscrupulous dealers that try to deny warranty claims because there's mud in the engine bay (not the intake), but that's what lawyers are for. If I was that afraid to mod my Jeep, I'd be just as afraid to wheel my Jeep, and therefore I wouldn't own one with a warranty.

I really hoped I wouldn't have to spell this out but unrelated in the sense it wasn't part of the lift but is still an impacted part. Like if you lift 3" and your gearbox or driveshaft has an issue. It shouldn't cause an issue, but it changes angles of things and corporate lawyers are really good at this stuff. All they have to do is convince an arbitrator.

I'm of the opinion that if you can afford to wheel a $60k vehicle then you should just assume you have no warranty and go nuts. If you must have a reliable daily, go buy a 4Runner and a YJ trail pig like I did.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I really hoped I wouldn't have to spell this out but unrelated in the sense it wasn't part of the lift but is still an impacted part. Like if you lift 3" and your gearbox or driveshaft has an issue. It shouldn't cause an issue, but it changes angles of things and corporate lawyers are really good at this stuff. All they have to do is convince an arbitrator.

I'm of the opinion that if you can afford to wheel a $60k vehicle then you should just assume you have no warranty and go nuts. If you must have a reliable daily, go buy a 4Runner and a YJ trail pig like I did.

The driveshaft I'd agree would be a grey area. The gearbox? No way lifting the Jeep caused the problem. Only a big ticket item like an engine or transmission failure is going to get me into a fight with the dealer for warranty work anyway but for the most part the arbitrator isn't going to side with the dealer especially when the dealer sells and installs the Mopar lift under warranty. If thier lift doesn't kill engines or transmissions, nether does anyone else's.

 

[djthumper]

Yeah. I know I will void any suspension when I do an aftermarket lift. I’m more concerned about the engine/trans. I just didn’t want to do a lift with 37’s and something go wrong and then they claim that the tires were the cause. You never know about dealers these days. If something ever happens and I know it wasn’t anything I done or parts that I installed then I guess I will lawyer up and tell them I will see you in court.

I had the dealer install my third-party lift which kept my warranty in play with it noted in the system.

 

[Stan H]

I had the dealer install my third-party lift which kept my warranty in play with it noted in the system.

The note probably releases them from liability. The only one they accept is there own brand from what I have heard. I did hear on guy say that they had a 2" non-mopar kift installed by a dealer and he was good to go . But it is arbitrary between dealers to say the least

 

[LostWoods]

The driveshaft I'd agree would be a grey area. The gearbox? No way lifting the Jeep caused the problem. Only a big ticket item like an engine or transmission failure is going to get me into a fight with the dealer for warranty work anyway but for the most part the arbitrator isn't going to side with the dealer especially when the dealer sells and installs the Mopar lift under warranty. If thier lift doesn't kill engines or transmissions, nether does anyone else's.

I must have clipped a word because that was supposed to be steering gearbox and my mild lift with 35s was the reason they denied it until the recall or TSB or whatever it was came out. Honestly, fair game, because bigger tires and a sharper angle wiil absolutely cause higher stress.

The engine and transmission are the two components that are generally safe but we did have one TJ that got denied an AT back in the day... tires too big for the gearing and they smoked the AT. Was surprised that went before the axles.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I must have clipped a word because that was supposed to be steering gearbox and my mild lift with 35s was the reason they denied it until the recall or TSB or whatever it was came out. Honestly, fair game, because bigger tires and a sharper angle wiil absolutely cause higher stress.

The engine and transmission are the two components that are generally safe but we did have one TJ that got denied an AT back in the day... tires too big for the gearing and they smoked the AT. Was surprised that went before the axles.

I know I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum from most new Jeep buyers. Even if my steering box went out, I'd see it as an opportunity to upgrade to a psc system. If I break an axle shaft it's because I wheel it too hard for the stock ones, why would I want a stock replacement? Obviously I need chromoly shafts. The big ticket items are all I'm worried about. Other warranty claims aren't worth my time or the stock poor quality replacements even if they are free.

 

[Gvsukids]

If I was that afraid to mod my Jeep, I'd be just as afraid to wheel my Jeep, and therefore I wouldn't own one with a warranty.

I wheel with a warranty.

Along with that he said I need to just work with him as if the Tazer is installed the witech system will automatically flag the vin when it gets plugged in so I need to work with him to avoid that when I do bring it in.

Haven't had that issue with my vehicle.

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