Okay, as I type this... my car is now at the dealership being looked over. I think I ended up breaking something while I was at the local dragstrip with my car. The car is bone stock, so I don't have to worry about them trying to void my warranty that way. I was wondering in what aspect that they would have to prove that the car was abused to void the warranty?
How hard is it to void your warranty?
- Thread starter TrueBlueLS
- Start date
MichaelD
Lifer
- Jan 16, 2001
- 31,528
- 3
- 76
It is very easy for a skilled mechanic to look at a CV joint and determine that it got busted because somebody keeps dumping the clutch. You play, you pay.
If you're lucky, they may fix things ONCE under warranty...just to keep their end of the warranty. Don't be surprised if they throw you the keys and say "hey, stop dumping the clutch, OK?"
If you're lucky, they may fix things ONCE under warranty...just to keep their end of the warranty. Don't be surprised if they throw you the keys and say "hey, stop dumping the clutch, OK?"
Not too sure what they use to determine abuse, but it surely is done. My brother, who mechanics at a Mercedes/Porsche dealer, sees a lot of abuse, but then again, those persons owning Porsches either don't abuse too much or readily admit to it.
In my shop, a bike shop, we continually get the "I was just riding along when......the wheel bent, the frame cracked, yada, yada, yada."
Unfortunately, abuse failures are very typical and do not look like manufacturer screwups. They are easily distinguished, and the bike manufacturers even put out guides to help distinguish between ineptness/crash/abuse damamge and those failures typically seen as manufacturer defects. I imagine car dealers have the same type of thing.
Good luck.
In my shop, a bike shop, we continually get the "I was just riding along when......the wheel bent, the frame cracked, yada, yada, yada."
Unfortunately, abuse failures are very typical and do not look like manufacturer screwups. They are easily distinguished, and the bike manufacturers even put out guides to help distinguish between ineptness/crash/abuse damamge and those failures typically seen as manufacturer defects. I imagine car dealers have the same type of thing.
Good luck.
Would you actually be able to break a CV joint from dumping the clutch about 6 times from 3,000 RPM? I mean the car only has 4,700 miles on it... I guess I'll have to post an update when I get a call from the dealer. Oh yeah, don't they have to give you an estimate before they start work on the car too?
MichaelD
Lifer
- Jan 16, 2001
- 31,528
- 3
- 76
Typically, yes it would snap, crackle and pop before giving out. You weren't terribly specific..you said "I think I broke something at the dragstrip." So, I figured "FWD car + dragstrip = dead CV joints." Just being logical.
They are supposed to call you and say "this, that and the other thing is broken, it will cost $$$, do you want us to fix it?" Before they do anything to it. Unless it's covered under warranty, in which case they'll just go ahead and fix it. Good lcuk and let us know what happens.I don't buy that excuse. He's got a 2002 Cavalier. He could have bought a used and very low milage Mustang or Camaro instead that would be faster and would hold up to abuse better.
What exactly are you going up against in a cavilear? I had all but counted them out of my car search because older models were severly underpowered.
Newer GM cars (my parent's '02 impala has one) have black boxes in them usually used in the event of an accident. I'm not sure if mechanics pull data from them when they get a suspicious problem with a car or not, but only GM mechanics are supposed to have the box that can do it.
Your warranty might have information on what exactly voids it. There is probably something about racing (but maybe they overlook that in the cavilears because they think no one would ever try)
Newer GM cars (my parent's '02 impala has one) have black boxes in them usually used in the event of an accident. I'm not sure if mechanics pull data from them when they get a suspicious problem with a car or not, but only GM mechanics are supposed to have the box that can do it.
Your warranty might have information on what exactly voids it. There is probably something about racing (but maybe they overlook that in the cavilears because they think no one would ever try
)Subcompact = Geo
Compact = Cavalier
Everyone has their differences in what they like about cars. A lot of people don't know it, but there are 12, 13, and 14 second Cavaliers. I figured I'd see what I had starting off and go from there. My goal is to pull 200 FWHP all motor on my car. After that, then I'll think about putting a turbo on it once the warranty is all said and done. This won't be any BS ricer car with the coffee can muffler, big aluminum wing that looks like a park bench, or stickers that add 15 HP.
Originally posted by: MrBond
What exactly are you going up against in a cavilear? I had all but counted them out of my car search because older models were severly underpowered.
Newer GM cars (my parent's '02 impala has one) have black boxes in them usually used in the event of an accident. I'm not sure if mechanics pull data from them when they get a suspicious problem with a car or not, but only GM mechanics are supposed to have the box that can do it.
Your warranty might have information on what exactly voids it. There is probably something about racing (but maybe they overlook that in the cavilears because they think no one would ever try
I thought that was the box that controlled the SES light and gave trouble codes.
I believe this is a different box. Anyone can buy computer diagnostic readers that reads the trouble codes, but apparently the newer GM vehicles have another box that is unreadable by anyone but a GM Tech/Dealer. There was a thread here about it probably a month ago, I remember it vaguly.
well I know in my case it all depends on the dealership. i've done quite a few things with my car and while it was under warranty I alwasy got everything replaced that needed replacing (including 2 trannies...on the 3rd paid by ford <= if it weren't such a peice of $hit then I wouldn't break it) and my clutch has been replaced by them, as well as other parts here and there.
but in generally..I know in terms of modding your car, the dealership woudl ahve to prove that that mod was the direct casue of the broken part. so if you haven't done anything to you car (in terms of mod) tha tcould possibly break your front end (cv joint), the nyou don;t have much to worry about...or shouldn't...thank god I know someone who works at FORD who gives me many hookups!
but in generally..I know in terms of modding your car, the dealership woudl ahve to prove that that mod was the direct casue of the broken part. so if you haven't done anything to you car (in terms of mod) tha tcould possibly break your front end (cv joint), the nyou don;t have much to worry about...or shouldn't...thank god I know someone who works at FORD who gives me many hookups!
iamwiz82
Lifer
- Jan 10, 2001
- 30,772
- 13
- 81
actually, you are wrong.
Minicompact - Less than 85 cubic feet of passenger and luggage volume
Subcompact - Between 85 and 99 cubic feet of passenger and luggage volume
Compact - Between 100 and 109 cubic feet of passenger and luggage volume
Mid-Size - Between 110 and 119 cubic feet of passenger and luggage volume
Large - 120 or more cubic feet of passenger and luggage volume
Those are the official regulations. A cavalier is at 87 cu. ft in a sedan and 91 in a coupe.
My friend heavily modded his Civic, nothing really mechanical but he felt it was necessary to have a folding LCD and indash DVD player in his car. Last day of school, the sucka goes up in flames from an electrical fire. I'm trying to figure out if he it happened purposely or not since he bought a 3000GT a month before and was unsuccessfully trying to sell the Civic.
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