Warranty Dealership run around

[Codewiz]

I wrecked my vehicle about 18 months ago. 7K front end damage to my vehicle. Insurance had it all repaired without issue. About 6 months ago, rear main seal started leaking. Had it replaced under warranty without issue. 9 months ago, I installed a K&N air filter. The dealership never said a word about my K&N filter being installed during any previous repairs or service and there is a sticker right there pointing the fact out.

About 2 months ago, my check engine light started coming on and off. It would never stay on for long. Additionally, I took it to have it scanned at a quick lube place and they said it was likely a minor issue and to take it to the dealership to have it fixed under warranty. Since we were close to the mileage expiration, we drove the car very sparingly over the next 2 months(less than 100 miles). We just didn't have time for the dealership. The car has 59.8K miles and the warranty expires at 60K.

Took it in last week. Here is what the dealership is trying to pull. They are saying that the intake manifold is cracked. They said it either happened in the wreck and wasn't repaired, or the K&N caused it and my warranty is void.

I know that unless they can prove the filter caused the failure, they can't void my warranty. They are trying to get me to convince my insurance company that it wasn't repaired from the wreck. I do not believe that is the case because I had no issues with the car(outside of the seal) for the previous 16 months. I believe they also think that if I can convince my insurance company to pay for it, they would get the work. First off, I believe it would be insurance fraud because I don't personally think it was damaged in the wreck. The only engine damage was the radiator had a trailer hitch go through it.

Any recommendations? Just take it to another dealership and explain the issue?


TL : DR
1. Wrecked car ~18 months ago and had repaired
2. Check engine light recently
3. Cracked manifold
4. Dealership blames wreck or says K&N air filter caused so warranty void
5. Dealership wants me to commit insurance fraud by claiming wreck caused it when I don't think it did.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

How could a K&N filter crack an intake manifold? Its not going to do much different than a stock filter, might allow slightly higher flow, but thats just going to be how ever much the engine needs to run on, which is the standard they should have engineered the manifold to.

 

[Codewiz]

How could a K&N filter crack an intake manifold? Its not going to do much different than a stock filter, might allow slightly higher flow, but thats just going to be how ever much the engine needs to run on, which is the standard they should have engineered the manifold to.

It can't and didn't. They just don't want to do the warranty work. I already called another dealership and asked if using a K&N air filter would void my warranty and I was told no.

 

[Zivic]

It can't and didn't. They just don't want to do the warranty work. I already called another dealership and asked if using a K&N air filter would void my warranty and I was told no.

so take it to that other dealership

 

[PottedMeat]

so take it to that other dealership

and put the old filter back on

 

[LTC8K6]

Can you even be sure their diagnosis is accurate?

 

[phucheneh]

and put the old filter back on

...and leave it there.

When I first started reading this, I thought it was gonna be about the dealer telling you they wouldn't warranty a MAF. And they shouldn't.

But this sounds like bullshit. And besides, they can't just 'void your warranty' on the whole car because of one thing.

What kind of car is this? Have you inspected the collision repairs yourself? If everything looks factory, they don't have shit for a case. Really, they don't in any case because of the length of time. But visibly shoddy collision repairs will not help. I would question a car with sheetmetal screws, zip-ties, or any other of the bullshit stuff collision places like to use in place of proper parts.

Where is the intake cracked? Is it throwing a fuel trim code due to a vacuum leak?

 

[power_hour]

Analysis is total bullshit. Take it to another dealer. Make sure you ditch the filter until your warranty is over.

 

[Raizinman]

Depending on which K&N intake system you have and how it was installed. Was it just a simple air filter replacement or was it the entire K&N Ram kit? Often when a Ram kit is installed, it is possible for water to enter the intake system. Is it possible that water entered the intake system during a rain or perhaps during the accident, perhaps blown radiator? I could easily see a link between the two. Dealerships don't like K&N filters or Ram kits, especially since they don't really do anything and their filters pass much more dirt than normal OEM filters.

You can try taking your vehicle to another dealer, but all dealerships are connected by computer and its more likely than not that the service writer 'red flagged' your vehicle.

 

[Codewiz]

Depending on which K&N intake system you have and how it was installed. Was it just a simple air filter replacement or was it the entire K&N Ram kit? Often when a Ram kit is installed, it is possible for water to enter the intake system. Is it possible that water entered the intake system during a rain or perhaps during the accident, perhaps blown radiator? I could easily see a link between the two. Dealerships don't like K&N filters or Ram kits, especially since they don't really do anything and their filters pass much more dirt than normal OEM filters.

You can try taking your vehicle to another dealer, but all dealerships are connected by computer and its more likely than not that the service writer 'red flagged' your vehicle.

It is just the filter. Took the old filter out, dropped in a new one.

This is a 2010 VW Jetta TDI.

As for knowing whether the diagnosis is correct, I have no idea. I have strung the dealership along because I wanted them to repair my sunroof that they screwed up when replacing the seal 3 months ago. They are doing that for no cost. I told them that I will need the report of the diagnosis, evidence that K&N air filters can cause the damage, prior to going to my insurance company. Once I have those things, I am going to take the information down to the other dealership and get their commitment to fix it.

The current dealership told me that I shouldn't drive the car any further because I could damage it more. I don't believe they want me to get a second opinion which is a huge red flag for me.

 

[Jimzz]

A VW with issues and a dealer trying to get out of fixing it... NO!!!! this is so new and never happens to any other VW/Audi owners. Hahahahaha...

But yea try another dealer, or get a outside repair shop to look at it and write up if they see any damage to it that could have been causd by the accident. Then go back to whom should fix it based on that.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

...and leave it there.

When I first started reading this, I thought it was gonna be about the dealer telling you they wouldn't warranty a MAF. And they shouldn't.

But this sounds like bullshit. And besides, they can't just 'void your warranty' on the whole car because of one thing.

What kind of car is this? Have you inspected the collision repairs yourself? If everything looks factory, they don't have shit for a case. Really, they don't in any case because of the length of time. But visibly shoddy collision repairs will not help. I would question a car with sheetmetal screws, zip-ties, or any other of the bullshit stuff collision places like to use in place of proper parts.

Where is the intake cracked? Is it throwing a fuel trim code due to a vacuum leak?

+1, MAF or other intake sensor would be a valid warranty denial for a K&N.

And like phuchenawa said, put a stock filter in the car. K&N is at best doing nothing for you and at worst covering your intake etc in oil, on an unmodified engine.

 

[bruceb]

The K & N intake did not cause a crack in the manifold. It either was from the wreck (did you lose coolant when it wrecked ? ) or like in a lot of engines a piece of junk design manifold, which would have failed at some point anyway. You ever notice how a lot of auto parts (and other items) have a habit of failing really soon, after the warranty expires ? Your car is right about the time the warranty is up. Engineers and bean counters want the cheapest part they can use, that won't fail while they would have to eat the cost to replace it. The consumer gets stuck with the cost anyway you see it.

 

[LTC8K6]

Isn't it an aluminum intake manifold? How likely are they to crack on their own?

Then again, if the wreck cracked it, why so long for the MIL to come on?

I'd really want another opinion on the problem.

 

[ScottFern]

That is the most ridiculous explanation of a cracked intake manifold I have ever heard. I am sure they will try to blame anything on the K&N when a big repairs comes up. My car is also in the shop for "bottom end noises" after the dealer rebuilt my block with new pistons and rings only 10 months ago just to avoid this exact situation. So I bought a $4 paper air filter off ebay and installed it before I took my car into the dealer.