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Is warranty voided because of lowering car?

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Old 02-17-2006 | 06:57 PM
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Cool Is warranty voided because of lowering car?

Hey guys just wondering, i searched but couldnt come up with much help. I just want to know if the warranty for the Rx8 is voided if i put lowering springs on the car.

Thanks guys!
Old 02-17-2006 | 07:11 PM
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from what I know you can put lowering springs on your 8, but it has to be from MAZDASPEED products. If it's an after-market spring and it disrupts something in your car they can void it, but I would look into it more. This is what MAZDASPEED springs look like:

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/spee...arLineCode=RX8
Old 02-17-2006 | 07:23 PM
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I could void your warranty on the shocks and the suapension...but not other things like the radio or the engine...they have to prove that the modification directly caused the problem to deny the warranty.
Old 02-17-2006 | 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by silver_8
Hey guys just wondering, i searched but couldnt come up with much help.!

have you tried reading the warranty? they gave you a copy with the car.
Old 02-17-2006 | 09:34 PM
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Originally Posted by dannobre
I could void your warranty on the shocks and the suapension...but not other things like the radio or the engine...they have to prove that the modification directly caused the problem to deny the warranty.
In theory, yes they do have to prove it. But, to me, it seems like they could blame the issue on that and then there is nothing you can do about it. You would have to take it to Mazda of North America, and I'm sure that they have more important things to deal with than a voided warranty because of a mod.
Old 02-17-2006 | 11:45 PM
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It depends a lot on the dealer. Some are re too lazy to bother with it, but others will even install non-mazdaspeed parts for you. It's the same with just about every manufacterer. I've even read about some BMW dealers giving owners a hard time about real issues with their cars.
Old 02-18-2006 | 12:45 AM
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I picked up my car here in Houston after leaving it to get free front brakes, thermal protector, ball joint inspection, new battery starter and lead plugs and the tech doing the work complimented me on the cool tanabe N.Fs.... no questions asked, just sign the papers. Also got to check out the Mazdaspeed turbo6...I liked the whitewater pearled 6 w/the black&white leather interior....This salesguy was doing his best to make a deal on it..heh, I almost fell for it , but looked back at my 8 and just could'nt do it
Old 02-18-2006 | 01:25 AM
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no they cannot totally void your warranty...

This was taken from RSXZone forums... yeah i was lurking around there a while ago deciding between which car I would get... newayz... on to the meat...

Can an Automotive Dealership Void Your Warranty?

Nearly everyone has heard about someone who has taken a vehicle that has been modified with aftermarket parts to a dealer for warranty service, only to have the dealer to refuse to cover the defective items. The dealers usually states that because of the aftermarket parts the warranty is void without even attempting to determine whether the aftermarket part caused the problem.

This is illegal.

Vehicle manufactures are not allowed to void vehicle warranty just because aftermarket parts are used on he vehicle. To better understand his problem it is best to know the differences between the two types of new car warranties and the two types of emission warranties.

When a vehicle is purchased new, the owner is protected against faults hat may occur by an expressed warranty. An offer by the manufacturer to assume the responsibility for the problems with predetermined parts during a stated period of time. Beyond the expressed warranty, the vehicle manufacture is often held responsible for further implied warranties. These state that a manufactured product should meet certain standards. However, in both cases the mere presence of aftermarket parts doesn’t void the warranty.

There are also two emission warranties (defect and performance) required under the clean air act. The defect warranty requires the manufacturer to produce a vehicle, which at the time of the sale is free of defects that would cause it not to meet the required emission levels for its useful life as defined in the law. The performance warranty implies a vehicle must maintain certain levels of emission performance over its useful life. If the vehicle fails to meet the performance warranty requirements the manufacturer must make repairs at no cost to the owner, even if an aftermarket part is directly responsible for a warranty claim. The vehicle manufacturer cannot void the performance warranty. This protection is the result of a parts self-certification program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

In cases where such a failed aftermarket part is responsible for a warranty claim, the vehicle manufacturer must arrange a settlement with the manufacturer, but law does not void the new-vehicle warranty.

Overall, the laws governing warranties are very clear. The only time a new vehicle warranty can be voided is if the aftermarket part has been installed and it can be proven that it is responsible for and emissions warranty claim. However, a vehicle manufacturer r dealership cannot void a warranty simply because an aftermarket equipment has been installed on a vehicle.

If a dealership denies a warranty claim and you think the claim falls under the rules explained above concerning the Clean Air Act (such as emission part failure). Obtain a written explanation of the dealer’s refusal. Then follow the steps outlined in the owner’s manual. However, if this fails, then phone your complaint in to the EPA at (202) 233-9040 or (202) 328-9100.

If a dealership denies a warranty claim involving an implied or expressed new car warranty and you would like help, phone the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at (202) 326-3128.

Hope this helps...
Old 02-18-2006 | 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by juikster
I picked up my car here in Houston after leaving it to get free front brakes, thermal protector, ball joint inspection, new battery starter and lead plugs and the tech doing the work complimented me on the cool tanabe N.Fs.... no questions asked, just sign the papers. Also got to check out the Mazdaspeed turbo6...I liked the whitewater pearled 6 w/the black&white leather interior....This salesguy was doing his best to make a deal on it..heh, I almost fell for it , but looked back at my 8 and just could'nt do it
Smart move. If you own an RX-8 you must care about handling, and the MS6 cannot compare in this area. Too heavy, with too much weight in the nose. It's pretty quick. But if you cared that much about acceleration then you probably wouldn't have bought an RX-8.

Or maybe you just loved how the RX-8 looks. Well, if anyone notices the MS6 on the road at all, they're going to think that gaping hole of a front end is quite ugly. But most people simply aren't going to notice it.
Old 02-18-2006 | 03:31 PM
  #10  
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I have TEIN coilovers on my 8, and have not gotten any crap from my dealer about them. They even asked, because they thought it looked different. It all depends on the dealership you are working with, some turn their head, and some are real hard asses about things. I can't wait till I hit 50k, then I will just tell them to shut up and fix the car. Of course it will be paid for by me at that point, but at least I wont have to feel like I am hiding from them. It gets old.
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