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He has a 98 civic with an intake,headers,exhaust.
Well, he through a rod in the motor and 2 dealers said they could not fix it because of the aftermarket parts? so who can he talk to about this? There's no way that those little parts caused the problem!!!
Does anyone know how to handle this?
There has to be more to the story than this. You are right, those parts do not do that, so what else has he done to the car?
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94 Civic Coupe/LS Hybrid
JRSC@6psi
Turbo Convert
Import Specialty Automotive (253) 473-2606
Have him return it to stock and take it to another, if he still had the parts. It would be worth the effort.
Thats all he did to it, nothing else I saw it.
As far as going to another dealer, isn't his first attempts on a warrenty record?
Since he has already taken it to 2 of them, they might have flaged his car. Which means when they run the vin, it shows it is voided.
Lets all cross our fingers and hope not.
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1993 Honda Civic EX 4dr
GReddy turbo @ 6psi
GReddy intercooler
GReddy BOV
R SR exhaust
Apex-i V AFC
Try writing Honda and see what they say. Just be truthful, unless you had a turbo on it or something.
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1993 Honda Civic EX 4dr
GReddy turbo @ 6psi
GReddy intercooler
GReddy BOV
R SR exhaust
Apex-i V AFC
There's no turbo or anything on it. its just your run of the mill upgrades for about 7 hp. I can't understand why they would say this?
Who could he call at Honda of America? Is there a warrenty line?
I figured if anybody knows, it would be you guys http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
What those dealers are doing is illegal. He should start threatening to report them to whatever state consumer protection board there is where he lives.
Threats of legal action will get you very far.
Greg
Go to your dealer. Fill out a request for review to see the district warranty representitive. Explain the situation to him and demand warranty repairs. Get a copy of the magnuson-moss warranty act and carry it with you. Even though this act does not sepcifically address aftermarket performaqnce parts it does cover the use of other than OEM parts and service personnel and will show that you are doing your homework. (Do not let them bluff you into a 50/50.
Advise the rep that you know that dealerships are littered with 98/99 civic's with bad bottom ends and that most dealers are trying to blow it off on lack of service by the customer. (this is not the case in many instances.)
If this does not work call Honda Customer Service (back of owners manual) and compalin about your treatment.
All else fails get a lawyer to contact the dealer. Most of the time it does not go this far.
All this is true if you are with-in your warranty coverage as specified in your warranty information.
nick.
Like the post said earlier. They HAVE to prove that its your aftermarket parts that is causing the defect.
Both of those guys are right. Your best bet is to try and find a copy of the Magn-Moss act to take with you. With hard proof like that and a private talk with a supervisor, usually you can get it taken care of without too much more trouble. Just politely let them know that you know your rights and you arent going away, and that you will take any effort necessary.
Also, raising your voice and screaming and hollering doesnt work. Firm and persistant but very mature conversations will get you a lot further than throwing a temper tantrum.
The "squeaky wheel" doesnt always get the grease, it sometimes gets the boot.
Tell your friend we said good luck.
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"It seemed like a good idea at the time..."
http://www.hondaprelude.com/setups/s...gen=4&orderby=
The relevant provisions can be found at 15 U.S.C. sec. 2301 et. seq. More specifically, 15 U.S.C. sec. 2304(c) provides that that warrantor is not held to enforce its warranty "if he can show that the defect, malfunction, or failure of any warranted consumer product to conform with a written warranty, was caused by damage (not resulting from defect or malfunction) while in the possession of the consumner, or unreasonable use." This is the federal minimum standard for consumer product warranties.
Each state has enacted its own legislation that complements the federal standard, and increases the burden on warrantors. You can probably find your state's consumer warranty statutes incorporated in your state's lemon law statute.
FANNING FEARS
You want to upgrade your vehicle with aftermarket equipment, but you're worried about putting the vehicle's warranty at risk. It's no wonder. How many times have you heard someone at a dealership say that installing aftermarket equipment automatically voids the warranty? This common misconception has been repeated often enough to be widely believed - even though it is completely false.
Wrap-up: Dealers don't like warranty work, which pays less than normal repairs. By promoting the myth that aftermarket equipment automatically voids warranties, some dealers manage to avoid such low-paying work and charge the prime rate for service which is rightfully under warranty.
THE TRUTH
Most vehicle owners are not aware they are protected by federal law: the Magnuson-Moss Warranty - Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act of 1975. Under the Magnuson-Moss Act, aftermarket equipment which improves performance does not void a vehicle manufacturer's original warranty, unless the warranty clearly and conspicuously states that aftermarket equipment voids the warranty. Most states have warranty statutes, as well, which provide further protections for vehicle owners.
In other words, a dealer can't wiggle out of his legal warranty obligation merely because you install aftermarket equipment. To find out if any aftermarket equipment automatically voids your vehicle's warranty, check the owner's manual, usually under a heading such as "What Is Not Covered." Although the language may be negative, remember your vehicle manufacturer is simply saying he does not cover the aftermarket products themselves. He is not saying that the products would void the vehicle warranty.
(Separately sold "extended" warranties vary and may be subject to restrictions not addressed here.)
Wrap-up: As of the 1998 model year, no properly installed equipment manufactured by Gale Banks Engineering has ever voided any vehicle manufacturer's warranty. And, to protect your investment, Banks warranties every power product they manufacture.
VEHICLE DEALERS' OBLIGATIONS
Suppose your modified vehicle needs repairs while still under warranty. Without analyzing the true cause of the problem, the dealer attempts to deny warranty coverage. He made his decision simply based on the fact that you've installed aftermarket equipment - a convenient way to dodge low-paying warranty work.
An example of how ridiculous this can get is the man who was denied warranty coverage by a dealer on his power door locks, because he had improved his exhaust system! Sounds nuts? It really happened - because that man did not know his rights and challenge the dealer's decision.
Wrap-up: A dealer must prove - not just say - that aftermarket equipment caused the need for repairs before he can deny warranty coverage on that basis.
YOUR RIGHTS
Point out to the dealer the provisions of the Magnuson-Moss Act. Require that he explain to you how the aftermarket equipment caused the problem. If he can't - or his explanation sounds questionable - it is your legal right to demand he comply with the warranty
.
Wrap-up: If you are still being unfairly denied warranty coverage, there is recourse. The Federal Trade Commission, which administers the Magnuson-Moss Act, monitors compliance with warranty law. Direct complaints to the FTC at (202) 326-3128.
Thankyou for the education, my experiance with dealers has proved just what kind of low life's they really are!!!!
1. Leased a car out from under me when I had already signed the papers to buy it. Then the salesman called me up and started BICTHING me out for going to another dealer.
2. Wrecked this said car, traded it for another, left town for a month, came back and the first one had been fixed and was setting in the used section, I went over and started looking at it and the salesman walked up and started to tell me about, bunch of F%#$$ lies when I told him I was the orginal owner he nearly stroked out, turned the nicest cherry red... http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif
3. A few months later they wanted me to commit fraud by signing the insuance papers on a car I did not even own anymore, so they could collect for the repairs, along with the profit thay made on the trade-in.
Sorry for being OT but this proved to me, that everything you hear about dealers is probably true, since I had delt with two differnt deales.
Always were your jock strap "backwards" when dealing with car dealers.
-Ryan-
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"Noth'in like Induction...";)
88' CRX Si - JRSC @ 6psi
Endyn/Bosch FP, CarTech FMU, B&M Command Flo
AutoMeter - FP, A/F, Boost gauges & pods, B&M FP Set
Eibach Pro-Control Bars, AEM Pads
My place in the World
What parts exactly does your friend have ??? (Brand and type would be helpful).
If they all have a CARB exemption number, there is absolutely nothing that a dealer can do to refuse warranty service.
Also, there is an entire organization available to help you with this very problem... SEMA !!! They exist to defend you, the consumer, from unfair treatment by the dealer network. You might mention in your calm forceful conversation with the service manager that a SEMA attorney could arrive in a matter of hours if fair treatment was not received immediately.
Good luck.
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'93 Civic Si H/B with B18C1, JRSC @ 8psi
Best 1320: 12.68 at 110 mph