[kansasfrontier]

I have occasionally read that some of you have taken off your aftermarket parts before you go to the dealership for warranty work. Some of you are afraid that it will void your warranty.
I was at the dealership today for warranty work and decided to speak with the service manager about this subject. I asked him if I WERE to purchase an aftermarket (non nismo and not installed by the dealer) CAI, throttle body spacer, and exhaust, would that void my warranty.
He Informed me that He has many new car and truck customers that install these type of parts on their vehicles and have never seen a direct problem arise from these.
He did not see a problem with anything I mentioned.
He gave an extreme example of a guy who put a nitrous system on his 2005 maxima.
He came in for a problem with his maxima and removed most of the nitrous system but left some of the injectors. They decided to go ahead and fix the problem once but told him they would not do it again.
This dealership seems very progressive. My advice would be to ask the service manager the same question I did and see how they respond.
If you don't get the response you want got to another dealership (if you are lucky to have another Nissan Dealership in your area.)
I guess I got lucky. The Dealership is Davis Moore in Wichita, funny thing is I did not buy my truck from them.

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

I have occasionally read that some of you have taken off your aftermarket parts before you go to the dealership for warranty work.

That would be me! I guess I just know how to pick the dealerships! Actually, the only aftermarket parts I've ever gotten grief over have been the intake components, and a lot of that has to do with filter that are oiled! I had an aftermarket exhaust on my F-150, and the Service Dept never said a word to me. They did mention the aftermarket Intake I had (which actually used the stock air box, just a different free flowing intake tube), they would refer to it as "that thing" I had on my intake! I also had a K&N filter on my Explorer and that service department never said a word about the filter. It's the Nissan Service Writer I have now that gave me grief about the K&N Filter I had in the stock air box! The real concern I have with this service department will be if I ever do have a problem with the MAF while it's under warranty they will probably blame the oiled filter, even though I had one in my two fords, and never had a problem with either, and the Fords seem more susceptible to the oil fouling the MAF than other vehicles! And, most of the problems I've heard about concerning the Fords was due to the owner over oiling the filter after cleaning it! I don't traverse dusty roads that often, so chances of my needing to clean my oiled filter before 50,000 miles is slim! I remove the CAI before bringing it to the service dept now mainly because I don't want to deal with the lecture i'll probably get! And, it only takes me about 5 minutes to swap one for the other, and I do my own oil changes, so it only goes to the dealership with warranty items anyway! I've owned it since June last year, and last week was my first trip to the service dept!

 

[bluegrass]

I was in to my dealership this morning to get my trailer hitch installed (finally...) and asked the service manager about this. He said it voids the warranty of the system you modify but exhausts don't really pose much of a threat then proceeded to tell me of all the evils of oiled filters ruining $500 MAF sensors. I pretty much counted on him saying that.

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

Sounds like they went to the same service writer school!

As I have said before, a K&N, AirAid, or any other oiled filter probably won't cause any problems as they come from the factory. The problems occur when someone cleans the filter and applies too much oil afterwards!

Personally, I don't understand why a MAF costs $500.00! $50.00 sounds more reasonable, have you looked at one, there may be $5.00 worht of materials! If I could find a source for cheap reliable MAF's I buy one and have a spare! Maybe I need to start scouring the junk yards for trashed Frontiers, Xterras and Pathfinders and see if I can buy a couple spares for cheap!

As you mentioned, I've never had an issue with an aftermarket exhaust, and if I go with the JBA I'll probably spring for the stainless steel being as it will have a lifetime warranty! I won't have to worry about Nissan warranting it then, and it will be good long after the 3/36 is gone!

 

[RDNF]

when i took my frontier with the AFe CAI and the cat back all my dealer said was cool.
then he drove it and said he was doing it to his pathfinder.

my dealership rocks

 

[kansasfrontier]

Bluegrass and 05_Nismo_4x4
Sorry to hear about how poorly you are treated at the service department.
You should never have to deal with lectures from someone who should know better.

My service manager said he has seen many years of aftermarket intakes and exhaust and he had some great stories for me, but he said it would have to be a direct cause of the aftermarket part for him not to allow the warranty to take care of the problem.

Again It think the best policy is to be upfront and ask what they think.
go somewhere else if they give you a hard time.

Goodluck

 

[SilverSE05]

I talked to my service writer this past Monday...

I was in for my brakes but that is another issue. I spoke to the service writer and he stated that putting aftermarket parts on any car DOES NOT VOID THE WARRANTY at all. If people would learn to read the fine print which they dont he said the aftermarket part would have to be the direct cause of a problem and 9/10 times it is not. He said it doesnt void warranty at all but can be used as an excuse for the dealership not to fix something. I also have two of my best friends who work on nissan and they agree.

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

Silver,

I don't disagree with you, and I have read the Magnuson-Moss Act and understand the dealership has to prove the aftermarket part cause damage or failure of another part. I just feel I have one of those dealerships that would use the aftermarket part as an excuse to try and get out of a warranty repair, or just make me feel like I've done something wrong by adding the aftermarket part. They have already demonstrated this with their comment about the K&N filter. It's easier for me to just remove the CAI (which can be done in less than 10 minutes) and bring it to them stock. It would be much tougher to claim an aftermarket part caused a problem if there is no aftermarket part present when they see the vehicle! I really don't fore see the CAI causing any problems, so that leaves the issue of the lectures, and I don't care to have to listen to them, so for me, this is my way of avoiding such conflicts! I'd love to find a service writer that said "Cool, I'd like one of those for my truck", but I didn't get that lucky!

 

[kansasfrontier]

Why can't you go to another Nissan service center?
You live in Indy? right
there has got to be at least two Nissan Dealers close to you.
I live in Wichita and there is 2 within 30min
Indy is much bigger i'm sure.

I guess it's not that big a deal to you (which is fine)
but that would really piss me off.

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

We have at least 4 that I can think of off the top of my head, and one just opened. It's more of a convenience thing being as the one I bought the truck from is 3 minutes down the street and all the other are across town! The one that just opened is the next closest and I'm thinking of trying them. They own a dealership for just about every popular make of car, both american and japanese! A good frind of mine bought his Explorer from their Ford store and is very happy with their service department. I'll probably try them next because if I ever buy another Nissan, it will probably be from them anyway.

I may not have mentioned it previously, but the trip to the service dept last week, when they gave me crap about the K&N Filter was my first since buying the truck last June. So, I really didn't know how they would react until then. Now that I know, I'll be shoppong around!

 

[PIMPaLiCiOuS]

I'm sympathetic to 05 NISMO 4x4. If I have a brand spankin' new truck that fails for any reason (especially an expensive failure), I don't want to give the dealership any reason to NOT fix what is rightfully covered under warranty. I don't want the dealership to take any more of my time trying to prove that my aftermarket parts caused or did not cause the problem everytime I bring my truck in for regularly scheduled maintenance.

But yah, I feel it is stupid. I have not heard of any bolt-on parts being the reason for problems. I know its possible, but probable? I have 3 or 4 dealerships to choose from, so hopefully one service department is on the progressive side. If not, I have the patience to save money for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[IceCreamMan]

I remember back in the mid `90s me and a few friends had two different Ford dealerships in town that we would take our 5.0s to for warranty work. One of the dealerships could have cared less if we had off road exhaust,long tube headers or a supercharger, the other dealership pretty much told me to take a hike. I`m still debating purchasing a CAI for my Frontier for fear of having to take it off every time I go to the dealership.

 

[chargedup05]

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:23 am Post subject: 2005 Nissan CC LE Drive Belt Squeeky

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I started getting a squeeky revolving sound from my front right engine. I went to the dealer (1 hour drive) and the service rep said it was most likely the drive belt, but the problem was, that the drive warmed up the belt for better traction, so I couldn't reproduce the sound at the dealership. They told me that they have to hear the sound before they can repair it under warranty. I'm kind of in a bind now, because this week I'm having my exhaust and CAI installed, I'm affraid I'll go to the dealership to fix the belt and they'll void my warranty because I have the aftermarket upgrades. So basically, I'm goint to try and get my truck in for warranty repair before my parts come in for the install. Anyone else experience this problem?

 

[OkieScot]

chargedup05,

Did they look under the hood when you took it in the first time? If so they should be aware that you had the problem before you installed the aftermarket stuff. It should
not affect your warranty at all unless they can prove the problem was caused by
something aftermarket you added to your truck.

Nissan even offers a Nismo CAI on our trucks so how can they say a CAI voids the
warranty? Of course it is said that you can indeed foul the MAS if you over oil the
filter element and that would indeed be cause to void the warranty.

Having said all of that I would get the warranty work done before I installed the modi-
fications just to avoid the hassle.

OkieScot

 

[mrgrayaz]

I had the same problem, so I just left it at the dealership overnight. They said it started squeeking away as soon as they started it in the morning.

 

[tweaking_it]

We have at least 4 that I can think of off the top of my head, and one just opened.

Have you tried Muncie? that is where i go and they said that mods are no problem as long as they are not a direct cause. I know its a bit of a drive but worth it. Great Service and People.

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

Ha! Yea, that would be a heck of a drive! I live on the South side of Indy, and Muncie is an hour from the North side of town, so it would be a pretty good haul! There are a couple on the west side of town and one of the east side of town that I may try first. I just need to find the time to drive by and start up an idle conversation with the service managers to see their thoughts, before I actually need to have any service done! With the mods I'm accumulating, it's no longer practical to try and remove them all before going in for service!

 

[tweaking_it]

Hey I am From the South side to. What part? I am off of Southport on 37.

When I have a problem I call them, they bring me a loaner car and take my truck to fix it. so i dont have to driver over an hour to get my truck. The last time it was only gone for 24 hrs. 8O i got some POS buick.

What shop do you have problems with so I know who to steer clear of?

 

[05_NISMO_4X4]

I live in Greenwood, off Smith Valley between 31 and 135! Hubler Nissan is where I bought it, and where I took it for the trailer wiring recall. They were who gave me a ration of crap about the K&N filter! They'd probably have a cow if they saw it now!

Did you buy yours from Muncie? I wonder if they would do the same for me being as I bought somewhere else? I know Hubler doesn't do loaners, even if you bought from them!

I was thinking of trying Andy Mohr in Avon, a buddy of mine bought his Explorer from their Ford store and has had a lot of good to say about their service department. Of couse just because the Ford Service Dept is good is no guarranty the Nissan Service Dept will be too, but they seem like decent people to deal with! Their Nissan Store wasn't open when I bought my truck, or I'd have probably gone there!

 

[tweaking_it]

We are close then about 2-3 miles appart at the most. 8) We should have a couple of cold ones one night and talk Nissan.

I bought mine from Muncie. I dont think they would do the same thing for you being you did buy it else where. also keep in mind that the truck is still running on Temp plates(getting them today) so this may change soon.

Do let me know what you find i am thinking the next time i have a problem i may not call on Muncie but to a closer dealer.