Lifetime of Modifications

[EXP Jawa]

I'd like to get a front strut tower brace, but I'm afraid of voiding the warranty.

Unless the brace has caused whatever failure that you trying to have a warranty repair on, it can't void the warranty just because its there. The dealers (and manufacturers) are legally prevented from voiding warranties just because of the presence of aftermarket parts. The parts have to contribute to the problem at hand to void it. Google the Magnuson-Moss Act.

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[tbonez3858]

Unless the brace has caused whatever failure that you trying to have a warranty repair on, it can't void the warranty just because its there. The dealers (and manufacturers) are legally prevented from voiding warranties just because of the presence of aftermarket parts. The parts have to contribute to the problem at hand to void it. Google the Magnuson-Moss Act.

Agree that Magnuson-Moss protects the "modder" to some certain extent. The dealer can make it such a PITB that getting the problem fixed is more costly than just paying to fix it yourself, however...

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Unless the brace has caused whatever failure that you trying to have a warranty repair on, it can't void the warranty just because its there. The dealers (and manufacturers) are legally prevented from voiding warranties just because of the presence of aftermarket parts. The parts have to contribute to the problem at hand to void it. Google the Magnuson-Moss Act.

I'm familiar with the law.

But basically any problem that pops up can be attributed to the aftermarket add-on. For example, while I was under warranty on my 2011 Mustang, the power steering module went. It was replaced under warranty. If I'd had a strut tower brace installed, they could have easily said that the strut tower brace was the reason the steering module went, and refused to perform the warranty work. Even if they'd been wrong and the brace had nothing to do with it, I would have had to sue them to prove that -- and litigating a law suit for a couple thousand dollars costs more than it's worth.

So if you get your set of axle-backs, and a connecting rod snaps, they can just say "oh, the connecting rod never would have snapped if it weren't for the decrease in backpressure from the aftermarket exhaust." Etc., etc., etc.

 

[GarRtr]

New to mod also, what's some mods that should be done first and have little to no impact to the rest of the car

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

New to mod also, what's some mods that should be done first and have little to no impact to the rest of the car

Lots of performance company stickers.

 

[scottpe]

New to mod also, what's some mods that should be done first and have little to no impact to the rest of the car

The mods you should do really will depend totally on what your goals are for the car.

Also, since this is a brand new design, we don't know where all of the opportunities for improvement lie. So, even knowing your goals for the car, the complete answer to your question will take some time to be revealed.

That being said, if you tell us your goals, I'm sure we can at least guesstimate what may be required to achieve them. ;)

 

[GarRtr]

The mods you should do really will depend totally on what your goals are for the car.

Also, since this is a brand new design, we don't know where all of the opportunities for improvement lie. So, even knowing your goals for the car, the complete answer to your question will take some time to be revealed.

That being said, if you tell us your goals, I'm sure we can at least guesstimate what may be required to achieve them. ;)

Handling/throttle response/stuff that will help low rpm or 0-60 times?

 

[fionic]

I want my car to sound like this

[ame]

 

[Norm Peterson]

Handling/throttle response/stuff that will help low rpm or 0-60 times?

When you put such a list of "wants" together, you might also want to have an idea which one(s) have higher priority than others, because sometimes mods done to improve one aspect can hurt another.

Just in the short quoted list there is the possibility of making the engine too responsive at low rpm/small throttle openings for easy throttle modulation while cornering. Hopefully this situation would only arise at autocross or at a track day, but you can't ignore the possibilities involving wet (or worse) roads when there is less grip than you think. No sense in making stability control work overtime, or be faced with too many situations beyond its capabilities.


Norm

 

[Norm Peterson]

Hey all,

This will be my first time owning a performance vehicle that I plan on modifying(extensively)

I wanted to know what the " shelf life " of a modification will be? I plan on owning the car for a very long time.

Will the modifications I do early on have to be replaced eventually? Catback, springs, shocks and struts etc. I dont want to replace things early on and then by the time im done with everything have to gradually re-do everything.

I plan on buying quality brand name parts(all 304 stainless steel etc.)

Any experience from people who have owned and modified cars for a long time? I apologize for my ignorance on the subject.

Thanks.

Normally, you should get several years service out of most mods, at least as long as you do them thoughtfully.

Warranty-wise, I wouldn't worry the least bit about things that are normally considered "wear parts" - tires, shocks, struts, and exhaust systems in particular.

Much past that, I guess it comes down to each individual balancing how badly he wants to modify his car in whatever way against his risk tolerance.


Norm

 

[souprmage]

If going with a tune, does fuel mileage usually suffer when changing the performance? I know on the diesel engines in the trucks, you can get more HP/TRQ and even get better fuel mileage in the process with a decent tune.

 

[Grimace427]

If going with a tune, does fuel mileage usually suffer when changing the performance? I know on the diesel engines in the trucks, you can get more HP/TRQ and even get better fuel mileage in the process with a decent tune.

Fuel mileage typically improves, assuming you maintain identical driving habits. Ford sacrificed some MPG's for the safety of the engine durability, but only 2-3mpg overall.

 

[tbonez3858]

I want my car to sound like this

That is SICK! I wonder if you would get tired of it after a year or so of DDing.

 

[souprmage]

Right, so the tunes will lean the motor closer to optimal vs the stock tune, thus giving better hp/trq/mpg, but at the expense of wear. Although I'd imagine under normal driving conditions the motor isn't going to really suffer at all. More likely it would be harder on the engine if you drove it at the limit all the time.

 

[fionic]

That is SICK! I wonder if you would get tired of it after a year or so of DDing.

I would never. Drone doesn't bother me. Plus, I've read the stainless works doesn't have drone under 4k

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