I want to slam my HHR but dont want to void the warranty! Can it be done? :D

I want to slam my HHR but dont want to void the warranty! Can it be done? :D

It'll probably void suspension related items, if that's where your concerned then don't do it.

Ng

It'll probably void suspension related items, if that's where your concerned then don't do it.

Ng
No probably about it. Chevy will Void any and all warrantied parts that are not as it came from the factory. By lowering the car, you will void the entire suspension side of the warranty.

I went through this when I lowered my truck a few years ago.

One of the reasons I didn't do the extended warranty deal is because after I'm done with all my mods my warranty will most likely be null and voided.

Ng

I would talk with your dealer first. There is a law that prevents manufacturers from voiding a warranty unless it can be proven the aftermarket part was specifically responsible for another parts failure. However, it appears GM has the money to overturn such decisions...

I would said that too..
must be proved....

Yeah the law will protect you to some degree but GM WILL void the warranty on the suspension and related components. However, with that said you should still be good on everything else especially if you have a good dealer to work with. I know my dealer is cool and they know I'll be modding mine as soon as I get it home. They even want me to bring it in so they can do some before and after shots to post on their bulliten boards to show customers what can be done with an HHR. I know the suspension warranty will be shot, but then again, I usually blow my warranty clean out of the water right after I buy a car anyway so it dosen't matter to me. I've never taken any car I've bought to a dealer anyway. But I always keep the engine and drive train stock until it's proven to be reliable before starting any mods there. So far I've been really lucky. I installed a blower on my Focus when it had 10k on the clock. I sold it about a year ago with 52k and the new owner now has about 75k on it and it's still running as sweet as it did the day I installed the blower. Good luck. - Dan

Here's a photo of my first love... voided a lot of the warranty 6 weeks after I bought it when I cut the top off! :D

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/269/269105/folders/231289/1835436roadster.jpg

________________________

1988 Mitsubishi Mighty Max Pickup
Lowered 4.5 inches
15x7 front, 15x8 rear Enkei Sawblades w/50 series tires
Ground Effects Kit
Monochrome paint scheme
Hardtop convertible conversion

Whatever you do - DON'T lower your HHR! http://forums.ngemu.com/images/smilies/new1/rotflmao.gif

Whatever you do - DON'T lower your HHR! http://forums.ngemu.com/images/smilies/new1/rotflmao.gif

I thought I would cut the top off first, Mike! ;)

I thought I would cut the top off first, Mike! ;)

There ya go! ;)

You guys crack me, all paranoid about the dealer. We lower, lift, super charge, install wheels, hell we just put a set of 26's on a new Escalade, all through the dealer and all with warranty still intact.

You guys crack me, all paranoid about the dealer. We lower, lift, super charge, install wheels, hell we just put a set of 26's on a new Escalade, all through the dealer and all with warranty still intact.


Hey!!! a snake sighting! we were wondering what happened to you :confused:

Ng

Hey!!! a snake sighting! we were wondering what happened to you :confused:

Ng
Yep, he also appeared in another thread earlier & Capt. graciously welcomed his return! :D

You guys crack me, all paranoid about the dealer. We lower, lift, super charge, install wheels, hell we just put a set of 26's on a new Escalade, all through the dealer and all with warranty still intact.

The key here is "through the dealer". Many mods are available through dealerships and they will not kill your warranty, but if you or a non-dealer authorized shop performs the mod it will mose certainly kill that part of the warranty unless you have a mod friendly dealership. Voiding any part of the warranty is a dealer based decision and if your lucky the dealerships in your area will be mod friendly. I know here it varies, some dealerships are cool about mods while other's fight you tooth and nail.

I know on my Focus I had the option of installing the Jackson Racing Supercharger through the dealer or installing it myself for about half the cost, I chose the latter. Sure it killed my powertrain warranty and I already killed the suspension warranty so wtf, I don't use dealer shops anyway.

The key here is "through the dealer". Many mods are available through dealerships and they will not kill your warranty, but if you or a non-dealer authorized shop performs the mod it will mose certainly kill that part of the warranty unless you have a mod friendly dealership. Voiding any part of the warranty is a dealer based decision and if your lucky the dealerships in your area will be mod friendly. I know here it varies, some dealerships are cool about mods while other's fight you tooth and nail.

I know on my Focus I had the option of installing the Jackson Racing Supercharger through the dealer or installing it myself for about half the cost, I chose the latter. Sure it killed my powertrain warranty and I already killed the suspension warranty so wtf, I don't use dealer shops anyway.

Only time I've ever seen the dealer void a warranty is when the customer is a dick, plain and simple. They don't want you to leave, thats money out of their pocket, it's generally up to the guy actually working on the car. If I have a car come in for the same repair several times and it's due to an aftermarket component, damn right I'm gonna say something because it make me look bad when it keeps coming back for the same repair.

Funny story: back in the '80's I used to do a lot of weekend sand hill dragging with my Jeep. It was an '85 CJ-7, and even though it had a lot of performance mods, was still under warranty.

One weekend I was racing and shredded a rear axle shaft. Since this Jeep was my "daily driver" I was forced to put it in 4WD and drive it home in FWD.

Monday morning I was first in line at the dealership's service department waiting for them to open (gotta get this rear axle warranteed!?!). As soon as they open, the Service Manager walks up to me and says - "Hey! Didn't I see you out at Whitewater (the place we race on the sand hills), yesterday?"

Figuring I'm busted now, I meekly say "yes" - and he surprises me saying; "Man, you were tearing it up out there! I'm going to get this warranteed for you 'cause you make us (Jeep), look so good!" I walked away from it with a new rear axle shaft, seal, and free labor.

Now that doesn't happen every time! :D

I hope my dealership will be cool since I'm only lowering the car to make it easier for me to transfer in.That is anyway the only reason I want to lower it..lol..

Only time I've ever seen the dealer void a warranty is when the customer is a dick, plain and simple. They don't want you to leave, thats money out of their pocket, it's generally up to the guy actually working on the car. If I have a car come in for the same repair several times and it's due to an aftermarket component, damn right I'm gonna say something because it make me look bad when it keeps coming back for the same repair.

Then you must work for a pretty cool dealer. Although I never use a dealer most of the folks here in our car community does, and most of them with modded cars have a hard time getting the dealers around here to work on their cars. More often than not they look at the cars and tell them flat out that they won't work on them under warranty. Some of them have had that decision reversed after siting the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, but it's been a battle for many. Of course I'll have to admit that the majority of the people I'm talking about have Ford or Mazda products. I don't know how the GM dealers are in this area regarding the subject. This is because most of the people who hang out at my shop do so because of my involvement in the Ford Focaljet forum, I had a Focus and was very involved with that forum so most of the people I've met since moving here are as a result of that forum. I guess now that I went back to GM I'll meet more GM people and discover how they are with regard to warranty issues.

I am still going to lower mine Mike you lowerd yours so whats the problem? Besides the warrenty?

I don't know of any problems (except maybe a giant speed bump!). :D

:D HHAHA Funny MIke! Thats the thing i am worried about also, i dont want my whole front bumper ripped off by a speed bump or parking curb.lol :p: