I purchased an extented warranty from Continental last Aug. and never used it. until a few weeks ago when my turbos started leaking. They sent a rep. out to inspect it and my claim got denied because I had a aftermaket intercooler on the car. I tried to explain to them that it was a reliability upgrade and they didn't care. They told me that the warranty is void if anything is put on the car that is not manufacturer spec. even spark plugs. So, I basicaly wanted to say two things. Has anyone in the forum dealt with continental if so was the car 100% stock? Does anyone know of a company that will still cover a vehicle that has been modified, OOh, and Continental sucks I would not recommend them. They sold me the policy knowing the car has been and was still going to be modified. and then When I wanted to make a claim, they canceled my policy. Sorry I had to vent to someone.

 

I have an extended warranty from a company called Fidelity Warranty Services, Inc. I am in need of a new engine soon cause I am lacking compression. They sent a rep out and he looked at my car and didn't say a thing about the modifications just that if a compression test showed low enough compression they would warranty it. But, they won't disclose what compression this is, all they said was it wasn't low enough. I had a 7.0, 6.8, 6.8, 6.7, 6.7, 6.9. This was last month. I hope is down lower now. Don't know how low it has to be for a warranty, but they guy was a total dumbass, didn't even know my car didn't have pistons. So I figure they don't train these guys real well. Here is there address and phone number. Hope it helps.

P.O. Box 8567
Deerfield Beach, Fl 33443

1-800-327-5172

 

Oh yeah. I tried to get my A/C compressor on warranty cause it wasn't blowing cold air and my mechanic proved it was the Compressor that was bad. But they wouldn't warranty it cause it was not locked up and/or completely broken. So i had to drop the money to buy a new one. Just get a convincing mechanic to talk to them.

 

Yeah, don't bother w these warranty unless your car is really messed up and all stock. If anything on the car isn't stock, forget about getting a dime. It's better to save the money for a raining day and get a clean car to begin with. No hassle in claim and faster repair time too.

 

i fough the my warrenty company and won...they declined to pay for turbos because i had aftermarket wheels, but there is a federal act, like the moss-magnusen warrent act...basicaly is sais that if they deny the claim they have to prove the reason for eh denial, for example my warrently company would have had to prove that the aftermarket wheels was the cause of the turbos going bad...this would have taken more money than just paying to have them replaced, .... right after my lawyer called and mentioned the federal act, the warrenty company cut a check for the turbos....

I'll post more details if i can dig them up, this was years ago.

They alwas deny all claims like this using aftermarket parts as an out, but their is legal protection in your favor if the mods are not a direct result of the problem.

 

actual act name:

Moss-Magnusson Warranty Act

copied from a wrx impreza site:

[quote]

Q: Will installing aftermarket parts void my warranty?
A: It is up to the manufacturer to prove that the aftermarket parts directly caused the problem that is under warranty consideration in order to deny warranty work. They cannot void the whole warranty, nor deny warranty work on the alternator for having an aftermarket suspension. However, if your brake rotors warp and you have aftermarket pads, likely expect a warranty claim on the rotors to be denied. There is a federal statue know as the Moss-Magnusson Warranty Act that can be used in defense of a legitimate denied warranty claim:


Moss-Magnusson Warranty Act
(15 U.S.C. 2302(C))

(c) Prohibition on conditions for written or implied warranty; waiver by Commission
No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer's using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection may be waived by the Commission if -
(1) the warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and

(2) the Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest. The Commission shall identify in the Federal Register, and permit public comment on, all applications for waiver of the prohibition of this subsection, and shall publish in the Federal Register its disposition of any such application, including the reasons therefor.
[\quote]

 

I think that's what will get him. If it was something like aftermarket wheels, brakes or steering wheel... I can see that being overturned.

However, having failing turbos and an aftermarket IC sitting in front of them, it looks like a losing battle IMO.

 

yeah, an ic it a tough fight, but not a lost battle

 

I considered purchasing an extended warranty, also, but was deturred by several terms listed within the contract.

The one that bothered me most, that the insurance company would not cover was, "Burnt valves, worn rings, the correction of oil consumption, any repairs for reduction on engine efficiency that must be performed on your vehicle.

That line alone is so vague that I could forsee some me having some serious problems if something ever did happen in the event that I would have to file a claim.

The best kind of warranties are exclusionary warranties, usually, as they only list what is not covered. Anything that isn't listed is covered, so that could play in the direction of the person making the claim.

If I were you I would fight the denial. While the intercooler is part of the engine's intake system, the intercooler is also after the turbos which would seem not to have any effect on the turbos whatsoever.

Good luck.

Kyle

 

The key thing to remember here is that there is a difference between a manufacturers warranty and an extended warranty through a third party.

A third party warranty is merely a service contract (usually). So if they put anything in the warranty that says if you modify the car, your warranty is voided, and you sign it, then that is what you are held by.

Now if you can't find that in the warranty contract you signed, then it should be pretty easy to win a case like this, because they can't deny the claim unless THEY can prove the IC caused it. The burden of proof is on them, always remember that.

Blake

 

my warrantee got denied and voided when IRVINE CALIFORNIA MAZDA tried to overcharge the company. The inspectors feared fraud and came out. they saw that i had koni springs and larger tires on the car (one size larger on stock wheels). they voided the warrantee based on their statement that my larger tires had altered the odometer reading.

they called h&r springs and koni yellows (dropping it as low as it will go..lol 3/4 of an inch aint that low)

they called my racing beat intake "excessive modification to the vehicle".


thats that

remove all aftermarket parts when dealing with a warrantee company. ALWAYS.


j

 

I have had over $4000 worth of work put on my warranty company. However, the items covered were things like suspension bushings, oil metering pump, rear main seal, etc. They have not put up a fight about anything so far, however, if my engine goes, I'm sure they will be a little more picky....Still, I've certainly got my money's worth...

 

That sucks

 

Hmm.. I have a 2 year warranty through these guys and have never used it yet. But when I purchased it they specifically told me they would not send out a rep, but that I would just take it to a shop and they would work with the shop. How many miles are on your car? I know they have different warranties depending on mileage. I got in the under 50k mileage warranty package so maybe that's the difference?

Bryan

 

I got one for you guys, I purchased my car along with an after market warranty, my car is bone stock....well i took it to the specialist here in town and they told me that the compression was low...thats why im having start up problems..so they took it apart and had the warranty company look at it and then it was denied....their excuse was that is was normal wear and tear on the housing and rotors....the specialist argued that it was not normal wear and tear for that year and for that mileage...my car has 89k on it..the wear was more likely for a car with 120k plus miles....well after everything was said and done...it was still denied....however im taking legal actions against them and im working with an attorney to file a complaint with the better business bureau and the federal trade commision, and i think also the consumer protection agency...i should at least get my money back from the warranty if nothing else happens.....or maybe even get half of the bill paid.....anyways.....thats my nigtmare story......that was three months ago..i still dont have my car fixed..i just gave the go to have it rebuilt this week...due to having to save some money .....anyways...the warranty company is National Warranty Company...dont get anything from them.... there i said my piece.....

 

I bought my FD with 16k miles on it along with an extended warranty from GE Capital. At 62k coolant seals were shot(blowing white smoke at start-up). Anyway, I had to fight tooth and nail to get Ge Captial to cover it. The Service Rep. at Putnam Mazda helped me fight to get the motor and turbos replaced. It took 3-4 months! GE tried to deny the clain by saying that I didn't properly maintain the car, by not changing the oil at least every 5000 miles!...Bullshit. I had all of my receipts except for 2-3 gaps(i had to plot it out in Excel to figure out where I was missing proof).

What I ended up doing was to get ahold of some blank service records from a freind of a freinds now defunct auto reppair shop and proceeded to create the backup documentation to satisfy the Warranty Co.

In the end I got a new motor and turbos.... WOO-HOO!

Oh yeah, my car had these mods on it at the time:

17" wheels
Springs & Shocks
RE Amemiya Intake
HKS Cat Back Exhaust

They made no mention of of them,

 

thanks everyone, it sounds like I would not win this fight because it does state in the warranty that if the car is modified that the contract is void. Even though the sales person told me it didn't matter. My car had 61k on it when I got the warranty and now it has 62 on it.

 

hey everyone. im planning on buying an fd from LAmotorcars this summer and was wondering if anybody has comments or feedback about the warranties that Lance offers? thanks in advance

 

Well to comment about lance's warranties, they sound intriguing but after hearing these stories ya never know. He talks them up to be everything you could ever want but ya never know he is a salesmen. As far as the LA Motorcars establishment goes some people like him some people don't. I personally thing he charges a bit much and carries some subpar products. But hey a man's gotta make a buck right? But if your looking for an FD and got excessive cash to spend he does have some rather nice products at certain times. Good luck either way.

 

thanks for the quick reply, but juss to let you know i dont have excessive amounts of cash to throw around. still saving up but is it just me or does a 3 year warranty included in the price not sound too bad?
thanks again

 

Well, I actually went to LA Motorcars today hoping to do some test driving, but they are closed for personal reasons till March 18th. (Thanks for not putting it on your voicemail or website...that was a wasted two hour drive)

I'll talk to him about the warranty and see what its like. I think its worth paying a bit more for it. Thats really the only reason I'm considering going there. Of course I'll try to talk him down a little from the offering price, but I see most of the FD's listed in auto trader don't seem even as nice as the ones he has, and they go for more.

Blake

 

and don't post that you're going to do it on the internet...was reading about a wrx guy that blew his engine, posted how he was going to remove all mods and get it serviced under warranty...next thing so other guy emailed that info to all the dealers in the area, and now he's screwed...funny ****.

 

don't get warrenties, I sell these plans, and they are crap.

 

This should be interesting. My motor has low compression and is in the shop right now. Continental has been notified of the claim and is sending out an inspector, even though I was specifically told they would not in the event of a claim. I have a feeling I will get denied because of my mods even though the sales person said 'that's not a problem'. If I do get denied, I plan to fight tooth and nail to get at least the money I paid for the warranty back ($1300). If their sales person lied to me to make the sale, it's grounds for a lawsuit.
Wish me luck..

Bryan

 

The more I think about it... I asked the sales person who said mods were ok. That made the sale. BUT a month later I get this paperwork with the 'fine print'. So they had already made the sale and had my money BEFORE they gave me any indication my mods would void the warranty. That certainly has to be grounds for false advertising or bait & switch tactics. Not to mention when you call and ask about a warranty, they take down your vehicle info, then tell you if you don't get the warranty today, you are no longer eligible.. Hmm