What is everyone's opinion regarding the warranty on our cars after an upgraded pulley has been installed?

The pulley obviously creates more boost by spinning the S/C faster...

Does the ECU log this type of information, and will the dealer be smart enough to scan this if there is ever a blower or engine failure?

What about the added stress the pulley is going to put on the trans, rear diff, etc?

Just wondering what everyone's opinion on this is...

I want to get them, and I've got the go-ahead for the most part from the wife. Her main concern is the warranty. I'd hate to waste this extended service contract we've paid for...especially on a car we bought for her as a good reliable daily driver until she is done with her school.

Lets hear some opinions.

SQ

 

Hi Shawn,

I am going to guess that if you have SC failure or major internal engine failure and an ECU scan shows elevated boost and MAF readings. AND if you take your SRT in (with these issues) to the dealer AND your ODPS is still installed - I bet that Chrysler would find a way to void the warranty - if you were not into your extended period - they MIGHT refund the difference. Warranty is considered a liability to the automakers.

I say keep your stock setup, and if this issue ever does happen, configure your car back to stock prior to taking it in for repair. Then when they question the ECU codes you could respond - "that's what it should read when it fails - right?"

I purchased an extended warranty with my Limited and sold it back to Chrysler for a full refund when I sold the Limited. I decided not to purchase an extended warranty with my SRT-6. I figure if the engine grenades, knowing I was going to modify it - I will rebuild it totally race at my own expense and risk.

BB

 

I would most definitely do this...to say the least.

My main concern is the logged info on the ECU.

However, 99% of these dealers can't fix a seatbelt chime - I'm not sure that they would be able to detect a ODPS, especially if you remove it.

Previously, I've even pulled the sprint booster prior to visiting the dealer, just in case. I hate those places with a passion. I hate buying from them, and I hate using them for service. But, when you pay for a warranty you kind of leave yourself with no choice. And, in this case, I'd rather deal with a little hassle than have to fork over the money and labor myself. Let's face it, these cars aren't cheap to fix.

As far as an all out race rebuild - I'd love to...but it needs to stay together for at least another 3 years until the wife is a PA, then I can afford to 'play' a little more.

In the meantime, I want to go fast - but stay safe and keep my warranty if possible. The ASP Pulley is a little less aggressive, but still plenty fast....so I was kind of leaning towards it.

Thanks for the input.

SQ

 

I haven't had enough experience with Chrysler to say for sure, but they seem pretty much the same as Ford in every respect to warranty so far. Having dealt with Ford on a 2000 Lightning, and later on a 2004 Mustang Cobra, I can say without a doubt that if they find any evidence of a pulley swap, your entire drivetrain warranty is voided. There was a point where Ford was denying warranty claims on the 2003-04 cobras based on depth of tire tread, vs. the mileage on the odometer. Basically, with Ford, there wasn't REALLY a warranty at all, and getting a major warranty claim done on the cobra would have been like winning powerball...takes more luck than skill. Now, my understanding is that most of this behavior came after the handing down from Billy Ford that the upper managements pay would be directly proportional to warranty claims. He did this in an attempt to force improvement of the product, by hitting upper management where it actually hurts...the pocketbook. What it did, instead, was cause upper management to crack down on dealers for PROVIDING warranty claim work, by cutting their pay, and using other incentives to discourage warranty work. The net result being the voiding of warranties left and right, especially on the high performance cars and trucks that carried the most expensive warranty claim work.

If Chrysler has the same attitude towards warranty, I'd say its a safe bet that if they detect any evidence of the pulleys up front being messed with (skinned edges on bolts), any evidence of a reflash on the computer, etc. etc...that warranty is as good as gone. I plan to go through with the pulley and intake because I dont drive my car hard, take it to the drag strip, etc. The car feels very solid and reliable, and I think if driven relatively sanely, should hold up very reliably. If I beat on the car, and thrash it constantly, I expect it to have problems, and I expect to have to pay for them. That doesn't mean I wouldn't TRY to get it fixed under warranty, however.

The problem with swapping everything back to stock, is that you open yourself to fraud claims by chrysler and the dealership. My advice would be to swap everything back to stock, and then if confronted about mods, admit to them, saying they were taken off the car months ago. If you claim no mods were done, and you're the only owner of the car, and they have hard evidence...you're opening yourself up to problems.

Oh...and I'd suggest anyone planning to modify their cars, and say so on this forum, should remove their serial number info from the thread documenting serial numbers. Chrysler and their lawyers DO have access to this site, and that thread. It's not so hard to tie and VIN number to a username, then track the mods done to the car by searching that username. Ford did it all the time.

 

Shawn, I don't know about the other place's people are getting their pulley's from, but RennTech stands behind their products. That's why I spent the extra $$ to go with them. I was told that Chrysler has to prove that the aftermarket pulley & ECU was the cause of the problem that occurred and if they do prove that it did, RennTech will do what it take's to make things right. I have also told a salesman (friend) that works at the local Chrysler dealership about what RennTech had told me about Chrysler proving their product causing a problem. And he told me that in his opinion Chrysler would not waste their time fighting with RennTech, that they would just fix the problem under warranty. I thought long and hard about a performance kit that cost $3,000, but it was worth the extra $$ to know if something happened to my car, if Chrysler wouldn't fix it RennTech would. They are probably the most reputable company out there that sells aftermarket product's for MB/AMG. If you do some research there are a couple RennTech store's that are basically attached to MB/AMG dealerships.

 

Great info AtomHeart...As a Mustang owner, I too know all about the Cobra and Lightning warranty (or lack of), not to mention the 6.0 diesel owners.

Not sure if I'll get 'em yet or not.

SQ

 

As for Chrysler having to prove the aftermarket parts caused the problem...what they mean is, they have to prove it IN COURT. If this is a warranty claim of the magnitude of replacing a Cobra engine, we're talking $12,000 before labor, so Ford was MORE than willing to go to court if you wanted to take it that far...but the way it went down is:

1. You show up at the dealership and present a warranty concern.
2. Dealership calls you later in the day, and tells you an SVT rep needs to look at the car and will fly in tomorrow.
3. Dealership calls you the next day and tells you your warranty has been voided for reasons A, B, and C.
4. You argue.
5. Dealership says, "feel free to take this up with Ford."
6. Ford regional rep says, "nope, my decision is final."
7. You call a lawyer.
8. Ford's ARMY of lawyers that's on retainer, already been paid for the year, and has nothing better to do descends upon you.
9. You can imagine the rest of this sad story.

In this case, you're pretty much guilty until proven innocent. They will NOT do the warranty work until you've proven the parts DIDN'T cause the problem and win your court case.

 

I would also pay extra for some sort of backing from a AM supplier (false or not) when making a mod like this. I plan on getting the RT upgrade after X-mas and the NW CAI. If warranty is your concern the just go with the NW CAI b/c its safe and proven gains.

 

That's all the more reason to go with RennTech, if Chrysler won't fix it RennTech will. They even told me up front that some places are tuning ECU's that probably would give a car more HP & TQ, but are pushing the limits of the engine too far. Renntech has been in business since 1986 and are still going strong, if they did not stand behind their products they surely wouldn't still be business with the prices they charge .

 

Do you have that in writing?

 

No I don't have it in writing, but I do have trust in RennTech. As I said in my last post, they wouldn't still be in business if they were screwing people. I have called them a few times and asked to speak with Bob Brady who is the regional sales manager and he alway's takes my calls. I done a lot of internet searching about them before I made my purchase and I didn't find anything negitive about them but the prices.
Renntech Warranty : http://www.renntechmercedes.com/Warranty.pdf

 

Don't get me wrong, I love aftermarket parts as much as anyone but I hate to be a party pooper but I feel strongly that the warranty would be void. Chrysler is smart enough to "claim" in a round about way that the mods caused a chain reaction etc. Renn Tech and all the others want to sell parts. The chance they would be called out on their so called claim is slim so what do they have to loose telling you that they would make it right? You would spend a lot of money fighting it all and would not be worth it. As much as we would like to talk ourselves out of having any issues, we are treading a very fine line "hoping" nothing happens. If you look at the prices being charged for any warranty work we have had done and imagine if we had to pay out of our pockets, it puts things in perspective as to what side of the fence you should be on.

Steve

 

Chrysler is in financial hardship, if they have reason to void a warranty they will. No comment on Renntech, or how well they will back a product if it costs them money.
ShawnQ,
I would remove pulleys before any major service work involving Supercharger/ engine/Tranny. I would also try and find a spare ECU if you are going to change the factory parameters and worried. GM dealers for the Duramax can only scan codes with the Tech II when a major failure occurs the ECM is shipped to GM headquarters where all parameters are checked and other programing traces are looked for. More then likely if you leave the ECU alone and remove the pulleys you will be fine. If you redue the ECU I think they have a chip you can pull in and out and they will have evidence that the Factory ECU has been altered.

 

With the ASP pulley kit there really is NO WAY they can tell that the stock parts are not there. It looks 100% stock. ECU flash would be hard to detect especially with the bozo mechanics that work at these dealers. The only noticable non stock item on my car is the needswings intake and resonator removal. I have had my car in with both those mods and not a word was ever said to me. If I need any other warranty work I will bring the car in as is with the pulleys unless it directly involves something in that area of the car. My dealer has been good to me especially because I have sent them several referrals over the last few months. I doubt they want to lose that in the long run....

 

I agree somewhat. Renntech is reliable, big, and depends on their reputation and word of mouth for much of their sales.

I think it would come down to the cost of repair. Renntech might buy you a SC if that was all that failed and they Knew or felt it was their pulley that was the cause of the problem.

If one of their pulley's failed they would provide a free replacement and if they or one of their resellers installed the part - they would pay for the installation of the replacement.

I feel most all of aftermarket sellers would provide replacement for their failed part. But not a SC.

The main crank bearings (say the outer bearing at the pulley) are the biggest concern in my opinion. And if one bearing shreaded and thus the engine grenaded - Chrysler will look long and hard at that crank pulley - no way to hide it unless you swap it out prior to taking it in for service.

And I am willing to bet that Renntech or anyone else would not be willing to pay big $$ to rebuild your engine.

And if Chrysler knew you had a A/M pulley and your bearings went - can you say SOL?

 

I had my ECU done with Powerchipgroup.
The Powerchip is designed in unison with the factory engine management system, and will comply with any emission test in the same way as a standard vehicle. Furthermore, the Powerchip enhanced vehicle will continue to utilise the various diagnostic scan capabilities as per factory specification, which means that the dealership or factory cannot tell that you have made any changes to the software. I agree with most, that if worst comes to worst, but the stock parts on and play dumb!

 

This motor will handle a pulley upgrade just fine unless someone is pushing the size of the pulleys to the extreme.In my opinion asp or renntech does not do that.Keep your A/F numbers in line and you should not have a problem adding a little boost.Common sense goes a long way.If you buy mopar performance parts straight from a chrysler dealer those parts are not covered under your factory warranty if they fail.Same thing goes for these pulley kits.If your super charger takes a crap you could be in for a hassle.If a part of your motor fails thats not related to that i think most good dealerships will cover it without a problem.I ran a modded srt4 for years and never once had a problem with warranty work.Each person has to decide how much of a risk they are willing to take.Taking these cars out on the highway and jumping on them should not cause any motor problems pulley kit or not.Bring em to the strip every weekend and beat the snot out of them you should expect problems somewhere down the line.I know my driving habits and i am not the least bit concerned about adding either one of these pulley kits.

 

In my experience, Chrysler is usually very good about doing warranty work. I've seen them put new engines in SRT-4s with major mods, rebuild transmissions in SRT-4s that still have the clumps of tire rubber in the fenders. The only time I can remember seeing a warranty claim denied was when the "kid" copped and attitude and got in the service managers face about how long it would take to fix and why it failed. The kid assumed they were going to void his warranty and he got mad before he was actually told anything other than how long it would take. The service manager was going to have done under warranty until the kid basically assaulted him for no reason. So he voided the warranty basically to say F&*K YOU for being an studid jerk. Always be nice, and don't take the car in with any visually apparent mods, and you should be fine with Chrysler. I've had A LOT of warranty work done on several majorly modded Chrysler Products, including a Rock Crawler Wranger Rubicon that had basically nothing left stock under it but the diffs.

Besides, I think you have to have really bad luck or do something really dumb to blow this motor with just a pulley, ecu and intake.

 

I wonder if Chrysler is a little more lenient with SRT vehicles since the whole SRT series is geared towards performance and racing. It's kind of silly to market a car as such and not expect it to be driven the same way.

Another thing to consider is how many warranty claims have been made concerning the engine and drivetrain? Granted these are not items that are cheap to repair but how many have actually had problems when compared to all of the seat heaters, headlights, radios, etc. issues members have had?

 

I would guess that most dealers would not notice the ASP pulleys, at least from what I read/hear about the dealer encounters in our cars.