Hey everyone, this is my first post on the forum, but I've been lurking around for almost a year.

I bought a Tc early last year, BCP, with all the fixins out the door, and I liked it quite a bit, but I had a problem with the sunroof, and a lot of creaks, not to mention the supercharger wasn't out, and I was ____ed about it.

Around four / five months ago (ironically a month before the supercharger came out actually) I got a little irritated with the lack of umph and traded my beloved Tc in for an 05 SRT - 4. I loved my Tc, and I had finally gotten the car I wanted.

However, about a month ago I had a slight problem with an injector, and some serious oil blow by, so I had to take it in to the dealer.

It is here I'm getting to the point of my story, I took the car to a five star dealer, and they litterally ripped me a new one. Now, I've never modified my car, at least this one, and I had a dealer crawling down my throat because so many people have modified the SRT-4s, blown them up, returned them to stock, and taken them in for service, that the dealers are shell shocked and paranoid about any mods. People have been taking them for a ride, and now the entire SRT community is suffering for it.

I've been reading around here lately, like I always have, and I'm starting to notice the same thing happening, I don't want to start any internet battles, but I thought I'd warn you guys, unless you like getting screwed every time you visit the dealer, don't pull the mod and switch, It will only hurt everyone else in the end. The people in my car community did it to me, and now I pay for it with two hours of arguing with any dealer I take the beast to.

Luckily for me, I found somewhere good to take it, who won't give me any static as long as the car stays stock, but not everyone is that lucky. I just wanted to let you guys know, this kind of thing isn't a victimless crime, you'll eventually screw not only your own warranty, but everyone elses.

Be safe out there, and P.S. some days I wish I'd waited for the supercharger, you guys are putting down pretty good numbers

 

Boooo

I dont think anyone is pulling that here.. no bait and switching.. none of that!

 

^ I appreciate the post.... especially from someone who doesn't own a tC.

It makes a lot of sense and as someone who has done some very non-warranty friendly things to a tC, I can really relate to the perspective...

I've maintained a good relationship with my dealer and service department, so I'm confident that any warranty service I could need, would be covered (In relation to things that ARE NOT affected by my modifications). And they know all my modifications, so there would be a big surprise if it ever came in "Looking Stock" LoL.

Please keep comments appropriate and relative... sp this thread can survive.

 

^^ I agree. If you work with your dealer and can trust them - you can still get warranty work done when you need it. Just don't abuse the idea of it.

That being said, I'm going to move this out of FI and into Maintenance and Car Care. This is more of something for everyone, not just tC people.

 

Thank you, RedDeathSRT, that is a good observation and very good advice.

It is depressing how many times I see people 'helpfully' suggesting fraud if someone has a problem with their Scion, especially the tC.

One must remember what a warranty is and isn't.

A warranty is to cover DEFECTS in the original parts or assembly of the vehicle when it rolled out the factory door. If they made it wrong, they will fix it.

It is NOT blanket coverage for anything that goes wrong with the car.

See: What IS a warranty?

RedDeathSRT is right: If dealers repeatedly have the experience of people causing something to break on their cars, covering up their tracks by returning it to stock, and attempting to get the dealer/manufacturer to fix it free (that's committing fraud, folks), they will get rightfully suspicious and mistrustful of ALL customers warranty claims.

This DOES affect all of us, even the honest ones not trying to unlawfully get something for nothing.

 

Very well said...and not to bring up the past, but this has been what I have een trying to say now for awhile.
Again, Thank you RedDeathSRT, for an outside look at what is and has been going on here.

 

well, i made the opposite switch. I went from a black 05 srt-4 and then got a tC!

Your right though, the car company's are being raped by people who mod and then go back to stock for warranty work. They have every right to be paranoid.

 

Not just with cars - I see people advocate fraud for everything - PSPs, cars, computers - you name it.
I always try to say my piece to those who do this, but it normally falls on deaf ears.
Good post, maybe you'll save someone a headache.

Scott

 

i herd that the evo guy's are in the same boat dealer's dont want to fix the car's because people are modding the motor's and blowing them than trying to get the dealer to fix it

 

yeah warranty fraud isnt too cool for the ppl that are truthful about thier stuff. If you screw up your car with mods be a man about it and pay to get it fixed.

I would like to see something more respectable from the scion community... not something like trying to find a sc tamper cap b/c you blew you motor on too much boost...which so happens to be a recent post around here

 

That was actually the post that inspired mine, it looked quite a bit like the posts from folk on the srt forums about 'help me return to stock' after grenading clutches and breaking 3rd gear synchros. People pushing over 300 hp should not be trying to get warranty replaced clutches and axles. That sort of thing is the reason the SRT vehicles had thier warranty dropped to 30k from 70k.

I just thought I'd get the message out there, frankly, knowing the internet, I wasn't really expecting positive replies, but I underestimated just how much a step above most forums this community really is.

 

this is the same as insurance fraud in my book........i think its also about attitude, i have never had issues with my other cars being modded and dealers.......but i have always had a good relationship with them.

i think the evo community has the same issue

 

It is similar to insurance fraud.

What the folks doing it are essentially saying is that even though they may be the ones to cause the problem, they don't want to pay for it - they want all the rest of the owners to share the cost with them.

Lets face it. not only does it get harder and harder to get warranty service for legitimate warranty claims, fixing the fraudlent ones costs money. That money the dealerships and manufacturers spend has to come from somewhere, and that somewhere is all the owners collectively paying higher prices.

So, the next time some idiot wants to commit this sort of fraud, TELL them that YOU don't want to pay for what THEY did to their car.