For those of you who are still running stock and wanting to lift or do other mods....is the lifetime warranty giving you a bit of a pause? I've had my JK since October and I think Im getting to the point where Im just saying screw it, and plan on going forward with what I want to do. I want to lift to run larger tires and although Ive read that this can cause issues with the warranty, Im probably going to do it.

How many of you here are in the same boat?

bubba

 

No, the warranty issue is not causing me any worries, as I have very good repore with the dealership, and doubt a lift of 2-3", done correctly, and 33" tires would cause any issues for me.
In my case we got the JK for my wife as I have a 94XJ with a 6" lift, 33's, locked front and rear with manual hubs, and all the other stuff, and it's still in great shape and is my DD.
I did have some warranty work done on the XJ back in 96 even after the mods, and there were no problems at the dealership.
What I'm concerned with is more along the lines of the $$$$.
The cost for a regear to get back to the proper torque/power curve, so it doesn't run like a dog. The possibilities of ESP problems. The possible changes in driving charistics. The decreased gas mileage.
All that adds up in $$$$, and as far as I'm concerned, our JK drives and handles every bit as good as my XJ in the snow, even better. We've taken it out on the trails a few times and I think it handles great, and my wife loves it. Even though I believe it would look more like a Jeep should look, I would not want to do anything that would give the little lady any heartache, so it will stay stock like it is. She does like the AEV front bumper with the PIAA fogs I installed.

 

Do a search on "Magnusson Moss". It's the federal statute that governs warranties on consumer products. It provides that it is the dealership's responsibility to prove that your modification directly caused to affected the failure you are trying to resolve.

Of course, if a dealer is going to give you crap about it, it's probably better to find another dealer than to try to fight for your rights.

 

hey, see your in suffolk, im in nassau check out the east coast section x2 on the magnusson moss act, theyd have to prove your tires or lift caused whatever problem you have. if they give you any trouble just try another dealer

 

Most dealers won't give you crap for a "modest" lift (2-3 inches) and a "modest" upgrade in tires (32-33 inches). It really depends on the service department there and how much of a PITA they are. However, those "modest" lifts and tires aren't known to cause any driveline problems. My dealership said they wouldn't care at all if I did work on those lines.

 

The dealer I bought from, only cuz my family has bought (counting mine) 6 jeeps from there and we got a family discount, would give me a ration of shot for anything and everything that happened, including replacing the clutch under a TSB!

I found a dealer much closer to my house that has a mechanic on staff that specializes in Wranglers and loves all that I have done to mine. I recebtly fouled a plug and ruined a plug wire. I brought it in and had it fixed under warranty. Their reply to me was "Hey, it says its trail rated!"

Moral of the story... If one dealer tries to screw you, try another!

 

Here we go with the "Magnusson Moss Act" again.
This act is not something new as it was enacted in 1975, and basically talks about nothing more than protecting the consumer in the cases of deceptive practices by the seller.

So if you install a lift and run 35" tires, then break an axle shaft, you might have a tough time getting DC to replace it under warranty.
As many have stated from the hip, it would be the burden of DC to prove that your oversize tires caused the failure.
I'm sure DC could come up with the specs and capabilities of the axle.
Could you come up with any proof to the contrary.

There are 3 things that must apply in this "act".
As a warrantor, you must designate, or title, your written warranty as either "full" or "limited."
As a warrantor, you must state certain specified information about the coverage of your warranty in a single, clear, and easy-to-read document.
As a warrantor or a seller, you must ensure that warranties are available where your warranted consumer products are sold so that consumers can read them before buying.

For the OP, read your warranty booklet. It's pretty cut and dry on page 13 section 3.6. The next to last statement is pretty much a catch all.
"Your warranty does not cover the costs of repairing damage or conditions caused by any of the following:
Any changes made to your vehicle that don't comply with Daimler Chrysler.

There has been much talk about this "act, and many have "shot from the hip", with blanket and sometimes stupid statements leading some to believe this act is something magic for the consumer, and it is not. Most who have said things about this act have not even read the act, but are just passing on bits of information and smatter.

Here is a pretty good article about the act, and I would suggest it be read.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/adv/bus01.shtm

Let's face the facts. Many like to modify the vehicles they have purchased, and not just Jeepers, although a Jeep is a great vehicle to modify.
But by the same token, one must be responsible in their modifications, and must also be aware of possible ramifications, and sometmes costly mistakes in doing some mods.
I hate to dwell on this however anytime we do a modification to our Jeep, we are changing the vehicle as it was produced from the factory. Lift kits, when installed correctly are not a bad thing and most likely will not cause any concern for a factory warranty, however the kit is installed so that one can install larger and heavier tires, and it is a simple fact of physics. By installing larger tires we are putting more wear on systems like the brakes, and drivetrain. Any undue wear or breakage of these components is dependent upon how big those tires are, and it would not be hard for an auto manufacturer to prove that running a vehicle that came from the factory with a max. tire size of 32", now running with 35' or 37", caused problems that incurred damage to the steering, ESP, brakes, wheel bearings, axle shafts, differentials, transmission, and even the engine.
The "Magnusson Moss Act", will not protect you in these instances, and it should not, as it was not intended to do so.
The bigest plus would be to have very good repore with your dealership.

 

You make is sound like I said something different in my one sentence than you did in your diatribe.

You have something against informing people that the dealer simply needs to prove a mod caused the issue? If you put a lift on and your windshield washer motor stops working, it's not related and a dealer that denies a warranty claim is wrong. Period.

"Here we go again" statements make it come off like you are a dick. Sorry, but that's how it sounds to me.

 

Sorry if I sounded that way, but as you know this board has been posted to death with the "ACT", and many who post anything about it havn't even read it, and thus lead many down a dark road.
Not to sound more like a "dick" but have you read it in it's entirety?

 

I have had mixed reviews with my dealership. they always seem to give me a blow off answer when I need to get something warrantied.