Lifetime Warranty Vs. Modifications

[Speedy!]

Let me start by saying this isn't a thread about "will X modification void my warranty" as I'm sure that's beat to death.

This is more about your opinions on the Lifetime Power Train Warranty now offered. I'm not sure if it was offered on your Chargers and Magnums, but my 2009 Challenger R/T has it.

I've added a Mopar CAI and Magnaflow Cat-Back. I was considering a supercharger or cam/long tubes/catted mids. However, after thinking it over, that could be a very costly thing to do.

Example1: Say I install a blower. 4 years down the road the transmission has problems. I'd then be out the cost of the blower PLUS the repair.

Example 2: Say I install a cam/Kooks LTs/catted mids and four years later I have problems with the valve seats leaking. I'm again out the cost of the mods plus the repairs. Not to mention I could have problems passing emissions which would be a nightmare.

As you can see both of these scenarios can get well into the thousands of dollars in repairs not to mention the thousands for just the mods alone.

So now my question. Do any of your Chargers or Magnums have a lifetime powertrain warranty? If so have any of you had to use it and was it worth anything? Some speculate it's not worth the paper it's written on because it constantly makes reference to "defect" in the verbiage.

Opinions? I think it would be very cool to pull up to a dealer in 20 years and have a repair made under warranty.

[Hemi RT]

Just install Chrysler performance parts and they should cover any warranty issues as it is a "CHRYSLER" part.

[MattRobertson]

Mopar Performance parts have all carried a 'no warranty' disclaimer. At least the ones I have seen have.

edit: If a dealer does the install work you used to get a 1-year warranty on install defects, I believe. Now that a whole new company with the same name is running the show, I have no idea if thats still true.

[Bonez]

Just install Chrysler performance parts and they should cover any warranty issues as it is a "CHRYSLER" part.

My dealer told me that those "Mopar Performance" parts were not really made by Chrysler. They were designed by Chrysler engineers, but not for Chrysler Corp. I don't really understand the why's and wherefore's, but I took it as they were just another performance part and if it caused the said damage, the warranty was out the window just as if you put on some other performance part.

[JagdCharger]

I have that warranty and so far I'm sticking with just bolt ons and taking my chances. I guess it depends on the risk you want to take....Since I've been to the track and had a taste of what the 09 5.7's are capable of, I'm probably going to be risking more, lol.....My car is paid for, that might make a difference

Jagd

[Speedy!]

My dealer told me that those "Mopar Performance" parts were not really made by Chrysler. They were designed by Chrysler engineers, but not for Chrysler Corp. I don't really understand the why's and wherefore's, but I took it as they were just another performance part and if it caused the said damage, the warranty was out the window just as if you put on some other performance part.

Correct. Right in the front cover of the Mopar Performance Catalog it says:

"NO PARTS WARRANTY – “AS IS” Mopar Performance parts beginning with a “P” prefix are sold “as is” unless otherwise noted. This means that parts sold by Mopar performance carry no warranty whatsoever."

Both the Mopar CAI and Cat-Back exhaust both have part numbers starting with a "P".

This is what I've been thinking as of late....

A supercharger costs say $7,000. If after install you have a tranny problem and it's $3,000 to fix...now that supercharger has cost you $10,000. If the engine goes then it costs $15,000 - $20,000 I'd guess.

If this car had a standard 3yr/36K warranty I could care less. I'd have to foot the bill for the repair anyway, but with this having a lifetime powertrain warranty it's making me take pause.

I installed a supercharger on my 4Runner and it didn't void any part of the warranty what so ever since it was a blower offered by TRD, Toyota's performance division. I was even able to install it myself without the warranty being affected. I wish Mopar woudl do something like that.

[Server2]

to be honest, if the warranty is that important to u then dont do any serious mods...

[Speedy!]

to be honest, if the warranty is that important to u then dont do any serious mods...

That's what I'm trying to determine. If anyone has had to use it and it WAS any good. If the dealer fought tooth and nail to avoid the claim, then the warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on.

However, it if truly is a lifetime power train warranty, then no I won't be doing major mods to void it I don't think.

[JTRipper]

The problem with trying to figure out if it is worth it is there aren't a lot of people (I don't think) that have actually taken advantage of it. Most people are just now coming out of the standard warranty, and anyone that has really been breaking stuff seem to have done it to themselves with their parts.

That's another thing to consider, even without the warranty. The engine may last forever stock, but start putting h/c, s/c, turbo, N2O and you are going to speed up the fail rate of the entire powertrain.

[MattRobertson]

Yeah thats a good point. The NAG1 transmission is really one badass piece of equipment. Its a big-block Mercedes AMG part taken off the shelf and dumped into our cars, who are relatively low-output by comparison.

After two years of road racing, I finally dropped the pan on mine. Leading up to that, I was lining up where I was gonna buy the spare tranny, figuring I had killed it. I mean, you'd figure that, right? 6.4L built motor and the incredible beating the transmission takes when running in a numbered gear at 5000+ rpm's for extended periods. The fluid was bright red, the inside was nice and shiny and there was only a trace of silt on the magnet. So maybe Chrysler offered that warranty because they knew they weren't going to have to pay out very often. Makes sense in context.

BTW the only thing I have done - which we think contributed greatly to the results above - is add a second tranny cooler so my temps never get too high even on the track. If I'd left tranny cooling stock I don't think I'd have the same results.

[injunwiz]

I agree with the general consensus, If you make the stock factory components work hard with a cam, blower, etc. they can't guarantee your powertrain. Where do they draw the line... Nitrous, Stroker, Mild/Aggressive cam? Perhaps the warranty claims should lie on the vendors supplying the components! As an example, check the notable engine builders on the forum and see what warranty they offer...

[Speedy!]

Well, the purpose of this thread to was hopefully find someone who'd used the lifetime warranty and could tell me if it actually covered anything. I guess even you guys' cars are just too new.

I'll sit in a holding pattern and wait and see in another year or two I guess.