Warranty Worth

[redmed]

Was reading bootymac's string FYI: OEM oil filter dissected
http://www.kizashiclub.com/forum/viewto ... =28&t=3085
and some expressed that they would use the OEM filter specifically for warranty purposes.
I wondered what major engine rebuild or replace under warranty experiences people have had from any manufacturer. Did the manufacturer find a excuse, like non OEM filter, to not cover the repair? Or did the manufacturer cover the engine repair? Do some manufacturers stand behind their product better than others?

[murcod]

Here's a very relevant example that I can think of (yes, it's a Kizashi and oil related):
http://www.suzuki-forums.com/suzuki-kiz ... ranty.html

.....I was told by my landlady that my car was leaking oil on her driveway. I think I recently had an oil change.
I went back to the place I had it changed it (I can't remember what they did)
A few months later - I went to a tire shop to have my winter tires taken off and an oil change. I was told that I have a possible oil leak. But they would need to shampoo my engine, wait a few hours and then check to see where it could be coming from.

I figured, my car is still under warranty so I'll take it to the dealership. Unfortunately, there are none in my area (closed down) and I was told that the dealership I dealt with which has converted to Mitsubishi - will take care of my warranty work.

I called them and they told me that they will have to do a diagnostic test to find out where it's leaking from.
There may...or may not....be a charge ($120/hr) depending on what they find.

They will charge me:
1) If they find a leak - and it's because of poor workmanship, filter or plug (or??) that traces back to the tire company or other oil change company I used.
2) If they don't find a leak (they will still charge me)

They will not charge me:
1) If the diagnostic test shows an oil leak that is not a result of #1 above.

This does not sound right to me!!
What do I have a warranty for...if they won't cover this?
They could make something up so I would have to pay....and I wouldn't know if they were telling the truth or not!!

[SamirD]

I think the warranty is about as good as you'll get these days.

No manufacturer wants to pay for something expensive like an engine, so they'll look for any way to get out of it. Insurance companies do this too.

[Ronzuki]

Good read from a guy who is (was) the ultimate Suzuki fan:

http://clubsx4.com/forum/showthread.php ... ng+failure

[KuroNekko]

Good read from a guy who is (was) the ultimate Suzuki fan:

http://clubsx4.com/forum/showthread.php ... ng+failure

Looks like Suzuki owned up and covered the repair despite him using aftermarket oil filters. After all, the failure was due to a bad bearing in the engine.

Why do you say he "(was)" the ultimate Suzuki fan? Reading his thread made it sound like Suzuki took care of the issue and covered it under warranty albeit slowly. Does he no longer drive a Suzuki?

[redmed]

Good to hear Suzuki honored their warranty even when non OEM filters where used. Since my next vehicle won't be a Suzuki what other manufacturers have been honorable to folks here?

[Ronzuki]

Why do you say he "(was)" the ultimate Suzuki fan? Reading his thread made it sound like Suzuki took care of the issue and covered it under warranty albeit slowly. Does he no longer drive a Suzuki?

To simply answer your question, he no longer drives Suzukis.

Like me, he was desperately waiting for the import of the Jimny. However, once he saw the writing on the wall, the SX4 was ditched shortly after getting the engine repairs done. Then he was going to be selling his built Samurai and a really nicely built track/kick in favor of a larger JKU Rubicon which he currently has and has mildly built up. He had owned and modified previous Samurais as well.

[bootymac]

Good read from a guy who is (was) the ultimate Suzuki fan:

http://clubsx4.com/forum/showthread.php ... ng+failure

Interesting read. I wonder what the process would've been like since Suzuki's departure...

[KuroNekko]

Why do you say he "(was)" the ultimate Suzuki fan? Reading his thread made it sound like Suzuki took care of the issue and covered it under warranty albeit slowly. Does he no longer drive a Suzuki?

To simply answer your question, he no longer drives Suzukis.

Like me, he was desperately waiting for the import of the Jimny. However, once he saw the writing on the wall, the SX4 was ditched shortly after getting the engine repairs done. Then he was going to be selling his built Samurai and a really nicely built track/kick in favor of a larger JKU Rubicon which he currently has and has mildly built up. He had owned and modified previous Samurais as well.

Ah, I see. However, what made him think Suzuki was ever going to import the Jimny? Consumer Reports basically gave it a death sentence when they claimed the Samurai (its predecessor) rolled over easily. Despite Suzuki suing them and settling, the damage was done and Suzuki knew it wasn't going to sell many anymore. Quite frankly, Suzuki kept making it for small car markets like Asia and South America and figured the larger Sidekick/Vitara/GV was more suitable for North America.

Had Suzuki stayed in the market, I think the chance of the Suzuki Swift and Swift Sport coming to America was much higher than us ever getting the Jimny.

[murcod]

Good read from a guy who is (was) the ultimate Suzuki fan:

http://clubsx4.com/forum/showthread.php ... ng+failure

That would be a nightmare.

Some interesting bits from that thread:

He was most interested in what brand of oil filter I used, since apparently there's a TSB for certain brands of aftermarket filters.

Anyways, regarding the engine, the service writer has been in touch with Suzuki Corporate who needed him to secure a $1,500 tear-down authorization from me because I'm out of the bumper-to-bumper warranty and into the powertrain warranty. Once they get into the engine and figure out what the problem is, Suzuki Corporate will presumably cover 100% of the expense.

Thankfully, Suzuki is going to be covering the repairs under warranty. He said there have been a couple other instances of a similar problem, and Suzuki is gathering info to try and figure out what's causing it; therefore, he wanted to get as many of my service records as possible so he could forward that info on to Suzuki.

The bit in bold is what made his claim a lot smoother.

They probably know that the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act protects those of us who install aftermarket parts that do not directly cause the warranty claim.

Trouble is they can make your life difficult by blaming the non OEM parts and labour.

The final report from Suzuki below

CUSTOMER STATES ENGINED STALLED AT STOP THEN WHEN RESTARTED ENGINE MAKING NOISE WAS TOWED TO SHOP CHECK AND ADVISE..
CAUSE: FAILED CONNECTING ROD BEARING

NO START, BATTERY WEAK. CHECK DTC'S: PENDING DTC : P2A01, O2 SENSOR CKT PERFORMANCE B1S2. CHECKED OIL CONDITION, DIRTY, LEVEL OK. COOLANT LEVEL LOW COND..OK. RUN ENGINE AND NOTICE LOUD NOISE INTERNAL, ENGINE RPM STILL EVEN AT IDLE. NEED TEAR DOWN FOR INSPECTION. REMOVED VALVE COVER GASKET FOR INSPECTION, NOTHING SUSPICIOUS FOUND, NO SIGN OF EXCESSIVE DEPOSIT. CALL TECH LINE CASE #2-256796840 AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE OIL PAN FOR INSPECTION AND CALL BACK FOR FURTHER WORK. REMOVED OIL PAN AND FOUND A LOT OF METAL DEBRIS, FOUND #2 CYL ROD BEARING IS GONE. CALL TECH LINE BACK WITH THE REPORT AND ADVICED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE SHORT BLOCK. ALSO TECH LINE REQUEST TO SEND IN WITH CORE USED OIL SAMPLE AND OIL FILTER, AND SERVICE RECORDS FROM CUSTOMER. REMOVED ENGINE ASSY.. REMOVED TIMING COVER..REMOVED WATER PUMP..REMOVED P/S PUMP..REMOVED HEAD ASSY. AND INSPECT, REPLACED SHORT ENGINE BLOCK AND REINSTALLED ENGINE. ROAD TEST AND RECHECKED..OK NOW, NO MORE KNOCKING, NO DTC'S.