burned by warranty?

Has anybody ever been turned down for warranty or burned by a dealer for mounting sliders to their truck, either welded or drilled? There's all this talk about us having crap steel in our frames and the last thing I'd want is to get turned down for a frame rust problem that they can potentially blame on a mod. Let's discuss.

 

What will the dealer void with welded on sliders? Your frame? It would take years for it to rust.

 

There's guys with 5-6 year old trucks that have rust issues here, and I'm just curious to see if affects a trucks eligibility for a frame rust recall.

 

Any model built in 2009 or later supposedly won't rust like the previous years. Not sure if its due to a new steel source or a coating. But either way sliders shouldn't void anything.

 

@Sacrifice had his truck in for a failed actuator and IIRC his dealer pretty much red flagged him in their paperwork.
Don't recall the exact notations but something about his truck was heavily modified for offroad use. I don't remember if his actuator was covered by warranty or not.

They seemingly got the ball rolling for future warranty exclusions, or so we all thought at the time. Not to say Toyota wouldn't warranty things, but the dealership could refuse to on whatever basis and then would cause you to either fight them over it or handle the issue out of pocket.

 

Thats pretty accurate what they had said on the paperwork. They never even bothered looking at the actuator, i got the truck back and replaced it myself out of pocket just so i wouldnt deal with that dealership again.

Some dealers will definitely be a hassle, just be prepared. Sliders shouldnt effect the frame unless its obvious the rust is occurring from there. Its up to the manufacturer to prove that the consumer/aftermarket product is the cause of failure. But dealerships themselves can refuse to do the work.

 

Its this sort of stuff that would drive me towards a setup like BAMFs sliders. They have a completely drill-free bolt on bracket, do they not? Do you think a dealership would have reason to "red flag" a truck that hasn't been drikked or welded just because it has sliders? We could always just say our wives are really heavy and we needed a burly side step...

 

I went with weld on and am choosing not to worry about it. Ill tackle that issue if it occurs. Unless i have major issues with the engine or trans, there isnt any reason to take the truck in for warranty.

You could say that i suppose if your wife wont kill you or you dont mind the awkward looks. Ha

 

This is definitely your best bet. I vote dont worry about though

 

Every dealer will look for every excuse to not cover anything. There's your answer.

 

I agree. More for the driveline than other stuff, but same principal. Protection of the warranty is job 1, especially if the vehicle is financed.

Me. I buy used, with little or no warranty left, 47 out of 50 times. (94%?), and mod / flog as I wish.

 

I've been "burned" by Toyota warranty, but not for installing anything. They popped me because I had mud on the underside of my hood. Shit ended up hitting the fan, and they took care of the problem. This was a first gen inside of a year.

timing belt and water pump, if anyone is curious.

 

welded-on sliders would most likely would void the frame warranty as I'm sure somewhere it says, "do not weld or drill frame". most vehicles do. Full bolt ons can be easily removed and touch up with a little paint and they wouldn't have anything to say. Sliders should no affect on warranty for other parts of the truck

 

I don't know about older models, but the newer ones collect everything on the road on the underside of the hood. can't keep the damn engine compartment clean of you drive it everyday.

 

I have wondered this also and I think it is protected. If your engine mount or up front rusts through they can't blame welded sliders for that. If your frame rusts through where you welded or repainted your welds you are screwed there.

 

Mine will always have stuff on the underside of the hood if i go through any muddy puddle. I think its because there's a ton of room in the engine bay so it's easier for shit to get up there. Although I love how much room the engine bay has because it makes it easier to work on it yourself.

 

Look up

The magnuson moss-warranty act

 

If you welded sliders to the frame then took a Dukes of Hazard jump and the frame buckled in the heat effected zone? Yep, gonna have dealer trouble. Or if it buckled where you drilled extra holes? Same answer. If you dont keep up with maintenance and it rusts through where you removed the coating to weld or drill? Gonna have trouble there too. So just don't jump your truck and keep up with the basic maintenance. No worries.

 

I don't think it's an issue of fear, just being practical. Tacoma's are very capable off road vehicles in their stock configuration. Their off road capability can be enhanced through the addition of aftermarket components that improve their durability, capability and reliability, beyond the Toyota design parameters. The Moss-Magnuson act affords protection against the denial of a warranty repair unless the modification can be proven to have caused the O.E. component or system failure. If you modify your vehicle, thrash it, and have something that breaks within the warranty period, it's reasonable to assume that the dealer or factory "might" reject your "warranty" claim. Generally, the burden rests with the vehicle owner to prove that the modifications did not cause the warranty failure. So, if you lift your truck, add sliders or other off road capability enhancements, don't assume the dealer knows that your mod's were just cosmetic improvements to give your truck "look".

 

Been a while since I read it, but I believe it is the Manufactures job to prove the modification caused the failure, not the other way around. A consumer will never have enough money to fight corporate on proving that a particular modification DID NOT cause a failure. Kinda defeats the purpose of creating the act in the first place