Has anyone had a warranty claim denied? Seized engine! Pics of teardown added 6/5

[chanomatik]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

What? Please explain how an exhaust system is going to cause engine failure? Nobody should fear warranty issues from a catback exhaust.. Except for the exhaust itself.

Try explaining that to Subaru. While you're at it, also ask them to explain how adding 20 extra hp to a new WRX can break a shift fork that was previously complained about to the dealership?

They'll worm their way out of anything. It's in their nature. Unfortunately these toys weren't built to last, but built for easy money made fast.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by chanomatik

Try explaining that to Subaru. While you're at it, also ask them to explain how adding 20 extra hp to a new WRX can break a shift fork that was previously complained about to the dealership?

They'll worm their way out of anything. It's in their nature. Unfortunately these toys weren't built to last, but built for easy money made fast.

You're going to talk about that shift fork for the rest of your life.

[infinite012]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

@infinite012 A CV boot isn't related to engine mods though. It could be argued that they had a basis to reject the warranty claim due to suspension mods, but even then I'd take that to the top since it should be covered (and was covered in your case). Pop an engine with an aftermarket exhaust and tell me they'll cover it...



Told ya.

I know dealerships that would wiggle and con their way out of a torn CV boot because of the suspension mods. "Lowering will cause extra wear and tear and likely means you are racing the car voiding all t3h warranties!"

[chanomatik]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

You're going to talk about that shift fork for the rest of your life.

I'm on a crusade, B!

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by DylanFRS

I don't know... Maybe it is just this forum but there seems to be a disproportional amount of warranty struggles with Subaru vs Toyota. I have no evidence to back this up but I usually try to keep up with warranty hassle threads.

Originally Posted by infinite012

It all comes down to the dealership and how well/poorly they communicate with SOA.

A dealer is not going to pay out of pocket for repairs to a vehicle if they have a good chance of being denied. A large part of this is a service department that knows how to handle modified cars.

Keep in mind that Subaru is providing the warranty, but they rely on their service network via authorized dealers to perform the warranty work.

So a badly draw up warranty claim by the service adviser would make the claim more liable to be denied, and (in the long run) the service department manager or the general manager will request service writers to not work on modified cars because they could be a source of losses for the dealership.

There are always people that modify a car, break something, and put it back to stock to be "covered under warranty"... the longer this happens, the more the warranty will be denied. The only reason why Scion seems to have less of an issue, is because from a macro perspective, they have not had a car like the FRS, ever.

Subaru, however, has had almost 10 years of warranty experience and warranty denial experience to where most dealers know where they stand on this. The various WRX/STi guys are the first to "blame" for this, but in reality I view it as a CRM issue not managed very well from the top down.

Wait a few years, Scion will fall into the same category. Especially since the corresponding Toyota dealer is linked.

-alex

[regal]

Originally Posted by thill

Let's be honest, very few people have been affected by this and even if news of the handful of rent a race cars being pulled from the fleet at Nurberbring hit the enthusiast sites, it would have little to no impact on overall sales of these cars. .

This is Halo car, marketed to enthusiasts.

Originally Posted by thill

I also don't understand why you cannot drive your car. I assume you have taken it to Toyota and they say there is nothing wrong and you have that in writing? So the next logical step is to drive the car until the engine seizes and then start going down the lemon law path and get a car you don't worry about every hour of the day.

Its simple, there is no TSB but they agreed there is an issue based on a leak down test I had to beg them to do. The poor guys are clueless without a TSB. Plus their is no ECU calibration flash for the dealers to prevent recurrence .

So I've decided to forgo warranty and flash a proper reliable tune (after installing the new seals .)

Time for me to quit complaining about the OEM's and just enjoy the car as it was meant to be: modified .

[thill]

Originally Posted by regal

This is Halo car, marketed to enthusiasts.





Its simple, there is no TSB but they agreed there is an issue based on a leak down test I had to beg them to do. The poor guys are clueless without a TSB. Plus their is no ECU calibration flash for the dealers to prevent recurrence .

So I've decided to forgo warranty and flash a proper reliable tune (after installing the new seals .)

Time for me to quit complaining about the OEM's and just enjoy the car as it was meant to be: modified .

And until there are enough seized engines and bad press about the issue, I suspect Toyota and Subaru will stay true to form and continue to be silent on the issue. The car might be a Halo car, but none of the documented issues are hurting sales at this point, and lets be honest here, these cars are never going to sell in volumes comparable to a Corolla, Camry, Imprezza, etc.

I say these things as a realist. I want nothing more than Toyota and Subaru to address this issue and fix it, but I am also a realist. This is how most car companies are run these days, from, Toyota and Subaru to Honda, Hyundai and VW.

I am glad to hear you will be back in action again soon, these cars are too much fun not to be driven.

[Mikem53]

Originally Posted by regal

This is Halo car, marketed to enthusiasts.





Its simple, there is no TSB but they agreed there is an issue based on a leak down test I had to beg them to do. The poor guys are clueless without a TSB. Plus their is no ECU calibration flash for the dealers to prevent recurrence .

So I've decided to forgo warranty and flash a proper reliable tune (after installing the new seals .)

Time for me to quit complaining about the OEM's and just enjoy the car as it was meant to be: modified .

If it were only true that you would quit complaining... Amazing how you consider all the mechanics and techs to be clueless.. Everyone else will suffer thru on the stock programming with warranty..

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

If it were only true that you would quit complaining... Amazing how you consider all the mechanics and techs to be clueless.. Everyone else will suffer thru on the stock programming with warranty..

Most mechanics and techs turn wrenches. They don't actually understand how the cars they work on "work".

Try having one explain the concept of DI to you. Or the Otto cycle. Or how timing affects the temperature and speed of the flame front.

[Mikem53]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Most mechanics and techs turn wrenches. They don't actually understand how the cars they work on "work".

Try having one explain the concept of DI to you. Or the Otto cycle. Or how timing affects the temperature and speed of the flame front.

"Most" I get that concept.. As it applies to many things in life.. That's why they fix most things by swapping out components. Working thru the system,
You will eventually get someone who understands the issue..
I would compare the car to another one on the lot.. With the service manager, area rep there and show them the issue.. It should be obvious and undeniable if it exists. If its by design.. Then the number of issues cannot be hidden..

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

"Most" I get that concept.. As it applies to many things in life.. That's why they fix most things by swapping out components. Working thru the system,
You will eventually get someone who understands the issue..
I would compare the car to another one on the lot.. With the service manager, area rep there and show them the issue.. It should be obvious and undeniable if it exists. If its by design.. Then the number of issues cannot be hidden..

I gave up on dealers' service techs when I noticed they were doing this. It tells me that they have no idea of how to diagnose a problem.

Imagine going to your doctor with a problem, and he says, "Let's go down the hall and compare you to the guy in the insurance office."

[Mikem53]

Originally Posted by Marrk

I gave up on dealers' service techs when I noticed they were doing this. It tells me that they have no idea of how to diagnose a problem.

Imagine going to your doctor with a problem, and he says, "Let's go down the hall and compare you to the guy in the insurance office."

They get codes off of the ECM on what to fix.. Most of the troubleshooting is done that way.. That's why some on here are saying they won't fix the funny noises and popping without a CEL being thrown.
That's why pushing it with the dealer and the area rep is necessary if you know an issue exists but the dealer won't try and fix it cause no code.. Having to deal with the bureaucratic BS and deal with the proper channels becomes necessary

[Marrk]

^^Understood. But not a very practical way to do things. In the real world, lots of problems never throw a code. If these guys are trained just to work off of codes, then, once again, it's like my doctor. My M.D. can't fix sh*t unless I'm hemorrhaging all over the floor of his office.

So, the question becomes: What good is he? Do I need a doctor to tell me I'm hemorrhaging?

But let's get back to cars.........

[regal]

Originally Posted by Mikem53

Having to deal with the bureaucratic BS and deal with the proper channels becomes necessary

They have no TSB to follow or ECU calibration to prevent the seals from blowing again, the "proper channels" are a dead end. The dealers are in an impossible situation without corp. recognition of the issue. Basically there is no warranty for this issue in the USA, GB, Europe, Australia, or Japan just a temporary band aid if you are lucky. My dealer said he has replaced DI seals on 4 cars and two have come back again, he's very candid.

For now the best option is to void your warranty, get the best Subaru tuner in your area for the flash and replace the DI seals per Dezoris video.

Not a big deal I'm used to working on quirky old German cars, one thing I learned over the years is fix it right the first time.