ALVINCOBRA_94

I bought my Z06 used 18k miles. Car had Kooks long tube headers installed before i bought it.

As soon as i could i went to the local Chevy dealership and purchased a extended warranty.

Before the warranty was issued i had there Corvette specialist go over the car and make shore that nothing would void the warranty. They were informed about the headers before the inspection.

Now from reading a few post here i am hearing that headers = tune & tune= no warranty.

How would Chevrolet know if there was a tune & how would they miss it during the inspection?

wolf8218

A dealership won't just assume you have a tune if you have headers. They'll pull dates and verify the tune.

However, a set of headers may be considered a modification by whatever warranty you bought. Just make sure to bring it in to a friendly dealership (aka the one you bought the warranty from) if you ever drop a valve!

ALVINCOBRA_94

So if they pull dates on the tune they will know that they sold me the warranty after the tune was put in?

u1arunit

They can't tell the date it was tuned. They can however tell it was.

'06 Quicksilver Z06

And if the warranty company sends an inspector out before they approve the warranty work?

saplumr

If the car has altered tune and you have a warranty issued by a dealer someone may be on the hook but it won't be GM.

mirage2991

They can plug a tech2 and know almost immediately if it has a tune. If you had the original tune (original to the car not just any stock gm z06 tune) you can flash it back and then the tech2 would not see anything wrong. I don't believe there is a flash counter either, but, if the ECM was sent out to gm, the software engineers could figure it out...
So basically, if you bought the car and it is tuned and you don't have that stock file your gm power train warranty is no more.

American Heritage

It is very easy to find out what you have done to and with your vehicle both externally and internally. They will know if you have been racing and modifying.

With that being said it never hurts to have a Service manager on your side. A little politicking never hurt anyone, maybe a nice bottle of his favorite??

pkincy

I imagine you have two problems. Anything engine related would be not covered because of the headers....more power=more stress. Anything engine related also would not be covered due to the tune.....more power and unknown parameters=unknown stresses.

Now if your radio quit working, I imagine that would be covered, but that is most likely not why you bought the warranty.

propain

Dealers are powerless. If you drop a valve and blow your motor they will send someone out to inspect the car. If it has headers your warranty claim can and most likely will be denied. Problems less severe can be "overlooked" if you are a nice guy about it. The dealers are in the business of making money. They would rather do the repair than send you on your way.

pkincy

True, but maybe those headers are in another tech's bay when the Insurance guy/gal comes by.

ALVINCOBRA_94

If this is all true, how can they sale me a warranty that is already voided? They where shown the headers before the Warranty was purchased.

wolf8218

Because what happens in the sales room is often separated and many times completely contradictory to real life.

The guy that sold you that warranty probably lies more times a day than he blinks.

I think what pkincy said is somewhat true. If the warranty sends out an inspector they'll make sure that it's not discovered.

Either way, I'm wouldn't bet on the inspector knowing what the OEM headers look like. When I had my heads replaced by the warranty, the guy thought that I had modified my engine by stroking it to 7.0L instead of the factory 6.2!! I laughed my *** off when they told me that.

ALVINCOBRA_94

Maybe i should have spent the 4K on heads instead of warranty.

wolf8218

Just take the headers off and you'll be fine.

ALVINCOBRA_94

Guess i need to start looking for stock equipment. Just incase i have any issues.

Thanks

LFZ

If you already spent money for warranty, I'd go ahead and get a refund on that. Save the money or spend it on more mods. If you already have a tune and headers, why worry about having warranty issues later on down the road if you need it. I personally wouldn't depend on warranties unless the engine/powertrain was 100% stock.

With that said, I have personaly witnessed a guy denied warranty on wiped cam lobes because of a tune, then have personally seen a guy who has a supercharged, cam, headers LS3...blew up the motor and gets a complete new LS3 under warranty.

Landru

They shouldn't have, therein lies the rub.
Now to learn whether the dealer mans-up, accepts they made an error assuming everything you've related is factual.

Or they could *claim* tune was stock at time-of-sale, and, you changed it. While its been my experience most dealers are trustworthy, some are scoundrels.

Good luck OP, hope they're an upright organization & do you right.
Be sure to post how this is handled after the dust settles.

ALVINCOBRA_94

So far no issues with the car. I am just leery of the LS7 valve monster.

saplumr

Not sure what removing the headers will do if the car has a altered tune.