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Don't do this: Things that void your car warranty.

Did you know that there are some things that void your car's warranty, and that many people don't know about them? Well... Today we're going to show you what can void the warranty process and also cost you money.

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The factory warranty can easily be voided.

There are situations that void your car's warranty that you might not even imagine. The guarantee The right to compensation for defects or problems arising from manufacturing is guaranteed by the consumer protection code and applies to any product sold, including automobiles.

Warranty periods and covered items vary between manufacturers and models.

Here in Brazil The average full coverage period, which includes engine and transmission, is three years, although some brands now offer protection for up to five years from the vehicle's registration date. 

garantia do seu carro

Have you ever considered that any modifications you make could void your warranty? 

If your answer was no, then you should read our article today very carefully. It could help you save a lot of money. 

First tip: Always read the owner's manual.

Everything any vehicle It comes with the owner's manual and the warranty terms detailing the conditions under which it is offered. 

The manual also points out situations where warranty coverage may be voided, the most obvious of which is failure to carry out scheduled maintenance within the stipulated timeframe or mileage.

Manual
Always read the owner's manual.

However, there are cases in which the risk of losing this right is not clear to many people. Therefore, we will now show you the main things that void your car's warranty. 

Main situations that void your car warranty.

Discover now the main situations that void your car's warranty and can literally leave you at a loss. Let's go?

Modification of the vehicle's original specifications.

As mentioned, the vehicle manual explicitly states that alterations to the original factory specifications may void your car's warranty. 

These modifications include changes to increase performance, such as installing a new electronic engine management system, removing the catalytic converter, and adding a turbocharger to a naturally aspirated factory model, for example. 

turbo
Original settings should be maintained.

This also applies to accessories not approved by the manufacturer itself. 

Something important to mention here is that the Chevrolet Tracker manual states very clearly: Never modify your vehicle. 

Adding non-certified accessories or making modifications that alter the original conditions and factory specifications can deteriorate the functionality and performance of systems, affecting safety and durability, and may also lead to loss of warranty. 

The HB20 manual is very similar and states: Modifying vehicle components will automatically void your Hyundai warranty. Your vehicle should not be modified in any way. 

That engine modification that may seem harmless at first can turn into a real headache. 

Gasoline tank cap

You might be wondering: But who would mess with the gas tank cap? Well… we would too, but it's something to take seriously.

The specific model that raises this issue is the 2020 Ford Ka. Any damage to the fuel system may lead to loss of warranty. 

If the dealership finds that the fuel tank cap is not original, your car's warranty may be voided. 

In this situation, the manual states: The warranty may be voided by any damage to the fuel tank or fuel system when a genuine Ford fuel cap is not used. 

It's a rather specific situation, but one that requires attention. 

Engine air filter

As specific as the case of the fuel tank cap, we also have the case of the engine air filter. In this case, the story repeats itself in the 2020 Ka. 

Failure to use the correct air filter can cause serious engine damage, and the warranty may be voided if the correct device is not used. 

Remove the film from the chassis number.

A car has its chassis number marked in different places, including on the vehicle's documentation. 

Inside the cabin, the marking is positioned on the floor and usually has a protective film applied over it to prevent corrosion. 

If this film is removed for any reason, such as applying a new paint job, the vehicle's warranty may be voided with respect to any potential corrosion of the bodywork. 

Chassis
Do not remove the film over the chassis number.

The Volkswagen Gol has this number marked right in front of the front passenger seat. Its owner's manual then issues the following warning:

"The plastic film applied to the area where the vehicle identification number is engraved is for corrosion protection purposes and does not prevent the transfer of the number to a sheet of paper. Therefore, it should not be removed under any circumstances – risk of voiding the warranty against perforation due to corrosion."

This is another very specific case, but one that should not be overlooked. 

Bodywork outside the dealership

This is quite a controversial topic. After all, even the maintenance checks for your car's warranty at dealerships are expensive, and let's face it, most of the time only an oil change is performed.

In cases of collisions and accidents, it is very common to have repairs done at an independent workshop. Many insurance companies even have partnerships with companies of this nature. 

funileiro
Pay attention to the body shop.

However, this functional and widely used practice to reduce service costs may void the warranty against perforation due to corrosion, and Volkswagen Gol is once again raising this issue.

The owner's manual for the model states: "The warranty against perforation due to corrosion will not be valid for vehicles that are serviced in workshops that do not belong to the Volkswagen dealership group."

The manufacturer even advises that before purchasing an insurance policy, you should check the list of accredited repair shops in case repairs are needed. 

Odometer tampering

And last but not least, we have something that everyone should keep in mind as wrong: mileage tampering. 

Since the warranty is valid according to a certain usage time or mileage – whichever comes first – altering the odometer reading is a terrible idea.

odometro
Changing the mileage is a terrible idea.

If technicians at the dealership's workshop find any type of tampering with the component, the factory warranty will be completely suspended. 

The 2020 Toyota Corolla manual states the following regarding odometer tampering: "Any fact or evidence characteristic of odometer tampering will result in the complete termination of the vehicle's warranty."

Used cars also come with a warranty.

Something important to mention is that if you buy a used car, it may also have... right to guaranteeHowever, some observations are important in this regard. 

Initially, it's important to check the registration date, and if it's still within the warranty period provided by the manufacturer, it can be used. 

The second point to note concerns mileage. After all, warranties take into account either a period of time or mileage, whichever comes first. 

Finally, it's necessary to be able to evaluate all the nuances we've shown throughout the article.

Although buy a vehicle Whether a used car is a good deal is important, there are a number of things to consider before closing the deal. 

Conclusion

As we've seen, there are both obvious and unimaginable situations that can void your car's warranty. 

Were you familiar with any of these situations? Have you ever had a problem with your vehicle's warranty? 

If the situation is positive, leave a comment telling us how the story ended. 

And since we're talking about car care and warranty, how about learning some things you should avoid doing to your vehicle? Just click the button below!

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