Anyone been through Arbitration with Mitsu?
Super post! Frankly, I can't understand (although I can empathize with) the attitude that a manufacturer should pay warranty claims on an engine/drivetrain that has clearly been modified to produce more horsepower than stock. Do I like that? No. Is it realistic? Yes, I think so.
And, I do not think the burden of proof is on the manufacturer to prove a modification did not cause damage; it is on the individual who modified the warranteed vehicle. Otherwise, Mitsu would be spending all their time tearing down engines, performing analysis, and still clutching at straws to find definitive proof that the platform they produced and warranted, now modified, failed due to specific mods and not some original design or implementation issue. I don't think any court will find in favor of a plaintiff on that issue, because to do so would set a precedent that could bankrupt manufacturers pretty quickly.
So, what to do when you want more power and want to keep the warranty? I think it's a question of degree. With my Subie, I went with Cobb AccessPort, which gave enhanced performance through engine management. Was it a lot? (Stage One) No, pretty small improvement. But it could be more or less "restored to stock" in about thirty seconds. When the warranty was about to expire, I installed a downpipe and loaded Stage Two. Bigger improvement. But, do I think for a minute that Subaru would have honored a blown engine claim with that mod? Probably not. So I waited until the warranty was about up.
My Evo IX is bone stock, except for the stereo. It's really not very fast. But I'm very hesitant to do much to it, because I'd like to keep the warranty - just in case. I bought the car to be a daily driver, and it's fine in that role. I don't track it, at all. If Cobb comes out with the EVO AccessPort, maybe I'll consider Stage One. I'd be a bit leary of even exhaust mods, though, for the very reasons so well stated by rgonyer.
I just don't think it's realistic to modify the powertrain and then make a claim for warranty service when something breaks. The individual case in this thread may be an exception (well above average knowledge and capabilities regarding the engine and failure modes), and I wish him well, but generally this is not going to be a viable approach for EVO owners.
What I would like to see is for Mitsu to offer staged packages, dealer-installed, that match up with the EVO models offerred for sale in England (FQ-340, iirc, is the top). That would be enough HP for me, and these packages, it would seem, should be warrantable.
It's unusual to see the length of warranty Mitsu offers on these cars, and, that alone, is a strong incentive to leave the car pretty much stock.
Certainly, even adding a boost controller shifts the burden of protecting that powertrain from Mitsu (who establishes factory boost limits and control) to the owner. Couldn't be clearer to me.
And, I do not think the burden of proof is on the manufacturer to prove a modification did not cause damage; it is on the individual who modified the warranteed vehicle. Otherwise, Mitsu would be spending all their time tearing down engines, performing analysis, and still clutching at straws to find definitive proof that the platform they produced and warranted, now modified, failed due to specific mods and not some original design or implementation issue. I don't think any court will find in favor of a plaintiff on that issue, because to do so would set a precedent that could bankrupt manufacturers pretty quickly.
So, what to do when you want more power and want to keep the warranty? I think it's a question of degree. With my Subie, I went with Cobb AccessPort, which gave enhanced performance through engine management. Was it a lot? (Stage One) No, pretty small improvement. But it could be more or less "restored to stock" in about thirty seconds. When the warranty was about to expire, I installed a downpipe and loaded Stage Two. Bigger improvement. But, do I think for a minute that Subaru would have honored a blown engine claim with that mod? Probably not. So I waited until the warranty was about up.
My Evo IX is bone stock, except for the stereo. It's really not very fast. But I'm very hesitant to do much to it, because I'd like to keep the warranty - just in case. I bought the car to be a daily driver, and it's fine in that role. I don't track it, at all. If Cobb comes out with the EVO AccessPort, maybe I'll consider Stage One. I'd be a bit leary of even exhaust mods, though, for the very reasons so well stated by rgonyer.
I just don't think it's realistic to modify the powertrain and then make a claim for warranty service when something breaks. The individual case in this thread may be an exception (well above average knowledge and capabilities regarding the engine and failure modes), and I wish him well, but generally this is not going to be a viable approach for EVO owners.
What I would like to see is for Mitsu to offer staged packages, dealer-installed, that match up with the EVO models offerred for sale in England (FQ-340, iirc, is the top). That would be enough HP for me, and these packages, it would seem, should be warrantable.
It's unusual to see the length of warranty Mitsu offers on these cars, and, that alone, is a strong incentive to leave the car pretty much stock.
Certainly, even adding a boost controller shifts the burden of protecting that powertrain from Mitsu (who establishes factory boost limits and control) to the owner. Couldn't be clearer to me.The law says something different.
So apparently my results are in, but I can't find out until monday because the person who is in charge of my case there is out on vacation this week. No one else can tell me over the phone, oy.
Talk about a long weekend.
Talk about a long weekend.
I was fortunate enough to have Mitsu rebuild my tranny under warrenty. I had 3rd, 4th and 5th gear grind. My car also has 59,956 miles.
It took a bit to get them to do it, but they eventually did. I just picked up my car last night after waiting 3 weeks for it. They even took care of it with an aftermarket clutch.
It took a bit to get them to do it, but they eventually did. I just picked up my car last night after waiting 3 weeks for it. They even took care of it with an aftermarket clutch.
I was fortunate enough to have Mitsu rebuild my tranny under warrenty. I had 3rd, 4th and 5th gear grind. My car also has 59,956 miles.
It took a bit to get them to do it, but they eventually did. I just picked up my car last night after waiting 3 weeks for it. They even took care of it with an aftermarket clutch.
It took a bit to get them to do it, but they eventually did. I just picked up my car last night after waiting 3 weeks for it. They even took care of it with an aftermarket clutch.
If I mod my car, then something breaks that is completely unrelated to the modification, then I expect it to be taken care of. Like the spark plug valley cover. Mine cracked due to over tightening from the factory. My dealership wanted the warranty rep to come look at the car before they would replace it because I had a few mods. I wasn't asking them to cover a drivetrain component, just a stupid piece of plastic. The service manager eventually came out and looked at it, then said he would have one for me the next week.
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If I mod my car, then something breaks that is completely unrelated to the modification, then I expect it to be taken care of. Like the spark plug valley cover. Mine cracked due to over tightening from the factory. My dealership wanted the warranty rep to come look at the car before they would replace it because I had a few mods. I wasn't asking them to cover a drivetrain component, just a stupid piece of plastic. The service manager eventually came out and looked at it, then said he would have one for me the next week.
This is why I really wish MMNA would get down with dealer-installed "stage" packages, analogous to the different models marketed in the UK. More profit for the dealer, for MMNA, and the customer gets to keep his warranty. That would be cool.
Sounds like they treated you fairly. Good deal. When I took my EVO in to have front license plate holder installed, the mechanic indicated I could "put a chip" in it, and they wouldn't deny a warranty claim against the powertrain. I thought that was pretty cool, but unless I had it in writing, NO WAY am I going to bring the car in with obvious HP mods and expect a drivetrain claim to be honored. Even if the employee says so, someone could over-rule him.
This is why I really wish MMNA would get down with dealer-installed "stage" packages, analogous to the different models marketed in the UK. More profit for the dealer, for MMNA, and the customer gets to keep his warranty. That would be cool.
This is why I really wish MMNA would get down with dealer-installed "stage" packages, analogous to the different models marketed in the UK. More profit for the dealer, for MMNA, and the customer gets to keep his warranty. That would be cool.
the last i heard the "chip" was that thing that tricked the ecu into thinking that you were pushing the pedal more. unsuspecting people would install it, felt the "new" power when they push the throttle half way and was amazed. I got the same excitement by pushing the throttle more 
MMNA was going to try the uk route and offer ralliart pieces. but due to their prior management changes (about 1 year ago) that project was put on the shelf. as far as they got was to make a web page to tease us all with.