Lowered LS and Dealer
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glanga
Dedicated LVC Member
they legally cant do anything about it except they wont work on your suspension now, but they're full of crap if they say they wont touch the car at all now.
Eliot_Ness_Ls
Dedicated LVC Member
Depends on what kinda crap, I got picked on but they could never deny me.
The service guys have always given me compliments on my LS, but I have been told that they will not warranty any of the suspension items. But everything else that has been done at the dealerships has been taken care with no problem, except for the Heater contraol valve that is still on national backorder with Ford.
Jim Henderson
Dedicated LVC Member
When you modify the suspension a lot you drastically change the way it will handle and how long it will last. Many modifications are outright dangerous.
Most lowering jobs I have seen would probably be considered unsafe by the factory and by police and state inspections. Lowering can safely be done with quality parts and good engineering thinking, but most guys seem to chop parts, torch springs and use parts that aren't right for that car.
You can't blame the manufacturer if you replaced(or worse removed) factory parts with parts that are not to spec and in their opinion a product liability lawsuit waiting to happen. Also they are concerned that you will blame factory parts for wearing out when in reality you changed the geometry of the suspension which can over stress components.
They cannot deny a claim say, for a faulty air conditioner or an engine that has failed coils just because you lowered it, but they have a right to deny any suspension issues and the tire company can deny coverage on the tires if your suspension geometry is wrong.
Even tire companies will only warranty tires that are within a specified range. Anyone using tires that are too big or too small may have to sign a wavier saying they know the tires may be unsafe and were changed against the advice of the tire mfg.
I have "been there done that" long ago and signed many waviers. But as I got older I realized that cars are safer and more reliable when you make minor improvements and changes, not major stuff like suspensions.
SEMA does have some certification programs where aftermarket parts are supposed to be legal and safe for a car and supposedly a dealer can only deny a claim that directly resulted from an aftermarket part. But still some dealers and state inspections will still disallow the changes. This is a kind of a grey zone still.
In my opinion minor stuff like simple engine and exhaust mods are OK, tire changes within reason OK. But lowering a car, especially if not done with proper engineering thought being put into it can be unsafe and cause a factory suspension to fail prematurely.
Just my opinion based upon hotrodding for many years in the 70s and lots of reading and tinkering since before I was legal to drive. Plus I do have an engineering background but not automotive, so it makes me nervous when I seen things that just ain't right.
Jim Henderson
Most lowering jobs I have seen would probably be considered unsafe by the factory and by police and state inspections. Lowering can safely be done with quality parts and good engineering thinking, but most guys seem to chop parts, torch springs and use parts that aren't right for that car.
You can't blame the manufacturer if you replaced(or worse removed) factory parts with parts that are not to spec and in their opinion a product liability lawsuit waiting to happen. Also they are concerned that you will blame factory parts for wearing out when in reality you changed the geometry of the suspension which can over stress components.
They cannot deny a claim say, for a faulty air conditioner or an engine that has failed coils just because you lowered it, but they have a right to deny any suspension issues and the tire company can deny coverage on the tires if your suspension geometry is wrong.
Even tire companies will only warranty tires that are within a specified range. Anyone using tires that are too big or too small may have to sign a wavier saying they know the tires may be unsafe and were changed against the advice of the tire mfg.
I have "been there done that" long ago and signed many waviers. But as I got older I realized that cars are safer and more reliable when you make minor improvements and changes, not major stuff like suspensions.
SEMA does have some certification programs where aftermarket parts are supposed to be legal and safe for a car and supposedly a dealer can only deny a claim that directly resulted from an aftermarket part. But still some dealers and state inspections will still disallow the changes. This is a kind of a grey zone still.
In my opinion minor stuff like simple engine and exhaust mods are OK, tire changes within reason OK. But lowering a car, especially if not done with proper engineering thought being put into it can be unsafe and cause a factory suspension to fail prematurely.
Just my opinion based upon hotrodding for many years in the 70s and lots of reading and tinkering since before I was legal to drive. Plus I do have an engineering background but not automotive, so it makes me nervous when I seen things that just ain't right.
Jim Henderson
Eliot_Ness_Ls
Dedicated LVC Member
In your waranty manual it states that anyone is alowed to do what ever they want to the car they own, but if a product or part fails do to this it may be withdrawn from the warranty. they specificly list Super Chargers, and Turbos but I have not read anything on suspension. I do know that if it is altered in any ways they will reject the warranty on it. And respectfully they wont replace anything that did not come one the car as a factory part..IE Eibach, Sprint, so forth and so forth.
Being a former Trans Am WS6 and GTO owner(both heavily modified) I know the deal about what should apply. I am curious about peoples experiences with LM specifically. Has anyone had to fight with a dealer due to minor mods on the car? I am going to the dealer soon and wanted to have an idea about how it might go.
Eliot_Ness_Ls
Dedicated LVC Member
I dont know, it might go both ways I guess and even at the last minute at that things might change. It all depends on the people you are going to work with.
I had very bad experiences but others on here say thigs went great.
I had very bad experiences but others on here say thigs went great.
ToddG
Dedicated LVC Member
Can you clarify your question? Are you concerned that you will have to pay for a repair for a car that is otherwise under warranty, or are you concerned that the LM dealership will not work on your car at all, even though it is under warranty? Maybe you are concerned about both?
NEVER!
My dealer does custom mods on half the cars on their lot. Their showroom right now has a Ford GT, a Supercharged Saleen and a dropped Fusion with a body kit. Outside they have F150's & 250's with 8" lifts and 26" wheels. Lots of their cars have some kind of dealer added mod, including lower springs. It all adds to their dealer uniqueness and profit margin.
They want to be known as the High Performance Ford/Lincoln dealer in the area.
GWL
Dedicated LVC Member
My dealer installed my Eibach springs.