General Ford Ranger Discussion General discussion of the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

To lift or not to lift? and tires(warranty)

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Old 12-24-2010
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To lift or not to lift? and tires(warranty)

So the situation is i really want to go for 33's & a 3 inch body lift on my 09 4x4. i kinda want to to wait until my stocker goodyears are due to be taken off (only have about 23k on them and the truck) and in my eyes no reason to waist the money and a tire that i really haven't had any issues with this second.

i want to do the 3inch body lift, so do i lift it now (some Christmas money) and do the 33's when the current are worn out? do i not lift it at all cause with the stock tires it will look like ***.... or hold out on lifting it until i do everything at the same time.

finally do i want to lift it or play with the tire size at all while its still under warranty? do i really have much to worry about going wrong over the next 3 1/2 years while its still covered?

all suggestions and comments are welcomed.
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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I wouldn't really worry about the warranty unless you bought an extended warranty. In that case, you'd just be wasting your money. Also, if you do lift it I would do everything at once. Do you know what gears you have, 3.73 or 4.10?
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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I have actually been wondering the same. What do you mean KLC about the extended warranty? Because i have one on my 08...
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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Modifications above and beyond small removable things that you can take off before service or those done by Ford will void parts of the warranty. If you paid for an extended warranty then you are defeating the purpose if you void it.
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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bastards will screw ya outta anything they can
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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Okay that makes sense. So if you want to keep it under warranty and mod it pay an arm, 4 fingers, one eye and 2 legs and have ford do it?
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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doubt they'd do a body lift lol. even if they would they'd void the warranty.
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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No dealers locally will do the body lift that I know of. There is blackstock ford in orangville on not to far away and they will do all kinds of suspension lifts to the full sizes but no body lifts that I have heard of. The will even do the 3inch fabteck spindle lift and 33's for the 2 wheel drive rangers and I had inquired if there any options they would consider for the four wheel drive ranger and they kinda just walked around the question. I inquired about if they would do the body lift if I provided the kit so that my warrany would remain intact and they kinda still avoided it. If they would do it I read on another fourm that they charged like 13hrs labour which would cost a nice penny. And as for my truck I have the 4.10 year end which is better for larger tires correct?
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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Thread full of newbies giving bad advice...


No aftermarket part or accessory that is properly installed on your vehicle will entirely void your original vehicle manufacturers warranty. According to the provisions in the Magnuson-Moss Warranty - Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act, It is the dealership's responsibility to prove that your modification directly caused or affected the failure you are trying to resolve. With that said, some dealerships are more performance-oriented than others and are more willing to work with customers.

Warranty-related materials, published by the new vehicle manufacturers, state that the installation of aftermarket parts have no effect on the warranty unless such equipment causes the problem that leads to the warranty claim. Nonetheless, some dealers have improperly denied warranty claims even though the claim had nothing to do with aftermarket parts. I.E., just because you install an exhaust system, your suspension failure warranty claim cannot be denied. If you experience a problem with an uncooperative dealership, point out the provisions of the this "FEDERAL ACT". For more information call your vehicle manufacturer or click on the link above to go directly to the Federal Trade Commission's website to find out more about this law.
Simply, they have to prove what you did caused the problem. My body lift doesn't void my engine warranty. My headlight mods don't void if my engine computer module goes out. ETC. Also, the size of the mod has nothing to do with it either. You do run into issues such as "I put 35 inch tires on my truck and the transmission ****ed up" that they might try to blame you on. But it would be your fault lol.
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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i did my lift on my 07 when it only had 20k miles on it. if that.

at 50k miles my trans went. and i was tuned and on 35's. it was replaced under warranty. I wouldn't worry about it.
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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dang guess your dealer is cool lol!

For sure they can't void the WHOLE warranty. but I would assume worn out front end parts after you lift and run bigger tires they probably would tell ya to take a hike

just depends on the situation ya know?

my 08 chev got a leveling kit, exhaust and tuner and the dealer said no problem
 
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Old 12-24-2010
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Sure but they still have to prove it. You do things and sometimes have to live with the consequences. If you speed up the wearing of a part...its your fault.
 
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I run body lift and 33's. Front wheel bearing went out, didn't avoid the warranty. Rear end went out, didn't avoid the warranty. Like Aaron said they have to prove that it made it go bad. Unless you have a ****ty dealer or extended warranty they don't care.
 
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Old 12-25-2010
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Originally Posted by Red_Ak_Ranger
Simply, they have to prove what you did caused the problem. My body lift doesn't void my engine warranty. My headlight mods don't void if my engine computer module goes out...
EXACTLY...the federal law is actually called the Magnuson Moss warranty act. The dealer needs to prove the problem is a direct result of the aftermarket part.

I also hate when people "switch" the aftermarket part out for a stock one before bringing the truck in for repair hoping to get it covered by warranty.

My rule of thumb.....sometimes you gotta pay to play!!! If something goes go wrong with my truck because of a modification I made...I say it's time to suck it up and take care of what broke (warranty or otherwise)!
 
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Old 12-25-2010
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Originally Posted by logan03CO
EXACTLY...the federal law is actually called the Magnuson Moss warranty act. The dealer needs to prove the problem is a direct result of the aftermarket part.

I also hate when people "switch" the aftermarket part out for a stock one before bringing the truck in for repair hoping to get it covered by warranty.

My rule of thumb.....sometimes you gotta pay to play!!! If something goes go wrong with my truck because of a modification I made...I say it's time to suck it up and take care of what broke (warranty or otherwise)!
I find it funny when people un mod thier truck to bring it in for service, even something as simple as a recall. most times, the mechanics can tell if somethings been messed with or changed. but like mentioned, i can't void your warranty if you body lift your truck, and like your bumper needs replaced. you've stated a pretty much perfect rule, sometimes stuff happens and it is your fault, so when you mod, just know the risk.
 
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Old 12-25-2010
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Sounds good guys I thought I had heard something like that before, let's just hope canada has the same rules. So I guess onto the other part of the question should I wait (possibly a long time) and do everything all at once or do the lift when the spring hits (buy it now). And tires at a later date? I know in the end its my choice but opinions are wanted, maybe even some pictures if any has them of a bl'ed truck on stockers?
 
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Old 12-25-2010
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Originally Posted by Red_Ak_Ranger
Thread full of newbies giving bad advice...
Not sure what you're referring to. I don't see any bad advice above your post.

Originally Posted by Red_Ak_Ranger
My body lift doesn't void my engine warranty. My headlight mods don't void if my engine computer module goes out. ETC. Also, the size of the mod has nothing to do with it either. You do run into issues such as "I put 35 inch tires on my truck and the transmission ****ed up" that they might try to blame you on. But it would be your fault lol.
Yep, that's what I basically said, "...parts of the warranty." Obviously bigger tires won't void something they don't affect, but they will void transmission and some other drivetrain warranties. No way around it unless you have a dealer that doesn't care. Most I have ran in to do care and don't even want to fix things that are legitimate and of no fault.
 

Last edited by KLC; 12-25-2010 at 10:32 AM.
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Old 12-25-2010
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I would personally wait until you have the money for tires too. If you have the money for tires and BL now, i'd do it ASAP.

Just because you take off your old tires with some life left in them, doesn't mean you have to waste them. Throw them up on craigslist and sell them for a couple hundred. Then your rig will be lifted and you will make some money back on your old tires.
 
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Old 12-25-2010
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if you live in canada, save em for winter. (really saves the finish on after market wheels)
 
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Old 12-26-2010
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On the extended warranty note, I was a sucker into the extended warranty, for 2 grand, and am regretting it.. It's good for 7 years or 80000 kms.. So crap, I want to BL my truck, but paranoid that something will go and they will blame it on the BL, and I'll be too lazy to fight over it, because if they decided to void my warranty it wouldn't be worth the fight to resolve it anyway..
I don't know other than am regretting the stupid waiste of money thing, that could have bought me some sweet aftermarket parts.
 
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Old 12-26-2010
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Thanks for digging that out Aaron, I know I've posted it hundreds of places...

I've stated before that Canada law is different so I can't go into that, but in the US you can modify "almost any" external part and some internal parts of a vehicle without voiding the warranty...

Body lift can't void a warranty, larger tires can not either. If they could then vehicle manufacturers could not offer different size rim/ tire combinations on the same vehicles.

Air / filter components become a pain to deal with because if there is a failure usually vehicle manufacturer tries to pin it on the filter company, and the filter company throws it back at them.

If you change the driveshaft you void the warranty on the factory driveshaft and u-joints. Not the tranny or diff...

If you add Air lockers or another locker type you void the manufacturers warranty on that part only not the tranny, transfer case or any other part of your warranty...

Number of other things, not going into it again... I keep meaning to post the entire act in here , I will get around to it this next year... I promise... I will look into Canadian rights on warranty issues also just for you looney people that like living in the cold ( FYI its 32 degrees here in FL right now, too damn cold for me.... )
 
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Old 12-26-2010
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Originally Posted by Y2KTJ
Thanks for digging that out Aaron, I know I've posted it hundreds of places...

I've stated before that Canada law is different so I can't go into that, but in the US you can modify "almost any" external part and some internal parts of a vehicle without voiding the warranty...

Body lift can't void a warranty, larger tires can not either. If they could then vehicle manufacturers could not offer different size rim/ tire combinations on the same vehicles.

Air / filter components become a pain to deal with because if there is a failure usually vehicle manufacturer tries to pin it on the filter company, and the filter company throws it back at them.

If you change the driveshaft you void the warranty on the factory driveshaft and u-joints. Not the tranny or diff...

If you add Air lockers or another locker type you void the manufacturers warranty on that part only not the tranny, transfer case or any other part of your warranty...

Number of other things, not going into it again... I keep meaning to post the entire act in here , I will get around to it this next year... I promise... I will look into Canadian rights on warranty issues also just for you looney people that like living in the cold ( FYI its 32 degrees here in FL right now, too damn cold for me.... )
Really? That's news to me. I don't take my vehicles to the dealer, warranty or not. However, I have friends and acquaintances who have lifted and/or modified vehicles and the dealer always blames the related failure on what was done to the vehicle.
 
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Old 12-27-2010
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Been playing the warranty void game with dealers for years... I've only lost to Dodge when after blowing the third automatic tranny in 6 months due to too much power from the Diesel they said not covering the new tranny again.... 900 hp / 1100 ft/lbs in a cummins with an automatic wasn't a good idea should have stuck with a manual... But it was a show vehicle and we didn't care....
 
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