Modifications/Accessories & Warranty

[JRomero]

Hi All!

I am a new member on this board and also a new owner of 2012 Journey SE. I previously purchased a Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T Premium but then found out I was pregnant so I needed a larger vehicle. Unfortunately, I had been backed into in my Genesis three days after I bought it so I obviously owed more on it than what it was worth even after a Hyundai Certified company fixed it. Not to mention, I was trying to get a diminished value claim from a no-name insurance company, PRONTO INSURANCE, who is absolutely useless!! To make a long story short, I ended up going with the base model on my Journey to save money and try not to be too upside down in my loan but I was hoping I could add some mods/accessories to make it look a little "cooler" since I am only 23 and like the nice decked out vehicles.

My question is what type of accessories/mods can you do without voiding the warranty. I read Dodge's Warranty pamplet online and it seemed very general - like pretty much anything you do they can turn around and say it was caused by something you put on and you are just screwed. I would like to add tint, increase my tire size, add rims, add foglights, add an overhead dvd player, and maybe some other things down the road. I understand the new items won't be covered by the warranty but I would like for the rest of my vehicle to stay under warranty and not be screwed over in the end because I'm getting pretty tired of that these days! I read that cosmetic items are fine but I also read that increasing you tire size from factory could void the warranty. I also read that you can't add foglights if you do not have automatic headlights. I don't know how much of any of this is true and would like some knowledgable answers.

Also, any suggestions to make my Journey a little "cooler" is appreciated. I am by far not a car person and prefer just to buy my vehicles with eveything I want already on it so this is new to me. My Journey is black in case anyone would like to know Any help is appreciated!! Rock on

[coolram62]

Congratulations on your purchase and welcome. The Magnuson-Moss Act http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson-Moss_Warranty_Act provides the information that a company just off hand void your warranty if you've altered the vehicle from stock. It basically states if a company requires you to use only factory parts then they muct be provided for free (basically). SEMA http://www.sema.org/ works hard to make sure the aftermarket and the consumer aren't forced by manufacture warrantys to drive a vehicle as it left the lot. If this were the case dealers that modify vehicles would be voiding their company's warranty. Upgrading your wheel/tire set will do wonders to both looks and performance. You have to pay close attention with the Journey since they have specific fitments for wheels. Just ask what particular area you're looking at changing and I'm sure someone here will help. It really just takes common sense as to what you want to do.