Nissan Warrenty compliance?

[Wee Hooker]

My dealer was telling me that Nissan now requires that maintenance (including oil changes AND YEARLY WATER PUMP IMPELLERS) now be done at a certified dealership in order to keep the warrenty valid. Not sure if he meant standard 3 yr or extended. In either case it seems like it would cost $300/year in order to maintain the warrenty????? NOT!!
Tell me different please!

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

For the standard three year warranty that comes normally comes with the engine, no. But, for the new five year warranty to be valid they do require dealer serivicing and proof of the same. The idea behind that is to make sure that the gear oil, valve adjustments and oil changes are actually done and not just "pretend" done. It shouldn't cost more than $150 per year at worse and should be more like $100.00 per year.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

I don't have a problem with $100/year although it's going to be a PITA to drag and drop the boat at the dealers yearly. Would preffer to do the fluids myself and drop the boat off every other year for adjustments etc. How often do the vlaves need adjusting? Is water pump service required too?
Starting to think that I'm going to live with the 3 yr warrenty.
Smoke and mirrors IMHO.

 

[marquette]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

i don't know what Nissan service dealers charge per hour but you would be hard pressed to get a water pump rebuild, fluid service and valve adjustment on a Honda for less than $200 and more like $250. the last time i checked they were getting $95 per hour. then add parts, fluids and shop supplies they eat up $150 pretty fast. and i assume on routine maintaince to keep a warranty in effect they would require OEM parts not aftermarket. that doubles the cost of an water pump impeller. if i was buying any brand that required yearly dealer maintaince to keep the warranty in effect i would want to see some numbers from the dealer i was buying from. i agree the extended warranty could be a smoke and mirror sales gimmick.

 

[TGuy]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

but the requirements of any warranty (of any brand) are that you maintain the motor. Every warranty I've ever seen has a disclaimer that the warranty does not cover problems by lack of maintenance or "misuse" (where misuse is just another way of saying "lack of maintenance") or some other wording that allows them to deny a warranty claim if you don't perform the recommended maintenance.

So technically every warranty, whether its for outboards or cars or whatever, require you to have the normal maintenance items performed as recommended by the manufacturer. So I don't think its fair to say that this is a smoke and mirrors sales gimmick.

Most companies usually provide extended warranties that are handled by third-party warranty companies...ever read the requirements on those warranties? You almost have to name your first born after them before they'll agree to cover anything under their "extended" warranty. LOL. Now those type of warranties I would agree are "smoke and mirrors".

At least the Nissan one is handled by Nissan Marine and not some third-party company that could care less about any problems you have.

 

[gss036]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

I would think that if they require a certified dealer/mechanic to perform the maintance that they would have to provide that w/out charge as part of the price. That is like telling a new car buyer they have to return the car back to the dealer for an oil change. I have always done my own outboar maintance and will continue to do so.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

"So technically every warranty, whether its for outboards or cars or whatever, require you to have the normal maintenance items performed as recommended by the manufacturer."

Not true with automobiles anyway. In fact, there are federal laws that prohibit car manufacturers from tieing warrenty compliance to factory (only) servicing. All you need to do is prove that the maintenance was done IF there is a suspicion of neglect in that area.
i.e show reciepts for oil changes if the motor siezes. Something like electrical failures are not tied to oil change compliance, etc.


In this case I planned to do my own (religious) fluids changes on my Nissan and keep my reciepts ( Like I do on my trucks.)
I did NOT intend to change a water pump impeller yearly (as I put less than 20 hrs /yr on my motors.)

The way I understand it is that if I have an ECM fail in 4 years but havn't had a dealer do a waterpump yearly, I'm out of luck?
Well I hope this motor is as good as advertised becasue I refuse to be held hostage to an extra $600-$900 of combined 4 year dealer maintenance costs to get "two free years". That IS smoke and mirrors and borderline criminal IMHO. In the meantime, I will continue to do what maintenance I can ( and enjoy) and save my reciepts. Anything beyond my comfort level will be brought to a dealer without hesitation.
Sorry for the rant but I would have preffered not to have been offered the 5 yr "upgrade" at all rather than to be treated like a clueless piggy bank by NISSAN.

p.s. I have to say that this is my second disapointment with NISSAN and I havn't even taken possesion of the motor yet. (See thread on power trim switch /lack thereof.)

 

[marquette]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

nissan isn't the only one offering extended warranties right now as an incentive to buy. does anybody know if the others are tying manatory dealer service to the extended warranty?

 

[TGuy]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

Wee, I didn't say that the warranty requires the mfg. to do it the scheduled maintenance. I just said that it had to be done. If your car has an oil related failure and you can't prove that you (or jiffy lube, your dealer, etc) did regular oil changes, then the mfg. has the right to deny the failure as a warranty problem. Now, if you change the oil yourself, and you have a oil warranty failure, you might have hard time proving you actually changed the oil as per the mfg's recommended schedule. Yes, you can show the receipts where you bought the oil but that doesn't prove that you actaully changed it, nor do you have any proof WHEN you changed it. But by having it done by Jiffy Lube, etc you would at least have a receipt proving (a) it was done and (b) the invoice would show the odometer reading when it was done.

As far as having an ECM failure and then having someone turn down the warranty because you didn't change your impeller...that wouldn't happen with any mfg. Companies put out a warranty to give the consumer peace of mind and to protect themselves as well. I think stating that a company would turn down a warranty on one component because you didn't do something to some other completely unrelated component is a total stretch on your part. That's like saying the Ford would turn down a transmission problem because you didn't change the air filter.

 

[TGuy]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

nissan isn't the only one offering extended warranties right now as an incentive to buy. does anybody know if the others are tying manatory dealer service to the extended warranty?

I don't know about all other outboards but Mercury's 5 and Drive promo is pretty much the same (maintenance must be done by the dealer, etc), except they specify that all parts must be genuine Mercury parts/oils. Not sure how they can get away with stating that.

Specifically it says:
Customer must adhere to the recommended service intervals and maintenance recommendations as stated in their Mercury Owners Manual. Service must be completed by a Mercury Authorized dealer and any parts replaced will require the use of genuine Mercury parts, oils and lubricants.

you can read it for yourself here:
http://www.mercurymarine.com/serviceandwarranty/five_drive_promo.php

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Nissan Warranty compliance?

Re: Nissan Warranty compliance?

As I stated in a different thread.......This is a test warranty program of what a future five year warranty may be. What the requirements are to keep the test program five year warranty valid are not carved in stone and I would urge anyone who has purchased an engine covered by the five year warranty to contact Tohatsu at 214-420-6440 and ask them directly what those requirements are. I think you will find that their intent about what you need to do and their wording on the five year documents are a little different than what you have assumed.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

Thanks Elvin, I'll make that call right after I pick up the motor (next week?). Can't hurt.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Nissan Warranty compliance?

Re: Nissan Warranty compliance?

I would call before you take delivery. Making your point now would have more impact than making it after you have the engine....Tohatsu U.S. is a small, warm and fuzzy little outfit. Telling them your concern(s) can have an immediate and positive impact about how they administer this program.

 

[TGuy]

Re: Nissan Warranty compliance?

Re: Nissan Warranty compliance?

I would call before you take delivery. Making your point now would have more impact than making it after you have the engine....Tohatsu U.S. is a small, warm and fuzzy little outfit. Telling them your concern(s) can have an immediate and positive impact about how they administer this program.

small, warm and fuzzy? Kind of like the avatar you use LOL.

and after you get done calling Tohatsu, call Mercury (good luck getting a hold of a real person) and ask them why you have to use only "genuine" Mercury oil to keep their warranty in effect. I thought that it was illegal to make a warranty conditional on only using the mfg's oil, etc?

 

[gss036]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

I think a few of the after market warranties are written in such a way to give the company an out. I went thru this several years ago with 1st protection, but come out ok w/a new powered, just for the sales tax. All the dealers I have talked with say sticking with the OEM warranties usually works out best. I just purchased a new T9.9 Yamaha w/ the extra (free) 3year warranty and that is with Yamaha. Also a new Honda 225 with a 5 year warranty from Honda, so I feel fortunate in that respect.
Hopefully this thread will make people think about what they are buying. This usually not someone thinks about until they start reading the owners manual and see thinks they don't like or understand.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

In follow up, I did contact Nissan Marine/Tohatsu America corp. I pleaded my case and it fell on deaf ears. Apparently 6 hrs of driving and $200-$300/yr in "maintenance"/year for 4 years is not unreasonable for a motor that will see 20 hrs /yr. ( THat's $10+/hr in maint costs for every hour I run it!) In short, the confirmed that all maint must be performed by a dealer including yearly Water pump AND valve adjustment. ( Like it's going to need valve adjustment after every 20 hr season I put on it!?) Bottom line is that the 3 yr warrenty is valad but the 5 yr is going to cost you dearly out of pocket if you really want it. Guess they don't have as much faith in their product as I initially thought. Disapointing to say the least. :-(

 

[marquette]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

do you have to do the yearly dealer maintaince during the first 3 years or only during the 4 th and 5th year?

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

To keep the 5 year valad, you ahve do do it all from day 1 at the dealer. i.e. 4 years of dealer service to get you into the 5th. The 3 year (standard) warrenty has no stipulation.

For the record, I'll change my own fluids this fall but likely have the valves checked this or next year. Beyond that, I'll do the WP every 2 or 3 myself. I feel there is a BIg gap between responsable maint and whet they are requireing.
I'll shut up on this topic now. Over and out.

 

[TGuy]

Re: Nissan Warrenty compliance?

I'd be surprised if they told you anything else though. I don't think any company would give you a response of "well since you have to drive 60 miles and might only use it 20 hrs then in your case we won't require you to do it"

Look at it this way, if you sold the motor to someone and then told them you'd give them a warranty if they brought it to you to do the maint., would you be willing to give them exceptions since they live 60 miles away? Probably not.

The *real* question is not what is "required", but what will they cover in 5 years if you actually do have a problem that is NOT related to a maintenance issue? In other words, if you have a starter failure, will they still cover it even if you didn't change the water pump every year? That's the question you need to ask them.