Customize

[Vahagn23]

Hi, I was just wondering, what can I customize in the Versa so that I wont void the warranty? like if i put a new CD player or fog lights?

[CodeRed]

You can do a lot. Nissan will have to prove that what you did caused the mouth function of the part.

[07blueversa]

You could put a Cold air intake on it. I asked about that and they said that wouldnt void the warranty. Pretty anything with the lights would be fine. Strut bar and sway bars would prob b ok.

[Vahagn23]

cool, what does the cold air intake do? does it cool the engine or something?

[CodeRed]

Cold air intake dose exactly what its name is. It sucks colder, denser air. The colder the air the bigger the boom making for a little more HP ~3-5 more. Most people do this as a the first mod to there car very easy to install and add a great sound through out the power band. Hope this helps.

[Vahagn23]

cool thanks, how much do they cost? \

Also im really new to this car installing and stuff, is it easy to install? or would I need to take it to a shop?

Cold air intake dose exactly what its name is. It sucks colder, denser air. The colder the air the bigger the boom making for a little more HP ~3-5 more. Most people do this as a the first mod to there car very easy to install and add a great sound through out the power band. Hope this helps.

Modified by Vahagn23 at 8:55 PM 9/8/2007

[BBISHOPPCM]

Avoid any modifications to the ECU; these may also void your 8-year emissions system warranty. Also avoid modifications to engine internals, fuel injection, and engine management (like the ECU and secondary ignition). If you have a CVT, performance modifications can damage the transmission, voiding the warranty.

[Vahagn23]

so would you say that CAI is a ECU modification?

Avoid any modifications to the ECU; these may also void your 8-year emissions system warranty. Also avoid modifications to engine internals, fuel injection, and engine management (like the ECU and secondary ignition). If you have a CVT, performance modifications can damage the transmission, voiding the warranty.

[BBISHOPPCM]

No, but if you install the resistor that bypasses the air temperature sensor, than technically, that can void the emissions warranty, as it is forcing the ECU to run a richer mixture.

[Vahagn23]

Would I need to install it if I get the CIA?

[Ever Victorious]

No, what he's referring to is a "chip mod" you can get off of ebay that is just a resistor you stick in the wires for the stock intake, which fools the ECU. They are advertised as being a "20-30 hp gain", but they neither give you more power, nor have any positive effects.

a CAI, being a true hardware solution, is the best way to go for an intake mod without doing anything to your warranty.

[Vahagn23]

cool thanks, lol im still thinking of how to put that in there lol

No, what he's referring to is a "chip mod" you can get off of ebay that is just a resistor you stick in the wires for the stock intake, which fools the ECU. They are advertised as being a "20-30 hp gain", but they neither give you more power, nor have any positive effects.

a CAI, being a true hardware solution, is the best way to go for an intake mod without doing anything to your warranty.

[BBISHOPPCM]

Isn't there also a real "chip mod" that will replace the eeprom chip in the ECU? Those will definitely void your warranty.

[Ever Victorious]

cool thanks, lol im still thinking of how to put that in there lol

How to put what in there, a CAI? they come with instructions. A resistor mod? Don't EVER put a resistor mod in any car.

Isn't there also a real "chip mod" that will replace the eeprom chip in the ECU? Those will definitely void your warranty.

Yeah, they exist for a lot of cars. Haven't seen one for a V yet, it usually takes a year or two before those start filtering down. And most cars don't have socketed EEPROM anymore, so the places end up buying extra ECU's and reflashing them. So what you end up buying is a whole extra ECU.

[Neo Xian Wu]

hi, i'm a proud and brand new V owner and actually had similar questions (though my knowledge of installation and performance is a bit better). i have an '08 hatch 6spd S model, which doesn't seem to differ too much from the '07, and was kind of wondering what i could get away with without voiding warranties.

now it's good news that i can install a CAI without losing warranty, but what about springs, exhaust, wheels, and body mods? thanks in advance for your answers.

[matt_a]

You can do a lot. Nissan will have to prove that what you did caused the mouth function of the part.

Mouth function?

[Ever Victorious]

now it's good news that i can install a CAI without losing warranty, but what about springs, exhaust, wheels, and body mods? thanks in advance for your answers.

The answer to this is always going to be the same... the dealer has to prove that the modification caused the problem in order to void the warranty.

In almost all cases, a CAI, exhaust, and wheels will be nearly impossible for them to prove causality.

Springs will most likely void your suspension warranty, as they will create a significant change in your suspension (your stock struts will wear out REALLY fast if you don't replace them with aftermarket struts to match the springs).

Body mods... it depends on what you mean by that. Adding a body kit and spoiler won't affect the warranty at all unless you have to drill holes to mount them, in which case they void the anti-perforation warranty. The same warranty will also be voided any time you make a cut into the metal to do anything like a hood scoop, fender flares, louvers, etc.

Honestly, a lot of this goes to common sense. Ask yourself:

Will I have to cut any part of the car (or wiring harnesses) to put it in?Will it increase the amount of heat the car or engine generates?Will it put additional stress on the clutch/TQ converter, brakes, or suspension?Will it require reprogramming the ECU, TCU, or BCM?Will it increase the intake manifold pressure to greater than 1 ATM?

If you answer yes to any of these, it will probably void your warranty. If the answer is no to ALL of these, you're probably fine. Just as a rough guideline, of course. Some dealers are bigger sticklers than others.

And if you want an added measure of security, keep your stock parts handy and put them back on before you take your car in.

The other thing is that a dealer can only void PART of your warranty, not the whole thing. If they CAN prove that, say (this has happened to me before, different car) the stereo you put in is causing an intermittent ground fault in your cluster lights, they can't void your engine's warranty or your transmission's warranty, only your electrical warranty.

Clear as mud?

[Vahagn23]

lol not clear, because I never done any mods, and I only asked for the CAI, and I get answers about all kinds of parts lol

[lain]

lol not clear, because I never done any mods, and I only asked for the CAI, and I get answers about all kinds of parts lol

i think hes confusing me...it had it down unless his last post...

[Neo Xian Wu]

actually, he was answering my question. i just kinda tacked onto your thread instead of creating a whole new one.

[Vahagn23]

oh lol okay cool

actually, he was answering my question. i just kinda tacked onto your thread instead of creating a whole new one.

[Rockhound]

You can do a lot. Nissan will have to prove that what you did caused the mouth function of the part.

Like matt_a, I'm still confused about the "mouth" function part.

[Neo Xian Wu]

Like matt_a, I'm still confused about the "mouth" function part.

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say that he's talking about the "malfunction" the dealer will say your modification caused.

and EV, i was a bit curious again about springs. the tanabes listed on versaspeed.com say the rates are raised about 5% over stock. would that still call for upgraded shocks? i saw that bulldog had installed the tanabes, but never mentioned shocks.

[Ever Victorious]

Part of the problem with springs is not just the change in stiffness, but also the actual drop itself. This CAN cause a shift in suspension geometry.

I can't say anything about the Tanabe shocks... or the Eibachs I had on my last lowered car (because I didn't have the car long enough), but the stock struts on my '97 Saturn died over the course of about 20,000 miles with a set of Sprint springs. Granted, those Sprints were a 2.5" drop, whereas the eibachs for the same car are only 1.3"...

[bulld0g]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say that he's talking about the "malfunction" the dealer will say your modification caused.

and EV, i was a bit curious again about springs. the tanabes listed on versaspeed.com say the rates are raised about 5% over stock. would that still call for upgraded shocks? i saw that bulldog had installed the tanabes, but never mentioned shocks.

I used the stock shocks.....its only an 1.5" drop so it doesn't really adversly affect the ride....with having a 176 mile a day roundtrip commute I wanted something that would still be comfortable to drive and I actually feel like it rides better now....

[lain]

i wont be getting any coilovers until january...infact i wont be able to do anything to my car until then cause no money But ya if you want to do things really cheap just heat up your springs...get a torch put it on the springs and watch your car drop. Also it makes your suspension stiffer.

[Rockhound]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say that he's talking about the "malfunction" the dealer will say your modification caused.

I figured as much, but I was praying that he meant something else entirely. Either that or his keyboard encountered a mouth function while he was typing.