spark plug warranty issue

biohazard06 · 09-20-2007, 02:49 PM

Name: Sean

Make: 06 sti

Mileage: 17k

Time Out Of Use: 1day

Problem And Likely Cause: spark plugs

Modifications: none

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): yes

Reason Given For Denial: wrong spark plugs in car

Your Story: I bought my 06 sti bout six months ago. It had after market intake and bov, both installed with no tune. I took those parts off and put all new factory parts back on it. A few weeks ago I started having rough idle. So I thought it was the spark plugs fouling because of the after market parts and improper use of them. I searched around for a week trying to figure out what plugs to use. I found the Spark plug FAQ on here http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=518633
It was recommended to use " The correct spark plug for you is SOA part number 22401AA630.
Denso Iridium IKH22 is the correct sized one step colder plug as seen on this thread.
NGK LFR7AIX (#2309) is the correct sized one step colder plug as seen on this thread.I could not find LFR7AIX in stock any where in reno nv. So I bought LFR6AIX. CEL comes back on the day after I installed the new plugs. So I took it to the dealer to have it checked out. They told me that the wrong plugs are in the car and that is what is causing the problem. They wanted $400 to fix the car since the plugs were not covered under the warranty (the correct plugs from the dealer are $22 each). And they suggested not to drive my car at all because it will cause further damage to the car. This made me mad, I've done the search to find out what to use. And they wont honor the warranty. I'm not saying that the spark plug FAQ is wrong but. just a warning to all the people using any plug other then stock could have this same problem. I told the guy that I cant afford to pay for it right now and if I take the car home and put the right plugs from the dealer in, will they honor the warranty. He told me yes it would and that I can bring the car back they will look at it again to see what the underlying problem really was. The service adviser then told me that it was going to be $103.00 for them just to look at the car because the incorrect plugs took it out of warranty. I was even more angered I told him that I came in for a check to see why the CEL was on and the car was under the org. warranty so it should not cost me anything. We talked about it he told me he understands and the they will wave that fee this time as a courtesy. And when I bring the car back with the right plugs they will not charge because the car will be back under warranty.

My question is has any other member here had this same problem?

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JRSC13 · 09-20-2007, 06:58 PM

doubt it, i work at a dealer and you can understand that it took some time for the tech to figure out what was wrong, and he is still getting paid. since the wrong plugs were in it, no warranty for that problem, consider yourself lucky they waived the fee at all........

biohazard06 · 09-20-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRSC13

doubt it, i work at a dealer and you can understand that it took some time for the tech to figure out what was wrong, and he is still getting paid. since the wrong plugs were in it, no warranty for that problem, consider yourself lucky they waived the fee at all........

I know what they did. its the same thing I did to figure out the problem the first time. They scaned the car got the code for "misfire cyl number 2" So i pulled the plug and the plugs are the factory org. at that point. The plugs are messed up. fouled and bad lookin. So i searched on here what to replace them with and all I could get here was LFR6AIX. i was going one step colder cuz i was gonna run meth/water and tune it. but not after this. the guy and i worked it out. he said i can put plugs in from them then they will look at it again.

RexyGirl · 09-20-2007, 11:07 PM

you should have taken it to the dealer in the first place, before replacing the plugs. If the plugs were the issue, they would have replaced them under warranty...they are covered 3/36.

It looks like they are giving you a break. Put the originals back in and take it back to them. If turns out not to be the spark plugs, they can go from there.

biohazard06 · 09-20-2007, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexygirl

you should have taken it to the dealer in the first place, before replacing the plugs. If the plugs were the issue, they would have replaced them under warranty...they are covered 3/36.

It looks like they are giving you a break. Put the originals back in and take it back to them. If turns out not to be the spark plugs, they can go from there.

I was thinking about doing that. But I told the dealer that i didnt put the plugs in it. They want me to buy their plugs and I can put them in myself and they will honor the warranty. Just cuz I dont wanna pay $90 for plugs i'm going to do that. And see what they say. The guy also told me that if the wrong plugs did anything it wont cover warranty. but they were in the car less then 15miles. so that is not true.

munkis · 09-21-2007, 04:54 PM

next time check your owners manual, the correct spark plugs are listed in there.

If you dont have one, ask the dealer.

tomt5078 · 09-21-2007, 06:07 PM

No and I would never put the wrong plugs in my STi let alone my lawn mower

Mavrik · 09-21-2007, 09:34 PM

Well since the issue is that it had wrong plugs... definatly not a warranty issue since the plugs are not the ones installed from the factory. As for waiving the diag fee, just because a car is under warranty, does not mean all repairs will be. Your cel can come on because you didn't tighten the cap. At the dealership I work at, all customers sign an hour authorized time for all cel concerns even if the car is under warranty. Sure you had already diagnosed the issue... but if warranty is to be done, then the tech must perform a diagnostic check themselves. Paying $100 for that if not under warranty is reasonable. Just buy the plugs, install them yourself and if the cel comes back on your good to go. Unless its proven the issue came from previous mods and no engine tune.

biohazard06 · 09-22-2007, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrik

Well since the issue is that it had wrong plugs... definatly not a warranty issue since the plugs are not the ones installed from the factory. As for waiving the diag fee, just because a car is under warranty, does not mean all repairs will be. Your cel can come on because you didn't tighten the cap. At the dealership I work at, all customers sign an hour authorized time for all cel concerns even if the car is under warranty. Sure you had already diagnosed the issue... but if warranty is to be done, then the tech must perform a diagnostic check themselves. Paying $100 for that if not under warranty is reasonable. Just buy the plugs, install them yourself and if the cel comes back on your good to go. Unless its proven the issue came from previous mods and no engine tune.

thats what i'm going to do

armand1 · 09-22-2007, 03:21 PM

Don't forget that you can get Subaru parts at a discount by internet/mail order from a number of the forum sponsors.

09-20-2007, 02:49 PM	#1
biohazard06 Scooby Newbie Member#: 148934 Join Date: May 2007 Vehicle: 06 sti	spark plug warranty issue Name: Sean Make: 06 sti Mileage: 17k Time Out Of Use: 1day Problem And Likely Cause: spark plugs Modifications: none Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): yes Reason Given For Denial: wrong spark plugs in car Your Story: I bought my 06 sti bout six months ago. It had after market intake and bov, both installed with no tune. I took those parts off and put all new factory parts back on it. A few weeks ago I started having rough idle. So I thought it was the spark plugs fouling because of the after market parts and improper use of them. I searched around for a week trying to figure out what plugs to use. I found the Spark plug FAQ on here http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=518633 It was recommended to use " The correct spark plug for you is SOA part number 22401AA630. Denso Iridium IKH22 is the correct sized one step colder plug as seen on this thread. NGK LFR7AIX (#2309) is the correct sized one step colder plug as seen on this thread.I could not find LFR7AIX in stock any where in reno nv. So I bought LFR6AIX. CEL comes back on the day after I installed the new plugs. So I took it to the dealer to have it checked out. They told me that the wrong plugs are in the car and that is what is causing the problem. They wanted $400 to fix the car since the plugs were not covered under the warranty (the correct plugs from the dealer are $22 each). And they suggested not to drive my car at all because it will cause further damage to the car. This made me mad, I've done the search to find out what to use. And they wont honor the warranty. I'm not saying that the spark plug FAQ is wrong but. just a warning to all the people using any plug other then stock could have this same problem. I told the guy that I cant afford to pay for it right now and if I take the car home and put the right plugs from the dealer in, will they honor the warranty. He told me yes it would and that I can bring the car back they will look at it again to see what the underlying problem really was. The service adviser then told me that it was going to be $103.00 for them just to look at the car because the incorrect plugs took it out of warranty. I was even more angered I told him that I came in for a check to see why the CEL was on and the car was under the org. warranty so it should not cost me anything. We talked about it he told me he understands and the they will wave that fee this time as a courtesy. And when I bring the car back with the right plugs they will not charge because the car will be back under warranty. My question is has any other member here had this same problem? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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09-20-2007, 06:58 PM	#2
JRSC13 Scooby Newbie Member#: 49479 Join Date: Nov 2003 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: columbus Vehicle: 05 05xt sti stg 2 pp	doubt it, i work at a dealer and you can understand that it took some time for the tech to figure out what was wrong, and he is still getting paid. since the wrong plugs were in it, no warranty for that problem, consider yourself lucky they waived the fee at all........

09-20-2007, 11:07 PM	#4
RexyGirl Scooby Specialist Member#: 63616 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: South East Vehicle: 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo with mods :)	you should have taken it to the dealer in the first place, before replacing the plugs. If the plugs were the issue, they would have replaced them under warranty...they are covered 3/36. It looks like they are giving you a break. Put the originals back in and take it back to them. If turns out not to be the spark plugs, they can go from there.

09-21-2007, 04:54 PM	#6
munkis Scooby Guru Member#: 1847 Join Date: Jul 2000 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: brokenmotorsports.com Vehicle: Team Broken: V6 GF rallyarmor.com	next time check your owners manual, the correct spark plugs are listed in there. If you dont have one, ask the dealer.

09-21-2007, 06:07 PM	#7
tomt5078 Scooby Newbie Member#: 84619 Join Date: Apr 2005 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Vehicle: 2013 BRZ Silver	No and I would never put the wrong plugs in my STi let alone my lawn mower

09-21-2007, 09:34 PM	#8
Mavrik Scooby Guru Member#: 90347 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: AKIC Location: Anchorage AK Vehicle: 2013 BRZ & Imp 2.5RS Yamaha FZ8	Well since the issue is that it had wrong plugs... definatly not a warranty issue since the plugs are not the ones installed from the factory. As for waiving the diag fee, just because a car is under warranty, does not mean all repairs will be. Your cel can come on because you didn't tighten the cap. At the dealership I work at, all customers sign an hour authorized time for all cel concerns even if the car is under warranty. Sure you had already diagnosed the issue... but if warranty is to be done, then the tech must perform a diagnostic check themselves. Paying $100 for that if not under warranty is reasonable. Just buy the plugs, install them yourself and if the cel comes back on your good to go. Unless its proven the issue came from previous mods and no engine tune.

09-22-2007, 03:21 PM	#10
armand1 Scooby Guru Member#: 10309 Join Date: Sep 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle, WA Vehicle: '02 OBS 2-tone! '95 Montego Miata	Don't forget that you can get Subaru parts at a discount by internet/mail order from a number of the forum sponsors.