On January 4, 1975, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act was enacted, safeguarding consumers.
You want to equip your car with aftermarket accessories, but you’re concerned that doing so could void the warranty. How frequently have you overheard a dealership employee claim that adding aftermarket equipment automatically nullifies the warranty? Though it is entirely wrong, this widespread misunderstanding has been repeated enough times to be widely accepted.
Fact: Because warranty work pays less than standard repair work, dealers dislike doing it. Some dealers avoid this low-paying activity by spreading the fallacy that aftermarket equipment always voids warranties. Instead, they attempt to bill clients for work that is legitimately completed under warranty at the prime service rate.
Most car owners are unaware they are covered by the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act, which is a federal statute. According to the MMW Act, unless the guarantee expressly and prominently indicates that aftermarket equipment voids the warranty, aftermarket equipment that enhances performance does not breach a vehicle manufacturer’s original warranty (ours does not). The majority of states also have warranty laws. They give car owners additional protections.
Therefore, a dealer cannot escape his legal warranty obligations just because you installed aftermarket equipment, to put it another way. Check the owner’s manual to see if any aftermarket accessories render your car’s warranty null and void. It will be listed in the “What is not covered” sections. Simply put, your vehicle’s manufacturer is declaring that he does not provide coverage for the aftermarket goods itself. He doesn’t claim that the goods would nullify the car’s guarantee.
Imagine that your modified car needs maintenance while it is still covered by the warranty. The dealer tries to dispute warranty coverage without looking into the actual root of the issue. He made his choice based solely on the fact that you had aftermarket equipment installeda practical approach to avoid doing menial warranty work.
A dealer cannot refuse warranty coverage on the grounds that aftermarket equipment necessitated repairs simply by stating this.
Inform the dealer of the MMW Act’s requirement. Demand that he explain to you how the problem was brought on by the aftermarket equipment. You have the legal right to insist that he abide by the warranty if he cannot or if his explanation is dubious.
There are legal options available if you are unjustly denied warranty coverage. The MMWAct is administered by the Federal Trade Commission, which keeps an eye on warranty compliance. Contact the FCT with complaints at (202) 326-3128.
In This Article...
Is the manufacturing warranty nullified by remote starting?
It most certainly does not. The Magnuson-Moss Guarantee Act of 1974, a federal law that protects consumers, states that a manufacturer cannot invalidate a customer’s warranty unless the part results in a malfunction of the condition in question. For instance, the manufacturer would not be liable for the repair if U-Haul installed a trailer hitch on your car and wired the component into the brake lights, causing them to malfunction. However, the manufacturer is required to respect the vehicle warranty if you have a remote start fitted and a separate component breaks.
Why does an Audi warranty expire?
You can technically customize your vehicle. You can do whatever you want to it because you own it, but doing so could void your warranty. However, a federal law in the United States known as the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act expressly prevents producers from pressuring their customers to use their brand-name goods or a certain service. As stated in the act:
The use of any product-related item or service (except than those freebies given in accordance with the guarantee’s terms) that is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name is not a condition of any consumer product warrantor’s explicit or implied warranty.
In essence, the Act guarantees that customers won’t lose their warranty if they don’t take their cars to reputable dealers and shops for repairs and maintenance. Therefore, if you own an Audi, the Magnuson Moss Guarantee Act permits you to look for reasonably priced parts from other dealers without jeopardizing your Audi warranty.
But what if you want to tune your car rather than just fix or maintain it? The Federal Trade Commission takes the following stance on the matter:
The manufacturer or dealer has the right to refuse coverage for an aftermarket or recycled part and to charge you for any necessary repairs if it turns out that the aftermarket or recycled part was in fact flawed or improperly installed and it damaged another item that is covered by the warranty.
Therefore, if performance tuning your car results in an upgrade that breaks down a stock part, your dealer may void the warranty on that part. Audi cannot refuse to fix your car or breach your warranty, for instance, if you tune your engine and the next day your sound system stops operating.
Can an Audi be remotely started?
Concerning the availability of Audi remote start, many drivers ask. In fact, it’s one of the car features that Audi drivers most frequently ask for.
Although they can be added later through a dealership or aftermarket installation business, Audi automobiles do not unfortunately come equipped with full remote start features. Audi vehicles instead come with the Audi Advanced Key, which provides many equivalent advantages.
Consider the details in this brief review if you’re trying to decide between the Audi Remote Start and the Audi Advanced Key.
What is Remote Start?
A highly advanced feature called remote start was first generally made available by GM in 2003. By using a unique key FOB or smartphone app, these systems enable a motorist to start their vehicle from anywhere within a specific range. Once turned on, the vehicle will operate on its own for a certain period of time, typically 10 or 15 minutes.
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Audi Remote Start Availability
Audi remote starters have only been an aftermarket option for many years, but owners have found them to be a popular addition. While remote start has gained popularity in the United States, many international automakers have been sluggish to include this function because of laws in other countries.
Historically, remote start has not been an option for Audi automobiles. The use of a remote start is prohibited in Germany, where Audi is headquartered. Due to this, despite the fact that their key fobs can support the technology, remote start will probably never arrive as standard on any Audi vehicles.
Older Audi models can be modified with the same technology in addition to having Audi remote start installed on new ones. Some Audi retailers are now offering the option to configure your OEM key with remote start functionality in response to consumer demand. As an added bonus, the myAudi app can be installed to let you operate your remote start system from your phone.
Other vehicle accessory vendors also offer aftermarket installation.
Audi Advanced Key Capabilities
Instead of remote start, Audi offers the Audi Advanced Key, a remote start variant with keyless entry and push-button start/stop functionality. The vehicle’s doors and trunk contain proximity sensors that turn on when you and your important approach are about 5 feet away from the car. This system uses these sensors to work.
With Audi Advanced Key, you can start your car and open the doors without having to search through your pockets or handbag for the keys.
Audi Advanced Key users can start the car using a push start system without inserting a key, albeit this is not a true remote start. For many drivers, this can be a practical substitute for remote starting.
Additionally, the Audi Advanced Key enables saved driver profiles that reset the seat and mirror configurations in the car to the preferred memory settings.
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It’s important to note that the myAudi app allows remote car access to be managed from any location. Drivers can now directly unlock the car from the smartphone thanks to this.
Despite not being a fully functional remote start, the Audi Advanced Key offers many of the same advantages and perks, such as not having to fiddle with a key.
Pros & Cons of Remote Start
Using remote start is optional and depends on personal preference. There are numerous justifications for and against using remote starting. Among the advantages and disadvantages are:
Pros
- Weather Adjustment Depending on the weather where you live, being able to warm (or cool down) your car before you get in using a remote start might be a significant benefit or even a requirement. Prior to even leaving your door, it gives your engine time to warm up for the best driving conditions.
- Convenience
- The last thing you want to do is having to fiddle with your key while holding a kid who is wriggling or a bunch of shopping bags in your hands. With remote start, you can access your car without getting in it, saving you time and freeing up your hands. Because remote start allows users to regulate the temperature inside the vehicle, many people prefer it to all other technologies. Advanced remote start features available today include access to mobile apps and specific climate control settings.
reduces time Being able to start your car before you leave your house might save you time, especially during the winter. The ice and snow on your windshield will automatically melt in a heated car, saving you time in the morning and offering you a better alternative to getting out the ice scraper.
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Cons
- Pollution Running your car when you aren’t in it will always burn more petrol and cause extra pollution. (To help address this, many remote start systems have a built-in shut-off option after 10 or 15 minutes.)
- CostIf you frequently use the feature, utilizing all that extra fuel at the pump can add up to more money spent overall than the cost of installing remote start as an option or aftermarket modification to your car.
- Legal Requirements
- It’s against the law in several regions of the world to leave a car engine running when no one is inside. Although privacy worries about facilitating auto theft are also an issue, pollution and environmental concerns are the primary drivers of these rules.
Does Audi Have an Official Remote Start feature?
Audi doesn’t officially offer a Remote Start option. Since the majority of Audis are produced in Germany, where it is prohibited to operate a vehicle without a driver in the driver’s seat, the automaker is unable to legally add Remote Start to its models.
A remote start key fob-like device known as the Audi advanced key is an additional option.
Is it illegal to idle your car?
As was already established, leaving your automobile on the driveway might have both legal and environmental repercussions. Depending on the state you reside in, such as Arizona, California, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and many others, leaving your car running for an extended period of time may be prohibited.
For your reference, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a list of states having anti-idling statutes.
Will an aftermarket Remote Start void my warranty?
No. It’s a common misconception among dealerships that anything that wasn’t installed by them will nullify your warranty. According to the Magnuson-Moss Guarantee Act, if you utilize an aftermarket device properly and without causing any damage to the vehicle, the automaker cannot revoke your new car warranty.
Final Thoughts
Although remote start is not a standard function on any Audi vehicle, it can be installed through an aftermarket update if the advantages are significant enough to you. However, since the Audi Advanced Key provides many of the same benefits without the added security risks associated with a remote start, you might decide that leaving your car in its current condition is a preferable choice.
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Installing a car alarm will it void the warranty?
A: No. A security or remote start system, for example, may be installed and used after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired without violating the law. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act, passed in 1975, shields customers from auto dealers who had previously insisted that only their licensed labor and parts would be protected by warranties, and that any use of unlicensed parts or labor would void the warranty. (For instance, replacing the wiper blades with unapproved ones would void the engine and exhaust’s warranties.) Of course, you will have a lot of warranty troubles with your dealership if you damage your car’s wiring or drill holes where you shouldn’t. This is just another justification for hiring experts to setup your security system.
What modifications void the car warranty?
If you don’t follow the rules outlined in your contract, a manufacturer or service provider may void your warranty. There are several circumstances that will nullify your entire warranty, making it impossible for you to submit claims for repairs.
The following situations may cause a car warranty to expire:
- Vehicle abuse: Your warranty will be void if you use your car for activities other than regular driving, like off-roading or racing. This also applies to employing unsuitable fluids.
- Total loss: Your warranty is canceled if your car received a salvage title following a serious collision.
- Severe environmental damage: If your product was harmed by a natural disaster such a fire or flood, your warranty will no longer be honoured.
- Odometer tampering: If the odometer has been altered, the dealer won’t be able to determine the vehicle’s true mileage, which could void your warranty.
- Aftermarket alterations: If you make any modifications to your car or install aftermarket parts, most manufacturers will void the warranty.
- Ineffective maintenance: You must adhere to and record your factory-recommended maintenance schedule to maintain the validity of your warranty.