So have I voided my warranty by fixing my IAC myself?

[DavidPartay]

Well the story is, I got my VX in July and on and off (regularly) the throttle has stuck at anywhere between 1300-3000 while idling. So of course I tell Hunter Holden about it when the car goes back to them under warranty to have the gearbox fixed (as second gear and apparently reverse) made an exploding sound and stopped being selected).

So they had my car for 2 weeks, fixed the gearbox, didn't fix the idle speed problem.

I had my car rego check about 2 weeks ago, and the service guy came on Thursday last week saying that the oil leak in the transmission is a workshop job.

So I take the car back on Tuesday this week and let them know the story (there was also a nut missing off the passenger side sway-bar link).

Well they fixed the leaking transmission/power steering (Apparently both were a problem or something) and put shiny new rubbers and everything in the swaybar links, and 'adjusted' something to fix my idle speed problem.

Hit the freeway on the way home - in fact, I wasn't even 5 minutes away from work before the idle problem came up again. I hit the freeway, and the engine light kept coming on, the revs kept sticking about 1500.

So I get to my fiance's place, pop the bonnet, take off the TPS - test a bit to make sure that's not the problem.

So then I unscrew the IAC. Hmmm, it's sticking a little bit - I can't get it off. So I stopped the engine to make sure I didn't do anything silly (for the sake of testing, yes I had it running, yes I was careful) and lo and behold - the IAC popped a little bit out and the cover bit was DANGLING from the inside bit - it wasn't even screwed in!!!!!

So I've taken one look at it, gone "Ok, I better put that back on". It wouldn't go back on. Then I had a brainwave - back when I cleaned out the throttle body of my VN, I had the same problem. You have to screw the inside thing into the covering part! So I did... put it back on - no dramas. Started the car, no high idle. Took it for a test run (flogged its guts out) and still no problems. In fact, now the car is running as it should - it always seemed strangely sluggish before.

So, have I voided my warranty by doing it myself? It's a 75km trip to Hunter Holden (it has to be serviced by them to keep under warranty) and I really didn't want to make yet another trip there, plus I wanted to see what was actually going on.

[1vngal]

surely you could get away with saying that whatever they 'adjusted' fixed the problem, and they'd be none the wiser. And your warranty would still be void...

[DavidPartay]

Ahh, but you see I gave the guy I've been in contact with a call on the way home while the car was doing it to let him know it was happening again.

So hmmm...

[Sabbath']

If he asks just tell him the problem went away on its own, then its up to him to prove that you did anything,

[DavidPartay]

Yeah that's what I'm thinking.

I'm also thinking I might sort of just let it slide and not bother bringing it in or whatever, if he calls I'll just say the problem's gone away. He's not thick, I'm sure he'll guess that I fixed it myself.

[Bax]

I still don't see how screwing a cover back on would void your warranty?

If you replaced the party entirely with something else then maybe, but you were merely doing up a loose screw.

[fabz]

I would call them and abuse them for being nobs not to find the prob in the first place!!!

[jules]

don't tell them you removed the IAC. if they don't know that, they can't accuse you of anything. if they're confused about how the problem was solved, that's their problem to work it out.

it's a fact that dealers are far more adept at squirming out of their warranty obligations, given half an excuse, than actually fixing anything so don't give them any excuses!

[genetic_freak]

i would ring up customer assistance and apply for a transfer of your used car warranty on the grounds of distance required to travel to the dealer. but no you haven't voided your warranty if you dont tell them what you have done.

[DavidPartay]

Yeah I'm thinking I might keep playing the mechanically retarded fool during the duration of my warranty... At least to the people at the Holden place itself, the mobile service guy is pretty easy to get along with and if I'd mentioned the problem to him (I probably should have... dunno why I didn't) he probably would have fixed it :S. Oh well

I think I'll just let this one drop... But as I said, I'm not 100% sure it's fixed yet. The action inside the IAC was pretty stiff, I can't remember if they're supposed to move more easily than that but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough.

[jules]

i believe they're supposed to be stiff, at least the ones i've mucked around with have been.

[DavidPartay]

Very well then.

The bit I'm confused about is, how on earth did it manage to come undone while in it? I CAN'T get it in while it's undone! I tried to!!

So very strange....

[lieos]

just dont tell them you touched it they wont realise i work for a dealer and we would not look into it unless you complaind about something - no complaint = no need to look at other things = less work for us

[jules]

The bit I'm confused about is, how on earth did it manage to come undone while in it? I CAN'T get it in while it's undone! I tried to!!

the pintle thing is attached to a stepper motor that pulls it in, pushes it out.

the PCM uses it to adjust idle speed by bleeding air past the throttle valve.

[DavidPartay]

I understand how it's supposed to work, but the bit that has me stumped is how it managed to get detached from the casing.

[somerandom]

What they don't no can't hurt them ?