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Cantdrivestick
02-02-2023, 01:49 PM
Hi All,
I've had my Gen 5 (2014 GTS) for 3 years now (1/2020). It has the extended 10 year Powertrain warranty through 09/2025. I have religiously had oil changes done at my local dealer by a specific Viper Tech every 5.5 months (to stay under 6 mo.). Never had another issue with the car. Originally had 1300 miles on it, now around 6k.

The Dealership just informed me, as I was making my next appointment before 02/2023 to stay within 6 months, that the only certified Viper Tech is no longer working there. There are no other Viper Tech's at any dealerships within any reasonable drive. Should I just risk getting it changed with someone else at the dealer so that it maintains my warranty? Will that actually void the warranty? Does it need to be a certified viper tech? Am i S.O.L.?

Any feedback would be appreciated,

Thanks

Cantdrivestick
02-02-2023, 01:50 PM
*Also noted: I would trust myself more than anyone at the dealer to change my oil. However, I do not want to void my PT warranty

SINIS7R
02-02-2023, 02:08 PM
My recommendation is to just do it yourself. To not void warranty, document with pictures and receipts (picture of odometer at oil change, picture of you physically doing oil change, and receipts of both oil and oil filter). Also just buy oil and filter from the dealer so they have it on record.
After my engine was replaced under warranty, I discussed this with the head of warranty claims at FCA. This is what he recommended if you change your own oil.

ViperGeorge
02-02-2023, 04:18 PM
The Magnuson Act forbids a manufacturer from requiring you to do maintenance at their dealer. I actually take my cars to Grease Monkey and have them change the oil. They allow me to back it in so as to avoid the bars on the front of the pit. They also allow me to stay in the garage and watch them. Never had a problem and I've been doing this for 12 years. They also have records of when the oil has been changed.

Martin
02-02-2023, 05:56 PM
This whole "you must change oil every six months" BS really has me confused. I do it, and I keep a journal of it, but I've never heard of a case where a car who's oil hasn't been changed every six months got a warranty denial. Some of the cars out there still don't have 500 miles on them and are being kept in a collection. Some cars sit on a dealer lot forever. Do those cars lose their warranty?

Seems nuts to me in this day and age of synthetic oils. Seems like a gigantic waste of time and money. I take my drained oil, and use it in other cars that don't have these ridiculous mandates, and I've never had a problem.

simon455
02-02-2023, 06:47 PM
There is no certified gen v tech. Cert viper tech goes back to early gen cars where you actually got a “viper license”
And could perform warranty repairs. Any Chrysler level 2 and up can work on it. Recommend level 3 guy though.
There was only one online course dedicated to gen v platform. Nothing really deep either.

Steve-Indy
02-02-2023, 07:07 PM
simon455, there was a required, formal training program for experienced techs (along with some sales/management folks as I recall) as part of the package deal where SRT required this training (among other things) in order for a "relatively few" dealerships would receive the SRT designation...and thus be able to receive a few Vipers to sell. The participating dealers paid a large sum of money for the privilege. After the 2013 sales obviously failed to meet initial expectations with the new price point, many of these hopeful, but not exactly mainstream dealers PRIVATELY expressed both disappointment and anger over "the deal". Certainly many felt that they made a poor investment in this SRT concept.

The last time I checked, a Level 3 tech had to do (or sign off on) Viper warranty work.

While others may add more corporate facts here, I think most of what I just said will stand.

P.S. Sorry I cannot remember the date that the Gen V tech training programs were suspended. My wild guess is that it was somewhere around 2015-6...but I could be way off on that.

Topplayer
02-03-2023, 10:38 AM
I always did it myself, Ordered the oil and filter, kept the receipt, and did a black stone oil analysis. No one can void a warranty with that amount of data backing it up. Plus I like having a an oil analysis every year or so to keep records.

Cantdrivestick
02-03-2023, 12:58 PM
Appreciate the responses, just trying to avoid as many headaches as possible here. I am just going to return to the same dealer and have a level 3 tech do the oil change. It is such a simple car compared to many coming out today, so it still blows my mind. I just want to enjoy it and not have to deal with FCA Stellantis for months trying to get things fixed. Trying to minimize issues since there is already a parts shortage. Thanks guys