Launching (with VDC off) and Warranty

[westmc]

Has anybody spoken to a service manager at a Nissan dealership about how the warranty issues are handled when the car has been launched with launch control? Even though I don't see anything in the owner's manual (I still haven't received the car I am just looking at the online version) about using launch control (which has me worried that it doesn't work on the US version), it says that use of the car with VDC off can void the warranty and launch control requires that VDC be turned off. How is this enforced? Does the car record every time launch control is used? Does it record every time VDC is turned off? Is it a one time deal where if you turn off VDC and the car registers movement, then it sets a flag and your powertrain warranty is void? Is it based on how many times this happens? I am really curious about this?

My former car was a 2007 Lotus Exige S and it would record "standing starts" by using an algorithm based on rpm, mph, and wheelspin to decide whether it thinks you did a launch over 3000 rpm. If you have a number of these higher than the service department at your Lotus dealership likes (~3 to 5 depending on how nice your dealership is) then your powertrain warranty is voided. It was even worse with the 2008 model which added launch control because if you use that even once, it voids your warranty. I was hoping that Nissan would be more flexible than Lotus.

[ATLsupra]

It was discussed briefly here in another thread. One of our guys called the dealership he ordered his from, his sales person said it's more or less to protect the car in term of people abusing the car. Since there is no official mentioning about launch control in the manual, my guess would be Nissan doesn't approve use the launch control method.

Maybe the ones who already received their GT-Rs can chin-in and let us know what your dealership says about VDC off.

[BennyBlanco]

i understand what your saying but in every GTR test they always talk about the launch control and why would they if NISSAN doesnt approve??

[elpasocrna]

its a good question. i wish one of the owners would let us know. Have any of the personal owners tired it yet???

[westmc]

Anybody?

[ATLsupra]

Kpkpkp on the UK site posted this.

So this is the mail contents I have back from Nissan


Please see our current policy detail regarding your VDC (ESP) issue below. Please note however, this is still work in progress.

Tuning:
Malfunctions caused by operation performed at workshop other than NHPC or mount of parts other than Nissan genuine will not be covered by warranty.

Driving condition:
Malfunctions caused by severe driving (eg. driving at circuit) will not be covered by warranty.
Verification of travel distance with Vehicle Status Data Recorder (VSDR) and history of parts replacement may be conducted.

Special driving condition:
Launch mode needs to be set VDC off. When the customer set VDC off, then warranty is not covered as described in the Owner Manual (OM).
Customer should be checked and maintained in NHPC before and after driving racetrack to follow special racing service intervals in OM.
System failure on the vehicle during race driving on a circuit is non-warrantable. System failure on the vehicle during city driving related to having driven the vehicle on a race circuit is non-warrantable.

NB: Specific warranty booklet will be supplied to all RBUs for translation and distribution to local network

My understanding is that essentially, any car driven on track is out of warranty until re-checked by a certified NHPC which effectively re-sets the warranty.

Effectively, any time VDC OFF is engaged, the car is out of warranty while VDC OFF is engaged.

Make of it what you will

Kp


So it appears to be that if VDC is off and during that period when you use launch control or any other activities and the transmission or other parts failed, you will have to pay for fix yourself which making sense to me.

[westmc]

Kpkpkp on the UK site posted this.


So it appears to be that if VDC is off and during that period when you use launch control or any other activities and the transmission or other parts failed, you will have to pay for fix yourself which making sense to me.

But my big question is how do they know it happened when VDC was off? If you turn VDC off and drive 10' and then turn it back on, is your powertrain warranty gone?

[008]

This is absolutely ridiculous. They build a "supercar" and won't warranty it if it's driven on the track. That to me is courting irresponsible street driving. It's also unbelievable that turning off the stability and traction control programs voids the warranty. If it's so fragile don't give it launch control. If there are other concerns about parts breaking while VDC is off I'd like to know now before I buy the car. Porsche and BMW have track events they encourage you to attend. This is the wrong attitude for a company to have concerning their Halo car.

[BennyBlanco]

This is absolutely ridiculous. They build a "supercar" and won't warranty it if it's driven on the track. That to me is courting irresponsible street driving. It's also unbelievable that turning off the stability and traction control programs voids the warranty. If it's so fragile don't give it launch control. If there are other concerns about parts breaking while VDC is off I'd like to know now before I buy the car. Porsche and BMW have track events they encourage you to attend. This is the wrong attitude for a company to have concerning their Halo car.

+1 on the Porsche and BMW track days

we should send hate mail to nissan
but wait till i get my car then send hate mail to them

[ATLsupra]

Everything data will be stored in the spy "VSDR". According to the above, if you turn off VDC, and nothing breaks during the time, it should be fine.

[BennyBlanco]

we need to figure out how to put the BLACK BOX on FREEZE and able to unfreeze when taking car in for service

now that will be a money maker

[ATLsupra]

I am sure someone will try to figure out something soon.

[BennyBlanco]

i hope this will be a money maker for whomever does figure it out

[FASTER THAN MOST]

But my big question is how do they know it happened when VDC was off? If you turn VDC off and drive 10' and then turn it back on, is your powertrain warranty gone?
my car came two days ago there was a sheet of paper with instructions on it just how to use lawnch comtroll it works cause i tried it.

[westmc]

my car came two days ago there was a sheet of paper with instructions on it just how to use lawnch comtroll it works cause i tried it.

Did you ask your service manager at all about the warranty implications of using it? I am just hoping that it won't be like the Lotus policy.