How to keep car warranty intact if others do the work
Detailed service records, following schedule are key preserving guarantee
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) service departments have got used to the defection rate of a good percentage of their customers over the years. But with carmakers offering longer warranties, how can you ensure you keep those in force while having repairs done at a nonOEM repair centre or when you do certain maintenance chores yourself ?
First, no matter what your dealership service consultant might tell you, no automaker will automatically void any portion of their guarantees because someone decided to have their maintenance and repair work done elsewhere. However, there are certain precautions drivers should consider when trusting their rides to a private shops, or when they do their own servicing. Know the maintenance schedule: If your independent shop isn’t familiar with your model’s particular maintenance needs and specifications for parts and fluids, you may run into trouble when a warranty repair is needed.
Provide the shop with a copy of your vehicle’s maintenance guide and ask that they detail all the required inspections and maintenance items on their repair orders/ invoices in writing. When it comes to verifying the repair/maintenance history to a carmaker, if it’s not in writing, it doesn’t exist.
Also pay particular attention to engine oil change intervals. Even if your vehicle is equipped with an automated maintenance reminder, there may be maximum specified time or distance recommendations for oil changes. Miss just one interval and if your engine fails, you can count on your warranty coverage being denied even if the cause is not related to lubrication. Make sure the paper trail is complete: While every jurisdiction in Canada has consumer protection legislation that details what has to appear on vehicle repair invoices, some smaller shops may take shortcuts. A repair invoice must include the vehicle serial number, customer name and address, mileage at the time of repair date, and have a sequential invoice number.
All parts listed on any invoice must be identified by a specific number that can be traced back to identify the brand used. It’s best to list those brands on the invoice. Any labour fees must be detailed and not listed as “repairs as required.”
Keeping your own records in a secure location is a good idea.
DIYers need paper trails too. Keep all parts and fluid purchase receipts. Maintain a log detailing the dates of any work, mileage of the vehicle and the work performed.