12 February,2009 10:07 AM IST | | Special Features
Mr Gupta had bought a car two years ago, but last week the air-conditioner's compressor conked off. He took his car to the workshop where he was told that the compressor needed changing at a cost of more than Rs 26,000. The bad news is that his warranty had recently run out. He rues the day when he refused the extended warranty option that the showroom had offered him when he was buying the car.
Generally, the bigger and older the car, the more you have to spend on it. Very often, maintenance issues start cropping up just outside the warranty period. If you are lucky, a manufacturer may decide to repair the damages as a gesture of goodwill. So it pays to be in the good books of the dealership.
As a rule of thumb, the longer the period of coverage, the better. You should also be aware that some manufacturers may provide a long warranty and/or insure your car over more kilometres, but the quality and reliability of the vehicle may be questionable and your vehicle may spend more time in the workshop than you'd like. So always do your homework before buying a vehicle.
It is also worth reflecting on the fact that you'll probably be better off with a car that has a short warranty period and cheaper spare parts than a car that is covered for longer but has expensive spares.
Many manufacturers offer the option of extending the available warranty for some more money. But, it is always a good idea to fork out the extra cash for an extended warranty at the very outset.
You should pay attention to the terms and conditions too. This is simply because it offers plenty of insight into which items are covered by the warranty and, more importantly, which aren't. Before you put your money down on a warranty ensure that you read the fine print thoroughly. Ideally, the coverage should include your engine, gearbox and air-conditioner.
Another thing you need to watch out for is that while installing accessories, especially electrical ones, you must ensure that no wires are cut. This generally happens during the installation of music systems and security systems.
A sure-shot way of losing your warranty is installing performance- enhancing products like performance exhausts and performance filters. Basically, any change to the engine from manufacturer specifications
will result in your losing the warranty.
A car warranty is much more than a piece of paper. It is actually your defence against unexpected hits to your wallet. If you are smart about it, you can get greater peace of mind for little initial expenditure. As the adage goes, a stitch in time saves nine.
Working with your warranty
>>u00a0Always get a job card for even minor repairs as they can be used for future reference, trouble-shooting and help to claim warranty
>>u00a0Ensure that the technician thoroughly understands the problem with your car as it will be easier to find a solution. Also report the fault as soon as possible
>>u00a0If a dealership is unable to rectify the problem, don't hesitate to go in for a second opinion. Your car warranty is valid at all authorised service stations
>>u00a0If you have trouble with the dealership, contact the vehicle manufacturer directly using the details listed on its website
