Car Warranty Dispute - wear & tear

F_T_Buyer

Hi, I bought a car 7 months ago (2006 Audi) from a independent dealer, a few weeks back I broke down and was recovered to a local garage.

I had a 5* warranty to cover everything, however I had to take the cost risk of diagnosis. It turned out to be the Dual Mass Flywheel (it's a diesel car) and the clutch. Luckily the DMF was covered in the policy book, yay!

I have had discussions and there would be a delay of a week and a half for the inspector to come out. The garage was not happy at all about this as my car was taking up there ramp. So I speak to the warranty and they asked me to post the DMF to them - and they work could be done, I pay for it, and I could claim it back on the warranty.

So, I send the DMF off, and surprise surprise it's not covered due to wear and tear. They said they would bin the part unless I said otherwise, so I asked for it to be posted back.

I spoke to the garage and they said by the sound of it the springs inside the DMF is knackered - however as it's a sealed unit you can't see. You also can't test it really until you put it on a car - it's way to tough to try to turn with your hand.

Now, I would like to get an angle grinder to it to see the insides. But I really need a second engineers report, but where do I get that from?

Also, as I bought the car 7months ago - I mentioned the knocking noise 2months after I bought it and they said don't worry if it breaks the warranty will cover it - could I claim off the garage who sold it?

motorguy

A DMF failure is probably wear and tear - depending on the miles on the car i would guess.

Typically they go between 80K and 120K miles.

Unless you have it in writing that the garage said they would cover it if / when it failed, i doubt there is much you can do now.

harveybobbles

Why do people fall for this with warranties?

Get customer to pay for repair and claim back?


If you crash your car, do you pay for it to be fixed and then claim back off the insurance..?!

Anyway, anything like DMF/clutches are a grey area for any warranty.

We only sell the gold package from Auto Protect and they wont cover clutches unless they actually shatter.

DMF's are hit and miss really as, like the OP says, you can't see them to inspect them etc.

forgotmyname

6 year old car a DMF is to be expected. 7 months after purchase then it maybe one to put down to experience.

If it was soon after buying then you could claim from the dealer. But after 7 months i think your chances are slim.

F_T_Buyer

The warranty came with the car when I bought it. I just wonder if anyone knows of any engineers I could send it to, who can cut it open and provide a report. Clearly that will cost me, but it's an option to explore.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

F_T_Buyer wrote: »

The warranty came with the car when I bought it. I just wonder if anyone knows of any engineers I could send it to, who can cut it open and provide a report. Clearly that will cost me, but it's an option to explore.

no engineer worth his salt will cut it open to inspect it.

reaons why is that cutting it open wont do him any favours, as you cant see behind the top half of the DMF, cutting in would put doubt over his claims, as any damage could be put down to him opening it by force.

as probably mentioned, this really could be wear and tear, and your on a hiding to nothing in paying out for reports on the DMF.

A._Badger

Another darned good reason to avoid a modern diesel.

F_T_Buyer

I'm just so annoyed it went so soon after buying the bloody car. I know the reason, the car was remapped and I never knew when I bought it.

I have proof of it because the fuel consumption was so bad I took it to a place to remap it for better fuel economy.

Basically, I bought a lemon.

SLITHER99

Hang on... wear and tear or not - isn't that the reason you purchase a warranty? To look out for costly things like this you didn't expect?

Tyres are wear and tear; brake pads are wear and tear; a bulb is wear and tear... a DMF is a failing component!

Anything that goes wrong on a car could, by your definitions, be construed as wear and tear in that case?

motorguy

SLITHER99 wrote: »

Hang on... wear and tear or not - isn't that the reason you purchase a warranty? To look out for costly things like this you didn't expect?

Tyres are wear and tear; brake pads are wear and tear; a bulb is wear and tear... a DMF is a failing component!

Anything that goes wrong on a car could, by your definitions, be construed as wear and tear in that case?

hence why very few car warranties are worth the paper they are written on.

DMF's are seen to have a natural lifespan of around 100K miles +/- say 10K. They are viewed as clutches are viewed, which are viewed like exhausts are viewed. ie, they wear out.

motorguy

F_T_Buyer wrote: »

I'm just so annoyed it went so soon after buying the bloody car. I know the reason, the car was remapped and I never knew when I bought it.

I have proof of it because the fuel consumption was so bad I took it to a place to remap it for better fuel economy.

Basically, I bought a lemon.

A remap should technically improve economy. It would have to have been fairly extreme in the first place. I'd my car mapped up 70BHP and torque up to 500lb/ft and it still was easier on fuel.

What miles are on the car?