Warranty and Servicing - Arnold Clark

Wyndham

We bought a nearly new car in June which had been first registered on 1st October 2014. It had only done 1430 miles, which was great! Since then we've about doubled the mileage, so it's currently at just less than 3000.

We bought if from Arnold Clark who have been rather persistent about the fact that as 1st October is approaching, we must get it serviced. They have booked it in for us, and have rung a few times now, as well as texting. I spoke to them today and said that as it had Network Q checks when be bought it in June, and given the overall mileage, a service at this stage would seem excessive.

They have said that if we do not get it service then it MAY (note, not will) invalidate the warranty. I asked how, and was told to look at my warranty documentation. I now have, and it's not really much clearer.

I've asked them to provide clarification in writing, so will wait for that, but in the meantime I wondered if anyone could provide any advice? Am I being sensible or pig-headed on this one?

Thank you for reading!

bod1467

Network Q checks are probably a marketing thing, really. Did they actually do any servicing work during those "checks"?

Service schedule is based on mileage OR time ... whichever comes first. So the first service will be due by 1st October regardless of how many miles have been driven.

PS - you don't have to get it serviced by Arnold Shark. Nor even by another dealer. Anywhere is fine (to maintain warranty) as long as they use approved parts.

bigjl

You still need to service the vehicle on a time basis.

Mileage done is irrelevant

In my opinion you are not being pig headed but you do show a remarkable lack of knowledge for how a vehicle warranty works.

If you give the vehicle details then people can advise on what the servicing requirements are for your car.

You don't have to service it with Arnold Clark but you must service it in adherence to the manufacturers requirements.

dannyrst

I'd suggest advised AC that they have lost your business for servicing it by expecting you to take it to them (as shown by the booking of a service without you agreeing to it) and advise them you will be taking it elsewhere for the work to be done.

And actually take it to be done, it does need a service every year, regardless of mileage (unless you do more than 10/12/24,000 miles, which isn't the case in this instance).

Wyndham

bigjl wrote: »

You still need to service the vehicle on a time basis.

Mileage done is irrelevant

In my opinion you are not being pig headed but you do show a remarkable lack of knowledge for how a vehicle warranty works.

If you give the vehicle details then people can advise on what the servicing requirements are for your car.

You don't have to service it with Arnold Clark but you must service it in adherence to the manufacturers requirements.

I maybe do have a lack of knowledge about the warranty. I've had cars before, but as I've always paid upfront (no credit) they've been older, higher mileage models, so I'm into new territory here. It's nice to be able to finally have one this new, but it does seem to come with a few 'extras' to think about.

It's a Vauxhall Astra, if that helps? I've tried to find details of the schedule, but it's really not 100% clear - with several places telling me to look in other places which then don't have any information. So, if you can point me at something definitive, I'd appreciate it.

Wyndham

And, again probably showing my ignorance, but why is time important as well as mileage? If the car isn't doing the miles then there won't be wear and tear on anything - so I honestly don't understand what may go 'wrong' over time to need servicing?

DUTR

Wyndham wrote: »

And, again probably showing my ignorance, but why is time important as well as mileage? If the car isn't doing the miles then there won't be wear and tear on anything - so I honestly don't understand what may go 'wrong' over time to need servicing?

Time is important as things like rubber perish and dry out.
If there is water in the exhaust over a time it may corrode from the inside.

ballyblack

why is time important as well as mileage?

For example the oil gets contaminated the first time its driven and will degrade in the engine even if the car is unused, also disc brakes, rubber hoses etc will degrade with time

geoffken

Evert time the engine starts from cold is the equivalent of 500 miles running.
All /most of the oil will have drained downwards starving top of engine.
I used to have a car which was used 8/10 times a day for hourly appointments which meant warm for 10 mins cold for 50.
After a year it was knackered.
if oil does not get warm for at least an hour all you are getting is excess fuel /water in oil.
The best way ever to ruin an engine!!! but go ahead and think you know better than Arnold shark and car manufacturers and take no notice of extended service intervals.
When warranty runs out will they repair it.
DREAM ON

jbainbridge

As far as I can see the Astra's service interval is 20,000 miles or 12 months (speak to a Vauxhall dealer and confirm this). If you exceed either of those you risk invalidating the warranty.

Wyndham

geoffken wrote: »

Evert time the engine starts from cold is the equivalent of 500 miles running.
All /most of the oil will have drained downwards starving top of engine.
I used to have a car which was used 8/10 times a day for hourly appointments which meant warm for 10 mins cold for 50.
After a year it was knackered.
if oil does not get warm for at least an hour all you are getting is excess fuel /water in oil.
The best way ever to ruin an engine!!! but go ahead and think you know better than Arnold shark and car manufacturers and take no notice of extended service intervals.
When warranty runs out will they repair it.
DREAM ON

I'll ignore the rudeness in the reply and say thank you.

As I said above, I'm trying to work this out, which is why I asked for help. So, can I ask how you know these things? Who taught you? I've obviously missed out part of my education.

The other reason for my original question was the pushyness of AC, and their use of 'may' rather than 'will'. This is quite a classic pressure sales tactic, and I'm educated enough in those to perhaps see them when they are not really there?

Thank you all, it's interesting and informative.