Warranty and Servicing - Arnold Clark

Wyndham

jbainbridge wrote: »

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.

Thank you, and that's helpful. But again, the language is not really definitive - I 'risk' invalidating the warranty, not I 'will' invalidate the warranty. Do you know why it's so uncertain?

laidbackgjr

Wyndham wrote: »

Thank you, and that's helpful. But again, the language is not really definitive - I 'risk' invalidating the warranty, not I 'will' invalidate the warranty. Do you know why it's so uncertain?

It's uncertain as the warranty covers many aspects of the car - if it was a mechanical failure - that would have been inspected or changed at a 12 month service - e.g. engine oil change not done as per service schedule - then warranty wouldn't cover an engine failure. But the warranty also covers things that aren't touched during a service - e.g. the stereo - so the warranty would still cover a stereo repair even if the service schedule hadn't been adhered to as the service schedule doesn't impact the stereo.

So it's uncertain as until you have a particular need to claim on a warranty it's unclear as to whether that part failure would have been avoided if the car had been serviced on schedule or not.

Wyndham

I see, thank you.

And in the meantime, the cynic in me is just thinking that I should go into car maintenance as it seems to be good money for old rope!

geoffken

Technically you WILL invalidate the warranty as you will NOT have had it serviced at the 12 month/mileage timings.
As to whether AC or Vauxhall would refuse a claim if you were a day late you would have to take your chances as legally they are right and you are wrong.
Equally if door handle fell off you would probably get that fixed although LEGALLY you would not be entitled.
Are you a gambler and if so do not get it serviced and buy some lottery tickets!!!
PS FYI I do a low mileage now but still get it serviced at yearly intervals.
Last mileage 1800 but on Hybrid so if it went wrong would be VERY expensive!!

bigjl

Wyndham wrote: »

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.

Ignore Arnold Clark they are just trying to get business in the door.

Find another Vauxhall dealer and take it there.

Somebody mentioned 20k miles or 12months which matches the info from Shell Lubematch.

You seem to be a bit prickly though.

People don't get "educated" on such things, it is acquired knowledge though usually easily found if you read the Service Book fully.

Engine oil can deal with a certain amount of fuel contamination before the amount of protection it offers is diminished, if you do lots of short journeys it is considered to be severe service, such as lots of stop start with the engine never getting properly hot.

If you Google Used Oil Analysis you will see mention of TAN and TBN.

Everybody doesn't get their knowledge from a book or by being taught it.

After all you are the person asking an extremely basic question regarding a vehicle warranty and how to keep it valid.


By all means If you think you know better then feel free to ignore what the vehicles engineers have stipulated

bigjl

Wyndham wrote: »

I see, thank you.

And in the meantime, the cynic in me is just thinking that I should go into car maintenance as it seems to be good money for old rope!

I suspect you have very little idea into the cost that a properly equipped garage encounters.

Most Mechanics (Technicians) have their own toll box for hand tools etc that may cost as much as £10k or £20k

Manufacturer diagnostic kit is also not cheap.

Part of the agreement with Vauxhall with the Met Police and London Ambulance service when having large fleets of Vauxhalls was for this to be provided free.

Even an entry level Snap On diagnostic kit is several thousand pounds in its own.

Most professional mechanics will use either Mac Tools or Snap On due to the warranty they get, spend a few minutes on Google discovering what they cost.

Horizon81

bod1467 wrote: »

Service schedule is based on mileage OR time ... whichever comes first.

This sums it all up.

dannyrst

Horizon81 wrote: »

This sums it all up.

It's always the guy.

chrisw

I'm no particular fan of Arnold Clark, but I've had our car serviced and MOT'd by them for the last couple of years, mainly because the garage is very convenient. I've had no problem with them at all other than them trying to flog 'fuel treatment' at £18 each time it goes in. I just decline it. I find the reminder phone call quite handy and again, it would be quite easy to decline if I didn't want it.

fred246

Wyndham wrote: »

I see, thank you.

And in the meantime, the cynic in me is just thinking that I should go into car maintenance as it seems to be good money for old rope!

You are quite correct. It is good money for old rope. When they see a brand new car with less than 3000 miles on the clock they will just tick the boxes on their service sheet and give you the car back. If you are lucky they will suck a bit of old oil out and put a bit of new in.

It is a game you either play it or you don't. I don't. I buy new cars and look after them myself. I invalidate the warranty on purpose. If something goes wrong I want to fix it myself. I don't want them messing with my new car.

I don't think dealers make much money from cars any more. 'Servicing' them is a way for dealers to get some cash from new cars.