I read somewhere that just as long as you have genuine parts for the car i.e fiat parts or in my case vauxall, then you can go anywhere and have the service but i am wary as my warranty expires in 2 weeks. tried to get an independant garage to look at my car but i made the mistake of telling them why and i couldnt get in there before the warranty ran out. I oomed and ahhed too much!!! had to pay £208 today for my service and mot (warranty runs out in couple of weeks) and ive no chance of getting anything done before that runs out. I have a leak in the boot somehwere (but apparratly there is nothing wrong with it after extensive tests (and theres a damp patch to prove theres a problem!!), i also have a funny squeak when reversing (extensive tests prove nothing apparantly), and whats the bet that these problems stll continue after the warranty runs out. Thought having a new car would be better than getting my old 'knackers' lol!!!!

hi george,

thanks for that, i'll certainly look into it because an auto eletrician has said that he's almost certain it would come under manufacturers warrenty. many thanks.

yvonne

Hi there,
I am pretty sure that a new law states that a manufacture can no longer refuse warranty because of where you go to get your service done. As long as the service was carried out at the right time and the correct service was carried out, and you can prove this of coarse with an invoice from the garage, then theres no reason for them to turn you down. Im not 100% sure on this but im quite certain im right. Goodluck and hope this helps.

George

hi ,

I got myself a brand new fiat punto in 2004 mainly because i wanted no bills for a few years apart from tax petrol etc. Because i'm usually broke i have taken my car for a service to the bloke down the road. Quite a while back i noticed that the warning lights for oil air bag and lights gone came on. Everything is ok except i have no hooter. As the after sales from the place I purchased car was particularly bad I contacted local Fiat garage who told me that because I did'nt have my car serviced by Fiat the warrenty is now invalid. Is this correct? I can't remember being told this at the time i purchased the car. Help

I work as a technician and volkswagen and i would say if you are having problems with the brakes definately get it looked at as it is safety related. If your dealership can't find anyhing wrong by all means get the RAC to do a full check of the car. Be aware that this will cost you, sometimes in the region of £200, but it could be worth it in the long run. For more piece of mind, if you intend on keeping the car after the intial warranty runs out it may be worth contacting your dealer about extended warranties. These are directly from manufacture so won't be like some high street ones that arent worth the paper they're written on.

As for the MOT every car requires one after 3 years from first registration and you will have to pay. Its normally around the £45 mark now, OUCH! You can get an MOT test done a month early if you want it 'post dated'.

Hope this helps

George

I have got an 04 reg vauxall car which in March will come into the end of Warrantly. I am abit concerned about the brakes. It seams to crunch when i brake. Ive had it into the vauxall garage where i got it from 4 times now and im still concerned that when i brake, they dont automatically stop. Is it worth going to an independant mechanic to look over the car before the warrantly expires or should i go to somebody like RAC and ask them to look it over (i am a member) - thats if they will do this.

Also, do i need to pay for the MOT next year or is it the year after? Can i have an early MOT to get it covered before the end of the warranty or will i still have to pay?

Please can somebody advise me?