Friday, May 20, 2011

Friday’s Advice: Voiding Your Auto Warranty

Last week, we’ve talked about checking recalls and TSBs as a means to save on auto repairs. There’s actually another means to save, if you’ll just pay attention to it: your auto warranty. There may be parts in your vehicle that are covered by specific warranties, so you don’t have to shell out big bucks when you replace them.

If your car is still covered by warranty and you want to be sure that you’ll get the most out of that warranty, it’s important that you take care not to commit actions that can result in voiding the warranty on your car and its parts. What are some of the actions that you have to watch out for?

Well, one is maintenance. When a part gets damaged and the manufacturer finds that it is poorly maintained, you may be denied a warranty claim. While your car is still under warranty, it’s very important that you follow the recommended maintenance to avoid problems should the need for warranty claim arises.

Another is the installation of aftermarket parts. It’s not advised that you mount upgrades to your vehicle while it’s under warranty. When any problem occurs and the carmaker finds any relationship between the upgrade and the problem, your warranty will end up void.

The use of your vehicle in extreme activities can also void its warranty (especially if your car is not designed for such rides). This is termed as misuse, and this can include the use of a vehicle in such activities as racing.

Finally, odometer tampering is one other common reason that can void an auto warranty.

If you want to know all the dos and don’ts when it comes to your vehicle, carefully read the contract as this will state all the requirements that you need to follow.

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