Ford Service Brilliance

[Rancidpunx]

Metro Ford, I had a really good sales experience with them. However not visited the service dept yet.

[davidald]

"You are drawing a unfounded and incorrect conclusion there.

Firstly the warranty cannot be voided on a car because of mods. Ford will not cover the mods, but will continue to honor the warranty. However, if the mods cause a breakage, such as a power increase breaking the driveline then fair enough, the could deny the claim."

ZAP have a closer look at the sales contracts. Manufacturers and dealers are not required by law to prove that a modification has or has not contributed to a fault or failure of component.

[ZAP]

Under Australian consumer law, they do have to prove it.

Ford can write whatever they like, but if it contravenes common law, then it is null, and common law takes precidence.

The dealers tried this stunt with servicing in non dealer workshops on new cars several years ago.

It was ruled that the statutory warranty cannot be voided, as long as the workshop carried out the required logbook service. This is also the case with aftermarket parts, they have to prove that the part caused the fault or was a contributing factor. This was because the dealers then tried the non factory parts BS on non dealer serviced cars.

If you put a 2000hp motor in your car, you would expect the driveline components not to be covered, but if you had a door lock actuator go, they are compelled by law to replace the component under warranty.

Dealers are trained to bluff and intimidate clients that have a legitimate problem.

Do not take what a dealer says on face value, as they usually know 2 bits of FA when it comes to the technical or maintenance requirments of your car.

This forum has 100 times the knowladge of all ford dealers combined as we can sort the fact from fiction.

[timbos99]

Well said Zap, especially the fact that forums and the internet offer lots of knowledge, and you know what they say about knowledge....

[davidald]

I have no idea what Ford says or writes on the subject Zap, I am referring to the law. If you boost the performance of your car beyond manufacturers specs then kiss goodbye to your warranty for engine, trans, diff, etc. In other words the priciest components in your car. Its why guys want to hide the fact that they have had an edit done, because that mod voids numerous warranty issues including anything relating to code errors.

I dont know of anyone winning against a dealer in court when they have boosted the performance of their cars, but I know of plenty that have lost. I am not referring just to Ford but most marks.

I guess I am asking, are you advising forum members they can mod their cars without risking warranty?

[ZAP]

David,

You are not making any sence with your arguments, we are both saying the same thing.

I am sayting that Ford must honor a warranty on a modified car, however they can deny a claim on components if they are modified.

I never said that Ford should cover breakages caused by modified cars. Please show me where I have "Advised" people they can mod their cars and claim warranty ?

The other main point I was getting at was that IF it went to court, then it WOULD be required for Ford to prove that a modification did cause the breakage.

My main point is that the warranty cannot be VOIDED because of performance modifications, they can only deny claims.

I think one of the few things that can void a warranty is if the car is a statutory writeoff, as flood damage can never be fully repaired.

I am very aware of what the laws are with regards to warranty and consumer protection, this is why all my cars are STOCK, to avoid any potential issues.

[davidald]

Sheesh Zap, this is a terminology thing. You said in your first reply to me that I was "drawing a wrong conclusion".

I am sorry you cant make sense of my arguments perhaps its a comprehension issue? Not sure why you are asking me to show where you have advised members

they can mod their cars and claim warranty either, I did not say you had, I asked if you were. We may both be saying the same thing but I have not changed what I am saying.

This is pedanticism, stating the difference between "voiding" warranty and denying warranty repairs, the end result is exactly the same. If you boost your cars performanc, say injectors, high flow cat, edit etc etc and make 300rwkw, as many seem to do on these forums, then dont expect warranty repairs for a whole range of expensive repairs. I beleive this is what I was saying from the beginning. Many owners have ofcourse "voided" "blown" "screwed" or whatever their chances of warranty repairs, which most would accept anyway. I simply dont use terminology like " man you have modded your car so you will be 'denied warranty' service on this item"

All your cars are stock?

[tab]

You're both saying the same thing, but your original post was a bit generalised. Saying that your warranty is will be voided because you have modified your car is not correct - but a warranty claim will be knocked back on specific parts related to any modifications.

Zap was just trying to clear that up to remove any confusion. Your original post could have been interpreted as for example "I have put a K&N filter in and they are not going to replace a faulty brake light because of it"

Yes it's an outlandish analogy, but for someone new to the game might not realise that and get scared for no reason!

So how about a group hug?

[ZAP]

Tab said it in one.

There is a difference between denying a warranty claim and voiding a warranty on a car, this is exactly what I was trying to clarify.

Yep, all my cars are stock as I drive them hard and need to maintain the full warranty.

[PepeLePew]

Timbos any more news?

Im interested in the outcome of this one, my BA has been perfect (albeit it had a aftermarket battery fitted by previous owner within the warranty period), but our SY Territory has been a PITA since we got it. Similar experience of repeated attempts at finding why the battery goes flat.

We've just gotten used to occasionally charging it with a charger ....