Mac's Power

For those that don't know us we are an Independent Subaru Specialist in Southern Ireland.

My question is this. A good customer of ours always gets his impreza services with us and his wife's forester 2.0 AWD nonturbo was always serviced at the main dealers because they are next door to where she works. At the big timing belt change on the Forester he didn't trust the dealer and got us to do the work.

Also reported at the service was a crunch between first and second gear. My recommendations was that the synchro was starting to go and that since the car was under warrenty he should ge the dealer to do it FOC.

That's right you guessed it.........brought the car back to the dealer and he says the warrenty is void as the last service was carried out but "non-qualified" personnel and the parts used could be inferior!!!! [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

As many of you know we are a very reputable outfit with all qualified mechanics and the parts used were original Subaru parts apart from some items which were of superior quality to OEM such as lubes etc.

Opinions before I approach Subaru on his behalf? What is the legal stance on this?

Many thanks,
Paul.

RichS

Not sure if it's different in Ireland, but from what I understand they cannot void a warranty if genuine parts were used and were fitted by a reputable garage.

As a Subaru specialist, presumably you qualify as a "reputable garage".

Let us know how you get on.

Rich

Jolly Green Monster 2

Surely if the only service done by you was just before the report to Subaru about the gearbox it can be proved that the car was maintained by Subaru until the fault was found and is therefore nothing to do with it not being serviced but a dealer. Never mind the fact that it can be proved that you fit into the "Qualified mechanic" etc..
Also if the cambelt service donesn't include the gearbox then surely the gearbox has been maintained but Subaru?

I can see it from there point of view though, car all running fine it is then serviced by a non-dealer and a problem arises... don't think that this is fair though.

I know most companies try and wriggle out of any warrent claim, they are as bad as insurance companies but I guess they are just trying to make a living.

Goodluck with the claim

JGM

AndrewW

Its as simple (or complex) as this.

The car can be service by anyone in the first year, as long as genuine parts are used. This is mandated by European Law.

The second and third years of the warranty are provided out of the goodness of IM's heart and so they can put any conditions they like on it Therefore you must have the car serviced by a Subaru Dealer in the 2nd and 3rd years to maintain the warranty.

Andrew.

Madman

My understanding of the warranty validity is the same as Andrew W's