Is It Repaired Under Warranty Or Not

[RunningInPleasePass]

I've had my Auris 1.4 D4D for just over two years now, done 70k miles without any problems, until the other week. It was just the passenger side windscreen jet that was only working sometimes.

The car was due for it's service so I mentioned it when I booked the service, and asked if it could be looked at, the guy at my local dealer said it was probably a tee joint with a one way valve in it that was causing the problem, and it would cost £28 to replace, I asked if this work was covered under warranty and was told not.

A couple days later the car went for it's service and I again asked if the one way tee joint replacement would be covered by the warranty, again told not, after the service when I had to pay I was informed that the tee joint had been replaced but this part of the work would 'lost' and I was only billed for the part, about £2.80.

This is my first Toyota after many years of driving VW's, the VW warranty covered anything that stopped working that wasn't a wearing part, brake disks etc, the Toyota warranty seems to be a little vague and is down to the discretion of the dealer, that said the Toyota is far and away a more reliable car.

I emailed Toyota to ask them to comment, but I only received a standard letter apologising but offering no explanation of what is covered under warranty.

Has anybody else had warranty work done and has a better idea then me of what is covered and what is not?

[FROSTYBALLS]

Had the tailgate struts replaced on my 2006 Corolla due to water ingress - the drivers side was making a loud creaking noise when opening the tailgate - towards the end of its three year warranty without quibble. Had the passenger side cupholder replaced under warranty on my 2009 Auris when it was two years old - part of the mechanism had broken - again without quibble.

[RunningInPleasePass]

I thought the tee joint/valve would have been covered by the warranty, as it turned out they only charged me a couple of pounds for the part so it was not worth arguing, I was just wondering if anybody else had any problems like this.

The car has been great, as I say far and away the most reliable car I've ever owned, in fact I'm thinking about it's replacement and the new Auris Hybrid is very near the top of my list.

[Parts-King]

Warranty is never black and white, the T piece might have been clogged up with s**t and that would not be covered under warranty, however lets say a valve in the jet fell apart, you could argue that would be covered.

I think the main point is it was replaced FOC apart from the minor cost of the part, and at 70K that was generous of the dealer

Kingo

[RunningInPleasePass]

I take your point Kingo, not knowing if the tee was blocked or broken makes a difference, the part was replaced either way, so they must have thought it was broken.

Your other point about the work being done FOC because I have 70k on the clock, the car is a little over two years old and has a 5 years/100k warranty, so perhaps it should have been FOC or have I got this warranty thing wrong?

[Parts-King]

Warranty cover does not include cover for any sort of wear or tear, and when things wear out, especially on higher mileage, then you will not be covered. Your dealer was correct to point this out before work commenced and they gave you the benefit of the doubt by fitting it free and charging you for the part only. As a car gets older (say years 4 and 5) then not as much is covered. Please remember the wording is

5 Year Mechanical Warranty

5 years or 100,000* miles from new, whichever comes first, with no mileage limitation for the first year.

This warranty also covers any mechanical fault caused by a manufacturing defect.

Kingo

[RunningInPleasePass]

I understand the warranty cannot cover parts that wear out, brakes, clutch, wheel bearings, etc, but as you say the wording is 5 Year Mechanical Warranty so I would have thought any item, say a valve in the windscreen washer line, that breaks inside those 5 years is covered right up to the last day, otherwise it's of very little use as a warranty.

Most people look on these warranties to give them peace of mind that they wont be stung for a big repair bill if a major item failed, but I'm not too sure now, it looks a little bit vague what's covered and it seems to change as the car ages.

That said the car is very reliable, and the dealer has been very helpful, and I would recommend Toyota to anybody, it's just me, I like to know how it's decided what's covered by the warranty and what's not so you can decide when it's no longer worth having the car dealer serviced to maintain the warranty.

[Parts-King]

Who is to say the washer wasnt just gummed / blocked up, that would NOT be covered under warranty. We are covering old ground and the cost was negligable

I think you are getting unduly worried, Toyota have one of the best warranties of all manufacturers. You do not need to get it dealer serviced in order to maintain your warranty, but it does help if something does go wrong, that the dealer service history is recorded to the car. Nothing is really vague, you are covered against mechanical failure for 5 /100K

Kingo

[RunningInPleasePass]

As you say it was only a couple of pounds we are talking about and I'm sure the warranty is as good or better then any other, I was just taken back when the dealer said it was not covered and it was only when I questioned it that he used his discretion to only charge for the part.

By the way asked for the old part after it had been replaced, it's in front of me now and if it's gunked up I can't see it, I suspect it's just failed.

[Mooly]

Maybe I've missed it in all the posts but at 2 years old (from date of first registration ?) and I would assume it would be covered tbh

That's what I would read into it anyway :)

[RunningInPleasePass]

First registered Feb 2011, 70k on clock.

[Mooly]

That's under G in my book :) and tbh, based on what you have said, well I'm absolutely amazed a selling dealer would even argue the toss over something like that. It is a part of the car and not a "consumable" item like bulbs/batteries/brakes etc