General Warranty still valid?

[LibWed]

Hi,

I have a Fiat 500 (on PCP) and I have it booked in at my dealership this week as the rear screenwash is leaking into the cabin. I've had the car just under a year, so it should still be under warranty, but I'm wondering if there is anything that will invalidate the warranty on this occasion? It hasn't been serviced yet and I am over the agreed amount of miles, but I'm wondering if that has any bearing on this issue?

I'm panicking slightly that this is going to cost me a fortune, so any reassurance or knowledge would really be appreciated!

 

[Mike1alike]

It hasn't been serviced yet and I am over the agreed amount of miles

Technically that means warranty is not valid anymore.
You'll need to see what the dealership will tell you exactly.

 

[LibWed]

Technically that means warranty is not valid anymore.
You'll need to see what the dealership will tell you exactly.

Do you know if the mileage is calculated annually or as a total for the three year warranty length?

 

[Mike1alike]

Do you know if the mileage is calculated annually or as a total for the three year warranty length?

Normally should be as total, not annually. And what happens first ends the warranty, either 3 years pass, either mileage. But that should be very clear written in your warranty, details can be modified specifically.

 

[IanML]

Servicing schedules are usually expressed as x miles or y months, whichever sooner, and the warranty usually requires the servicing to be performed as specified. However, I bought mine used from a FIAT dealer, and it had exceeded the time provision by over 1 year. The dealer talked about reduced servicing being acceptable if the mileage was low. I didn't have much faith in that, so I got him (in writing) to underwrite the warranty in the event that FIAT baulked. At it's 2nd service (fourth birthday) it required some warranty work, and that seemed to go ok, so maybe the dealers can sideslip the strict terms.

My local KIA dealer has told me that the industry allows a 1 month slippage, but I don't know about mileage. I'd expect that to be quite tight.

 

[gazz_bee]

There used to be a 1 month/1000 mile discretionary leeway but I can't find it written down anywhere. A couple of points:-

the washer hose fault can't be attributed in any way to the late servicing as it's not part of the servicing schedule.
the failure could be attributable to the screenwash freezing and an uncharitable dealer might consider it as damage rather than a manufacturing defect.

FWIW the rear wash hose popped off at the pump end in the "engine" bay of my 500e last week and drained the screen wash reservoir leaving a fluorescent yellow puddle under the car. I'm not entirely sure why it came loose but it needed a trip to the dealers to resolve as the bonnet release cable came adrift when I tried to open it which made a DIY fix impossible. Both issues were resolved under warranty.

Incidentally, I use a highly concentrated screenwash mix as there's nothing hot in the engine bay of an EV to defrost it should it freeze.