My wifes car had an exhaust manifold gasket replaced. It’s a 2018 Subaru. Ok, that was done X amount of miles ago (not sure of the number). Service guy says, “Yup, it needs done again, and it’s under the replacement warranty” Except if you put 1000 more miles on the car. My Wife asked how soon they could do it. They can’t for 10 more days.
We are in the middle of moving. Using my car and her car. It’s 120 miles each way. Plus my wife drives to work ~ 20 miles each way. It would be easy to put a 1000 miles on the car in 10 days.
So, I think that since the problem was discovered while it was still under warranty, and since they can’t get her in to fix it for 10 days, and in that time the warranty will likely wear out, I think a polite phone call to the service manager is in order.
What does the SDMB think?
(if we have to, we are going to trade cars for a week or so. It’s kinda crazy. We are sort of living in both houses going back and forth. We probably pass each other on the road)
Who is the warranty through? Subaru? The shop that replaced it? The gasket manufacturer? A third party car warranty company?
Did you bring it in because of a problem WRT the gasket or did they just happen to find that while doing something unrelated?
Does the warranty cover the labor or just the parts? I ask because if it only covers the parts, I wouldn’t worry about it too much since nearly the entire cost of the job is going to be for the labor.
I think that’s, by far, your best option. Call them today, tell them you need this replaced under warranty, make an appointment for when you get back, then ask them again to confirm that it’ll still be covered under warranty since they found the problem while under warranty. Otherwise maybe see if another shop can get you in sooner.
Assuming this warranty isn’t through the shop, they’ll do what they can to make sure it’s covered since they benefit from it as well.
Unrelated. Tires at Subaru dealership. I told my wife that I that it’s sounds like a bad exhaust manifold gasket. She told Subaru dealership, they agree. And the fix is under warranty. For the next 1000 miles. But they FOUND it TODAY. But can’t fix it until it may no longer be under warranty.
That’s what I meant. I was wondering if they were just trying to get you to change a good part so they could get the warranty work.
Since it’s the dealership making you wait, not the other way around, I’d say you should email the service writer, explain the situation and make sure it’ll still be covered under warranty ‘when you’re able to get my car in’. And, personally, I’d specifically use something like the quoted part to make sure it’s clear that if this can’t be fixed until the warranty is up, it’s because you/Subaru, didn’t have time, not that I was busy. I mean, I understand they can’t fix everything today, I’d just want to make sure we’re all on the same page in that it broke and was reported to Subaru while it was covered and you’re making a good faith effort to get it in as soon as possible.
Any other Subaru dealers in the area that could get you in sooner?
Based on my one experience, as long as the dealer sees the issue before the warranty expires, it should still be covered even if the repair is done after. It sounds like they’ve seen the car, so you just need to talk to them and confirm that the warranty coverage came into effect the moment they recorded the problem, not when it will actually be serviced. Somehow make sure they record the current mileage in their system.
My story: Back when my old VW was exactly 4 years old I happened to be near your new area, and one of the knobs fell off the radio. By chance, I knew that was the last day of my warranty, so I immediately called the service department of the nearest VW dealer in Boulder. They said as long as they could see the problem by the end of the day, they could do a warranty fix at a future date. I was 45 minutes away, with 15 minutes until closing, so that was impossible.
Unlike the exhaust manifold gasket, I could fix the problem with a bit of super glue. Which also worked as the rest of the radio knobs fell off over the next 10+ years.
No. And to keep going over this 1000 mile limit, I will probably drive my Wifes Suby, an she my 4Runner.
This is the entire enchilada. I asked my wife to make a friendly phone call to the Subaru dealership that has a record of this repair. Talk the the Service manager.
The work was done by a different Subaru dealership, but they ‘new’ dealer ship found the defective part and it’s under warranty. FINE fix it! Can’t do it for 10 days and don’t put 1000 miles on the car between now and then.
Ok, replying to myself. I got my Wife to call the Subaru dealership. They said that yeah, it will still be covered if you put over 1000 miles on the car because we have a record of it still under warranty. But that would mean that THEY will have to get involved with ‘corporate’.
I’m looking for my tiny violin… This is NOT our problem.