# Car Warranty Question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 11, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-warranty-question/303464 "2005-05-11T21:44:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-warranty-question/303464/1 "2005-05-11T21:44:42Z")
Okay, I am thinking of taking my 2001 Toyota 4 Runner in for the gas pedal that has been sticking for months, as far as I can research, worst case scenario is a new Throttle Body is required. This would be covered under warranty for me (minus a $75 deductible). But I am wondering, while they have it…Can I ask them to look THOUROUGHLY for other typical issues i.e. Timing Belt, Fuel Pump etc so that if these things look worn, I may get them replaced on that same deductible? Do repair shops try to avoid this, or are they willing to do preventative repairs on things that are soon to need replacing? I was just wondering? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-warranty-question/303464/2 "2005-05-11T22:59:52Z")
Can’t hurt to ask. Whether it’s a dealership service shop or your neighborhood mechanic, they’ll be paid for whatever work they do, so they may actually be eager to do a quick go-over and see what else ought to be repaired. As for your $75 deductible, is that per item or per incident? If it’s per incident (sticking gas pedal) you may have a hard time convincing anyone that the timing belt is related. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-warranty-question/303464/3 "2005-05-11T23:24:28Z")
And timing belts are a wear & tear item anyway–may not be covered. ---
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-warranty-question/303464/4 "2005-05-12T14:06:48Z")
I thought the $75 was per trip to the shop for all repairs completed at that one interval…but perhaps I am mistaken. And I checked my warranty and the timing belt etc. is covered. I guess like you said, cant hurt to ask? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-warranty-question/303464/5 "2005-05-12T15:36:42Z")
When dealers replace parts under warranty, they can and often are asked to show the warn/broken part they are replacing and charging back to the car manufacturer. It’s not always as simple as them doing preventative care and billing the guarantor without accountability. But it doesn’t hurt to ask. Some are less than completely honest and I’ve know some who’ll “distribute” the work order among several clients without them even being aware of it. In other words, your preventative tensioner bearing replacement may show up on some other customer’s file with the same car as a critical repair. ---
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-warranty-question/303464/6 "2005-05-13T15:32:44Z")
Wow, I had no idea of such **QuickSilver**. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-warranty-question/303464/7 "2005-05-13T18:17:59Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > When dealers replace parts under warranty, they can and often are asked to show the warn/broken part they are replacing and charging back to the car manufacturer. It’s not always as simple as them doing preventative care and billing the guarantor without accountability. The car maker will often call back parts for analysis or inspection. Afternoon extended warranty companies do not in my experience call parts back, bu they will quite often do an inspection before the work is approved to make sure they are not getting screwed. **Mint Julip** ’s comment about a $75 deductible, and the T-belt being covered makes me think that we are discussing an extended warranty here. > [@](#): > > But it doesn’t hurt to ask. Some are less than completely honest and I’ve know some who’ll “distribute” the work order among several clients without them even being aware of it. In other words, your preventative tensioner bearing replacement may show up on some other customer’s file with the same car as a critical repair. The technical term for what you are describing is **fraud.** Speaking just for myself I do want to do business with crooks. If the dealer will screw the factory (their single bigest customer) they would probably screw me without a second thought. ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-warranty-question/303464/8 "2005-05-13T19:53:21Z")
You could bring it to an independent shop, have them look it over (like an inspection for a used car you were buying), and bring it back to the dealer for whatever it might need that the warranty covers. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-warranty-question/303464/9 "2005-05-14T00:26:23Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > The technical term for what you are describing is **fraud.** Speaking just for myself I do want to do business with crooks. If the dealer will screw the factory (their single bigest customer) they would probably screw me without a second thought. I’m not suggesting it’s right. Just that it’s not uncommon.