Written by Mabuyane Mabuza
The word warranty seems like an enigma of all motoring-related terms, it is never really discussed. People assume everyone knows and fully understands it and its function.
Car experts describe it as a contract between the motorist and the automaker, which assures you against mechanical failure where the car fails to function as expected. And as you know a bridge of contract could render any contract null and void or at least parts of it.
Our job here at 959 on Wheels is not just to tackle the nice topics but the uncomfortable ones too. This is in our quest to bring all the information you need to survive this complex world of automobiles.
Do you remember the most important car advice you have ever received?
Well, I got mine from an elderly gentleman driver at the newspaper I worked for back in the day when I was a young journalist. He said I should not fit wheels too large for my car. Ntate Stanley, the gentleman driver, said cars function better in their original factory state. Of course, I understood this advice later as I evolved into a more experienced driver and my technical palate had sharpened. Often I have seen people modify their cars to a point of “disaster” all in the name of making them “look good”. The big wheels, the dropped suspension, and many other things. But as the saying goes “every action has a consequence”.
The unintended consequence of adding modifications to your car is that you risk losing your car warranty. Many car manufacturers prefer their cars to be left in their original state. Please check with your warranty terms and conditions before you take the route of modifications. Many other reasons could render your car warranty void, including general abuse of the vehicle and neglect.
It’ll help you to just take out that warranty book that’s been sitting in your cabby holder for years and go through it. The sad reality is that book only gets taken out when things are already falling apart. Reading your warranty book only when faced with the problem could simply mean you are probably too late, well, in the case of problems that you may have unknowingly contributed to. Do you see why they say knowledge is power?
Here are some of the things to avoid doing for your warranty to remain intact:
1. Skipping your scheduled service
2. Using unregistered or unqualified “mechanics”
3. General abuse of the car such as using the car for what it was not intended for.
4. And of course, damage caused by modifications or occurring during the modification process
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