2 year service - pollen filter replaced?

[CH1]

I was just reading in another Leon thread regarding service and use of other garages and heres the reply I got from Seat below (quote)...

QUOTE=Dozz;1444659]Does anyone know where you stand with the warranty if I were to have my car serviced outwith the stealers. I know there is a 2 year manufacturers warranty and a one year dealership warranty to cover the third year.

What I want to know is would I still be covered for the 3rd year of my warranty from the stealer if I were to have my car serviced elsewhere?

Thanks[/QUOTE]


Well, I asked the same question to SEAT UK just to re-confirm what I thought was correct here is there reply:

"Dear ,



In response to your recent e-mail we write to advise that as per Block Exemption law, you are not restricted to having the vehicle serviced at only a SEAT UK main dealership.

Whilst a SEAT dealership or indeed any other Volkswagen Audi Group dealership (Audi, Skoda, VW) will have the correct tools/parts for servicing vehicles, you are able to have your vehicle serviced outside of the dealer network with out immediately affecting the warranty on the vehicle.

The warranty would only be affected if the servicing was not carried out correctly or at all, which followed on to cause damage to the vehicle. In these circumstances, the failed part would no longer be covered by warranty if it was proved that the part failed due to a faulty service etc, however the rest of the warranty on the vehicle would still remain.



If we can be of any further assistance please feel free to contact us on our Free phone Customer Service line 0500 222222 during our office hours of 8.30am until 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Kind regards,

Dale Kean

Customer Service Advisor

SEAT Customer Service"

--


I then took my Seat (Leon 1.8 petrol) to a Skoda garage for its 2 Year service which included change of brake fluid. The cost was £186 compared to Seat cost of £255. However, I noticed that Skoda did not replace the pollen filter as they say they only do that at 20,000 miles. So I asked Seat who said they'd recommend replacing it at 2 year service even if was below 20,000 miles, Skoda however did not replace the polllen filter as my car was only 14,000 miles.

Wondered what you get at the 2 year service and how important is pollen filter replacement?
I only had oil, filter, brake fluid replaced. Brakes and wheel thread checked thats it. Is there anything else apart from pollen filter (if thats required at 2Yr?)

 

[geesus69]

i thought it was common knowledge now that you dont have to have your car serviced at a main dealer to maintain your warranty

as long as they use genuine parts and follow correct procedures it will not void the warranty

or am i missing the point and rambling on??

after doing my mechanics course with lads who work at main dealers i always prefer to use a smaller garage i know and trust rather than a main dealer i know nothing about (some of the lads couldnt pick their own nose without breaking something!!)

 

[gazzy-g]

at the end of the day there is no component on the car which could fail due to the pollen filter not being replaced so i cant see a problem . with the new rules you dont even need to use genuine parts so you can save even more cash on filters if you wanted although at work we tend to use genuine oil filters

 

[Brummy_Leon]

The chances are is seat had replaced your pollen filter your car would leak like a sieve when it rained... best left alone

 

[CH1]

i thought it was common knowledge now that you dont have to have your car serviced at a main dealer to maintain your warranty

as long as they use genuine parts and follow correct procedures it will not void the warranty

or am i missing the point and rambling on??

breaking something!!)

No, no you're right I was just cross-referencing a post in the new-Leon thread so pasted Seat's response incase anyone did wonder.

 

[CH1]

The chances are is seat had replaced your pollen filter your car would leak like a sieve when it rained... best left alone

I'll leave it alone I think.

On another note my Seat suddenly stopped battery light came on when I was slowing down at a traffic lights, I lost all power. After about 2 mins I was able to re-start the engine.
Mentioned it to SEAT who say they require £41.50 just to put it through a diagnostic test (its still under warranty). I think its Seats attitude to its customers thats making me just think about the customer service and after care of other Japanese manufacturers..even though I love my Seat....

 

[amccan10]

a pollen filter will cost around £8, it's really easy to change your self.

I've done mine three times now, change it every 6months (approx 10K miles).

you just need to make sure the rubber seal is fitted correctly

 

[andycupra]

you sure you actually got the break fluid replaced?
my money would be on that it wasnt.

servicing often states it should be changed every two years. but id be shocked if this was done as part of the service.
everywhere i have been, (particularly dealers) a brake fluid change is extra and needs to be asked for.

 

[Jonny]

I'll leave it alone I think.

On another note my Seat suddenly stopped battery light came on when I was slowing down at a traffic lights, I lost all power. After about 2 mins I was able to re-start the engine.
Mentioned it to SEAT who say they require £41.50 just to put it through a diagnostic test (its still under warranty). I think its Seats attitude to its customers thats making me just think about the customer service and after care of other Japanese manufacturers..even though I love my Seat....

The Seat Specialist (Ex. franchised dealer) I use did a full diagnostics check on my LCR at its 20k service. I asked how much extra that would be and they said it was part of the service. I mentioned that some people get charged up to £50 for diagnostics checks, to which they laughed and said "some dealers will try all sorts to screw money out of people; if the car is still under warranty they should carry out diagnostics FOC".

 

[Jonny]

Forgot to mention, I had my pollen filter replaced & I've had no leaks

 

[CH1]

you sure you actually got the break fluid replaced?
my money would be on that it wasnt.

servicing often states it should be changed every two years. but id be shocked if this was done as part of the service.
everywhere i have been, (particularly dealers) a brake fluid change is extra and needs to be asked for.

I specifically asked for the brake fluid to be replaced and was quoted extra for this. It's added on my invoice as an entry of 4.5L whether they actually did replace it I will have to check.

 

[CH1]

The Seat Specialist (Ex. franchised dealer) I use did a full diagnostics check on my LCR at its 20k service. I asked how much extra that would be and they said it was part of the service. I mentioned that some people get charged up to £50 for diagnostics checks, to which they laughed and said "some dealers will try all sorts to screw money out of people; if the car is still under warranty they should carry out diagnostics FOC".

Lucky you. I don't know if it's because I didn't have my service at Seat or request it at the time of a service. Is it something they'd do FOC if under warranty without a service? I'll make some enquiries.

 

[andycupra]

I specifically asked for the brake fluid to be replaced and was quoted extra for this. It's added on my invoice as an entry of 4.5L whether they actually did replace it I will have to check.

i wasnt saying they will say they did it and then not. its just not part of the 2 year service.

therefore if you paid extra, that really is a cheap service for a dealer. (unless the price you put doesnt include the brake fluid!)

 

[GrayT]

Mentioned it to SEAT who say they require £41.50 just to put it through a diagnostic test (its still under warranty). I think its Seats attitude to its customers thats making me just think about the customer service and after care of other Japanese manufacturers..even though I love my Seat....

The better dealers really stand out. When my MAF was failing (which we didn't know at the time), King's of Sidcup had it in for two days doing diagnostics but because nothing showed they didn't charge a bean.

 

[techie]

A diagnostic check is part of an inspection service. This entails checking the fault memories thats it. If you arent having a service then a charge isnt out of the ordinary, as is a charge for diagnosis of a fault found as part of the service test.

It isnt so much dealers trying to screw money out of people its just them making sure they get some revenue back to pay the technician and run the buisness should the customer decide to take the car elsewhere to have the problem fixed or do it themselves.