I just bought a 18 month old Ford Focus Zetec 1.6, seems like a nice car, pleased with it, you may have already read about it under thread 'auction prices'.
I'm wondering if the warranty is still valid, not that there is a problem, I'm just trying to decide whether to get a main dealer service or take it to a local non independant 'spit and sawdust' place.
Car registered : 13/09/2001
Serviced : 18/01/02 @ 12,164 miles
Current mileage : 19,250
It hasn't been serviced for over a year, does that invalidate the warranty ?
If not, when would it need to be serviced to keep it valid ?
I'm fairly relaxed about it lapsing as i'm no big fan of servicing at main dealers.
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The warranty may not be valid anymore. See:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=i&t=10...1
There is still Rapid Fit, which is much cheaper than the normal services.
James
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That thread also talks about the 'extended warranty' for 2nd & 3rd years.
I'm not sure if I have such a thing or not, certainly did not have a piece of paper with 'Extended Warranty' written on it when I got the documentation.
Is it an optional thing ? I just assumed all new uk fords had 3 years. Should I have some kind of cerificate ?
As I said I'm pretty relaxed about it, just not sure where I stand.
I intend keeping the car a good while and the sooner I'm free from the main dealer clutches the better really.
I would pay the extra few quid for the second service if was going to keep a warranty valid though.
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The second and third year was a no-cost UK dealer option from X-reg on. As it was free there was no reason why it should not have been taken up but I'm not sure whether fleet cars had the same terms. I just missed out by getting a late W plate Ford so I'm not sure of the exact terms of years 2 and 3. Thankfully I haven't had anything that would have been a warranty claim outside the first year.
The thread seemed a bit divided over whether the one month leeway applied. As you aren't that far over, there is a chance that a generous dealer would still honour a warranty claim but it would be at the dealer and Ford's discretion.
James
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The whole situation is bizarre , and totally lacks clarity.
sounds to me like they want to advertse as 3yr warranty but put so much red tape in your that you won't bother.
Think I'll just forget it and get it serviced by a local independant. I've never claimed on a warranty or insurnce in my life.
Ford appear to be building good cars these days, but some of the customer relations beggars belief.
when i was looking for a focus, no dealer could tell me the price they wanted for the car of my choice.
every conversation went the same way.
ME> I want to buty a car your ad in local paper says 10,999 I'm interested
DEALER> Ah the 10,999 is after the 500 allowance for something or other, with our low rate finance .......
ME> I don't want finance
DEALEWR> It is a great rate
ME> I want to buy a car , how much ?
DEALER> If you pay N% deposit , you can have 0% on balance, plus a small arrangement fee
ME> I don't want finance.
ME > How much is the car ?
Dealer> are you getting a bank loan ?
ME> no, i'm an eccentric millionaire looking for a focus, how much ?
Dealer> do you want to pop in and have a word ?
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Been trying to call the customer relationship centre for the last 6 days.
What a waste of time and money !!!
0845 8411111 - just to listen to vivaldi
These 08xx numbers to listen to music should be banned.
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If it's any consolation, 0845 is a local rate number. 087x is national rate and 090x is an evil, premium rate, more than paying the operator's salary kind of number.
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Ever tried navigating your way through BT's automated system It is the very worst.
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Until you sign up with NTL, Mal ;)
HF
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My Mondeo was registered in May 2001 and has the 3 year warranty.
Technically, Ford would not have to honour your warranty as you have broken one of the terms of the warranty by it not being serviced according to the Ford service plan. I would think that due to the lower mileage it's covered in the last year (Ford quote 12,500 miles or 1 year between services), then they would probably honour the warranty providing you get it serviced ASAP. Good luck with it anyway.;-)
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I think technically, you have to ring Ford up before the car has it's first service and tell them you want the free extra warranty period. To find out if your car is registered, your local Ford garage should be able to tell you. I went down mine recently and he put the VIN in the computer and all the details, including when the warranty ran out were on there - interestingly
if the car has had any work done that should be on there also.
So, just ring your local Ford dealer and he should be able to tell you.
I am in the process of finding out how effective the warranty is in the 3rd year as I have a problem with a humming noise at the rear of my Mondeo Estate which up to now has cost me £150 for them to change the brake pads which didn't sort the problem !It's going back in tomorrow again.
I waited 29 minutes this afternoon to get through to Ford customer services to ask them about TSB's and who should pay for work done.
Grommitt
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If you visit the Ford website
www.ford.co.uk
(You supply car reg or VIN and they will confirm its identity so they quote for right varient.) There are maps of all areas of UK and dealer details.
You can ask for service cost for simple (1 year) or major (3 year) and it may well surprise you re cost.
Locally Focus 3year £220. I did 100 mile round trip and paid £150. Both main Ford dealers. Lots of change for petrol and lunch. You may be able to combine a pleasure/business trip with a service. You can also get a quote for cam belt from some dealers. You do not have to go beyond the quote so no commitment.
Down side is if you need to go back again if not happy.
Hope you have a choice in your area.
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