My 2.0-litre bi-turbo Ford Ranger is coming up to its last discounted Ford dealer service at 60,000km. Do I stick with Ford and have some peace of mind for future issues (specifically, the wet timing belt) or do I take it to my qualified local mechanic for future servicing? He tells me he is able to do it and still have the vehicle covered by the warranty, which is until 2028.
Your mechanic is spot on. As far as the warranty laws in this country are concerned, there’s no difference in having the vehicle serviced by a Ford dealer or by a qualified independent mechanic. If there’s a problem down the track, it won’t matter who serviced the vehicle; a warranty claim is a warranty claim. Your peace of mind should be no different either way.
The only difference might be if Ford looks more favourably upon your case considering you’ve been a loyal customer and had the servicing done by your dealer. But don’t go to the bank on that, as it’s by no means a legal requirement, nor a widespread occurrence.