Car Servicing
In March this year we had a situation with a seized wheel nut, just after we had our 2011 Subaru Impreza serviced. The Subaru Service Centre replaced the nut and wheel stud free of charge, but it happened again last month when we had it serviced at the same place. This time we were charged for the nut and wheel stud, and when we disputed the charge, all they would offer us was a small discount and told us it was not covered under warranty. We have made a complaint in the post service survey, but Subaru have not changed their decision. What is the point of a new car warranty if the service centre can pick and choose what it decides to cover?
Like the reader who asked about a random rattle in his Toyota Aurion engine I have had it happen to mine in the last few months. When I removed the rocker cover I literally had a ball of gunk sitting in corner of the head. I too got my car regularly serviced as per the book with a Toyota dealer. I would suggest his car might need a proper engine oil flush including removal/clean of the sump before it gets too late for him.
I purchased a secondhand 2010 Toyota RAV4 V6 last year and like Chris Brown (Carsguide, September 20) the transmission whine really annoyed me. I reported it to my regular Toyota dealer at the next service and was told it was normal for this model, but I found that there was a Toyota Tech Service Bulletin issued in 2010 for a fix for this whine. The final drive gears being cut at the wrong angle evidently cause it. As I still had about two months of warranty left I complained to the original dealer who had fobbed me off, but when I quoted the Tech. Service Bulletin I was referred to Lane Toyota in Mulgrave who tested the car and carried out the repairs. All is now great. I would advise Chris Brown not to give up - without this whine it is a great vehicle to drive.
The rear door window on our 7-year-old 5-door Hyundai Getz is locked in an open position. It happened when the driver and a 5-year-old passenger were trying to operate the window in opposite directions! Please help!
My 2007 Toyota Aurion has only travelled 68,000km and has been serviced every 12 months or 15,000km and is city based. In the past 12 months it has started to rattle or clatter for up to two seconds on start-up. It does not occur every time I start the car, perhaps 3 or 4 times a week and it seems to be random, sometimes after the car has been left overnight, sometimes when it has been left only a few hours. At my last service the service manager advised it was the Variable Valve Timing gear and that it was a common occurrence and not to worry about it. Should I be concerned about this, and if so, do I have a case for Toyota to look into this under warranty at their cost, as if this is an issue I think I would have a case that the product is not fit for its intended purpose, irrespective of the warranty terms.