Dear all,

On Friday, just as I rolled my car away from my drive, the front n/s coil spring broke in half!?! Strange, but I got the RAC to tow my car to a Nationwide Autocentre. Bought this car 18 months ago and have a 2 year warranty on it for all electrical and mechanical items.

The small print says that parts are not covered if the car hasn't been regularly serviced.

Well I had it serviced when I bought it, but thought that services could be a 2-yearly thing, so would have had one this June. The warranty people say that it has to be a year so won't pay out for my new coil spring!

In terms of small print, there is no actual duration of time stipulated for what a 'regular service' should be. Can I pull them up on this? I don't really want to have to pay out, while the insurers worm their way out of shelling out. Help! :(

Hardly a serviceable item, I would say they haven't got a leg to stand on if you where willing to push it. Just my opinion etc etc.

The service schedule for your car will be an annual check and a 10k or annual service whichever is first IIRC and that is the manufacturers reccomendation, it wont be that of the warranty company, The service inspection, although it probably wouldnt have noticed cracks in the springs, could have highlighted excessive corrosion.

As you have not stuck to the agreement RE: Servicing, laid down in the contract my opinion would be that you will have no comeback on the warranty.

*EDIT* Oh bugger, I just read your response bigw. :( How much are a pair of coil springs then? I wonder what they will charge for doing the work? It shouldn't take them more than an hour should it?*EDIT*

Postman Pat, you genius! Why didn't I think of that? Of course, they never test the springs out (stupid me). I will try that line on them. Failing that, watch this space

I can see both sides here, but think they might try to wriggle out of it as the service schedule usually stipulates a visual check of components. Although it's quite possible it might have been missed, it's a Catch-22 situation as you never gave a dealership/servicing garage the opportunity to spot the problem, by not sticking to the service schedule.

Worth a try that it's not a serviceable item though.

Steve

Well I have a mobile mechanic who sorts out the car prior to my yearly MOT. He says he services the car, but never gives me a schedule. I will get my proper one done in June. Is it worth telling them this?

I can honestly say I have never heard of anyone being told after a service that they are likely to need new springs in the next xxx miles, Shocks, discs, pads etc Yes but the visible part of the spring can be crudded up in anycase, If it is an older vehicle then the suspension components will have been examined during this time for MOT and that is more imo than would have happened at a service with regard to the springs.

EDIT, I(n reply to your post, Yes the car as had an 'inspection service on schedule', see above, and get your mate to stamp the book, Explain that you thought they meant a\ service at a skoda dealer when they asked, the warranty doesn't stipulate who as to service it does it?

No not at all the warranty says, and I quote:

"3 No liabilty will be accepted for damage caused by:

• Neglect;
  
• Corrosion;
  
• Any forgein matter getting into or onto a part;
  
• Lack of servicing;
  
• The effects of over-heating;
  
• Freezing;
  
• Abuse;
  
• Damaged to parts not covered by this policy;
  
• Damage to parts we cover by parts not covered by the policy."
  

Hmmm....

Ah well they have you on Corrosion in anycase :(, and with the recent temps. probably freezing as well

They are buggers. I wish I hadn't shelled out £200 for it now. Oh well, thanks for your help.

Ah yes warranties, remember "they" need to make money out of them (sorry). Front spring snapping at half height, been there done that, and yes I was reversing out of the garage, it drops quite a bit doesn't it? I tried to ignore it when it happened on wife's Polo, and just tried to reverse up the driveway - no chance, it just started gathering up the stone chippings! Drove back into garage, pop'd bonnet and had a look, thought "is it usually this low down?" - the answer of course was NO! I've still got that "thing" its still jammed together and still half height. You will probably now need a new top bearing along with a few new bolts and nuts etc - the balls can drop out of the bearing when the load comes off it when the spring snaps.

The annoying thing was that this spring "went" a few miles after getting the ARB replaced (split plastic stops), six months later it was the TCA bushes (Cupra ones fitted), then it was that time for a cambelt change - at least that bit was unavoidable.

Is this is a good time to point out that the only Skodas that even might go 2 years between servicing are Octavias (and possibly Superbs) on a variable service schedule? All others, including Octavias on fixed service schedules are 10_000 to 12_000 miles (depending on model) or 12 months, whichever is sooner. I've also seen "warranties" (actually insurances) which specifically exclude wearing items and/or suspension.

Yea it was surprising. How much do you think they will charge?

Well they want £157.02 for the job, so I guess it's not too bad. Oh well, you live and learn eh?!

take this opportunity to invest in some uprated springs and give your car a slight drop in height

I just got my near side front spring coil replaced. I also had to have a suspension kit fitted as the bearings fell out. I paid £38.59 for the spring + £41.25 for labour + suspension kit + VAT @15% = £122.16