airbag warranty

[shuikit]

I'm currenty sat at the dealer waiting for them to diagnose an airbag warning light. Thing is that the warranty ran out about a month ago and they said seat are very strict about that.

The airbag light actually came on a couple months ago while it was still under warranty and all they did was clear the error off, front collision sensor.

They said that customer care may contribute to the cost as a gesture of good will but thats it. Anyone got any similar experience on getting all the costs back?

 

[shuikit]

Right, got back from the dealer now. Turns out that the wiring/connectors under the drivers seat need replacing, and they reccomend changing the ones under the passenger seat at the same time. Cost will be £170 odd, currently paid 50 something for the diagnosis and the car's booked in for a couple weeks time to get the work done.

 

[Fl@pper]

time to find a specialist locally then if you can't get a contribution

£50 diagnostics isn't too bad dependant on what they actually did

£170 (odd?) to replace and solder 2 wiring connectors is taking the michael fish

 

[Bedlam]

I'm currenty sat at the dealer waiting for them to diagnose an airbag warning light. Thing is that the warranty ran out about a month ago and they said seat are very strict about that.

The airbag light actually came on a couple months ago while it was still under warranty and all they did was clear the error off, front collision sensor.

They said that customer care may contribute to the cost as a gesture of good will but thats it. Anyone got any similar experience on getting all the costs back?

So they did not diagnose and fix it the first time, during the warranty period?
Complain to Seat UK................and good luck!!!!

 

[shuikit]

Sorry for being unclear, £170 included the diagnostic charge which I paid today, so they'll be about £120 to pay for the work and parts.

The first time, they reckoned it was the front collision sensor that made the light come on and this time is the wiring/connectors under the driver seat, so they're saying it's a different problem altogether.

Does anyone know what the best way of contacting Seat UK about this is??

 

[Bedlam]

I think it is Tel No. 0500 222222 or you could be clever and ask the dealer that quoted you how to contact them, so that they know you mean business

 

[nc30rider]

That repair should take no more than 30 mins. Done it myself on numerous occasions, Clio's etc. Sounds expensive to me.
Sometimes opening and closing the connections a few times is enough to bring the circuit resistance back within value limits (2-3 ohm), then clearing down the faults

 

[shuikit]

The dealer rasied a request with Seat (for a gesture of good will) on their computer system and they reckon that Seat normally get back with him within 3 days. I think I'll wait till next week and see what the result is, if it's not positive then I'll enquire to how I contact Seat UK myself then.

The car's booked in for a couple weeks time to do the work, so I've got a bit of time to kick up a fuss.

They reckon it'll take about hour and a half to do the work! They're doing both passenger and driver sides. From what I understand, they're basically taking the seats out and replacing some wiring which just clips in, so yes - it sounds very expensive to me also!

On a slightly different note, I'm pretty sick with the little niggles I've had with my FR which I've had since new. I've had my master door alarm unit thingy changed on at least 3 occasions, and that took about 5 or 6 visits to the dealer. I've asked them on around 3 or 4 occassions to sort out a ticking from behind the dash, which they have changed some the vents and yes - it still ticks! I've had the passenger mirror changed once and the driver side one changed twice, both because they wouldn't move in smoothly. They've had to change the door seal on the drivers side as a chunck came out of that after a few months. I have one of those dension ipod connectors fitted by the dealer which also had to be replaced as it didn't work.

Now that I've thought back over the last 3 years it's actually a lot of things to go wrong on a car!

 

[nc30rider]

Sounds like you should change your dealer

 

[shuikit]

I don't have much choice in the matter seeing as the dealer went bust last year, Richard Alexanders in Huddersfield. Went to Styner who's taken them over today and they're the ones who cleared the airbag warning light off a couple months ago.

 

[AUTO EMOTION]

This is the 15 min job for the one side, and should be done for free firstly because your report air bag problem whilst the car was on the warrenty secondly because is seafty related. go to another dealer or report it to customer helpline.

 

[shuikit]

I'm still waiting on an answer to whether or not Seat will pay for this as a gesture of good will or not. It's been nearly two weeks. The dealer say that they're waiting for Seat, Seat say that they're waiting for something from the dealer. I'm really feeling let down by Seat. All this for the sake of a hundred odd quid?!

 

[jcp]

See it through and good luck. I think you are making the case for going to a non franchised specialist now the warranty no longer ties you to the dealer network. Stealers normally charge about twice the hourly rate of honest local garages- something to ponder on -they have posh premises and so on to fund.....
My local garage has no pretty receptionist, no stock of specific parts to fund and no big glossy showroom. My local dealer is friendly, helpful and admirable but has bigger overheads.

 

[shuikit]

Seat are ridiculous!

They'll only pay for 50% of the repair bill ie the £120 ish and won't pay for any of the diagnostics, so basically I'm over £100 out of pocket! They won't budge on the 50% I've spoken to them directly.

Worse than this, the dealer is saying that they haven't got full confirmation that Seat will pay 50% so they've cancelled my appointment, something to do with them changing systems. I've waited over two weeks for this appointment and have had to rearrange my schedule for it.

Seat assure me that they will pay for 50% but it's up to the dealer to whether or not they keep the appointment.

I do seem to like to vent on this thread!

 

[nc30rider]

Take it somewhere else for a price first then get who ever is cheapest to do it. Sounds expensive to me.
Remember a 'Goodwill gesture' is just that, so something off the price is better than nothing