Warranty Problems...!

[hollymay]

Sorry to raise this as a new topic......but I'm looking for a bit of technical advice.

 

My A8 is in the garage at the moment having a lot of work done as a result of water getting in to various units from a blocked drainage pipe.

 

I've got the 'Ultimate Cover' on a warranty with The Autogroup but when the garage phoned them to get authorisation he was told I wasn't covered because 'Clause 26' of the policy states they don;t cover flooding...!

 

When I explained that I hadn't actually driven in to a river or fallen out of the Ark and that the damage was all caused by a blocked drainage pipe the extremely unhelpful and unsympathetic member of staff advised me that the drainage pipe was not covered either because the warranty only covers 'mechanical and electrical parts'.

 

I asked her to explain her definition of a mechanical part.....and she said 'one that moves'....!

 

I've tried to contact Audi but I've had no response.....so I'm wondering whether any of you feel that I would have a valid case to pursue this further.....??

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

[E-bmw]

The only advice I can think of is, if you bought it fairly recently from an AUC dealer you can TRY and persuade them through reports etc that the fault existed when you bought it, but I would not hold your breath.

 

You are EXTREMELY unlikely to get anything from the warranty company, I have heard of several identical tales.

 

The moral of the story is ALWAYS INVESTIGATE WET INTERIORS. (not shouting, just stressing)

Edited March 14, 2015 by E-bmw

[hollymay]

I bought it from a dealer last July.....but I can imagine I'd get the same response from them that I have from the warranty company.  

 

Problem with the wet was that by the time I noticed the mats were wet on the passenger side it was too late....the following day it went.

[drpellypo]

They have a strong case as it's something that should be maintained. I know that's not what you want to hear, but trying to get them to pay out will be an uphill battle imo.

[Tipex]

It's not something that should be maintained by the customer though, I very much doubt it tells you anywhere in the handbook to find and rod out all the drainage tubes.

I very much doubt any dealers do it as part of any planned maintenance either, it'll be one of those things that only gets looked at once it's caused a problem.

I'd be fighting this personally.

[NewNiceMrMe]

Push it with the dealers.  Then contact Audi UK.

[drpellypo]

It's not something that should be maintained by the customer though, I very much doubt it tells you anywhere in the handbook to find and rod out all the drainage tubes.

I very much doubt any dealers do it as part of any planned maintenance either, it'll be one of those things that only gets looked at once it's caused a problem.

I'd be fighting this personally.

Sorry I should have explained that better.

What I mean is that, they will state that the issue was caused because the customer failed to address the issue when it first occurred - that the carpets would have been wet at the early stages of the problem. They will stick to that which makes it an uphill battle to get them to change their mind.

[Tipex]

Doesn't work like that in reality though does it?

By the time you notice the carpet is wet, it's already to late, as it gets wet from the bottom up if you see what I mean, and how often do you feel the carpet?

It's a design flaw, and not one that affects any other manufacturers, what makes it worse, is that it's a design flaw that has existed for many years, and VAG still haven't fixed it.

[drpellypo]

No, it doesn't. I totally agree. I'm just saying that's what the warranty company will say.