Imagine you are out on a drive and your engine starts sputtering. What would you do? Of course you would place your trust in the mechanic at the local garage. And no sooner would you have done that than you’d have committed the biggest blunder! You’d have to wash your hands off the warranty on the car engine – your most expensive investment!
There are many factors that can affect your car’s warranty. And there are as many different clauses as there are manufacturers. But you needn’t panic! We have tried to list the most common factors that can essentially void the warranty for your easy reference.

CAR WARRANTY
A car is made up of thousands of parts – expensive and sophisticated. A car warranty is a legally binding promise from a vehicle manufacturer or dealer to cover the costs of designated repairs or part replacements that may occur during a specified warranty period or distance run by the car – whichever is earlier.
If any defect is detected in the vehicle within the warranty coverage period or distance, it is the car manufacturer’s obligation to repair only the part that is found defective or replace it with a new part at no cost to the owner, while the defective parts that have been replaced become the property of the manufacturer. 
However, for any repair or replacement that is not covered by a warranty, the onus is on the owner. A car may also be recalled by the car manufacturer on its own, for setting the defects right. 

IMPORTANCE OF WARRANTY
Depending on severity, car repairs can be prohibitively expensive. Warranty covers breakdown of almost all mechanical and electrical parts including engine, gearbox, suspension, steering, brakes, starter motor, alternator etc. and all manufacturing defects. It saves the car owner from breakdown of high value parts like Electronic Control Module (ECM), compressor and injectors. 
One can call for the on-road services of the car company and approach any company authorised dealer in the country for repair and warranty claims. This feature is vital on long drives – far beyond your home town. Moreover, a car which has a valid warranty fetches a better resale value.

DURATION OF WARRANTY
Primary warranties come along with purchase of new cars and are applicable for a period of time or distance – whichever is earlier. The duration or distance covered could be valid any time between 1 and 5 years of its operation depending on the make. For example, Maruti offers the primary warranty for the first 2 years from its purchase or 40,000 km – whichever is earlier, followed by 3 years of Extended Warranty if opted for.
A warranty can be voided in part or whole. For instance, if you don't have the oil changed in the engine according to the suggested maintenance schedule and the engine fails as a result, the carmaker has the legal right to void the warranty on the engine. The rest of the warranty remains intact, providing nothing else is affected by your negligence.

PARTS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY
A car owner should know the car parts that are covered under the warranty:
?? Engine: All parts including cylinder block, bearings, oil pump, crankshaft, flywheel, camshaft, valves, pistons, connecting rod, inlet and exhaust manifolds, turbo etc.
?? Clutch: Pressure plate, disc, release bearing, master and slave cylinder (except failures due to worn out or burnt clutches).
?? Transmission: Internal gears, shafts, syncromesh rings and hub, bushes, selector forks, gear lever, bearing and bushes. 
?? Cooling system: Radiator, water pump, reservoir, thermostat etc. (except failures due to external damage or corrosion)
?? Steering system: Rack and pinion, steering box, column, shaft bearing, power steering pumps, reservoir etc.
?? Front wheel drive: Drive shaft, coupling, constant velocity joints, hub, drive flange.
?? Fuel System: Fuel pump, injectors, throttle body with sensors and actuators, fuel tank, cap, canisters etc.
?? Brake System: Servo master cylinder, wheel cylinder, diesel vacuum pump, disks (excluding brake pads / liners), drums, handbrake lever etc.
?? Suspension: Shock absorbers (excluding fluid leakage), control arms, upper and lower wishbones and spring (beyond a certain distance it is treated as normal wear and tear).

LIMITATIONS UNDER A WARRANTY
There are certain parts that are generally not covered under a warranty:
?? Glass items: Windshield glass, rear glass, window glasses, bulbs, headlamp assembly including projector headlamp, tail lamp, fog lamp assembly and mirrors.
?? Natural wear and tear items: Brake shoe, brake pad and spark plug etc.
?? Clutch: Disc, pressure plate, release bearing etc.
?? Radiator, Catalytic converter, AC gas leakages
?? Replacement of timing belts (as per recommended interval)
?? Wheel rim and wheel alloys
?? Glass machine
?? All body parts: Door regulators, glass run, seat fabrics, roof lining, gear knob, steering wheel logo, emblems, cup holder, door weather strips etc.
?? Rubber and plastic parts: Door rubber, boot and door stoppers, windshield glass rubber etc.
?? Smartphone Linkage Display Audio unit 
?? LPG & CNG: Vehicle retrofitted with LPG or CNG kits will not be covered under extended warranty. 
?? Paintwork, bodywork and mouldings
?? Damage by water entry 
?? Corrosion of body parts, lock cylinder, key and interior trims
?? Accidental damages: Repair or replacement required as a result of accident or collision, misuse, abuse, theft, flooding or fire. However, such damages may be claimed under a comprehensive car insurance.
?? Hydrostatic lock: A hydrostatic lock is a condition when the engine of a vehicle gets locked due to water seeping in while moving in a flooded area or having parked the vehicle in water, resulting in engine stalling. Under such circumstances, if the engine gets seized due to hydrostatic lock, it cannot be repaired under a warranty as the warranty gets void. 
Note: Never try to crank (start) the engine. Manually push the car to a safe location and call the authorised service station. However, you may go for an ‘add-on’ insurance policy to cover a hydrostatic lock.
??Battery: A car battery is generally covered under the primary warranty period only. In case of any manufacturing defect of the battery, the carmaker will refer you to the battery company. Mind you, batteries are not covered under an Extended Warranty. 
?? Tyres: These are also covered under the primary warranty period provided the defects reported in the tyres are manufacturing defects. Defects due to general wear and tear or mishandling of the tyre will not be covered. The service centre will refer the same to the tyre company for assessing the defect and replacing the same, provided the onus is accepted by the tyre company. 
Note: Both the battery and the tyre manufacturers directly give an implied warranty for 3-5 years that may be claimed by the car owner against manufacturing defects on the expiry of the primary warranty.

WHAT MAKES A WARRANTY INVALID 

Warranties are generally not explicitly explained by the car manufacturers. As a result, the authorised service centres may sometimes disclaim the warranty. Thus the general conditions leading to the lapse of a car warranty that are essential for a car owner to keep a check are listed below.

1) Default in vehicle service:
If a car is not serviced or maintained as per the manufacturer’s recommended schedule (distance and / or time period) mentioned in the Owner’s Manual and Service Booklet - the warranty may be deemed to be void. 
Note: Abide by the service schedule and the periodic services provided in the Owner’s Manual or Service Record Book strictly, without fail. 
The service schedule varies across companies. For example, the periodic maintenance stipulation of Maruti Nexa is as follows:

2) Unauthorised fitments: 
Modifications provided by the local car décor shop for the aftermarket fittings such as LED lights or HIDs instead of stock headlights, or aftermarket reversing camera, sound system, back gear horn – (even manufactured by famous brands) make your car’s electrical warranty null and void as all these involve tampering with the stock wiring of the car.
Note: Prasanta Khanra, Quality Manager at Nexa, Jyote Motors suggests avoiding any extra fitting that the car model does not possess at the time of its delivery. 

3) Unauthorised modifications: 
Installation of the aftermarket wheels and tyres and making dramatic suspension modifications using extreme lift or lower kits are some of the ongoing trends. One should be aware that a vehicle platform is inevitably compromised by such modifications. These include conventional alignment angles, vehicle undercarriage components and drivetrain components such as axle bearings (due to the extreme offset of the wheel hub on some wheels). Such compromises invariably result in steering, suspension and drivetrain problems. In the event of a warranty claim related to these systems, the carmaker will scrutinise the modifications; if the failure is due to the installation, the warranty claims are typically denied.
Note: Avoid modifications or upgradations in new cars. Sometimes, to save cost, new car owners add reversing cameras or modify the window glasses into automatic ones, rendering the total electrical warranty on the car cancelled.
Moreover, such modifications can adversely affect handling, performance, durability or safety and may violate governmental regulations. Hence, damage or performance problems resulting from any such modification does not get covered by a warranty.
Himangshu, the Warranty Manager at Nexa Arupota shared an anecdote with us. A Baleno was sent to the workshop with a complaint of regular battery discharge. After a thorough check up, the real culprit was found – a small cigarette lighter was found to have been added later. "You never know how a car might behave with aftermarket fittings - which eventually lead to the warranty getting annulled," warns Himangshu.

4) Unauthorised service or repair:
Some warranties can be limited in scope and others may be voided by certain actions. For example, a 2-year primary warranty on your car may get voided for unauthorised repairs by local garages or change of OEM parts. 
Note: To retain the car manufacturer’s warranty, get your car repaired or its parts replaced from authorised service centres only.

5) Usage of non-recommended lubricants:

Use of adulterated, insufficient or bad fuel (petrol / diesel), fluids (coolants etc.) or lubricants may lead to disruption of your car warranty. 
Note: Use only company approved / recommended lubricants. Refilling any non-standard engine oil, gear oil, hydraulic oil, brake oil, coolant, windshield washer etc. may render the warranty void. Although a lubricant container may show approval for a car model, we recommend you abstain from using any lubricant without consulting the authorised service centre.
Recently, the primary warranty of a Volvo XC60 was reported to have been cancelled on the grounds of fuelling with spurious diesel, specifically, purchased from a fuel pump in Kolkata.

6) Participation in racing or speeding: 
The vehicle should not be used to compete in any car rally or race – formal or informal. In case it is proved that a vehicle got damaged while rallying or racing, the warranty will get cancelled. 
Note: Go for the special 'Rally Cover' insurance sold by a few motor insurance companies before sending your entries to the race to cover all possible damages.

EXTENDED WARRANTY
A warranty can be extended against an additional cost paid by the owner at the time of buying the vehicle or any time before the expiry of the primary warranty. It cannot be extended once the basic warranty gets over. The Extended Warranty covers almost all the points covered by the primary warranty.
Note:
??If the Extended Warranty is not contracted at the time of car purchase, the cost of the warranty extension may vary with passage of time.
??If any part covered under a warranty gets damaged before the contract of the Extended Warranty, the part shall be excluded from the warranty extension. 
Say, you bought a car on 1.4.2019 with a primary warranty applicable for 2 years – valid up to 31.3.2021. You meet with a collision on 1.8.2019 whereby the car radiator gets damaged and hence  replaced. Hereafter, the Extended Warranty that you are likely to buy will not cover the radiator.

CLAIMING A WARRANTY
 In the event of the occurrence of a breakdown, the following steps are essential to claim against a warranty:
? Call the 24x7 toll-free number of the car company for road assistance or finding out the nearest authorised service centre.
? Take photographs of the vehicle and site of accident for record.
? Depending on the vehicle condition, the owner may drive it down or get it towed to the nearest company authorised service centre at his/her own cost.
? Notify the service centre of the warranty contract number as given in the Owner’s Manual and Service Book, which should always be carried in the car.
? Authorise the service centre to establish the cause of breakdown.
? Assess the parts and labour charges to be borne by the car manufacturing company against the warranty and car insurance company, if required. Also calculate the cost that has to be borne personally. Obtain a formal quotation of the cost breakup.
? Allow repairs according to the dealer’s recommendations.
? Undertake to pay the cost of dismantling and repairing the vehicle if the cause of the breakdown is not covered by the warranty or insurance.
? The service record has to be made available to the workshop.

CONCLUSION: 
Cars are worth a fortune these days. We invest a lot of money in procuring it. So it’s essential you know what you’re signing up for. An informed decision on car warranties may be the first step towards protecting your money. Else there’s a fair chance that the love story with your car may end in a horror story.