Dealer servicing

[Directdebit]

What’s the rules on servicing a new tractor under warranty? Can I do it myself or must it be done by the dealer?

 

[Sid]

 

[Driller]

We have ours serviced by the dealer but Not sure if the ‘block exemption regulations’ cover ag machines but if they do as long as it’s serviced to the manufacturer standards then they shouldn’t have a thing to say, might be different if on a contract hire agreement

 

[solo]

Some dealers are happy to supply the genuine oils and parts for you to do the work yourself. Others seem to want their own labour to do the job.

 

[icanshootwell]

Some dealers are happy to supply the genuine oils and parts for you to do the work yourself. Others seem to want their own labour to do the job.

That,s because it,s good money for old rope, most farmers can do the work themselves and most want to as well. I don,t want to pay highly inflated oil and filter prices, then there's the labour that gets slapped on the job, £750 to £1000 for a small service. I know it,s bread and butter for dealerships but why should it cost so much, when you purchase a new tractor you expect the manufacturer to stand by the product, whether i serviced it or dealer did. On a £1500 a month repayment plan do you really want to add to that!!!

 

[feilding]

Other than the first 100 hr service, I've always done my own services, every 250 hrs, never any longer.

 

[mayos]

Durring your statutorry warranty (first 12 months) you can pretty much do as you please. Provided the machine is serviced by a "suitably skilled" person using parts and fluids "of an equivelent quallity" to genuine you'd be ok i guess.
Once you go to an extended warranty that is a contract with the manufacturer which you sign. As such they can enforce whichever terms they choose to put into that contract. If you sign a contract that says you have to give the machine Thursdays off or use JD/MF/CNH branded washer fluid they can enforce what the contract states or not pay out.
If your contract with the manafacturer says that the dealer must do the servicing as per Sid's contract above and the dealer OKs you to service it yourself that's risky. You have the potential situation where you've paid for an extended warranty and have the potential that the manafcaturer won't pay out due to breach of contract. In that case you'd be expecting the dealer to carry the can for the repair out of their own pocket.

 

[thesilentone]

This varies as per the terms of the contract, and who is the legal owner. The one shown above is 100% clear, and needs no discussion, however does this relate to the OP's tractor ?

When anything is under a warranty, it is in our interests to protect that warranty and not create any situation where the supplier(s) have a chance to null and void.

If we carry out our own service work, and anything go's wrong during the warranty period, what do you think the outcome of a warranty claim may be ?

Are you sufficiency competent and trained that it would stand up in a Court of Law, because that is where it could potentially be tested in the worst case scenario.

if you do have the right levels of competency/qualifications (documented) and the right tools and manuals and it does not state in your warranty terms that you are excluded from working on your OWN equipment it may be worth the risk.

 

[deleted user 837354]

If dealers charged reasonable money for servicing, I can see that people would be less pished off by it and maybe even more inclined to have it done by professionally trained guys who could inspect the machine and would know faults to look for and maybe avoid downtime.

I mean a bill of £750 or £1000 would upset anyone.

 

[thesilentone]

Warranty under the law, usually covers a product for one year. It generally covers faulty/defective manufacturing and/or materials.

Extended warranty is usually covered by a contract or agreement of some type.

Faults outside the agreed warranty time period, for example an engine failure in year two comes under a different set of rules, such as merchantable quality, sale of goods etc. However, sale of goods has an upper limit in value, as it is assumed, if you are buying a high value product, you are a much more discerning buyer and much more research and contractual agreements are likely to be in-place. This also assumes the machine has been used correctly, serviced as per the schedule and maintained and looked after.

I'm unsure if before carrying out warranty work ,if asked " has this machine been serviced as per the schedule" and you answer yes, what proof is actually required in the eyes of the law to prove it.

In most cases, any work carried out by a third party (dealer/mechanic etc) is also covered by laws, and insurance carried by the third party (assuming they have insurance) against poor/bad workmanship.

Most dealer/manufacturer service training provides certification that that level of competency has been completed, however, these are not for ever, and have time limits on.

So, old Tom who served his time on Nuffields maybe not be the ideal person to update the software on the latest high-tech operational hardware.