Can Any Portion of An Emissions Warranty Repair Be Charged to Me?

If you have valid warranty claim, you cannot be charged for any
costs associated with the diagnosis or repair of the problem,
including labor charges, parts, or miscellaneous items that are
necessary to complete the repair. For example, if a manufacturer
agrees to replace a catalytic converter under the emissions warranty,
you should not be charged for the diagnosis of the bad converter, or
any pipes, brackets, adjustments, or labor needed to complete the
replacement.


What Reasons Can the Manufacturer Use to Deny a Warranty Claim?

If your vehicle is within the age and mileage limits for the
applicable emissions warranty, the manufacturer can only deny coverage
if evidence shows that you have failed to properly maintain and use
your vehicle, causing the part or emission test failure. Some
examples of misuse and malmaintenance include the following:

* vehicle abuse such as off-road driving or overloading; or

* tampering with emission control parts or systems, including
removal or intentional damage of such parts or systems; or

* improper maintenance, including failure to follow maintenance
schedules and instructions specified by manufacturer, or use of
replacement parts which are not equivalent to the originally
installed parts.


What Should I Do If My First Attempt to Obtain Warranty Coverage Is
Denied?

If your first attempt to receive emissions warranty coverage is
denied, you should do the following:

1) Ask for a detailed explanation, in writing as to why emissions
warranty coverage was denied; and

2) Ask for the name(s) of the person(s) involved in the decision
to deny coverage, including anyone from the manufacturer's
regional or zone office; and

3) Ask for the name(s) of the person(s) with the manufacturer you
should contact to appeal the denial of coverage under the
emissions warranty.

4) Contact and, if necessary, write to the person mentioned above
requesting coverage and giving the basis for your request. Repeat
and continue the appeal process until you are satisfied or have
exhausted all means of appeal.


What If the Dealer Claims That My Vehicle Can Pass the I/M Test
Without Repair?

The law does not require that you fail every I/M test in order to
trigger the warranty. If a valid test shows that you have an emission
problem or there is a defective part, you should get it fixed, while
your vehicle is still within the warranty period. Otherwise, you
might fail a future test because of the same problem and have to pay
for the repair yourself. If you doubt your original test results or
the dealer's results or diagnosis, you can always get another opinion
from another dealer or your I/M program.


How Can Maintenance Affect My Emission Warranty Coverage?

Performance and the cost of scheduled maintenance are your
responsibility. You may either perform scheduled maintenance yourself
or have a qualified repair facility perform it for you.

If a part fails as a direct result of your vehicle not being
properly maintained or being used in a manner inconsistent with the
manufacturer's recommendations, or a part fails as a result of the
vehicle being involved in an accident, the manufacturer may not be
required to repair or replace the failed part under warranty. For
example, failure to replace the spark plugs at the intervals specified
in the maintenance schedule can lead to misfiring and eventual damage
to your catalytic converter - a very expensive part to replace. If
the maintenance is not performed properly as recommended, the
manufacturer may deny warranty coverage.

To ensure maximum air pollution reduction from the emission
control system, as well as to ensure continued warranty coverage,
better gas mileage and performance, and longer vehicle life, you
should have all maintenance performed as recommended by the
manufacturer's schedule. A list of scheduled maintenance for your
vehicle can be found in the owner's manual or warranty booklet.


Do I Have to Show Any Maintenance Receipts Before I Can Make an
Emissions Warranty Claim?

No. Proof of maintenance is not required in order to obtain
coverage under the emissions warranty if an emission control or
emission related component, or a specified major emission control
component, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship.
However, when it is likely that the lack of proper maintenance has
caused the particular part to fail, you may be asked to show that
scheduled maintenance was performed.

If you perform scheduled maintenance yourself, you should keep a
detailed log of work performed and any receipts for parts purchased to
perform the maintenance. In some instances, you may be asked to
qualify your ability to perform such maintenance. Vehicles should
always be maintained according to manufacturers' specifications.


Are Dealers the Only Persons Allowed to Perform Scheduled Maintenance
Recommended by the Manufacturer?

No. Scheduled maintenance may be performed by anyone who has the
knowledge and ability to perform the maintenance and repair. You may
even maintain the vehicle yourself, as long as the maintenance is
performed according to the manufacturer's instructions provided with
the vehicle.

For your protection, before taking your vehicle to a repair
facility to have any maintenance performed, check your maintenance
booklet and make a list of the scheduled maintenance to be performed
at that time. We suggest that you present this list to your auto
technician as opposed to merely asking for a "tune-up" or a "12,000
miles servicing." Your receipt should list all the maintenance
performed and should be kept for your records.

If you maintain the vehicle yourself, you should keep receipts
for parts and a maintenance log to verify your work.


If I Need Replacement Parts, Must I Use the Vehicle Manufacturer's
Parts Only?

No. A manufacturer cannot require the use of any specific brand
of parts in the maintenance of your vehicle. However, the
manufacturer can require you to use parts that are of equal quality to
the original parts.