RE: 3rd Party Warranties

["Simpson, Jr, Joe B." <jbs@domain.elided>]

I realize that Howard's already made his decision, but just to set the
record straight in case other folks are considering extended warranty
policies:

On Fri, 2 Jul 1999 22:30:50 -0500
Howard and Pat Warren <warrenwood@domain.elided> wrote:

>I want to thank everybody who responded to my enquiries about third party 
>warranties.  As many of you know, I work in the health insurance industry, 
>and I am fairly familiar with complex policies.  After close examination of

>these third-party warranties, I found that these insurance companies put in

>some real BEAUTS:
>
>*Used parts or non-OEM parts will be used at the discretion of the insurer.
>
>*Oil changes must be peformed by an authorized ASE mechanic.  If you change

>your own oil, you void the warranty.  (In fact, if you do ANY work 
>yourself, you void the warranty.)

Neither of these is true for Warranty Gold's policies.

>Plus a lot of items are considered "consumable"... not just brake pads, but

>items like STEPPER MOTORS in a 164.  All rubber donuts (like we didn't know

>that already.)  WINDSHIELDS.

Extended warranties are for mechanical failures, not for routine maintanence
items or cosmetic damage like windshield breakage.  Nothing in my policy's
list of exclusions could be construed as not covering stepper motors or
rubber donuts (though perhaps one could argue that a donut is a "shock
absorber").  Here's the list of items not covered by my policy:

A. THE FOLLOWING PARTS: CARBURETOR; BATTERY; SHOCK ABSORBERS; 
MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH ASSEMBLY; FRICTION CLUTCH DISC AND
PRESSURE PLATE; THROWOUT BEARING; MANUAL AND HYDRAULIC LINKAGES; 
DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR; SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS (INCLUDING 
AIR BAGS); GLASS; LENSES; SEALED BEAMS; LIGHT BULBS; BRAKE ROTORS 
AND DRUMS; EXHAUST AND EMISSION SYSTEMS; WEATHER STRIPS; TRIM; 
MOLDINGS; BRIGHT METAL; CHROME; UPHOLSTERY AND CARPET; PAINT; 
OUTSIDE ORNAMENTATION; BUMPERS; BODY SHEET METAL AND PANELS; 
TIRES; AND WHEELS/RIMS.
 
B. MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND PARTS DESCRIBED IN YOUR VEHICLE'S 
OWNER'S MANUAL AS SUPPLIED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND OTHER NORMAL 
MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND PARTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: 
ALIGNMENTS; WHEEL BALANCING; TUNEUPS; SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK 
PLUG WIRES; GLOW PLUGS; HOSES; DRIVE BELTS; BRAKE PADS; 
LININGS AND SHOES; AND WIPER BLADE. NOTE: FILTERS; LUBRICANTS; 
COOLANTS; FLUIDS AND REFRIGERANTS WILL BE COVERED ONLY IF 
REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED DUE TO A COVERED FAILURE.

...all of which seem quite reasonable to me.  It also has the usual expected
exclusions for fire, war, abuse, commercial service, etc.  Also not covered
are failures of custom aftermarket parts, or failures caused by aftermarket
modifications (which may make this company's warranties unsuitable for many
Alfas).

  -joe

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