Will the warranty be void if the second maintenance is overdue?
3 Answers
The warranty will not be void if the second maintenance is overdue. The required maintenance items include: 1. Replacement of engine oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, transmission fluid, cabin air filter, and engine belt; 2. Inspection of spark plugs; 3. Addition of brake fluid; 4. Cleaning of throttle body and fuel injectors; 5. Inspection of tires, brake pads, brake discs, tire pressure, lighting, chassis, and power steering system. The second maintenance, also known as secondary maintenance or secondary service, refers to the periodic preventive work of inspecting, cleaning, replenishing, lubricating, adjusting, or replacing certain parts of the vehicle. Its purposes are: 1. To keep the vehicle clean and tidy; 2. To maintain normal technical conditions, eliminate potential hazards, and prevent faults; 3. To slow down the deterioration process and extend the service life.
Will overdue second maintenance void the warranty? It depends on the brand and dealership policy. I specifically asked the service advisor during my first maintenance, and he said the key factor is how long it's overdue. For my brand, they allow a 15-day grace period for overdue maintenance without voiding the warranty. But exceeding 30 days could jeopardize the warranty coverage for core components like the engine and transmission. Last time when I was delayed by a business trip for two weeks, I immediately brought my flight itinerary to explain the situation to the dealership, and they made an exception. The mileage and date in the maintenance manual are strict requirements - consistently overdue maintenance may indeed be considered as voluntarily giving up warranty rights. So it's best to schedule maintenance at least one week in advance, don't wait until the deadline.
I have a deep personal experience with overdue second maintenance. Last year, due to the pandemic lockdown in our neighborhood, my car's second maintenance was delayed by a full 40 days. I was quite anxious before going to the 4S shop, but the after-sales service glanced at their system and said, 'Your case is special, it doesn't count as out of warranty.' Turns out their system automatically notes special circumstances. However, the mechanic privately reminded me that if it's a regular delay exceeding 20% of the time specified in the maintenance manual, you basically lose the engine warranty. So now I always set a phone reminder and book the maintenance two weeks in advance. It's crucial to maintain the car on time during the warranty period—engine repairs later can easily cost tens of thousands, and saving a little money now is just not worth it.
