Warranty company hassle - No, really

Absolutely typical. They'll not pay for the coolant either. Or anything else they can wriggle out of.

Does the manufacturer specify replacing head bolts?

If so, then it would seem clear that they are covered, as it is not possible to put the vehicle back in the previous condition without doing so - you now have potentially undertorqued or overstretched head bolts, which could cause further damage.

I'd suggest you ask for a photocopy of the page of the page of the manual in question, (giving an extra fiver for it) and then mail it along with your request for the costs to be covered (including the fiver).

I'd first read the small print of the warranty. I'll bet it excludes consumables and the bolts come under this.

I suppose you could re-use the coolant ;)

The manual for the Rover K Series engine I worked on specified the maximum bolt length that could in fact be reused, but it took 20 mins to half an hour to screw then into the oil rail to check them, by which time the garage might as well have paid for a new set!

Andy.

How much will they cost ?

About £40 I think.

Hmm ok, I'd be inclined to pay for it and pursue them for it if you can. Worth a shot. They are tight gits sometimes when making claims they try and get out of anything they can from my experience.

It depends on whether the manufacturer recommends replacing the head bolts if the head is removed (for example, if they are stretch bolts).

The question I would be asking is why one valve failed.

I'd dispute that a head bolt was a consumable. I've taken the consumable bit in these clauses to mean things which routinely get replaced through normal servicing - such as filters, pads etc.

I would certainly dispute any refusal to replace *any* item that was required during the repair of a warranted item. Would they claim split pins or nylon nuts as consumables? What if the head gasket failed? Would they then claim the gasket is a consumable, along with the bolts, coolant and oil? If a warranted item fails (head gasket I would certainly hope is covered), then I would expect a full repair to be performed at no cost - e.g. if the oil was contaminated, then that gets replaced.

The consumables bit, to me, is purely to stop people claiming off warranty to get normal service items replaced to save them money. If the oil was contaminated due to the failure of the warranted item, then it should be covered.

Bolts arent consumables. Consumables are things that get replaced during the working life of the object, such as brake pads and oil, clutches etc. Bolts are only changed when there is a fault. Much like engines, you dont consider an engine a consumable despite the fact that it may require replacing at some point due to a fault.

Agreed, I'd get the car under way and then hound them with letters every few days demanding payment.

Consumables are things that must be routinely replaced/replenished during the normal working life of the product. So whilst coolant and oil would come under that category, there is no way that bolts would be included unless they form part of an assembly that is routinely replaced, such as brake pads.

I can think of a few things that might be arguable, (brake disks, clutch plates, shock absorbers etc.) but a head bolt would not be one of them.

Well you can't remove the head without spilling some coolant which might be brand new - but they'll still try and charge for it.

I'm certainly not defending the warranty companies - quite the reverse. But they tend to have all sorts of clauses in the small print.

If the the manufacturers specify replacing head bolts, then write a letter to the proper person in authority (get proof of sending) saying if they dont agree to pay for them and contacting you within seven days, then you will be making an 'online' application to the small claims court. (will cost you £40 or so which you get refunded). I bet you they come around, very fast.

If this is a K engine, they certainly are. They're one-use bolts.

(yeah, yeah, they're one-use if you expect it to work afterwards)

If they are stretch bolts then they can't be re-used and have to be replaced. In practice this is for the convenience of the manufacturer and is an absolute pain for servicing.

That's my plan, though I guess I am going to have to 'agree' to the amount they offer to pay out before the work is authorised and will therefore have to argue the point before the bloody car can be fixed.

In practice this is for the convenience of the manufacturer and

Isn't it always the way?

I don't think 'servicing' includes the removal/replacement of things attached by such bolts. It would be repairs.

There's a lot to be said for them. A bolt works best when in this elastic stage - and it's not easy to do with the average torque wrench where the accuracy isn't high enough.