QuestionHi..not sure who to ask on this one...but..my KIA RIO 2007 warranty for an alternative was up to 60,000 miles and the my car has 61,000....when the alternator just went out.
..and the DEALER will NOT fix it, since it is 1000 miles over the limit.
Is there any way around this?
Also...AUTO ZONE said it was not the battery since that was bought new last year and they tested it out..
but
it was the alternatator that makes the car not always start when it should.
.....How right is this assessment.....Can it be something OTHER than the alternator that would make the care not start all the time.
Thakns..ANGIE
Answer The battery is what starts the car. The alternator supplies power to the battery to replace any that is used in starting or other duties (when you run the radio, lights, or anything else without the engine turning ALL the power comes from the battery, and it has to be replaced). So, the battery could be bad and Auto Zone is lying to you. That's probably not the case, though. I would get an independent mechanic to check the whole charging system. In this car it is controlled by the ECM, so he should also check that. If the alternator is bad, it will have to be replaced.
As far as warranty goes, they've got you over a barrel. The only way to get around this is to go directly to the manufacturer for relief. There should be an address or phone number in your owner's manual for contacting the manufacturer. You've got to remember that the dealer makes almost nothing from providing warranty service. So, he's got no real motive to help you out. Plus, the service guys get commission for sales and diddly-squat on warranty items; they're not motivated to help you out. I would be tempted to try and sweet-talk them into doing it for, say, half price or something like that. If they don't want to hear about it, go directly to the manufacturer. If they won't help, let the independent mechanic put one in for you, it will be much cheaper than going to the dealer.
