Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Department of Commerce
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................... 4
What is the statutory warranty?...................................................... 5
What is covered by warranty?......................................................... 6
Trader enquiry service..................................................................... 6
Warranty defect index..................................................................... 7
Engine and engine bay......................................................................... 8
Driveline............................................................................................. 11
Brakes, steering and suspension........................................................ 13
Body and frame.................................................................................. 15
Electrical system................................................................................. 17
Interior............................................................................................... 20
Length of warranty........................................................................ 24
Displaying vehicle particulars........................................................ 25
Warranty exemptions and exclusions............................................. 26
Warranty obligations..................................................................... 27
More information.......................................................................... 29
3
Introduction
Most complaints the Department of
Commerce receives regarding motor
vehicles are about warranty repairs. The
purpose of this booklet is to help you solve
these complaints before they come to us.
Of course, there will be some cases that
cannot be solved easily and will require our
involvement, but the advantages in you
sorting out your own complaints include:
time savings
increased revenue
reduced costs
increased goodwill
retention of customers
improved staff morale.
Unroadworthy
This term is not specifically defined in the
Act, however, its meaning can be determined
from other parts of the Act. A vehicle is
unroadworthy if it is stickered by the police
or an authorised officer of the Department of
Transport or the Department of Commerce.
Stickers can be placed on vehicles when,
in the opinion of the person inspecting the
vehicle:
it requires any repair, adjustment or
reconditioning;
it requires the supply, fitting or removal
of any equipment;
it is in such a condition as to cause
danger to any person or damage to any
property; or
it requires any other attention to
make it comply with any law relating
to the equipment, serviceability or
roadworthiness of the vehicle.
In general terms, if the vehicle has a fault
which could be stickered, then that fault
must be rectified by the dealer.
Unserviceable
Unserviceable is also not defined in the Act.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines
serviceable as:
of use, useful or usable...durable, suited
for rough use or ordinary wear rather
than for ornament.
The most helpful word here is usable. If the
defect is not one which makes or would make
the vehicle unroadworthy, you must ask the
question:
Does the defect make the car unusable
or is it likely to make the car unusable?
Other accessories......................................... 19
Automatic transmission................................ 11
Other electrical............................................. 18
Brakes........................................................... 13
Clutch........................................................... 11
Power accessories........................................ 19
Cooling system............................................. 10
Rust (structural not surface)......................... 15
Differential.................................................... 12
Seats/seat belts............................................ 21
Doors and windows...................................... 16
Steering........................................................ 14
Drive shafts/tail shafts.................................. 12
Suspension................................................... 15
Engine............................................................. 8
Tyres............................................................. 13
Exhaust......................................................... 10
Wheels......................................................... 12
Fuel system..................................................... 9
Gearbox/transmission.................................. 11
Handbrake.................................................... 14
Headlights.................................................... 17
Instrument panel/dashboard....................... 20
Motorcycles.................................................. 22
7
COVERED BY WARRANTY -
Cooling system
Cooling fans (manual and electric including thermo switches
viscous fans must operate efficiently) .......................................................................................... P
Core plug leakage or seepage........................................................................................................ P
Cylinder head gasket leakage or seepage...................................................................................... P
Fan cowling.................................................................................................................................... P
Fan/drive belt (if cracked, broken, frayed badly or stretched badly ie no adjustment).............. P
Leaks (including heater and heater hoses, radiator and radiator hoses, seepage from
head gasket).................................................................................................................................. P
Overheating................................................................................................................................... P
Radiator......................................................................................................................................... P
Radiator blockages........................................................................................................................ P
Radiator cap and overflow system................................................................................................ P
Radiator fins fretting (if excessive)................................................................................................ P
Thermostat and housing............................................................................................................... P
Water pump including excessive bearing noise and/or leakage................................................... P
Exhaust
Any gas leak................................................................................................................................... P
Catalytic converter........................................................................................................................ P
Excessive noise.............................................................................................................................. P
Exhaust hitting body or other components................................................................................... P
Excessive smoke emission from exhaust....................................................................................... P
Loose baffles (unless causing blockage)....................................................................................... NO
Not secured correctly.................................................................................................................... P
(Note: repairs must be replacement or steel welding putty, bandages not acceptable)
10
Driveline
Clutch
Clutch adjustment........................................................................................................................ NO
Clutch not disengaging (gear grate).............................................................................................. P
Clutch pedal rubber pad (if split, badly worn or missing)............................................................. P
Clutch shudder (if excessive)......................................................................................................... P
Linkage or hydraulic components (including leakage)................................................................... P
Slippage......................................................................................................................................... P
Throw-out (thrust) bearing............................................................................................................ P
Gearbox/transmission
Abnormal noises............................................................................................................................ P
Hard gear selection....................................................................................................................... P
Linkages sloppy............................................................................................................................. P
Not holding in gear........................................................................................................................ P
Oil leaks......................................................................................................................................... P
Reverse detent (gate) weak or not working..................................................................................... P
Synchromesh................................................................................................................................. P
Automatic transmission
Drive faults including abnormal change patterns ...................................................................... P
Fluid leaks...................................................................................................................................... P
Gear indicator quadrant must line up with correct indicator position and
quadrant light to operate.............................................................................................................. P
Linkages......................................................................................................................................... P
Routine servicing.......................................................................................................................... NO
Torque converter........................................................................................................................... P
11
Tyres
Damage or wear (excluded under MVDA).................................................................................... NO
Spare wheel and tyre................................................................................................................... NO
(Note: tyres must all be the same diameter and width, must meet ADR requirements and be
speed and load rated to the vehicle)
13
14 and Regulations)
Suspension
Adjustable height or ride suspension............................................................................................ P
Ball joints (if movement exceeds manufacturers specifications)................................................. P
Ball joint boots (if badly split)........................................................................................................ P
McPherson struts (if leaking or broken)........................................................................................ P
Rebound rubbers........................................................................................................................... P
Shock absorbers/McPherson struts must operate reasonably efficiently..................................... P
Springs (if vehicle lowered beyond manufacturers specifications).............................................. P
Springs sagging (if more than 25mm (1) variation between sides).............................................. P
Stabiliser/anti-roll bars.................................................................................................................. P
Torsion bar..................................................................................................................................... P
Rocker panels................................................................................................................................ P
Sub-frame/chassis......................................................................................................................... P
Wagon rear doors (except around hinge and catch area)............................................................ NO
Window frames............................................................................................................................. P
(Note: all rust repairs should be done by steel plating and full perimeter steel welding
(not bronzed). No jagged edges from lower panels)
Doors and windows
(Note: all passenger doors must open and shut from inside and outside.
Bonnet or boot stays/struts........................................................................................................... P
Bonnet lock and safety catch......................................................................................................... P
Central locking (but must be able to unlock and lock doors to secure vehicle.
This includes boot and rear hatch doors)..................................................................................... NO
Child-proof rear door locks (but must be able to disengage)....................................................... NO
Electric and winding windows (must wind up and down)............................................................. P
Front windscreen (unless cracks or chips in drivers vision at time of purchase)......................... NO
Quarter windows.......................................................................................................................... NO
Rear door stays/struts................................................................................................................... P
Rear window demister................................................................................................................. NO
Sliding windows............................................................................................................................. P
Wagon rear door........................................................................................................................... P
Wagon rear window...................................................................................................................... P
Water leaks (unless likely to damage electrical components)..................................................... NO
Windscreen washers (front only).................................................................................................. P
Windscreen wiper blades............................................................................................................. NO
16
Windscreen wipers (front only) must work on at least two speeds, where fitted, but
not including intermittent speed................................................................................................... P
Windscreen wipers and washers (rear)........................................................................................ NO
(Note: WINDSCREEN REPAIRS. Some windscreen cracks can be repaired by a poly-resin filler. The
Department of Transport, Licensing Services has advised that this method is acceptable, providing
the crack is not more than 150mm (6 inches) long and repairs are done only on a laminated
screen. The repair is not acceptable if the drivers vision is still impaired)
Electrical system
Headlights
Direction adjustment (but must be able to be adjusted)............................................................. NO
Globe (non-LED)........................................................................................................................... NO
Globe (LED no inoperative single LEDs allowed)........................................................................ P
Lens.............................................................................................................................................. NO
Reflectors...................................................................................................................................... P
Sealed beams............................................................................................................................... NO
Spot/foglights/driving lights......................................................................................................... NO
Switch............................................................................................................................................ P
Wiring............................................................................................................................................ P
Parking, indicator, rear stop, high rear stop and reverse lights
Globe (non-LED)........................................................................................................................... NO
17
Other electrical
Alternator...................................................................................................................................... P
Audible warning chime................................................................................................................. NO
Battery (excluded under MVDA)................................................................................................... NO
Battery cable and terminals (if damaged)..................................................................................... P
Battery must be secured............................................................................................................... P
Brake warning lights...................................................................................................................... P
Coil................................................................................................................................................ P
Demister/fan (front only).............................................................................................................. P
Distributor (including vacuum unit).............................................................................................. P
Electric windows (all must wind up and down)............................................................................. P
Electronic distributor..................................................................................................................... P
Engine management system, computers and all allied equipment............................................... P
Fan belt (if cracked, broken, frayed badly or stretched badly, ie. no adjustment)........................ P
Gear indicator quadrant light........................................................................................................ P
Hazard lights................................................................................................................................. NO
Headlight washers and wipers..................................................................................................... NO
High tension and spark plug leads breaking down........................................................................ P
Horn (must work efficiently)......................................................................................................... P
Ignition switch and steering lock................................................................................................... P
Immobiliser (if fitted at the time of purchase).............................................................................. P
Instrument panel/dash switches and lights.................................................................................. P
Plugs and points........................................................................................................................... NO
18
19
Cigarette lighters.......................................................................................................................... NO
Sun visors (interior)....................................................................................................................... P
Reverse camera/sensors............................................................................................................... NO
Satellite Navigation/GPS systems................................................................................................. NO
DVD Players.................................................................................................................................. NO
Interior
Instrument panel/dashboard
Air bag management systems....................................................................................................... P
Amp/Volt gauge (if no light fitted)................................................................................................. P
Amp/Volt light............................................................................................................................... P
Audible warning chimes............................................................................................................... NO
Courtesy light............................................................................................................................... NO
Econometer (vacuum gauge)........................................................................................................ NO
Fuel gauge.................................................................................................................................... NO
Gear selector-quadrant lighting.................................................................................................... P
Glove box...................................................................................................................................... NO
Heater demister and fan (front) ADR 15..................................................................................... P
Instrument lights........................................................................................................................... P
Odometer/trip meter................................................................................................................... NO
Oil gauge........................................................................................................................................ P
Oil light.......................................................................................................................................... P
Other instruments........................................................................................................................ NO
Rear view mirrors (must be able to adjust)................................................................................... P
20
Speedometer................................................................................................................................. P
Tachometer.................................................................................................................................. NO
Temperature gauge....................................................................................................................... P
Temperature light.......................................................................................................................... P
Trip computer............................................................................................................................... NO
Seats/seat belts
Any trim damage.......................................................................................................................... NO
Retractable seat belts.................................................................................................................... P
Seat belts (new belts only to be fitted)......................................................................................... P
Seats (adjusters)............................................................................................................................ P
Seats (drivers side power adjuster).............................................................................................. P
Seats (if collapsed or have protruding springs)............................................................................. P
Seats (if mountings loose or broken)............................................................................................. P
Adjustments
Air cleaner (if missing, broken, modified or leaking)..................................................................... P
Air filter element blockage........................................................................................................... NO
Anti-pollution controls (ADR requirement)................................................................................... P
Automatic transmission servicing................................................................................................ NO
Brakes........................................................................................................................................... NO
Brakes auto adjuster (should operate if fitted) .......................................................................... P
Carburettor (if stalling, surging, racing or leaking) ....................................................................... P
Clutch........................................................................................................................................... NO
Distributor (including vacuum unit).............................................................................................. P
21
Door adjustments......................................................................................................................... NO
Electronic distributor..................................................................................................................... P
Engine management systems, computer and all allied equipment including
dash/instrument panel warning indicators................................................................................... P
Fan belt......................................................................................................................................... NO
Fuel injection systems (all components), includes servicing and cleaning of injectors,
injection pump and delivery pump............................................................................................... P
Handbrake adjuster must operate................................................................................................. P
Headlight direction....................................................................................................................... NO
High tension plug leads breaking down........................................................................................ P
Plugs and points........................................................................................................................... NO
Steering box (if manual)............................................................................................................... NO
Steering box (if power).................................................................................................................. P
Tappet/valve clearance (if adjustable).......................................................................................... NO
Tuning (unless fuel injected)........................................................................................................ NO
Wheel alignment.......................................................................................................................... NO
Wheel alignment (after steering/suspension repairs)................................................................... P
Wheel balance.............................................................................................................................. NO
Wheel bearings............................................................................................................................ NO
Motorcycles
The items stated below relate specifically to motorcycles and are in addition to the other
warranty items listed.
Drive shaft, chain or belt (rear)..................................................................................................... P
Drive chain or belt adjustment..................................................................................................... NO
Engine drive chain (primary chain)................................................................................................ P
22
23
Length of warranty
Under the Act, the length of the warranty
period depends upon the purchase price
of the vehicle, its age and the number of
kilometres it has travelled at the time of sale.
In the case of motor vehicles, the minimum
purchase price for which a warranty applies
is $4000. For motorcycles, the minimum
purchase price for which a warranty applies
is $3500.
The following table outlines the statutory
warranty provisions that apply to vehicles
based on their age and the number of
kilometres travelled at the time of sale. The
age is calculated to the end of the compliance
plate date month. If only a month and year
are shown on the compliance plate, the age is
taken from the first day of the next month.
Km travelled at Warranty
time of sale
entitlement
3 months or
5000km
Not more
Not more than
(whichever
than 10 yrs 150,000
happens
first)
1 month or
1500km
Between
Between 10
(whichever
150,000 and
12 yrs
180,000
happens
first)
More than More than
Nil
12 yrs
180,000
Age of car
Age of
Km travelled at Warranty
motorcycle time of sale
entitlement
3 months or
5000km
Not more
Not more than
(whichever
than 8 yrs 80,000
happens
first)
More than More than
Nil
8 yrs
80,000
The warranty periods do not include any time
where you have possession of the vehicle for
warranty repairs. For example, if you keep the
24
25
Warranty obligations
Owners responsibilities
If the owner lives close to your business and
the vehicle is driveable they should return it
to you. If, however, the vehicle is undriveable,
you should arrange to have the vehicle
returned to your premises.
If a customer requires warranty repairs and
does not live near your business you have
two options:
1. You can arrange for a repairer in the
area where the owner lives to fix the
vehicle. It is your responsibility to pay
the repairer; or
2. You can arrange for the vehicle to be
transported to your premises, repaired
28
More information
For advice about your responsibilities under
the Act or the Fair Trading Act 2010, or any
other matter relating to the sale or repair
of motor vehicles, please telephone the
Consumer Protection Advice Line on 1300
30 40 54, or (08) 9282 0900 (for the hearing
impaired). You can also visit our website at
www.commerce.wa.gov.au or email us at
motorvehicles@commerce.wa.gov.au
Department of Commerce
Telephone: 1300 30 40 54
Email: consumer@commerce.wa.gov.au
www.commerce.wa.gov.au
Automotive, Marine and Trading Hours
Branch
Unit 4/321 (rear) Selby Street
OSBORNE PARK WA 6017
Telephone: (08) 9282 4361
Facsimile: (08) 9282 4363
Email: motorvehicles@commerce.wa.gov.au
Department of Commerce
219 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000
Postal address:
Locked Bag 14, Cloisters Square,
PERTH WA 6850
Telephone: 1300 30 40 54
Email: consumer@commerce.wa.gov.au
www.commerce.wa.gov.au
Automotive, Marine and Trading Hours Branch
Unit 4/321 (rear) Selby Street
OSBORNE PARK WA 6017
Telephone: (08) 9282 4361
Facsimile: (08) 9282 4363
Email: motorvehicles@commerce.wa.gov.au
Department of Commerce
Consumer Protection Division
Advice Line 1300 30 40 54
(for the cost of a local call statewide)
8.30am - 5.00pm weekdays
Forrest Centre
219 St Georges Terrace
Perth Western Australia 6000
Locked Bag 14 Cloisters Square
Western Australia 6850
Administration: (08) 9282 0777
Facsimile: (08) 9282 0850
National Relay Service: 13 36 77
Great Southern
South-West
Mid-West
Goldfields
North-West
Kimberley
(08)
(08)
(08)
(08)
(08)
(08)
9842
9722
9920
9026
9185
9191
8366
2888
9800
3250
0900
8400
Website: www.commerce.wa.gov.au
Email: consumer@commerce.wa.gov.au