Aspiring car owners have many things to consider before buying a vehicle.
Between monthly payments, insurance, and high down payments, powertrain warranty often goes overlooked.
This type of warranty covers the single most important part of a car: what makes it go.
The cost to repair one of the engine’s parts can be costly. Fortunately, a warranty can cover the costs to repair and replace the damaged parts.
Here’s what every new or current car owner needs to know about warranties.
The powertrain
This consists of components necessary in powering and propelling a vehicle. Among these parts are the engine, transmission, and axles.
The axles are shafts that spin and move the wheels of a vehicle. There is one in the front, and one in the car’s rear.
The engine is like the heart of a car. It gives the car the power to move by means of combustion.
There are two types of transmissions. An automatic transmission automatically shifts a vehicle’s gears. Manual or “shifter” cars don’t have automatic transmission.
The engine also includes the drive shafts and differentials.
Differentials are a set of gears. They enable a vehicle to revolve around corners at varying speeds.
The drive box relays rotation and momentum. There is one located behind the transmission. There’s also one that connects a front axle differential to the transfer case.
A transfer case is a part found on 4-wheel and all-wheel vehicles. It moves power from the transmission to the rear axles through the drive shafts.
Why it matters
All the components of a powertrain connect and can’t function without each other.
A number of things can go wrong. Oil leaks, strange noises, and problems with the clutch are just some of them. It’s costly to car owners to have to repair or replace any part of it.
And that’s where a powertrain warranty comes in.
The warranty
There isn’t a single component of the powertrain that’s inexpensive.
The warranty covers the costs to repair and replace these parts. When any component defects, the manufacturer pays to repair and replace the damages. This helps car owners avoid paying out-of-pocket.
The warranty is only valid for a certain period of time. They’re typically valid anywhere until 5-10 years after purchase.
Some warranties depend on mileage. In these cases, the warranty is valid until the vehicle exceeds a certain mileage limit. These kinds of warranties can range anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000 miles.
Manufacturers can offer both warranties. The coverage is limited to whichever kicks in first, the mileage or in-service time.
Coverage is also limited. For instance, the warranty can cover repairing the transmission, but not the battery.
A bumper-to-bumper warranty can cover what the powertrain warranty doesn’t. It covers everything between the front and back bumper.
Car owners can also purchase things like bumper-to-bumper insurance to help cover damages.
Warranties on new & used vehicles
The warranty shows the manufacturer’s trust in the quality of their vehicles. The longer the warranty, the more committed the manufacturer is to their vehicles.
Most modern cars manufactured today come with some warranty on the powertrain.
These warranties don’t apply to used models. Used car owners can get additional coverage by purchasing certified pre-owned vehicles.
Don’t buy a vehicle without considering powertrain warranty
All too often, the powertrain gets overlooked in the purchase process. Many new car owners end up buying vehicles with limited coverage.
In the end, they spend more than what they bargained for in repairs.
