156 Warranty Issues

[BigRed205]

I have a 2003 156 2.4 JTD Veloce Sportwagon (well for 3 weeks now) and it is simply an amazing car!
However the airbag warning lamp on the dash came on today for some unknown reason. The car is still under warranty till Jan 06 so I may as well get it sorted . . . HA! I am being told by the dealer (approved) that I have to pay them £47.00 incl VAT so they can tell me that the airbag needs attention (isn't that the purpose of the warning light??). It then gets better, they are informing me that if it is found to be a wiring fault then it isn't covered and I have to foot the bill and that will include them pulling my dash apart, fixing the problem and then putting the dash together again.
Is this correct?

Also the nearside side light bulb needs replacing - they are saying that it isn't covered by warranty (obviously) but to replace the £4.99 bulb they need to remove the bumper at a cost of £100 . . .

Can somone please tell me if this is correct or are they pulling a fast one?

Cheers,
Andy.

[+Alfanut+]

hi bigred,

as i understand it this is just 'one of those faults' with alfas many people just leave it rather than pay the steelers £200 + to put the light out, but i also read that there is a connector underneath the drivers seat which is to do with the airbags, just check it and make sure the connections are good.

[BigRed205]

Hi +Alfanut+ thanks for the reply,

Yeah I have been informed on another forum that the connecters under the seat could do with a good check out.
I will look into it tonight.
All that this little episode is doing is reinforcing my belief that warranties are nothing more than hassle and a waste of paper!!

Cheers,
Andy.

[+Alfanut+]

Bigred,

to be honest m8 i agree they always have a way of twisting the fault into a wear and tear issue with no way of proving otherwise.