Karcher warranty void?

[Djtemeka]

My karcher jet wash packed up. Water pouring out of it.
They’re saying my warranty is void due to me removing the front cover.

I checked their website prior to inspecting this and no where did it say you couldn’t remove the front cover.

Karcher have said “ Alteration not carried out or authorised by Karcher approved supplier”

I haven’t altered the machine at all. I’ve only removed the decorative front cover to check where the leak was. If it was an O ring then I would have fixed it myself.

Can they wriggle out of it? The fault was there prior to opening the cover.

Thanks

[dundarach]

IANAL

I think you've had it, you've admitted you opened it.

I'd be equally annoyed!

[Djtemeka]

Funnily enough.

When you buy the machine, you have to fit the wheels, pipes etc. I told the head office bloke that that was also an alteration then so would that void my warranty. He said no. Couldn’t tell me why though…

[Grumps.]

That’s called ‘assembly’ and probably don’t need to start taking things apart, so I’m not surprised he said that.

[NS66]

Djtemeka said:

My karcher jet wash packed up. Water pouring out of it.
They’re saying my warranty is void due to me removing the front cover.

I checked their website prior to inspecting this and no where did it say you couldn’t remove the front cover.

Karcher have said “ Alteration not carried out or authorised by Karcher approved supplier”

I haven’t altered the machine at all. I’ve only removed the decorative front cover to check where the leak was. If it was an O ring then I would have fixed it myself.

Can they wriggle out of it? The fault was there prior to opening the cover.

Thanks

How old is the machine?

[Djtemeka]

NS66 said:

How old is the machine?

Just under 3 years of its 3 year warranty. It’s a k5

[pavarotti1980]

Get a random family member to ring up and claim on the warranty

[hunton69]

My K5 lasted a year started leaking I won’t buy another

[Big Nanas]

hunton69 said:

My K5 lasted a year started leaking I won’t buy another

Ours too.
We had a perfectly good (although low powered) simple washer from B&Q that lasted for quite a few years. We then decided to 'upgrade' to a Karcher.
One winter in our shed and the thing was leaking water everywhere. Pathetic and disappointing.

[Lee540]

Where is the water coming from? Mine started pouring water from the hose connection at the rear, ordered replacement parts and fixed myself for around £15.

Saves hassle.. unit is than 3 years old.

[matjk]

Buy a Nilfisk next time.

[Caddyshack]

My karcher failed quickly.

I have an AVA and it is very good. The pistol trigger started leaking and I contacted the company abroad, they said not a known issue but one would be shipped free of charge straight away, it arrived 2 days later and then a follow up email checking it had arrived and working ok. No questions about proof of ownership or length etc…just good old fashioned customer care.

The email footer was from the MD too.

I will always buy from them now and recommend them as much as I can.

[matjk]

It’s a common time of the year for them to break, they freeze in the sheds and garages over the winter and low and behold the first time they are switched on this year water pisses out all over the place , odds are it won’t be covered by the warranty anyway if this is the case , I always try and train mine , and I don’t think its ever possible to get all the water. My hose fittings all broke again this year and I definitely drained the hose pipe.

[gazza285]

matjk said:

It’s a common time of the year for them to break, they freeze in the sheds and garages over the winter and low and behold the first time they are switched on this year water pisses out all over the place , odds are it won’t be covered by the warranty anyway if this is the case , I always try and train mine , and I don’t think its ever possible to get all the water. My hose fittings all broke again this year and I definitely drained the hose pipe.

Same with mine, repair bits are cheap.

[Caddyshack]

matjk said:

It’s a common , I always try and train mine ,

Have you taught it any tricks?

[vaud]

Djtemeka said:

Funnily enough.

When you buy the machine, you have to fit the wheels, pipes etc. I told the head office bloke that that was also an alteration then so would that void my warranty. He said no. Couldn’t tell me why though…

Because it is assembly per the manufacturers instructions.

[andy_ran]

Djtemeka said:

My karcher jet wash packed up. Water pouring out of it.
They’re saying my warranty is void due to me removing the front cover.

I checked their website prior to inspecting this and no where did it say you couldn’t remove the front cover.

Karcher have said “ Alteration not carried out or authorised by Karcher approved supplier”

I haven’t altered the machine at all. I’ve only removed the decorative front cover to check where the leak was. If it was an O ring then I would have fixed it myself.

Can they wriggle out of it? The fault was there prior to opening the cover.

Thanks

Like many saying bad things i have had Karchers for years and they have been on the whole brilliant

I had a k4 that failed like yours, it was well out of warranty so I didnt even bother trying to call them and in the end it was a simple O Ring - Cost me £0 to repair as I had a selection of O rings and one fitted

They are quite simple and easy to repair in the most cases.

I found a really useful guide on line and it was done in 20 mins - Yours maybe just as easy

[Caddyshack]

andy_ran said:

Djtemeka said:

My karcher jet wash packed up. Water pouring out of it.
They’re saying my warranty is void due to me removing the front cover.

I checked their website prior to inspecting this and no where did it say you couldn’t remove the front cover.

Karcher have said “ Alteration not carried out or authorised by Karcher approved supplier”

I haven’t altered the machine at all. I’ve only removed the decorative front cover to check where the leak was. If it was an O ring then I would have fixed it myself.

Can they wriggle out of it? The fault was there prior to opening the cover.

Thanks

Like many saying bad things i have had Karchers for years and they have been on the whole brilliant

I had a k4 that failed like yours, it was well out of warranty so I didnt even bother trying to call them and in the end it was a simple O Ring - Cost me £0 to repair as I had a selection of O rings and one fitted

They are quite simple and easy to repair in the most cases.

I found a really useful guide on line and it was done in 20 mins - Yours maybe just as easy

I have a karcher industrial steam cleaner for home use and that is fantastic.

[Zarco]

matjk said:

Buy a Nilfisk next time.

Yep. Had mine since 2017.

I do always take time to clear the water out of it after use (as per manual). I do wonder if others bother when I hear of yet another broken jet wash.

[Djtemeka]

The karcher is showing signs that the cylinder head is cracked.

Looking online, the main cause is frost damage but it can’t be as the machine is kept in my garage which is part of the house. .

They have the serial code of my machine so no way I can get it on warranty.