How do I go about this? Interior Light Warranty

[FJoel]

I took my FJ to a dealer today. My interior lights up and quit a while back. First both were intermittent, now nothing.

I took the service guy out to my FJ, which had my trailer attached to it with an ARB bumper on it for a 4Runner, and the first thing he asks is who did the trailer wiring.

"I did."

Hmmmm...well obviously that is my problem.

"Really? Because the interior lights failed about three months before I installed the hitch wiring, and I used all Toyota parts and instructions."

Ohh.

So we open it up. "Where did that light fixture in the front come from?" I have an OEM Echo Maplight in my FJ.

"That could be the problem." Nope. Not wired in until you guys fix the original wiring. Sorry.

Flicks the switches back and forth. "Probably a fuse, relay, or bulbs."

I checked the relay, it was good. Replaced it just for good measure.
I checked the fuse, it was good. Replaced it just for good measure.
I checked the bulbs, they were good. Replaced them just for good measure.

"You should really just bring it in for stuff like that and let us do it. It is a new car." Yeah whatever. I'm no idiot. I checked the basics. It must be faulty wiring.

So when I make this appointment, what do I need to get out of the way? Say I take it in and they fix it, find it is my fault due to my winch wiring or something (yeah whatever, it goes straight to the battery), then I am expected to pay? I would expect this to be covered under warranty. Are they going to diagnose it for free and get me an estimate or tell me it is covered then? How does this work, and what ground rules do I need laid out (like no washing it!)? Insider info is much appreciated!

Thanks,

Joel

edit: for the record the dealer I bought it from tried very hard to royally screw my girlfriend with her echo and a problem we had with it. They would have gotten away with the $1000 bill for a $250 problem if I hadn't come over and prevented her from signing the work order. This is a new dealer to me (relatively new, I have bought parts here...) if it matters

[River Runner]

i would talk to the service advisor...get a clear understanding on warranty work...labor if included? and when he asks you to sign the work order put in big letters COST NOT TO EXCEED $ with out approval from owner...some service depts will ask you to sign work orders this gives them the OK to charge you whatever..and if you dont pay they hold your truck hostage.....RR

[FJoel]

River Runner previously said:

i would talk to the service advisor...get a clear understanding on warranty work...labor if included? and when he asks you to sign the work order put in big letters COST NOT TO EXCEED $ with out approval from owner...some service depts will ask you to sign work orders this gives them the OK to charge you whatever..and if you dont pay they hold your truck hostage.....RR

Thanks RR.

This is what I was looking for. Any other tips anyone?

[RoverGGM]

Yeah, my advice to you Joel is don't give them a cent to diagnose or fix the problem. It is a warranty issue and you should incur no cost period.

Leave them the vehicle to fix and casually let them know that if there are any charges they will have to take that up with the manufacturer. It will get fixed because there is a defect. Wiring in a winch will not affect your dome lights.

I don't understand why they are even screwing with you about it, except techs HATE tracing wiring problems. Most of the time it's like fishing without catching anything.

[FJoel]

Thanks Rover. To tell the truth I took some basic wiring and a lot of general electronics courses and could probably do this on my own, but I hate chasing wiring problems too. Like the service advisor said, it's a new car and I really should let them fix it.

By the way, fishing isn't about catching fish. Atleast that is my theory because all I ever catch are rays and z's.