Are scratches on sensors invalidate warranty?

[artisticcheese]

My dashboard showing an error as you can see on first image. I have extended warranty and came to dealership and the first thing they told me that I have most likely damaged some sensor in a front of a car. First they showed me some what appears smudges on radar which I wiped with my hands and were just dirt and then after they understood it's not going to stand to scrutiny found this small wide dots on sensor in front (second image). Since it's bottom of the car I imagine it's just dirt/rocks thrown from other cars in front of me through the years chipped the paint or whatever it is since there is no signs of physical damage. My questions:
1. Is dealership not reimbursed for extended warranty repairs or why they are so desperately trying to find a way to void a warranty?
2. Is it true that smallest amount of interference with those sensors will in fact require replacement of entire front bumber as they told me?

 

[Mr. Incredible]

My dashboard showing an error as you can see on first image. I have extended warranty and came to dealership and the first thing they told me that I have most likely damaged some sensor in a front of a car. First they showed me some what appears smudges on radar which I wiped with my hands and were just dirt and then after they understood it's not going to stand to scrutiny found this small wide dots on sensor in front (second image). Since it's bottom of the car I imagine it's just dirt/rocks thrown from other cars in front of me through the years chipped the paint or whatever it is since there is no signs of physical damage. My questions:
1. Is dealership not reimbursed for extended warranty repairs or why they are so desperately trying to find a way to void a warranty?
2. Is it true that smallest amount of interference with those sensors will in fact require replacement of entire front bumber as they told me?

1. Dealerships have a warranty specialist whose sole job is to determine if they will be reimbursed for a warranty claim, if they believe they will not, then yes they will fight you tooth and nail. The dealer cannot void your warranty, they can however deny a warranty claim based off their diagnosis that the issue is not a failure due to design, but due to negligence or environment.

2. No the sensor is sold as an individual part that costs about $115. however the bumper will likely have to be removed to replace it, therefore there is a labor charge to consider, remove and replace the bumper is about 3 hours of labor.



I've always found that if a dealer is an ass about these little things, they will be a bigger ass about major things. find another dealership.

 

[artisticcheese]

I think I found what might have caused this issue. Here is video of rabbit inside my engine. https://photos.app.goo.gl/qU482xyTrxiW1RLj9
I also found wires which were cut by him. All those are grounding wires. Can those be causing the issue since those are not sensor connnectors but grounding wires.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

I think I found what might have caused this issue. Here is video of rabbit inside my engine. https://photos.app.goo.gl/qU482xyTrxiW1RLj9
I also found wires which were cut by him. All those are grounding wires. Can those be causing the issue since those are not sensor connnectors but grounding wires.

Sure, everything has to be grounded and the way car electric typically works is the circuit is always hot and the "switch" that activates the sensor is the ground circuit.

No car manufacturer passes a hot feed through a switch or relay. The hot line goes to the fuse panel and whatever the item is, be it a sensor, door lock, window regulator, whatever is activated when the ground circuit is completed.

I would guess that cleaning up those chewed up grounds will likely fix your issues.


might also consider spraying some peppermint oil around that area to keep the critters out.

 

[NC356]

Artistic:
With your handle, I was expecting a mouse instead of a rabbit, under the hood!

 

[artisticcheese]

I had those too. They chewed up left side and caused $400 worth of damage couple of weeks ago.