Do you have the same luck as I? You buy a refrigerator with a three-year warranty and on day two of year four the compressor craps out. Yes, this really did happen to me. However General Electric did not see fit to offer me any help at all. So I had to pay for a new compressor and the labor to have it installed. But with cars it's a little different and you will have better luck.

All of us have been through this. You thought that if that fuel pump died last month, it would have been covered under warranty. Well, think again, you may have a lucky rabbits foot on your key chain you didn't know you have. You may be eligible for the After Warranty Assistance". This is a little known program dubbed the "Secret Warranty" that is offered by some manufacturers to help in these situations.

After Warranty Assistance (AWA) are never offered or extended to vehicle owners. It is only offered to customers who speak up in getting help paying for repairs after the standard warranty has expired. If you have bought an extended warranty that covers a particular repair, you will not be able to take advantage of the AWA.

Just like any other warranty, time and or mileage restrictions apply. And just like a standard warranty, if you have exceeded these restrictions, you will not be able to get any assistance. It should come as no surprise that not every vehicle owner would be entitled to this coverage. And not all vehicle manufacturers offer this kind of protection. But it has been my experience that a few manufacturers do offer some kind of AWA. And I know most dealerships have "Good Will" accounts to cover AWA costs.

What is required to be eligible for the AWA? There are several things the Dealer will look at before offering any kind of assistance. First, and most important, the Dealer will look at the maintenance history of the vehicle, and specifically, the component or system in question, to be sure it was maintained properly. I should point out that before the manufacturer offers any assistance, they would want to see if you are a loyal dealership maintenance customer. The manufacturer hopes by offering the AWA you will remain a loyal customer and will remember this help the next time you purchase a new vehicle.