First trip of the year heading to North Wales on the A470 after Dinas Mawddwy yesterday over the high pass in the 1999 Hymer B544 we had to go down to first for the final peak before the wonderful descent the other side. Things were going well so we stopped for a toilet break at Ganllwyd national trust stop. As we pulled in a slight burning smell was lingering which I put down to the effort of going over the pas but when i opened the bonnet to check could see a wisp of smoke from the left hand side.
Got the torch out and peering down the side of the engine could see a loose looking belt and a shiny wheel end. Another aux belt next to it was fine. One had broken or come off but I couldn't get to it. Nothing had overheated or sounded amiss so went to check online what the belts did. Then a problem. No network or mobile signal on all 5 phones!!
Mild panic- can't drive it , cant phone for help.
Cut a story short, Gari a local tree surgeon saw our bonnet up and offered his phone. Called Auto Aid who were on the case straight away. I managed to convince them to send out a mechanic not a rescue lorry and knowing I had no phone coverage they got a local mechanic to call Gari while he was with us to diagnose what the engineer thought was a Aircon Belt issue and sent a mechanic out within the hour who jacked up the front, removed a cowling and confirmed snapped Aircon belt which was removed ,caused by seized aircon unit ,and meant we could carry on last night to Porthmadog instead of all 5 of us and a dog travelling back down south on a back of a lorry on a long Bank Holiday Weekend.
Thanks to everyone involved especially Gari who stayed until the final call from the mechanic to say he was on his way.
Got the torch out and peering down the side of the engine could see a loose looking belt and a shiny wheel end. Another aux belt next to it was fine. One had broken or come off but I couldn't get to it. Nothing had overheated or sounded amiss so went to check online what the belts did. Then a problem. No network or mobile signal on all 5 phones!!
Mild panic- can't drive it , cant phone for help.
Cut a story short, Gari a local tree surgeon saw our bonnet up and offered his phone. Called Auto Aid who were on the case straight away. I managed to convince them to send out a mechanic not a rescue lorry and knowing I had no phone coverage they got a local mechanic to call Gari while he was with us to diagnose what the engineer thought was a Aircon Belt issue and sent a mechanic out within the hour who jacked up the front, removed a cowling and confirmed snapped Aircon belt which was removed ,caused by seized aircon unit ,and meant we could carry on last night to Porthmadog instead of all 5 of us and a dog travelling back down south on a back of a lorry on a long Bank Holiday Weekend.
Thanks to everyone involved especially Gari who stayed until the final call from the mechanic to say he was on his way.
