Don’t Breakdown in the Outer Hebrides

[CazPaul]

So what do you do if you are working and are having a week or 2 break for a holiday, I certainly couldn’t just extend my AL by a few weeks. Terrible service.

We would have to leave the van and get maybe some kindly people to park up next to until it was recovered but who would want to do that?

 

[Potty]

There appear to be at least a couple of garages on the Uists that offer breakdown services. Might be worth doing a Google search to see if they can help? Laings Car Hire in Lochboisdale is one.

 

[orridge]

There appear to be at least a couple of garages on the Uists that offer breakdown services. Might be worth doing a Google search to see if they can help? Laings Car Hire in Lochboisdale is one.

Thanks probably my next port of call but Laings came out yesterday but could not load it onto the truck and did not seem to have the capability/tools to troubleshoot.

 

[Bobd]

We broke down with our comfortmatic gearbox in France 2 years ago.
Fiat camper assist looked after us, but it's a rotten position to be in.

I would be tempted to tell the AA that you want a local garage to take where you have at least the basics of water and a dump.
I would also mention that many thousands of members on motorhome fun are watching the outcome.
All the best, hope you get sorted sooner rather than later

 

[Manic]

Couldn’t you get a farmer to tow you somewhere to stay rather than a lay-by.

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[orridge]

Couldn’t you get a farmer to tow you somewhere to stay rather than a lay-by.

Hoping to get a tow later today to a campsite about 3 miles away where we can stay/leave it until it can be picked up.

 

[zedman]

just check the clutch fluid, its a small plastic bottle under the bonnet, over the gearbox, on bulk head.
if its empty try filling it up......you may be lucky .....its a clutch problem not a gearbox problem.
the fuse you need to check is a green 30amp if its blown you've a problem with your hydraulic pump

 

[jongood]

Comfortmatics have been around a long time, I've got to believe that the AA should know how to deal with this stuff. Have they even looked at it properly or just taken a cop out?

 

[pappajohn]

but the ferry’s are full for days on end to recover us back to a Fiat dealer somewhere in the UK

So, you may get your 3 week break after all.

 

[orridge]

Seems The AA might need some Geography lessons as they have a garage in Benbecula but thought Kyle
Of Lochash was closer. Hoping somebody anybody will come to see us today.

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[orridge]

Comfortmatics have been around a long time, I've got to believe that the AA should know how to deal with this stuff. Have they even looked at it properly or just taken a cop out?

No one has actually looked under the bonnet or checked the OBD yet….

 

[BDM]

No one has actually looked under the bonnet or checked the OBD yet….

The fuse box I referred to is the one under the bonnet. Their are additional fuses to what is shown in my handbook, 2012 Ducato, I have shown this on the attached pic, look for a green 30a fuse in the place marked.

 

[jongood]

No one has actually looked under the bonnet or checked the OBD yet….

You re being a lot more patient than I would be, Mind you I would be having a look myself first. If its outside your comfort zone, couldnt you ring a local garage and take it up with the AA afterwards? If it turns out to be a fuse you could embarrass the hell out of them.

The other shower recently left a friend of my wife sitting on a motorway hardshoulder for 5 hours in the middle of the night - a woman travelling on her own.

 

[orridge]

Thank you I did check that whole row and all seem to be ok.

The fuse box I referred to is the one under the bonnet. Their are additional fuses to what is shown in my handbook, 2012 Ducato, I have shown this on the attached pic, look for a green 30a fuse in the place marked.View attachment 520735

however with the ignition on there is a wining noise from a relay not sure that is normal or not.

 

[orridge]

Yes have been having a look at all the suggestions and a lot of googling but no luck.

The AA don’t know what’s going on

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[zedman]

I wish somebody would just check the clutch fluid !

 

[orridge]

I wish somebody would just check the clutch fluid !

That is being done as we speak they did not expect it to have a clutch.

 

[Sapper520]

I feel a complaint to the AA coming on.

 

[jongood]

I feel a complaint to the AA coming on.

Whats the betting they blame Covid!

 

[tacr2man]

If its in neutral (wont select a gear) you can flat tow , best with solid bar . This could get you back to mainland .

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[Sapper520]

Whats the betting they blame Covid!

No need to, got it covered here……..

Matters outside the AA’s reasonable control
18. While the AA seeks to meet the service needs of Members at all times, its resources are finite and this may not always be possible. The AA shall not be liable for service failures where the AA is faced with circumstances outside its reasonable control. Events which might constitute circumstances outside the AA’s reasonable control include (but are not limited to) Acts of God, outbreak of hostilities, riot, civil disturbance, acts of terrorism, acts of government or authority (including the refusal or revocation of any licence or consent), fire, subsidence, explosion, flood, snow, fog or other bad weather conditions, vehicle, roads that are not reasonably accessible by the AA, equipment or systems failures, shortages of fuel or other necessary supplies, failure of telecommunications lines or systems, default of suppliers or sub-contractors, theft, malicious damage, strike, lock out or industrial action of any kind.

The catch all clause.

 

[IRHP]

If it's the Comfortmatic box then there are a couple of known problem areas that may be worth a scrat around:
Check for wiring chafing against the wiper motor mechanism behind the nearside headlamp & check that the starter battery is at least 110Ah

I can't see how the capacity of the starter battery would have any effect on the gearbox. When the engine is running power is coming from the alternator.

 

[Puddleduck]

No AA Here nearest AA representative is in Mallaig and earliest they can recover us is August 13th.

So I suggest not using AA for any breakdown in the Islands as they have no people.

That’s very poor service it’s not as if you are in Outer Mongolia.

I had similar terrible service from the AA in Galashiels, my husband was left stranded in Kelso (different cars and different faults) and we were also stranded in Ullapool. I fixed mine myself after 3 hours of being told they were only 10 minutes away. A local garage recovered my husband's car..... temporary fix done by a local garage in Ullapool, enough to get us home as the car was still under guarantee.

We are now with another breakdown company that use local garages.

 

[Potty]

I had similar terrible service from the AA in Galashiels, my husband was left stranded in Kelso (different cars and different faults) and we were also stranded in Ullapool. I fixed mine myself after 3 hours of being told they were only 10 minutes away. A local garage recovered my husband's car..... temporary fix done by a local garage in Ullapool, enough to get us home as the car was still under guarantee.

We are now with another breakdown company that use local garages.

The AA also use local garages. In our area, the same garage serves AA and Greenflag.

 

[jongood]

I can't see how the capacity of the starter battery would have any effect on the gearbox. When the engine is running power is coming from the alternator.

This was a fairly common problem with Actroses, they didnt half crash and bang if the battery wasnt 100%. Mind you they sensibly had a switch that you could lock it into 5th to get you home, ( 5th is not particularly high when you should have 12, but you could limp home in it.

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[orridge]

So we are now at a Campsite for a few days to sort out things. AA Managed to get two tow trucks to arrive at the same time and argue over whose job it was but neither wanted to fix the problem which we think is a leaking slave cylinder.

Managed to shame AA via Social Media to take some action and they miraculously have managed to find an earlier slot on a ferry now for August 4th.

Plan to hopefully leave the van here on the campsite and travel as foot passengers to Skye where we have family and then fly back down south whilst the van is recovered to SMC for fixing.

 

[gus-lopez]

Plan to hopefully leave the van here on the campsite and travel as foot passengers to Skye where we have family and then fly back down south whilst the van is recovered to SMC for fixing.

I would take plenty of photographs of front, back, sides & especially the roof all over, to ensure it doesn't get damaged & you get the " it was like that when we collected it".

 

[dunnah01]

I can't see how the capacity of the starter battery would have any effect on the gearbox. When the engine is running power is coming from the alternator.

Me neither tbh but there are a few on various forums that have found it works

 

[Sugarnan]

Are you on Skye or elsewhere?

 

[Sugarnan]

Might not be able to help but I've found these:

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