Guys and gals I need your input. (19 Viewers)

[mikebeaches]

Another update, apparently the garage that has got the van has just emailed that the van will be between 4 and 5 thousand including a new clutch.
Told them to get on with it.

4-5k - is that £ sterling or Euro?

I know it's a lot whichever, but obviously marginally better if Euro.

Hope they can get you sorted. In the meantime enjoy your time at the coast.

Glad LV are looking after you.

 

[chaser]

4-5k - is that £ sterling or Euro?

I know it's a lot whichever, but obviously marginally better if Euro.

Hope they can get you sorted. In the meantime enjoy your time at the coast.

Glad LV are looking after you.

Now a better one Julie just said the gearbox should be between 2 and 4 thou ,euros couldn't take it home and do it for the money.
Do you know we haven't actually spent anything yet apart from meals out and stuff, hotel, taxis , car hire and they even say there may be enough over to make a contribution to the hotel but we have to have a paper receipt which at the moment hasn't been forth coming.
But I doubt the car hire place will sting me now.
Before this with all the horror stories we have on here about breakdown companies I just wouldn't have believed the treatment we have had but I suppose as someone said earlier it could be the attitude you take with them, apart from this car hire we haven't asked for anything they havnt offered and Julie talking french is a godsend.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Again if you are near the van check the linkage. If it’s popped off or retaining clip broken the garage are unlikely to tell you unfortunately but if it was you can wire them on and complete your holiday

Now a better one Julie just said the gearbox should be between 2 and 4 thou ,euros couldn't take it home and do it for the money.
Do you know we haven't actually spent anything yet apart from meals out and stuff, hotel, taxis , car hire and they even say there may be enough over to make a contribution to the hotel but we have to have a paper receipt which at the moment hasn't been forth coming.
But I doubt the car hire place will sting me now.
Before this with all the horror stories we have on here about breakdown companies I just wouldn't have believed the treatment we have had but I suppose as someone said earlier it could be the attitude you take with them, apart from this car hire we haven't asked for anything they havnt offered and Julie talking french is a godsend.

Right decision to just get it done good luck with the rest of your holiday

 

[varaizian]

Car spare wheels spoil the the figures for boot space and are now largely history.

Absolutely right but they are very useful if you are miles from nowhere, a long way from home, at night, probably at the weekend and get a puncture. I've put a full size spare in both my last cars (Passat and Sportsman) which have a well for it already. I think it is just to clip a few quid off the sale price. Unfortunately that big slab of alloy does attract condensation so the carpet in the well is sodden throughout winter.

 

[L' Hobo]

Absolutely right but they are very useful if you are miles from nowhere, a long way from home, at night, probably at the weekend and get a puncture. I've put a full size spare in both my last cars (Passat and Sportsman) which have a well for it already. I think it is just to clip a few quid off the sale price. Unfortunately that big slab of alloy does attract condensation so the carpet in the well is sodden throughout winter.

Interesting remark about the condensation, are you sure that's where the dampness is coming from?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[chaser]

Expensive holiday but at least it's done. Is that a new box included? How long to get parts and fit.

Not the holiday though that's expensive just the van and gearboxes go all the time , when I worked on the vans we used to drive Renault's and you could guarantee everyone would go at 90 thousand well my van has done over 270 thousand so if it is on its third it was due anytime.
Even at 5 grand when you reckon it cost me 5 to build,it will still only stand at ten grand.

 

[Mikey RV]

Without a gearbox it’s scrap, with one it’s still your camper to enjoy.

 

[TinaLes]

Glad your getting the van sorted, plus enjoying your hotel & LV experience thus far, I have heard from others that The AA are pretty good for EU breakdowns.
Now don't laugh, but I had a hell over experience yesterday evening whilst doing the weekly shop. I locked myself out of our new Seat car in the supermarket car park, Having placed the bags in the boot, I closed it realising that I had left the lanyard with all my keys in the boot also. The car normally allows me to unlock the drivers door as I approach the car, even turns on all the welcoming lights. I now realise this doesn't happen when the keys are inside the vehicle.
So, having borrowed a phone from the supermarket, I phoned The RAC, listened to the long speech about not being rude to their staff either on the phone or in attendance, then listened to all the options and pressed option 1 for being locked out the car. I was then told via the message that it was much quicker to report a breakdown using their website www.racbreakdownassist.co.uk or something similar. Well I didnt have a smartphone, I had a landline phone so that was not an option. A guy eventually answered the phone and asked for the car reg and location, then told me he was putting me through to recovery, the line went dead, so I had to phone again, and listen to all those options warnings about being rude etc. I hang on the line constantly being told I was in a queue, and how much easier it was to report my issue via the website that I had no access to!
After 45 mins holding on having that god damn message repeated time and time again, I gave up!
I phoned a local taxi service to collect me take me home to fetch spare car key and return to supermarket, which I should have thought of in the first instance. So I returned to the car unlocked it and drove home £32 lighter.
I am now very scared to break down anywhere and have to rely on The RAC, as I would need a smartphone with me which I don't always carry, and would also need my reading glasses to see to type in the message anyhow. I just want a human being to answer the phone in a reasonable time and assure me that they will send someone to help, not make me wait in a long queue, start taking details then cut me off, leaving me stranded.
I am not impressed and will be telling them so, although I already knew they were crap for MH EU cover, and would not ever go near them with a barge poll.
The RAC cover is included with the Seat 2 Year warranty, so it will not be renewed when the time comes, but their service has really gone down hill to what it was, employ more staff to answer the bleedin phone, don't rely on a website chat bot to take the initial enquiry!
LES

 

[lorger]

Glad to hear you’re getting it sorted, sounds like the breakdown company have been decent with you.

 

[DerryW]

£2 - 4K, whilst an expense you could well do without when on your hols/travels, at least you’ll have the van back gearbox sorted and new clutch to boot.

Sounds as though Juilie and you are being pragmatic about the whole affair and not letting things get to you both, even the hire car probs.

I appreciate it’s yours and Julie’s business, but, it would be nice and more importantly useful to understand the final outcome of your dealings with LV.

As you’ll be aware fellow Funsters are always looking for recommendations for travel insurance/breakdown cover.

Anyway enough said. Enjoy the rest of your break.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[varaizian]

Interesting remark about the condensation, are you sure that's where the dampness is coming from?

Yes I am although I didn't believe it at first. I've tried to insulate it with a thick layer of cloth and it soaked that too. Incidentally it is more than dampness; there is actual water there.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes I am although I didn't believe it at first. I've tried to insulate it with a thick layer of cloth and it soaked that too. Incidentally it is more than dampness; there is actual water there.

I have an alloy spare wheel in the car been there 12 years from when I bought it new, always been bone dry.
Sounds more like water coming in through a body joint.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Good to hear things are happening. Makes complete sense to get it done. Hopefully you will be back on the road for the last two weeks.

 

[varaizian]

I have an alloy spare wheel in the car been there 12 years from when I bought it new, always been bone dry.
Sounds more like water coming in through a body joint.

I've not actually looked at it for months. Just checked and it is, as I expected for summer, bone dry. But then realised that I have always used a heavy, flexible, rubber-based boot-liner that I bought from Lidl to protect the boot carpet. I'm now wondering if that prevents the space from breathing and seals the condensation in? I will take it out for winter. I need to check after a period of wet weather too in case you are right.

 

[Pausim]

I've not actually looked at it for months. Just checked and it is, as I expected for summer, bone dry. But then realised that I have always used a heavy, flexible, rubber-based boot-liner that I bought from Lidl to protect the boot carpet. I'm now wondering if that prevents the space from breathing and seals the condensation in? I will take it out for winter. I need to check after a period of wet weather too in case you are right.

You only get condensation if the air is damp to start with so the moisture must be getting in somewhere. The only time I got damp in a wheel well I found that it had a drainage hole and the bung had fallen out.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[BikerGraham]

Sounds like it’s getting sorted Chas. Good luck with getting yourselves and the van home.

Unfortunately these things happen and frustrating as it is not a lot we can do about it.

I’m in Germany now and the ad blue fault (not refill) and engine management light have come on. Not started any countdown yet but will turn around and head back towards the port. Will try to clear the fault with the code reader, but it’s only a cheap basic one.

However, the sun is out

 

[Ravelin]

You only get condensation if the air is damp to start with so the moisture must be getting in somewhere. The only time I got damp in a wheel well I found that it had a drainage hole and the bung had fallen out.

I agree. Surprisingly, especially these days, every car I've ever owned has had a spare/space saver in the boot, I've always used boot liners as we have had dogs. The only time I've ever had damp in the boot was when a connector to the rear washer jet was leaking in one car.

 

[chaser]

View from airbnb

 

[Northernraider]

Yes I am although I didn't believe it at first. I've tried to insulate it with a thick layer of cloth and it soaked that too. Incidentally it is more than dampness; there is actual water there.

Never ever experienced that in my life.

My money is on a leak

 

[varaizian]

Never ever experienced that in my life.

My money is on a leak

I absolutely understand your scepticism because I found it hard to believe too. I have looked for a leak without success, and had better do so again, but have also seen the interior of the wheel running with condensation. It is bone dry at the moment but we are visiting Cornwall next month which might throw-up an answer!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Freo]

Glad your getting the van sorted, plus enjoying your hotel & LV experience thus far, I have heard from others that The AA are pretty good for EU breakdowns.
Now don't laugh, but I had a hell over experience yesterday evening whilst doing the weekly shop. I locked myself out of our new Seat car in the supermarket car park, Having placed the bags in the boot, I closed it realising that I had left the lanyard with all my keys in the boot also. The car normally allows me to unlock the drivers door as I approach the car, even turns on all the welcoming lights. I now realise this doesn't happen when the keys are inside the vehicle.
So, having borrowed a phone from the supermarket, I phoned The RAC, listened to the long speech about not being rude to their staff either on the phone or in attendance, then listened to all the options and pressed option 1 for being locked out the car. I was then told via the message that it was much quicker to report a breakdown using their website www.racbreakdownassist.co.uk or something similar. Well I didnt have a smartphone, I had a landline phone so that was not an option. A guy eventually answered the phone and asked for the car reg and location, then told me he was putting me through to recovery, the line went dead, so I had to phone again, and listen to all those options warnings about being rude etc. I hang on the line constantly being told I was in a queue, and how much easier it was to report my issue via the website that I had no access to!
After 45 mins holding on having that god damn message repeated time and time again, I gave up!
I phoned a local taxi service to collect me take me home to fetch spare car key and return to supermarket, which I should have thought of in the first instance. So I returned to the car unlocked it and drove home £32 lighter.
I am now very scared to break down anywhere and have to rely on The RAC, as I would need a smartphone with me which I don't always carry, and would also need my reading glasses to see to type in the message anyhow. I just want a human being to answer the phone in a reasonable time and assure me that they will send someone to help, not make me wait in a long queue, start taking details then cut me off, leaving me stranded.
I am not impressed and will be telling them so, although I already knew they were crap for MH EU cover, and would not ever go near them with a barge poll.
The RAC cover is included with the Seat 2 Year warranty, so it will not be renewed when the time comes, but their service has really gone down hill to what it was, employ more staff to answer the bleedin phone, don't rely on a website chat bot to take the initial enquiry!
LES

Yep. One makes a call because … errr … let me think now … Ah, got it. One wants to speak to someone. Daah? Not rocket science, one might think.
Nonetheless, these companies put you through their call menu ‘customer infuriator’ system which repeatedly gives you all their other contact options first before finally offering you an option to speak to a human. After this, you’re in a queue to speak to an agent. And, yes, I have often been cut off in such calls, sometimes immediately after being answered, and had to go through the whole procedure again. Grrrrrr.
(I wonder if some calls are ‘dropped’ deliberately so that the agent gets a tick in the box for ‘handling’ the call - which, obviously, they haven’t. However, I do feel much sympathy for call centre agents. I don’t know if things have changed in recent years but they used to be treated like sh1t and often had draconian working conditions imposed.)
I wish that the government would change the law to make these menu driven systems much more customer centric, as opposed to company centric. They may also want to look at the business model of companies who, rather than employ enough people to answer the phone lines, they put their customers through access hell. All in the name of a lust for ever increasing profits.
Apologies. Rant over. (Feel better now, though. )

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

View from airbnbView attachment 951521

Ah, but is it a £4k view? I thought I remembered you saying on a previous breakdown post that as your van didn't owe you much you would just abandon it and cut your losses if it had a big failure?

 

[CazPaul]

Ah, but is it a £4k view? I thought I remembered you saying on a previous breakdown post that as your van didn't owe you much you would just abandon it and cut your losses if it had a big failure?

Yes he did on the thread where the poster was in France and broke down, it cost the chap about 10-12 grand or so for a new engine/repairs , he said something along the lines of” Who has that kind of money lying around, certainly not me” then when it happens to him he’s throwing thousands around as if it chuffing confetti.

 

[dryad]

Yes he did on the thread where the poster was in France and broke down, it cost the chap about 10-12 grand or so for a new engine/repairs , he said something along the lines of” Who has that kind of money lying around, certainly not me” then when it happens to him he’s throwing thousands around as if it chuffing confetti.

to be fair, theres a big difference between 10-12 thousand and 2-4 thousand..

.

 

[CazPaul]

to be fair, theres a big difference between 10-12 thousand and 2-4 thousand..

.

Yes I know but on that thread he said he didn’t have 2 ha penneth to rub together, I’m glad he’s got some spare brass now, a few of us were telling him to flog a tractor or 2 or even flog that farm and release a million or so. Who wants to skint whilst your sat on a fortune

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Abacist]

Without a gearbox it’s scrap, with one it’s still your camper to enjoy.

Don’t let the insurance company hear you say that!

 

[chaser]

Ah, but is it a £4k view? I thought I remembered you saying on a previous breakdown post that as your van didn't owe you much you would just abandon it and cut your losses if it had a big failure?

Mate, that is coming to mind, we have so many options now it's getting rediculas, no fault of lv, but the garage have now come up with a month's wait , do we wait with it, get it sent home, scrap it or what?
They have said it might not be worth enough for repatriation.
The hire car has disappeared, again no fault of lv, hertz just come and loaded it up with it's flat and we haven't had it back so the hire is up tomorrow and no idea where it is , only used it for an hour but have found out we can get back to Carcassonne on a bus for £20.

 

[scousebird]

I'd be tempted to get it sent home if the insurance agree. You may be able to get it repaired locally.

 

[Mikey RV]

Get it home Charlie. It’s your camper and you can fix it at home at your leisure. I know it means cutting this holiday short but at least you will still have your camper to go away in when you like.

 

[L' Hobo]

Mate, that is coming to mind, we have so many options now it's getting rediculas, no fault of lv, but the garage have now come up with a month's wait , do we wait with it, get it sent home, scrap it or what?
They have said it might not be worth enough for repatriation.
The hire car has disappeared, again no fault of lv, hertz just come and loaded it up with it's flat and we haven't had it back so the hire is up tomorrow and no idea where it is , only used it for an hour but have found out we can get back to Carcassonne on a bus for £20.

Could you not get someone to bring a gearbox from home as hand luggage on one of the cheap flights?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}