Stuck in France

[Scotch mist]

Unfortunately I’ve been there & done that , ( brand new vehicle) , stuck in gear first time out , ( in France ) second time I used it same again ( in France ) , luckily under warranty, gearbox out , replaced all the automated servos etc , vehicle stuck in France for 8 weeks , once repaired I drove straight from the alps to the dealer & told them they now own it , after a bit of negotiations I took home a new MoHo with the ZF9 auto box , best decision I’ve made

 

[ChrisL]

Interesting but if that straight forward then effectively all cars, for example, have what amounts to the equivalent to a 6 year warranty surely ?

From the money advice service website, my bold.


Problems with cars bought from dealers

If you buy a new or used car from a dealer and have problems with it, you have some statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

The Act states the car must be “of a satisfactory quality”, “fit for purpose” and “as described”. (For a used car, “satisfactory quality” takes into account the car’s age and mileage.)

You have a right to reject something faulty and you’re entitled to a full refund within 30 days of purchase in most cases.

After 30 days, you lose the short-term right to reject the goods.

You’ll also have fewer rights, such as only being able to ask for a repair or replacement, or a partial refund.

In fact, you’re legally allowed to return it up to six years after you bought it (in Scotland, it’s five years after you first realised there was a problem).

But it gets more difficult to prove a fault and not normal wear and tear is the cause of any problem.

 

[Scotch mist]

or a partial refund.

that’s the bit that causes the problem, they may take it back but you will still be the one out of pocket
damed if you do & damed if you don’t

 

[gus-lopez]

a dealer must fix, repair, exchange or refund on anything that has a defect or fault where the item would be expected to last at least 6 years, c

As above.

Interesting but if that straight forward then effectively all cars, for example, have what amounts to the equivalent to a 6 year warranty surely ?

Yes. Under EU directive anything electrical is expected to have a minimum life of that period.

 

[dunnah01]

Update ...

Yesterday the garage got the van and this morning got the phone call ... the gearbox is totally knackered and will cost €9,000 to repair. After spending all day talking to the garage and RAC .The garage can fix it, but, they can get all the parts except one, which may take up to 6 months to get.

The van is going to be transported home and we will get taken home by train and boat probably.

Obviously our planned trip is f***d but we will get home and after a delay so will the van.

I am truly pissed off that a new van, 16 months old, can have such a catastrophic failure.

The gearbox will be fine, they simply don't want the work. 5 mins on a registered copy of Multiecuscan will sort the problem out.

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[Manxcat]

The gearbox will be fine, they simply don't want the work. 5 mins on a registered copy of Multiecuscan will sort the problem out.

That is the way I am thinking now. My suspicion is that the garage does not want the work. After all, how could they know what is broken and needs new parts without actually taking the gearbox out. They gave this daft quote within 2 hours of running the diagnostic machine. BTW they charged €147 to do the diagnostic.

 

[Phill D]

You are right to give them a wide berth.

 

[Reallyretired]

Pleased my mh is on a 13year old manual Transit. I pretty much know how it all works.
My car (Hyundai ioniq) has a gearbox very similar to a comfortmatic, with the additional complication of a double clutch (its a hybrid).
If anything goes wrong with it I havent a clue.

 

[Manxcat]

An update. We got home to the Isle of Man a couple of weeks ago, both with covid, RAC did a good job of getting us home. The van is still in France, this morning RAC advised that the repatriation process has now started. Expect it to take 2 or 3 weeks. We now have a new dilemma ..... We needed to send vehicle documentation etc this morning to RAC and the transporters. Also signed approvals etc. In the documentation the carrier says they are not responsible for the contents etc, we are expected to empty the van of valuables (impossible) and make an inventory of contents (impossible). What's more there are warnings that we cannot have any alcohol etc in the van as there is no allowance. Customs have the "right" to impound the van etc. Bearing in mind this is a motorhome, we were on a French trip and it died on us. Of course is has wine an spirits on board, we could not bring much other than a few essentials home. EVERYTHING is in the van. I personally dont mind if customs find wine and confiscate it, I dont see there is anything I can do about it from 1,000 miles away.

Anyone here experienced this problem? Should I worry?

 

[Diabalo]

Can't you hire a van and go over to empty the moho?

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[Manxcat]

Not really. The cost would be huge and I have commitments. RAC are obliged to repatriate the van, which will be on the move in the next day or so. I would be chasing all over France to catch up with the van on the transporter, not really a practical suggestion I am afraid.

 

[Drexxer]

I wouldn't worry about it personally, they don't want repercussions with insurance company as it could lead to the end of a very lucrative contract

As for the alcohol, out of your control, dont worry

 

[Phill D]

I think that you just have to accept it as it is.
And deal with anything that rears its head. If anything does. The biggest risk is attractive stuff( wine) might go adrift..

 

[Two of usI]

My son had an issue with his van being repatriated from France took 9 weeks in the end before he got it home

Regarding the gearbox, I bought a Fiat 2yrs ago ( second hand.... 12month old with 6000mls) the van is a Rapido and we love it, however, within 12 months we had the exact same issue with the G/ Box but, fortunately I was within 100yds of home when it happened, I had to call for breakdown, they were really good, explained that as it was just 2yrs old it would be covered on warranty etc. etc., so, they took it to our local ( at that time) FIAT agent Adam Morey Southampton they were good, but unable to look at it for a couple of weeks due to being busy, but, when we mentioned 'warranty' that was when we had it explained that M/ Homes only have a 2yr warranty ( something we didn't check, as all my cars have been 3yrs ) so, the gearbox was fixed at a cost of about ( I think ) £700, and it has been fine since, but, it still niggles in the back of my mind when we go away, and when I can afford it, I'll change the van.

The result is that I will never buy another FIAT ( Fix It Again Tomorrow ), I have heard of so many on here with the same issue regarding the gearbox....... other issues with FIAT I don't know, but, when a gearbox ids dodgy you don't move !!!!!

 

[Lenny HB]

Surprisingly, the Fiat Ducato warranty is only two years if the conversion was carried out in the EU (ie a continental brand of motorhome), but if converted in the UK eg Swift, or Eldiss etc, then they come with a 3-year warranty. I'm not sure why, unless we have some legal minimum length of warranty on new vehicles made or converted in GB&NI?

All European vehicles have a 2 year warranty as standard so as the chassis is supplied to a European converter it will have a 2 year warranty.
Vehicles supplied via official importers in the UK also have standard manufacturers 2 year warrany, the 3rd year is an insurance/dealer backed warranty.

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[The Coops]

Unless the van is clearly being used to smuggle alcohol and tobacco products, I.e crates and boxes full to the brim and weighing the van down don't worry. It will be sniffed over by a search dog and given a customary inspection to check for migrants so if not people or drug smuggling no need to worry.

 

[mikebeaches]

All European vehicles have a 2 year warranty as standard so as the chassis is supplied to a European converter it will have a 2 year warranty.
Vehicles supplied via official importers in the UK also have standard manufacturers 2 year warrany, the 3rd year is an insurance/dealer backed warranty.

That may be the case, I'm not sure?

But as far as I'm aware, the third year of warranty operates in just the same way as the standard manufacturer's 2-year warranty.

Ie, it is not subject to all the small print and get-out clauses typical in stand-alone, consumer purchased vehicle warranties.

 

[Manxcat]

Update ...... 73 days after breaking down, finally, the motorhome has now been repatriated to our garage. Everything in the van is in order so a great relief there. Now waiting for our garage to look at it and report back.

 

[Manxcat]

Another update.... our garage has now looked at it. Bad news. Need a new robot unit thingy (I think it's called a seeley or something like that). That costs £3,990 plus labour, on top of that they are on back order so at least another month!!!! Our French trip now abandoned. No motorhome for 4 months, it seems like bloody years.

When fixed Fiat are going to get some stiff letters

 

[steve69]

Was it really so bad back in the days when we drove a motorhome around without a single computer chip to be found anywhere on or around it? They say everything is an "improvement", but I ask you - is it really?

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[Jofang]

The new fangled engines with electronic management systens squeeze the last drop of energy from each litre of fuel, but if you can't get the thingy or widget repaired or replaced what's the point? With so much global strife the global economy and global supply chains seem to be falling on their arse. If this continues we'll be back to carburettors, points and feeler gauges eventually. At least you can fix them yourself.

 

[dunnah01]

Another update.... our garage has now looked at it. Bad news. Need a new robot unit thingy (I think it's called a seeley or something like that). That costs £3,990 plus labour, on top of that they are on back order so at least another month!!!! Our French trip now abandoned. No motorhome for 4 months, it seems like bloody years.

When fixed Fiat are going to get some stiff letters

I feel so sorry for you - a 5 min job on the laptop has caused you months of pain and cost - unbelievable

 

[dunnah01]

Was it really so bad back in the days when we drove a motorhome around without a single computer chip to be found anywhere on or around it? They say everything is an "improvement", but I ask you - is it really?

The whole gearbox etc could be repaired in 5 mins from the drivers seat without getting oily so defo an improvement.

 

[dunnah01]

Another update.... our garage has now looked at it. Bad news. Need a new robot unit thingy (I think it's called a seeley or something like that). That costs £3,990 plus labour, on top of that they are on back order so at least another month!!!! Our French trip now abandoned. No motorhome for 4 months, it seems like bloody years.

When fixed Fiat are going to get some stiff letters

They probably mean the Selespeed unit - this is what Fiat/Alfa Romeo call the gearbox control system. It's been through a few versions but the comfortmatic is very similar to all the others.

 

[M1EWK]

Another update.... our garage has now looked at it. Bad news. Need a new robot unit thingy (I think it's called a seeley or something like that). That costs £3,990 plus labour, on top of that they are on back order so at least another month!!!! Our French trip now abandoned. No motorhome for 4 months, it seems like bloody years.

When fixed Fiat are going to get some stiff

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[Pausim]

Another update.... our garage has now looked at it. Bad news. Need a new robot unit thingy (I think it's called a seeley or something like that). That costs £3,990 plus labour, on top of that they are on back order so at least another month!!!! Our French trip now abandoned. No motorhome for 4 months, it seems like bloody years.

When fixed Fiat are going to get some stiff letters

Ouch. Expensive and even more delay. Thanks for the update.

I assume they have checked the wiring between the gear selector and the robot thingy. On my Carthago a similar fault was down to chaffed wiring under the dash near the brake pedal (post #31). Carthago quickly paid up for my repairs which suggests they already knew of the problem.

 

[zedman]

Another update.... our garage has now looked at it. Bad news. Need a new robot unit thingy (I think it's called a seeley or something like that). That costs £3,990 plus labour, on top of that they are on back order so at least another month!!!! Our French trip now abandoned. No motorhome for 4 months, it seems like bloody years.

When fixed Fiat are going to get some stiff letters

when you say .....our garage.....is it a fiat main dealers ?

 

[Manxcat]

at last ---- 8 and a bit months after breaking down we have just picked up the van with a new gearbox control thingy and clutch and just over £6,000 less well off. So relieved to be back on the road.

 

[mikebeaches]

at last ---- 8 and a bit months after breaking down we have just picked up the van with a new gearbox control thingy and clutch and just over £6,000 less well off. So relieved to be back on the road.

Wow a long and expensive haul...

Glad you're finally sorted and back on the road.

 

[pampam]

Congratulations

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