Tam & Toby ~~Hunting Zorba

[Northernraider]

Yes mine is 16 years old as well which is what worries me...still haven’t sorted out the starting problem...I now have to keep the key turned whilst pressing the accelerator until it starts...it’s disconcerting as you think will it start this time....went onto fiatcamper website and put in Italy which came up with two ORAF fiat garages....Near Pisa...trawled around trying to find them and they weren’t interested ....sent me on a wild goose chase to other garages...Which I couldn’t find ☹....and now the sensors on both my fresh water take don’t seem to work....fresh water says 50% even when it is full and grey water says 100% with a ? ....even when it’s empty...makes me think about going back to a tent...so in a lot of ways you were lucky it happened in UK....maybe lucky is not the word.

P.s the water sensors are famously unreliable ..might just need cleaned , mine have been replaced and still are not 100% accurate
They are only £22 each though

 

[Northernraider]

I think when/if I do get back on the road I'll have to start thread again as anyone trying to follow this as a travel thread will be lost lol

Will have to ask Jim at that time if he can either delete the breakdown pages or just the thread so I can start with the same thread name again ...

The way it's going I might not get out the country as the news is hinting at more restrictions coming very soon

 

[Janine]

Noooo... leave this thread as a reminder of the worst time. Things can only get better.

The new thread could be Hunting Zorba Take 2.

 

[Northernraider]

Noooo... leave this thread as a reminder of the worst time. Things can only get better.

The new thread could be Hunting Zorba Take 2.

Aye I suppose

P.s for those following the polar steps I deleted the trip on Saturday so it didn't show all the backtracking ......I'll start a new trip when I head off again

 

[gus-lopez]

AA is dreadful
we reluctantly let our ADAC lapse because of the dreadful service we had trying to get our van home- AA being their UK partner

Yes for assistance via adac in the UK they are ok but if I had had to be recovered from UK back here I would have used my insurance vehicle breakdown service.

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[suavecarve]

I agree ...I mean it is a long way but even with stops one truck could have delivered it by yesterday morning ...it's now been 57 hours since I broke down.

Yes I was saying that to mum earlier as I had posted all the events on here so I will use the thread to jog my memory when contacting them later.

It better not be going to Glasgow as that's the other side of the country.

Yep I said that to mum earlier after reading Emmit post

Should it ever come to it, that phrase "made as soon as practicable afgterwards" is a phrase only ever used by one profession ! It falsely gives people the idea you might know what you are talking about !

 

[Langtoftlad]

Presuming Toby is now back, safely and undamaged...?
The issue isn't really about how long it's taken, nor the route, nor how many transporters have been involved...
...its the poor communication, and misinformation.
I'm sure that the AA use independent contractors and thus rely on the information they receive. Plus as you experienced being stuck in that long traffic jam, real life conspires against the most optimistic plans.

We learned in the airline that passengers want regular updates even if there's no new information to tell. Pilots took a long time to understand this.
The AA need to have the confidence to say "we have no new information" rather than blather & make up stories.

 

[Northernraider]

Presuming Toby is now back, safely and undamaged...?
The issue isn't really about how long it's taken, nor the route, nor how many transporters have been involved...
...its the poor communication, and misinformation.
I'm sure that the AA use independent contractors and thus rely on the information they receive. Plus as you experienced being stuck in that long traffic jam, real life conspires against the most optimistic plans.

We learned in the airline that passengers want regular updates even if there's no new information to tell. Pilots took a long time to understand this.
The AA need to have the confidence to say "we have no new information" rather than blather & make up stories.

I wish

It was meant to be here between 7 and 8pm but I've heard nothing ...they supposed to phone when 20 minutes away but still heard nothing

When I spoke to them at 14.30 I was told a supervisor would keep me updated from then on ....nothing
The guy that phoned at 16.15 said it would be here between 7 and 8.
It's a 2 hour drive at best from Annandale services I stopped there for fuel myself on the way back ..

 

[TM59]

Funny and strange in many ways how we are all waiting with bated breath the return of Toby. Hope Tam and the Rottweilers remain cool with the poor lorry driver. Also hope the van is undamaged but knowing Tams luck something will be wrong.

 

[Just smiffy]

I think when/if I do get back on the road I'll have to start thread again as anyone trying to follow this as a travel thread will be lost lol

Will have to ask Jim at that time if he can either delete the breakdown pages or just the thread so I can start with the same thread name again ...

The way it's going I might not get out the country as the news is hinting at more restrictions coming very soon

You could always revert to my previous original suggestion....

“Tams gang go to Greece”

then if you don’t make it, put a “maybe” on the end....

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[Northernraider]

Well I've just been through the torture of phoning the AA yet again for an update as it's now blatantly obvious they have no intention of phoning me at any point .

Put on hold while they phoned driver and then told he was 15 minutes away ....so I've packed up the dogs etc and came up to the garage to await the arrival

Should be here by midnight going by their previous estimates.

 

[Lenny HB]

You live in hope, shall we start a sweepstake on arrival time?

 

[G-RMPS]

21:43

 

[Lenny HB]

10:35

 

[dalspa]

2020 or 2021

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[Northernraider]

You live in hope, shall we start a sweepstake on arrival time?

21:43

10:35

2020 or 2021

Well surprisingly just as I posted that last comment the truck came round the corner ....on a spec lift this time with hazard lights flashing dimmly so I imagine my starter battery will now be dead ...guy had his wife with him and both started on about it being a lovely van etc ...to be honest I couldn't be assed getting in to conversation so I just signed the paperwork and wrote unchecked for damage due to time and light level.
He was fine with that ..
I'm now sterilising all surfaces as I hate to imagine how many folk have been in this van over the last 48 hours

But it's here now at least and will see what garage says tomorrow.


So if everyone could now keep fingers and toes crossed for an easy and low cost repair that would be good.

Off to chill out with a coffee and a movie

 

[monzer]

G-RMPS wins

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Phew, no late night staying up to see what time Toby comes home!
I'm off to bed.

 

[Just smiffy]

guy had his wife with him and both started on about it being a lovely van etc ..

Better change the bed sheets ...

 

[Clarky]

What a saga.
Glad Toby is safely home.
Best of luck with the garage in the morning Tam.

Richard.

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[Clarky]

Just looked at the post count for the thread.
411 Posts and 14 pages and we’re still in Scotland and close to home.
Must be a record for a travel blog.

Richard.

 

[tonyidle]

I now have to keep the key turned whilst pressing the accelerator until it starts.

That sounds like heater plug (or heater plug control relay) failure.

 

[Manic]

.on a spec lift this time with hazard lights flashing dimmly so I imagine my starter battery will now be dead

I hope they hadn't lifted it to high, best check under the rear overhang for damage.

 

[Northernraider]

I hope they hadn't lifted it to high, best check under the rear overhang for damage.

It was practically level thankfully as I've a freezer full of frozen food lol

 

[Scotch mist]

I don’t think the RAC ( that fiat assistance Use )is any better , I’m Still waiting for tow truck 8 days after breakdown, 37 phone calls & a formal complaint hasn’t helped yet , so you never know I might still catch up with you in Germany yet if all goes well for both of us

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[Onemanandhisdog]

I don’t think the RAC ( that fiat assistance Use )is any better , I’m Still waiting for tow truck 8 days after breakdown, 37 phone calls & a formal complaint hasn’t helped yet , so you never know I might still catch up with you in Germany yet if all goes well for both of us

You could have driven home in 2nd gear by now!

 

[Podney]

I don’t think the RAC ( that fiat assistance Use )is any better , I’m Still waiting for tow truck 8 days after breakdown, 37 phone calls & a formal complaint hasn’t helped yet , so you never know I might still catch up with you in Germany yet if all goes well for both of us

That really is staggeringly bad.

 

[Scotch mist]

You could have driven home in 2nd gear by now!

might have been feasible IF I didn’t need to reverse out of my parking spot

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

There should be a breakdown service omsbudsman!

 

[Northernraider]

Well the guy

I don’t think the RAC ( that fiat assistance Use )is any better , I’m Still waiting for tow truck 8 days after breakdown, 37 phone calls & a formal complaint hasn’t helped yet , so you never know I might still catch up with you in Germany yet if all goes well for both of us

Man that is grim ....hope you get somewhere soon .. I'm sat here at the garage. Mechanic keeps saying dinnae panic it will be fine lol ...they not looked at it yet.

I'm holding off on the complaint till I have a verdict on the van

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