We broke down in Spain - check your Breakdown cover carefully. Long tale.

[carolyn]

I think a lot of us worry but others don’t!
Someone mentioned Turkey. We were in Turkey recently with a group, someone in a Murvi morello on a Fiat base had a radiator problem. They googled Fiat dealers, went into one, there were loads! We were not in a touristy area at all, they diagnosed the problem straight away, it was the twin fans cooling the radistor. (That’s what I think they said anyway but I know nothing about mechanical stuff so I may be completely wrong about that bit of mechanics!) They ordered the part , it was delivered and fitted in 3 days. One of our tour leaders who’s Turkish did chase to help arrange the timing so that the couple were only 24 hours behind us but still. It was about €700 all in.

Another chap needed a new headlight bulb, A new Fiat, he just couldn’t get the unit out, a couple of handy people tried to help him but just couldn’t do it. Popped into another Fiat Professional. They’d done it in minutes, only charged him for the bulb and gave him a spare. They’d all just been too nervous about cracking the unit.

The horror stories are rare and are the ones that get reported, no one bothers to report the good stuff.(well I just have).

 

[WESTY66]

I think a lot of us worry but others don’t!
Someone mentioned Turkey. We were in Turkey recently with a group, someone in a Murvi morello on a Fiat base had a radiator problem. They googled Fiat dealers, went into one, there were loads! We were not in a touristy area at all, they diagnosed the problem straight away, it was the twin fans cooling the radistor. (That’s what I think they said anyway but I know nothing about mechanical stuff so I may be completely wrong about that bit of mechanics!) They ordered the part , it was delivered and fitted in 3 days. One of our tour leaders who’s Turkish did chase to help arrange the timing so that the couple were only 24 hours behind us but still. It was about €700 all in.

Another chap needed a new headlight bulb, A new Fiat, he just couldn’t get the unit out, a couple of handy people tried to help him but just couldn’t do it. Popped into another Fiat Professional. They’d done it in minutes, only charged him for the bulb and gave him a spare. They’d all just been too nervous about cracking the unit.

The horror stories are rare and are the ones that get reported, no one bothers to report the good stuff.(well I just have).

Yes, my good friend Howard was on the tour, but Carolyn with respect, I don’t think anyone would be stuck anywhere for a radiator for long, also its not expensive repair in the great scheme of things, the things most people are afraid of is problems with the drive train, engine gearbox (especially comfortmatics) clutches etc requiring either a very very huge repair bill or an even more expensive repatriation bill. But it’s good to know there’s plenty of Fiat dealers out there as it’s on my retirement list of places to go

 

[carolyn]

Yes, my good friend Howard was on the tour, but Carolyn with respect, I don’t think anyone would be stuck anywhere for a radiator for long, also its not expensive repair in the great scheme of things, the things most people are afraid of is problems with the drive train, engine gearbox (especially comfortmatics) clutches etc requiring either a very very huge repair bill or an even more expensive repatriation bill. But it’s good to know there’s plenty of Fiat dealers out there as it’s on my retirement list of places to go

We have a Comformatic so know all that. My point was more about the fact that problems are rare and although they are awful when they happen as the OP and Oscar well know, we shouldn’t let them put us off. Help is out there, many many thousands of miles are travelled and adventures had.

 

[neil333]

I now carry a full Mercedes Benz Star diagnostic computer in the vehicle at all times after a single ABS sensor fault caused the ECU to stop us from getting home. Mercedes has decided that the average driver is incapable of driving without ABS these days, and programmed the automatic gearbox to go into limp mode. A simple one screw and one electric plug job that could be fixed by the side of the road once diagnosed. Would not leave home without it now.

 

[ceejayt]

Certainly made me double check our cover with RAC arrival. Looks OK.

Thanks

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[chaser]

I am sorry but don't see why anyone would wait for four days with a broken down van, why not get someone local to come and look at it if you think it's only a fan belt.
This is no way getting at the op ,just that I don't understand it.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Never heard that one before?
I have broken down 5 times in spain.The first with no breakdown cover got recovered home from Autovia fro 90€.
3 times with the mpv, 1st a broken track rod end maneuvering in a car park ,2nd ecu problem, 3rd a failed camshaft sensor. All recovered back to my house including me & dog using spanish vehicle insurance.
last time was the coach built MH which destroyed a piston in Poitiers & adac recovered it to local Fiat garage where it was collected 2 days later & recovered back to a friends garage locally. They offered me a choice of plane ,train or hire car to return home. + hotel & taxi covered.

Happened to me twice.

When I have spoken with other people, it’s they that tell me that’s normal.

I will take note of what you say for the future !

 

[Oldwindsurfer]

 

[Red Sonja]

+1. That would be diagnosed at the road side and would a very quick fix by any garage or workshop - Fiat or independent. Something doesn't seem right with this....

Firstly we were on a slip road exiting the A7 Malaga. The police just wanted us towed off the road. As I said earlier Alvarez towing wanted twice to get us out and to get a taxi. To where I don't know. At no time were they interested in looking at the vehicle. No fiat garage in the Malaga area could look at the van for 2 weeks. The nearest Fiat garage was Matramos in Granada. They told us that the cam belt had broken but they couldn't diagnose this until I had paid the €1000 so they could take the engine out. I was in the process of paying this when I asked time scales. I was told a month. That's when I said no.

My Husband had told both sets of breakdown drivers through Google translate what he thought the problem was and that he could see the broken belt. He kept saying I can see the broken belt it's not the cam belt. I also suspect Matromos garage in Granada did not even look at the van. After reading Oscars account of his breakdown I didn't want to go against the insurance.

It may still be the cam belt but I doubt it. If when it is fixed we find it was a simple fix that could have been easily repaired the I will take things further.

Yes something doesn't seem quite right with this I agree.

 

[Red Sonja]

Happened to me twice.

When I have spoken with other people, it’s they that tell me that’s normal.

I will take note of what you say for the future !

When we spoke to the guy who dropped the van off at our house. He told us that this is what happens in Spain now since Covid. You are not allowed to travel in the recovery truck. I will say that if you speak Spanish that may not be the case.

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[Red Sonja]

I am sorry but don't see why anyone would wait for four days with a broken down van, why not get someone local to come and look at it if you think it's only a fan belt.
This is no way getting at the op ,just that I don't understand it.

I wish we had Chaser. The trouble was every day they kept saying the breakdown truck was coming for the van. Having read Oscars awful tale we didn't want to interfere. In hindsight I wished we had. But we all have A levels in hindsight.

I just hope our tale will give people the realisation of breaking down in Spain when you do not speak the language. Google translate is great but but is not everything.

The locals where we were taken were fantastic. One helped us translate with a guy from the garage. Another took us to the apartment I booked on booking.com.

 

[Bubba]

If my van broke down and that was the cost, I think it may accidently catch fire and claim on the insurance for a new one in the UK.

 

[MichaelT]

Firstly we were on a slip road exiting the A7 Malaga. The police just wanted us towed off the road. As I said earlier Alvarez towing wanted twice to get us out and to get a taxi. To where I don't know. At no time were they interested in looking at the vehicle. No fiat garage in the Malaga area could look at the van for 2 weeks. The nearest Fiat garage was Matramos in Granada. They told us that the cam belt had broken but they couldn't diagnose this until I had paid the €1000 so they could take the engine out. I was in the process of paying this when I asked time scales. I was told a month. That's when I said no.

My Husband had told both sets of breakdown drivers through Google translate what he thought the problem was and that he could see the broken belt. He kept saying I can see the broken belt it's not the cam belt. I also suspect Matromos garage in Granada did not even look at the van. After reading Oscars account of his breakdown I didn't want to go against the insurance.

It may still be the cam belt but I doubt it. If when it is fixed we find it was a simple fix that could have been easily repaired the I will take things further.

Yes something doesn't seem quite right with this I agree.

If you think it's just a broken belt of some sort can you not fix it yourself as hubby seems to know what he is talking about or get a local mechanic. Even if its a cam belt I don't think you need to take the engine out.

 

[chaser]

If my van broke down and that was the cost, I think it may accidently catch fire and claim on the insurance for a new one in the UK.

Yes that's the problem, I can't relate to having a van worth a lot of money as we only have one worth five grand and apparently the breakdown folks won't work on it if its going to cost more than it's worth so where do you go from there, as I said it would be more cost effective to just leave it there and fly home.
But you don't know how you would feel until it happens to you.

 

[Red Sonja]

If you think it's just a broken belt of some sort can you not fix it yourself as hubby seems to know what he is talking about or get a local mechanic. Even if its a cam belt I don't think you need to take the engine out.

Whenever we have had our cam velt changed the garage has never had to take the engine out. We will get a local mechanic in once I've ordered the belt and take it from there. We would get our normal garage to gave a look but they don't have room force weeks.

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[Red Sonja]

If my van broke down and that was the cost, I think it may accidently catch fire and claim on the insurance for a new one in the UK.

Strangely someone did mention that to us

 

[Red Sonja]

Yes that's the problem, I can't relate to having a van worth a lot of money as we only have one worth five grand and apparently the breakdown folks won't work on it if its going to cost more than it's worth so where do you go from there, as I said it would be more cost effective to just leave it there and fly home.
But you don't know how you would feel until it happens to you.

They did ask if we wanted to scrap it. Ours is a 2004 Hymer B614. So not a new van. We had a figure in our mind that we would pay to get it home. We also had plan B of trying to get our most precious items like my mobility scooter and Kevin's electric bike out of it
We had plenty of time to think of scenarios. As it was Kevin bought me an old mobility scooter at a charity shop in Javea. This meant I was at least able to get about whilst there.

 

[gus-lopez]

When we spoke to the guy who dropped the van off at our house. He told us that this is what happens in Spain now since Covid. You are not allowed to travel in the recovery truck. I will say that if you speak Spanish that may not be the case.

I haven't heard that one ether? Can't see the insurance company wanting to pay out for a taxi/taxi's as well as the truck which they were doing during covid. additionally if that is the case then the rules surely must be the same.The recovery truck cannot leave with the vehicle until the taxi is there so he knows where he is taking the passengers.

** you said in post #44 that symptoms are a "loss of power" does that mean the engine still was running?

Symptoms of breaking are loss of power to engine.

 

[Gina M]

And there I was, all happy about going to Spain in our MH for the first time this Christmas. Now I'm wondering what the hell I would do if we broke down (I've had enough car breakdowns to last me a lifetime) or my husband was ill or in hospital. I'm beginning to think, again, that we should just get rid of the MH altogether. What would I do, stranded in the middle of nowhere, with my dog and a whole load of personal belongings, in a country where I don't speak their language? I have absolutely no idea.

I'm afraid you and I are alike, we overthink things. This thread has worried me now as we have two dogs

 

[Bolti]

My Husband had told both sets of breakdown drivers through Google translate what he thought the problem was and that he could see the broken belt. He kept saying I can see the broken belt it's not the cam belt. I also suspect Matromos garage in Granada did not even look at the van. After reading Oscars account of his breakdown I didn't want to go against the insurance.

The breakdown drivers in Spain are just that, guys who drive recovery vehicles. The most you can expect is a jump start, they have no service like the AA or RAC.

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[Red Sonja]

I haven't heard that one ether? Can't see the insurance company wanting to pay out for a taxi/taxi's as well as the truck which they were doing during covid. additionally if that is the case then the rules surely must be the same.The recovery truck cannot leave with the vehicle until the taxi is there so he knows where he is taking the passengers.

** you said in post #44 that symptoms are a "loss of power" does that mean the engine still was running?

All the recovery driver was interested in was getting us out and on the road. He kept saying taxi taxi. He stopped once as we left the motorway blocking part of the road for 20muns. I kept saying taxi to where? Can you call a taxi? To both enquiries he said ring your Insurance. I was on the phone to the insurance most of the time.

We got conflicting messages so I wasn't going anywhere. Second time he stopped was outside a Lidls 200yards further along. He stopped on a mini roundabout blocking the road still saying taxi taxi get out. I must add I was still in the van with the dogs as the police said it was OK and Kevin was in the breakdown truck. The driver gave me his phone and a woman said she was from the Insurance company. I suspect she worked for Alvarez. She kept shouting you need to get a taxi, you will be safe if we drop you here. I said take me somewhere safe and she said and I quote "It's not my job".

The driver eventually dropped us in the car park. I was constantly ringing the breakdown service. I do not lose my temper, I am quite a calm person. By the time we stopped I was on the verge of tears and very upset as was Kevin. The driver claimed he spoke no English. We communicated by Google translate and him shrugging his shouldersand saying get a taxi.

As for the loss if power. The symptoms were a screaming noise, the battery light coming on and the van slowing to a stop. Kevin tells me the van turns over but does not start. This was all explained to both the breakdown and the garages.

It doesn't help things that the number we were ringing was a call centre in Lyon and signed themselves as RAC Assistance and they were then contacting their agents in Spain.

Also when Alvarez took our van to Granada we waited for a taxi that never materialised. I didn't even know which garage had our vehicle.

 

[Burgo]

I also suspect Matromos garage in Granada did not even look at the van.

Wow - assuming you actually mean Motordos in Granada I'm even more surprised! They're our local Fiat Professional (as well as Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat cars) centre and have a dedicated motorhome section. We, as well as friends, have used them for years and everyone we know rates them very highly. Granted they are main dealer prices, but with menu driven servicing they're usually pretty fairly priced as they're quick bring used to Ducatos and motorhome coachwork.

Also suprised you couldn't ride in the cab of the grúa - they always accomodated Mrs. B. on the numerous occasions she had to call out a recovery truck in her old Nissan before we introduced it to the scrappage scheme.

 

[Red Sonja]

This is the paperwork I left the garage with after I refused to sign the one saying €1000euris and 25 hours labour. The Spanish version was translated by Google translate. Make of it what you will.

 

[Red Sonja]

Wow - assuming you actually mean Motordos in Granada I'm even more surprised! They're our local Fiat Professional (as well as Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat cars) centre and have a dedicated motorhome section. We, as well as friends, have used them for years and everyone we know rates them very highly. Granted they are main dealer prices, but with menu driven servicing they're usually pretty fairly priced as they're quick bring used to Ducatos and motorhome coachwork.

Also suprised you couldn't ride in the cab of the grúa - they always accomodated Mrs. B. on the numerous occasions she had to call out a recovery truck in her old Nissan before we introduced it to the scrappage scheme.

Yes it was Motordos. They were not the towing company. The towing company was Alvarez. Motordos would not look at the van until we arrived. It took Janie to get a Spanish charity worker in Javea to find this out. They were very nice but spoke no English. A young lady was there to translate for us but she also had to use Google translate. A mechanic also turned up who spoke some English.

I don't doubt they do a good job, they have a good set up there. Would I would question is if they looked at yhe van at all. They insisted it would take 20 hours and €1000 to diagnose and they would have to take the engine out to do this. I was on the point of signing the paperwork to agree when they told me the timescales. They also said maybe €16,000 if worse case scenario you need a new engine and this could take 6 months.

I did ask if we could stay on the van but was told no. They did have a motorhome next to us that looked as if it had engine trouble.

As an aside. Our recovery driver to the UK Martin who lives in De Panne and speaks Spanish. Told us that the owner at Motodos took him home and gave him dinner with his family before he left with our van.

 

[MGDavid]

I agree but, having broken down in our Mitsubishi L200 near Montpelier (we live in Charente) and the garage having it for 9 months (yes, 9 months), then telling us they couldn't fix it and us having to pay to get it back home (the 'envelope' of money from the insurance had run out), I'm worried at even breaking down again half an hour away!!!

Don't understand - why on earth would one leave an L200 at a blatantly incompetent garage for 9 months? Certainly after a couple of weeks max I would hire a trailer, hire or borrow something with a towbar and go and collect it back home myself.

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[jerryz]

I now carry a full Mercedes Benz Star diagnostic computer in the vehicle at all times after a single ABS sensor fault caused the ECU to stop us from getting home. Mercedes has decided that the average driver is incapable of driving without ABS these days, and programmed the automatic gearbox to go into limp mode. A simple one screw and one electric plug job that could be fixed by the side of the road once diagnosed. Would not leave home without it now.

ABS is unfortunately mandated by EU and UK law so no escape even on motorcycles when it can be damn dangerous

 

[jerryz]

even in UK there are a lot of dodgy mechanics who try to bullshit people ,,

 

[HKF]

Don't understand - why on earth would one leave an L200 at a blatantly incompetent garage for 9 months? Certainly after a couple of weeks max I would hire a trailer, hire or borrow something with a towbar and go and collect it back home myself.

1. If you expect anything to be done in France within a couple of weeks, you clearly don't understand how things work here.
2. If you expect another garage in France to even look at your vehicle when another one has taken it to bits, you clearly don't understand how things work here. No one would touch it because of the insurance / liability aspect.

Perhaps you could search for my posts about this, to get a better understanding? I'm certainly not going to go through the whole saga again just so you understand it.

 

[chaser]

I'm afraid, no compression doesn't point at a fan belt, could be anything, you can't see anything in these modern vans without taking them to bits.

 

[Platelet]

Not sorted yet. Although Kevin has removed the broken belt. He has arranged for our mechanic to look at it when it stops raining.

What belt is it please?

Edit, I have seen your later post.

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