[AuRavelling79]

13 month old Doblo Van here.

So Saturday evening I'm collecting youngest daughter from a friends about 2 miles from home. Weather = roads wet but not raining.

Half a mile from destination some spray gets on the windows so I flick on the wipers - nothing. Washers as well. Perhaps it's a fuse? Try heater fan - yup, gotta be a fuse.

Pull up outside mate's house and can hear a funny noise under the bonnet - then smoke pours out of bonnet edges! I switch off, lock up and stand well back.
Smoke stops.

I lift bonnet (smells like burnt cables everywhere) but no sign of damage.

I get in - everything is working - including wipers and blower! But not the starter.

Call RAC from mates house (after waiting 20 mins in a phone queue!) guy turns up and diagnoses that the starter motor has engaged, but not disengaged from the engine starter ring.

Therefore it has been spinning at engine rpm geared up by several times and has burnt out wrecking it. The power feed from the battery has been open and this is what has caused the electrical symptoms.

So RAC tow me home and we bump start it to get it up the drive - so it seems that only the starter is damaged.

Monday at 8.15am I phone the main dealer to book it in under warranty.

"Can't look at it 'til tomorrow, but get it in this afternoon" - fair enough (but now gonna be at least 2 days off work at best) so RAC take it in. (Good guys btw - towing mechanic liased with dealer mechanics)

Tuesday am{- diagnosed - yup = starter "we'll get one for tomorrow and fit it")
You'd think they'd have one on the shelf but ho-hum!
Today - come and collect this afternoon!

So 3 days out off work on the three driest days this month!

I bought new to avoid this sort of thing!

[windowwashers]

My starter motor was playing up a couple of weeks back, would not start at all drained battery ect ect, then would start and be good the next day.

So I called a mobile mechanic I new it had to be starter plugs or leads, was starter £100 new starter sorted in 55 mins, main dealers are a joke IMO
if ever I get a problem I just have the problem replaced for new as costs me to much to have the van off the road, especially 3 days at this time of year.

Ian

p.s glad your is fixed now 

[AuRavelling79]

I'm new to this new vehicle thing - my concern is invalidating the warranty and so feel forced to let the main dealer diagnose sort it.

Economically what you've done makes sense - but if the engine blows up would the main dealer say "you've let someone unauthorised fiddle with it so you've voided the warranty"?

BTW - it won't be ready til this pm!

3 days for a starter motor! grrrr!

[windowwashers]

I'm new to this new vehicle thing - my concern is invalidating the warranty and so feel forced to let the main dealer diagnose sort it.

Economically what you've done makes sense - but if the engine blows up would the main dealer say "you've let someone unauthorised fiddle with it so you've voided the warranty"?

BTW - it won't be ready til this pm!

3 days for a starter motor! grrrr!

Your warranty will be void if you let a mechanic other than who they say you can use do a job on it.

my van is 4 years old so I dont have a problem

[nat]

check with your warrenty, i had a problem with my 56 plate landrover, because it had been serviced other than the main dealer. they said as long as the servicing used genuine landrover parts it would still validate the warrenty so they would fix it under the warrenty

[dave0123]

Yes thats what its usally like!


as long as you use main dealer geninue parts!! if you dont uv got no chance 

[Davew]

Pretty sure this warrenty issue is fine provided a vat registered garage does the work - it doesn't have to be main dealer. This is what the Citroen garage told me when i purchased a brand new vehicle. I'm sure it was brought in to stop main dealers stinging the customer with service issues. Any parts would have to be genuine though.

[Pj]

You should've bought a Honda , MalcG

[Ravensford]

Pretty sure this warrenty issue is fine provided a vat registered garage does the work - it doesn't have to be main dealer. This is what the Citroen garage told me when i purchased a brand new vehicle. I'm sure it was brought in to stop main dealers stinging the customer with service issues. Any parts would have to be genuine though.

Yup - my understanding too. Thought it now was illegal for dealers to void warranty if you use 'OEM' parts or garage. I have Renault Trafic - excellent van, excellent marketing - awful main dealer servicing IMO

[AuRavelling79]

You should've bought a Honda , MalcG

pj - I would have if they did vans!

Got my Fiat back now so here's hoping!

[mark dew]

malc, how much does it cost you to join the RAC?
And for what level of service?

[AuRavelling79]

malc, how much does it cost you to join the RAC?
And for what level of service?

My van was covered by the AA in year one as part of the deal.

This year I went for the RAC through my broker for:-

Homestart
Roadside
Recovery
Europe (Didn't need this but it's included anyway)

For my van under it's registration only - £65.00


Deffo worth it cuz they towed me home (2 miles) and then on Monday took my van to the main dealers (8 miles) without me having to accompany it.

[nat]

Definate on the AA. absolute lifesaver if needed, been out 2 this year for us, would cost shed loads if we wern't covered

[mark dew]

that's a good price. I can't remember figures now but i looked at aa for my van and it was hugely more expensive than for a car, if i remember right?
thanks for the info.

[nat]

think it depends on the size of your van, ours are SWB so its £10 per month each van...mega bargain for what your getting

[matt]

i have RAC with my tesco clubcard point, only 11 quid i think it was

[windowwashers]

i have RAC with my tesco clubcard point, only 11 quid i think it was

and £7000 worth of shopping 

[Davew]

Matt, your brilliant! thanks. Just had a look on Tesco and £14.95 gives you £60 worth of RAC cover.

[tacky]

breakdown services .money well spent .

[Davew]

Got a funny feeling it might not cover vans although i can't find it on the website.