Annual Service and habitation check

[Galla]

I bought a brand new auto trail tracker EKS in June 14. The dealer has reminded me by letter that the annual service and habitation check are due. As a caravaner for many many years I know the importance of these checks but I have a couple of questions for the more experienced motor homers.
1. The van has done 3k miles it's a 2.2 diesel on a fiat chasis roughly what is carried out at the service?
2. The habitation check how much roughly does this cost? And what do they check?
3. Does it matter if you don't go back to the original dealer??
They carried out a warranty repair, habitation door surround had cracked, not long after I got the van BUT they also tried to carry out someone else's warranty repairs to my water system and toilet and still have this work recorded against my van. They've got a replacement leisure battery against my van also which was not my van. I had a few issues with battery, fitted tracker and fridge when first new. The van obviously hadn't been checked over before going out. The leisure battery wasn't connected the wires were hanging loose. The tracker wasn't fitted or enabled. The fridge wasn't working again not connected so am very wary of returning to the dealership and have asked for a written quotation and exactly what is to be carried out.
I recently stayed at a caravan club site locally and whilst chatting to the warden he revealed he'd had a problem with a leaking sky light so he took his motor home to this dealer, got a verbal quote of £150, when collecting van he got an itemised bill for £800. He eventually got the bill reduced to £300 he advised me to get a written quote. He's been a motor home owner for many years and knows a thing or too, he actually advised me to travel further as this dealer was getting a bit of a reputation for charging over the odds and poor after sales service. Thoughts please, thanks Fiona

 

[TonyJones]

Hi Fiona - welcome to motorhoming!
There's no hard and fast list of what's covered on a habitation service, different dealers have different definitions of what's needed.
(LATER EDIT - rest of this not applicable to you, see my next post below)
While I can see why you wouldn't want to let this particular dealer anywhere near your van from now on, you need to check the T's and C's of your warranty. With a used vehicle, the warranty will either be issued by an insurance company or by the selling dealer. Either way, it might require that hab checks need to be done at certain intervals (at your expense!), and MAY specify that these have to be done by the selling dealer. BUT it should only require this after a year, and I'd be surprised if a used vehicle warranty runs any longer than that.
Also, used vehicle warranties are notoriously feeble in what they cover, so again, read it carefully. You may find that, after the first few weeks, the cover is so slender that you'd prefer to forego it, and get someone you trust to look after your pride and joy.
Don't let any of this put you off enjoying your new lifestyle to the full!

 

[Flicka]

Hi Fiona the habitation checks are just that - checks but make sure they do a damp test. If you don't keep up with the habitation check any problems can result in loss of warranty.
Regarding the Fiat service again it's ensuring warranty is not jepardised. Check your handbook regarding service intervals, if it's like mine (2012) there is no service requirement until 24 months or 20k miles.

 

[TonyJones]

Sorry, just re-read your post and realised your vehicle isn't a used one (saw the 3k but missed the brand new bit) so much of what I wrote above doesn't apply to you. I'll leave it there though, for others' benefit.
Since it's a new vehicle, you'll need to keep the Fiat servicing up to date, but that probably won't be needed yet, as Flicka says.
Check whether Autotrails warranty requires hab checks are done by the selling dealer, or whether you're free to go elsewhere.
Sorry for any confusion!

 

[klyne]

I am not sure if Fiat servicing (Cab) requirements are the same as Peugeot but my Boxer handbook says that if you do less than 6000 miles a year it requires a minimum of an annual oil change service.

David

 

[Galla]

Hi every one and thank you for the replies. I am familiar with what the habitation check is as I had a caravan for 25 yrs before trading up to the motorhome. I will read my handbook to see when fiat say the first service should be. Its the dealership I have an issue with and Im not alone there unfortunately but I will talk to auto trail. Thanks for the help its appreciated