Caravan Servicing - word of warning!

[Alan_5039810]

I collected my caravan today after its standard 12 month service at a well respected approved dealer in the Midlands. When I got home I switched on the motor mover (not part of the service) but no power! A check with a meter revealed a totally flat battery - the Engineer's check list confirmed the battery was OK when tested two days previously. I then found that the 12 volt master switch had been left 'ON' as had the heater fan. This coupled with the fact that various solenoids are activated, and continuously draw current, was sufficient in my opinion to drain the battery.

I shall continue to use the dealer but I shall also check the state of the internal switches before leaving their depot.

I know it is my responsibility to make sure my caravan is OK to tow but when I collect after an official service I (foolishly?) expect perfection. Enough said.

 

[Surfer]

We had a similar experience with a national dealership who has a branch north of Worcester. On the check list the shock absorbers box was marked asd not applicable but they had fitted the shocks earlier in the year. It turned out that the sheet had been marked up in the office and they had then forgotten to service the van.

 

[RayS]

If either of these were Approved Wprkshops under the NCC / CC /CCC scheme., please complain loudly to these organisations or to vening - jones who are the third party quality assessors.

I am currently in dispute with a large dealer organisation which flaunts this approval and yet does not have a qualifed electrician on the staff. Current legislation allows you to do not much more than change a light bulb in your house, yet seems to allow anyone to work on the mains installion in your caravan.

Nothing will change until / unless enough of us make a loud fuss !

 

[CliveV]

Agreed - we were told that our fridge would not fire up on gas at a previous service. As it was new to us (but second hand) I had no reason to doubt them but something in the way it was said made me wonder so I declined their offer of taking out the fridge and replacing the burner unit.

With a more knowledgable friend than I we had the fridge fired up on gas after just a few clicks!

The mobile engineer that now services my caravan tells me that main dealers use this trick as a "nice little earner".

As for the firm that completed the check list then "forgot" to do the service! - Just goes to show the total lack of honesty that is prevalent.

Name and shame I say

 

[woodbush]

My local dealer in Cumbria could not do my service before I went on holiday in April for 3 months. Phoned today for new appointment and said " its now out of warranty" with glee. I had already paid them for my "Gold Pack" at nearly

 

[spj]

Recently collected my Avondale from my dealer, at 22 months old the tyres are cracking, jacked up the van to remove the wheels and the offside wheel would not lock with the handbrake, it binds but the wheel could be turned with two hands on it with the handbrake fully applied, this I would not have known if the tyres were OK. I then set up the brakes correctly myself as I no longer trust the dealer after releasing my caravan in a dangerous and unsafe condition, we are going on holiday on Friday so I have not yet had time to tackle the dealer, I just wonder what sort of mechanics they employ, I run a 24hr HGV workshop with 7 mechanics, but if any of them released a vehicle to the road with a brake not working they would be looking for another job.

Simon.

 

[vauxhall2]

on a site the other week i noticed water coming from the near side of a very newish caravan,twin wheel.it was running from all over the floor base.i informed the man whos caravan it was.he later discovered a pipe off under the sink in the shower.he said would you believe we picked up this caravan from the service centre today.bit of a worry i think.dare not ask how much the service cost.