Motor Mover Woe

[Grahamh]

Brought the van out of winter storagte today. Was planning to give it a service ready for a short trip to Cornwall. Couldn't move it as the mover was completely dead. It's a Purple Line EnduroEM103. I fitted it in Oct 2009. In July 2010 (bearing in mind it had stood idle all winter), the electronics failed and they replaced it free of charge under warranty. All fine until today. Went through all the checks(new battery in the remote, checked the van battery supply etc) and rang purpleline (very nice lady on phone first time, very nice man second time) who went through the reset procedure. Well nothing worked so they pronounced it 'dead'. I asked if they would repair it and they said 'No that model is obsolete'. They suggested that I purchase the latest model which is 'backwards compatible' and will replace the faulty electronic box. As I had had such problems they offered to let me have it at cost, £100.
Now I have emailed them and suggested they might like to replace it free. They say its out of the (2 year) warranty period. I pointed out that the (second) box they sent me has only lasted 07/2010 to 03/2012 which is less than 2 years and even less if you consider that it has not been used outside of summertime (less than 2 seasons). I said that I would consider it 'not fit for purpose under the SoG act. Why, I asked, would I want to buy another one if they don't last longer than 2 seasons?

Question is will I get a free replacement if I offer to go to small claims court? Am I right in thinking the replacement should also carry a 2 year warranty from the date of invoice (which I still have)?
Any advice welcome

 

[birdman101]

Sorry to hear of your problems.I have an Enduro now over 5 years old and been faultless.There is a company repair mover units for about £60,they are A&R Electronic Developments Ltd 01889 574980,they are also on E-BAY. The thing is by trying to do battle with them how long will it take before you will be able to use your caravan.

 

[Grahamh]

Thanks for that. When you say they repair mover units do you mean motors or electronic boxes?
With several different manufacturers competing for customers it ocurred to me that they wouldn't want the bad press. I was surprised that they thought I would just buy another box after the last two failed so quickly.

 

[mullsy1]

Not to mention the 'at cost' price of £100

 

[xtrailman]

I think £100 is reasonable.
I have noted PT do a replacement for around the same cost, could you adapt one of those?

The warranty starts from the initial purchase date, not from the last replacement unit.

Two failures could suggest a poor installation.

 

[birdman101]

They repair main control boxes. When you switch on isolator switch have you 12volts on end terminals right hand side,if voltage is not up it will not function.If power is on these, when you press red button twice on remote the back red light should come on.If not press re-set button at back of controler.Whe pressing remote to move back or forwards middle light should give a blue flash.Try all this with mover rollers wound off tyres.If rollers then turn it is down to caravan battery problem. Hope this is of use.If no luck worth ringing the number i gave .2 years ago my friend tried to move his van and had left the brake on,this done his control box in.

 

[Grahamh]

Have taken advice on whether the warranty runs from original purchase or the first replacement. It seems that as the replacement was invoiced then the warranty starts again. Also your rights are not limited /diluted by the warranty. Your rights to replacement/repair could extend to 6 years. My argument is that the unit is not fit for purpose. (I wonder if this is borne out by the fact that they no longer sell this model)
The unit does not function at all when the isolator is switched on and the remote button pressed twice. When I reset the unit the red led flashes but does not respond to the remote. Yesterday I changed the remote battery - no change. I checked the supply to the unit and it was 13.6v. I took out the caravan battery and checked the terminals/water level and put it on charge. Contrller terminal voltage today 13.7 volts, still no response. All worked fine when I put it into storage in October.
Manufacturer tells me it seems like a unit fault but as they don't carry this model any more they cannot test and never did repair them, only exchanged. I asked them 'why would I buy another one from them when the last two only lasted a matter of months?'
I cannot see how I could have a faulty installation which would cause the control unit to fail. Have never used it with handbrake on and it never seemed to struggle when moving the van.
Have asked the manufacturer for a replacement under warranty and await a reply.

 

[forestgump]

ring kieth at neleisure he is a master with movers old and new what he dont know is not worth ????07873902377 he will fix any moveR fron the yeardot to today/

 

[birdman101]

It will watch to see how you got on.If no luck it is worth trying A&R Electronics for repair, or they supply Carver/Truma control boxes with remotes which are compatible with Enduro motors. I believe they were the original manufacturers for carver controls. Best of luck.As i said my friend used them 2 years ago.

 

[Grahamh]

Thanks V much Forest. Contacted Keith yesterday and he came back really quick with advice. Won't repeat it on here or I'll prejudice the outcome. I have gone back to Purpleline with a suggestion of a way forward and hopefully can find a mutually satisfactory conclusion. He says that fixing the existing controller is not an easy or good option.
Thanks again

 

[Grahamh]

Thanks for that Birdman. I have looked at their website and I see they can either repair mine or supply a new one that is compatible. Will await Purplelines response first tho.