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[TheBoy]

So, after dumping all its coolant in one big heap at motorway speeds, a colleague (who in a former life was a race engine tuner) and I had a quick look, and quickly determined it was the stat housing had failed.  Nothing repairable at side of road, as its a unique, plastic, moulded part.  Good job I have RAC recovery.

So call RAC, to be greeted with a message that I can't really call them, and report it online instead if possible, because of covid, and only hang on as a last resort.  I mean, we've had the sniffle virus for over a year, companies can't keep hiding behind that excuse.

Gave up holding after about 10mins, and did it online, at 2:30pm.  Technician called me at 4pm, telling me he was 30mins away, though I explained to him what I'd found, and that it was gonna need recovery, and it was RWD, but understandably he had to check first.  He rocked up at 4:30pm, and immediately decided it needed recovery, which he couldn't do, because it was RWD.  So I had to wait for a recovery truck.

Recovery truck turned upat 7pm, and was quickly on our way.  I had to stay in the car, due to covid, an experience that was quite unpleasant.


By 8pm, he'd dropped me at Beaconsfield services.

By 11pm, the next truck turned up.


Which meant I was home just before midnight.



This afternoon, after work, I pulled off the throttle body, to reveal fully the extent of the problem.  Its actually not the thermostat housing, just a plastic component to send the coolant in various directions.  The stat is not actually on the engine, and is mounted remotely.





Now time to order bits.  Need to decide genuine or pattern.  Genuine is about 2.5 - 3 times more expensive, but its not an expensive part, so will probably be based on availability.

[STEMO]

Why couldn't the first recovery take you straight home?

[TheBoy]

Why couldn't the first recovery take you straight home?

That was what RAC originally promised, but when the (3rd party) agent turned up, he'd only been booked to take me part way.

Maybe thats one for Nick W's experience in such things.

[Doctor Gollum]

Drivers hours if they go more than 50KMs from base. 

I'd risk Batflu than dying falling off a flatbed

Besides, with masks, a meter is deemed to be acceptable distance (not that any of it is scientifically proven to be true. But that's a whole different rant).

If they can't transport you 'safely' then they should put you in a taxi

[YZ250]

Hopefully a straightforward fix then.    They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.

[TheBoy]

Hopefully a straightforward fix then.    They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.

Yeah, I completely understand they can't take the word of a member of the public.  Just annoying that each wait time was 2 hours.

[dave the builder]

cheaply made plastic manifold 
manufacturers are putting crap like that in heating boilers now too .

hopefully you will get a replacement quickly and be up and running again soon

in the mean time you have your 101 HP  race car   tool shed  Zafira to use 

[STEMO]

I would have thought this is a main dealer fix.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I thought remaining in the car was illegal ?
I presume RAC are added to the hate list now. 

[STEMO]

I thought remaining in the car was illegal ?
I presume RAC are added to the hate list now. 

Mongs. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Hopefully a straightforward fix then.    They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.

Yeah, I completely understand they can't take the word of a member of the public.  Just annoying that each wait time was 2 hours.

Operator: What appears to be the problem?
Customer: The offside front track control arm has snapped and the car is undriveable.
Operator: I see, we will send an technician to your location.
Customer: Does he have a flat bed? The car is undriveable.
Operator: He is a technician, he will get you on your way.
Customer: WTF?

2 hours later...

Transit driver: You need a flat bed.
Customer: No shit.

[Nick W]

They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.

You have no idea just how many reported faults are completely inaccurate. Some of them are impossible. The AA and RAC will always send a van during business hours no matter what you tell them; everybody else uses sub-contractors, and then anything could happen depending on how busy they are.


Early evening is a terrible time to need a full lift from the RAC, as that's when they transition to their sub contractors. Who go from having no jobs to more than they have drivers to cover, and they've all been waiting for hours due to the RAC's ineptitude.


Being in the car isn't dangerous, or illegal but it is a bit uncomfortable. If the driver doesn't strap all four wheels of your car, no matter how far you're going, you should complain.


I wouldn't be happy about being left at Beaconsfield when the destination is Brackley. You should also get your driver to ensure that the next vehicle is booked and get the company name and an ETA without asking the RAC.


Your best bet for avoiding these issues is to use National Breakdown.

[Varche]

I seem to remember saying about companies using Covid as an excuse for rubbish customer service months ago. I have given up moaning about it. It is the new normal.

[YZ250]

They seem to send a van out first to assess, even when you tell them it's terminal and will require recovery.

You have no idea just how many reported faults are completely inaccurate. Some of them are impossible. The AA and RAC will always send a van during business hours no matter what you tell them .............

My comment was an observation rather than a criticism, and I fully understood their reasoning behind it.     Tying up a flatbed unnecessarily on the say so of a member of the public is obviously not feasible so we accept that they need to check it out for themselves first. 

[dave the builder]

the AA or RAC can run the Reg number through any computer to know the model and if it's RWD
or French