TheBig1
LIFE MEMBER
- Nov 27, 2011
- 17,617
- 43,191
- Funster No
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- MH
- A class
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- many many years! since I was a kid
were just back from a 2 week break that descended into a very stressful time. fortunately with the help of the RAC were home safe and well
last saturday we were driving from south wales to a site in cambridge when suddenly and without warning we lost all drive to the wheels. there was no slipping clutch or bad noises to be heard from the gearbox, and the clutch pedal and gear lever all seemed correct.
anyway, after a tow on a fixed bar behind an RAC transit 4x4, we were diverted to a campsite at billing aquadrome to await repair after the bank holiday. OMG what an awful site, full of screaming kids loud music (the noise went on till 5 in the morning most days) and mud, loads and loads of mud. my idea of hell, and we were trapped there. sunday morning and I got a taxi into northampton to hire a car and at least we could escape.
tuesday came eventually and a large tow truck came to collect our van, and promptly cocked up towing it out of the sea of mud. it hardly gave confidence that the garage would be able to help when they couldnt guarantee finishing the repair that day.
as i said, thank god for the RAC, who chased the garage several times and negotiated a trade price for the repair. because of this, the garage worked on till the job was done, staying after normal closing time. mind you, the fitter got his own back by test driving our van round their carpark, and braking hard from 30mph, so shaking up the whole contents of the habitation area. every door we opened from fridge to top lockers allowed the content to spill out.
it turns out that we did need a new clutch, but not because the friction plates were worn, but because the clutch plate and bearing had shattered and disintegrated into several pieces without warning. so after paying the garage bill of £900, we were left well over £1000 out of pocket, but at least we are now home safe and well with our van.
cleaning the van inside and out to get rid of the mud will have to wait a couple of days though, as we are now exhausted
last saturday we were driving from south wales to a site in cambridge when suddenly and without warning we lost all drive to the wheels. there was no slipping clutch or bad noises to be heard from the gearbox, and the clutch pedal and gear lever all seemed correct.
anyway, after a tow on a fixed bar behind an RAC transit 4x4, we were diverted to a campsite at billing aquadrome to await repair after the bank holiday. OMG what an awful site, full of screaming kids loud music (the noise went on till 5 in the morning most days) and mud, loads and loads of mud. my idea of hell, and we were trapped there. sunday morning and I got a taxi into northampton to hire a car and at least we could escape.
tuesday came eventually and a large tow truck came to collect our van, and promptly cocked up towing it out of the sea of mud. it hardly gave confidence that the garage would be able to help when they couldnt guarantee finishing the repair that day.
as i said, thank god for the RAC, who chased the garage several times and negotiated a trade price for the repair. because of this, the garage worked on till the job was done, staying after normal closing time. mind you, the fitter got his own back by test driving our van round their carpark, and braking hard from 30mph, so shaking up the whole contents of the habitation area. every door we opened from fridge to top lockers allowed the content to spill out.
it turns out that we did need a new clutch, but not because the friction plates were worn, but because the clutch plate and bearing had shattered and disintegrated into several pieces without warning. so after paying the garage bill of £900, we were left well over £1000 out of pocket, but at least we are now home safe and well with our van.
cleaning the van inside and out to get rid of the mud will have to wait a couple of days though, as we are now exhausted