Habitation Service- How Often? (1 Viewer)

[Kurt and Ko]

Good morning, I'm hoping for some guidance.

I have a 2016 Knaus Boxstar 540 PVC and was wondering whether a full habitation service should be done every year? I would always get a mechanical service done annually, no issue there.

I had a habitation service done last year and being quite new was absolutely fine. My fridge is compressor which doesn't need the annual gas check that the absorption ones do.

Any advice? Get a habitation check done with the mechanical service or not really needed?

Thanks very much

 

[Christoph]

I do ours annually becasue the 7 year water ingress warranty stipulates it has to be done annually. To be honest it feels a bit OTT to me

 

[scotjimland]

The standard habitation 'service' is only checks and inspection .. there is no 'servicing ' included in the price..
Appliances are checked for operation only, additional servicing may be required which will be extra cost.
Basically it's like an MOT

this is a check list .. http://www.caravanservicing4u.co.uk/cs4u_motorhome_habitation.pdf

There is nothing on it that cannot be undertaken by a competent DIYer..
If you are happy doing these checks yourself why pay someone else.

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[Christoph]

You can't do it yourself if the warrany insists on an accredited service centre doing it as ours does. Agree that it's a fairly simple task once your warranty is up though.

 

[TerryL]

I get mine done annually together with the vehicle service by someone I trust and who is also very reasonably priced (Funster who's ad is not very far from this post.............) so much so that I do a 450 mile round trip - but then take the opportunity to do my Christmas shopping, @cos it's the only way to get away from SWMBO!
I do it for peace of mind.

 

[Kurt and Ko]

There is nothing on it that cannot be undertaken by a competent DIYer..
If you are happy doing these checks yourself why pay someone else.

Thanks for that; unfortunately I am quite incompetent at DIY, especially anything electrical or gas related! I have taken a look at last year's service sheet, and apart from a battery test & gas pressure test (and I've had no issues with them) it is just opening & closing windows etc.
Thanks

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[Kurt and Ko]

I do it for peace of mind.

I think this is a very good point & why I am probably leaning towards getting it done. There is a lot of gas & electrical stuff in a small space that I'm sleeping in. Peace of mind is good!

Thanks

 

[h1ghway1]

I get mine done annually together with the vehicle service by someone I trust and who is also very reasonably priced (Funster who's ad is not very far from this post.............) so much so that I do a 450 mile round trip - but then take the opportunity to do my Christmas shopping, @cos it's the only way to get away from SWMBO!
I do it for peace of mind.

I'm an incompetent DIY er... I take mine to Dave Newell as did the previous owner. Dave has also fixed a few other things for me at the hab and vehicle service.

As a motorhome is a specialised vehicle I want someone with good knowledge working on it, its an expensive investment but I think the HAb and Service package offered by Dave is great value.

Dave and Jackie are a lovely couple who go the extra mile to keep the customer happy.

 

[scotjimland]

Peace of mind is good!

yes it is.. that's why I do all my own maintenance and servicing... I know it's been done properly.

but if you are not competent or confident about doing yourself, then I agree, leave it to those who are..

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[Minxy]

Dave and Jackie are a lovely couple who go the extra mile to keep the customer happy.

... usually chasing you to get you to pay your bill!!!

 

[DaveandJen]

If you don't have a habitation check carried out each year by an approved company on many new motorhomes you lose the warranty.

 

[rrusty]

I only do 5 or 6000 Miles annually so mechanical service every 2 years and hab service the same as I only use the motorhome 6 months per year.

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[DaveandJen]

The main reason why the manufacturers want the habitation service carried out each year when under warranty is to check on dampness.

 

[Minxy]

Habitation: We had the hab service done at the end of year 1 as our PVC had a 2 year warranty, but didn't bother with one in the second year as being a PVC it is highly unlikely to have major water ingress issues. We do checks ourselves and also lubricate etc stuff anyway so can't see the point in paying a LOT of money for someone to do the same thing as we can.

Mechanical: we had a full service done in February, 3 months before the 24 month requirement, so we knew it was in good fettle before going on holiday for 6 weeks especially as we were going to be doing quite a bit of pootling about in the mountains etc. That backfired though as our garage forgot to reset the service indicator/counter (based on time and/or mileage) so when we were in Spain we got the warning 'oil can' on the dash with the message to 'Change Engine Oil' which we knew it didn't need as we'd had it done already ... as we were near Montpellier with over 1000km before we'd even reach Coquelles it was a bit of a worry! Over the next couple of days we checked out the situation, speaking to our garage to ask their advice and also speaking to a technician in the UK who checked on the Fiat system as to what would happen in 'reality' and he told us it would go into limp mode and then after 500km more it wouldn't move at all! We therefore had no choice but to do something about it so took it into a Fiat garage at Nimes who checked the condition of the oil and then reset it but it wasn't cheap at €103! Fortunately our garage said they'd pay as it was their fault for not resetting it in the first place but I don't think they expected the bill to be so big ...

 

[SpeedyDux]

Habitation: We had the hab service done at the end of year 1 as our PVC had a 2 year warranty, but didn't bother with one in the second year as being a PVC it is highly unlikely to have major water ingress issues. We do checks ourselves and also lubricate etc stuff anyway so can't see the point in paying a LOT of money for someone to do the same thing as we can.

That's the way I see things with my PVC at least until the converter's warranty has expired. The only gas appliance in mine is the kitchen hob.

Annual hab services could be necessary for other MHs, especially coachbuilts with lots of hab equipment, complex gas and electrical systems, and potential for moisture ingress. Some converters make access difficult to service the 3-way fridge so it it is worth asking if that is included or an extra cost.

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[scotjimland]

Some converters make access difficult to service the 3-way fridge so it it is worth asking if that is included or an extra cost.

Servicing of any appliance is not included in the standard habitation checks.. it is always a separate charge .

 

[Minxy]

That's the way I see things with my PVC at least until the converter's warranty has expired. The only gas appliance in mine is the kitchen hob.

Annual hab services could be necessary for other MHs, especially coachbuilts with lots of hab equipment, complex gas and electrical systems, and potential for moisture ingress. Some converters make access difficult to service the 3-way fridge so it it is worth asking if that is included or an extra cost.

The problem is it is NOT a habitation SERVICE but a habitation CHECK, there is quite a difference but most punters don't know and tootle around in old MHs in which the appliances have never been serviced ... some MH dealers may do more bits than others but you need to ask as they are not all the same. I can check if the cooker, fridge, lights etc are working and squirt lubricant etc onto bits that need it so why do I need to pay someone to do it?

 

[Jonno1103]

Everything bar replacing windows or gas & electric circuit checks I'll do myself. A digital moisture meter to keep an eye on any damp issues doesn't cost much more than a large bottle of aquakem.

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[Jonno1103]

Fiat garage at Nimes who checked the condition of the oil and then reset it but it wasn't cheap at €103! Fortunately our garage said they'd pay as it was their fault for not resetting it in the first place but I don't think they expected the bill to be so big ...

• Turn the ignition key to position “ON” without starting the engine
• Set the odometer to read total miles.
• Press Odometer button until CFG1 appears on the display
• Release the odometer button
• Hit the odometer button to change different mile intervals CFG1, CFG2, CFG3, CFG1)
• When you have selected the interval, press and hold the odometer button again for 5 seconds to reset service light
• Turn the ignition Off

 

[Minxy]

• Turn the ignition key to position “ON” without starting the engine
• Set the odometer to read total miles.
• Press Odometer button until CFG1 appears on the display
• Release the odometer button
• Hit the odometer button to change different mile intervals CFG1, CFG2, CFG3, CFG1)
• When you have selected the interval, press and hold the odometer button again for 5 seconds to reset service light
• Turn the ignition Off

Tried that and loads of other 'fixes' we were told about ... nothing worked .

We'd much rather have been able to sort it ourselves than mess about having to phone the garage at home, find one in France then take it in and try to tell them in French what we wanted them to do (my diagram in 'French' finally did the trick!) - we waste lots of time trying to sort it ourselves and an afternoon kicking our heels while the garage finally did it ... not to mention the worry it caused before we had it sorted. If we'd had a Peugeot or Citroen 'flavour' van we would definitely have been able to do it ourselves, but apparently not with Fiat ones.

 

[Fletton]

If you don't have a habitation check carried out each year by an approved company on many new motorhomes you lose the warranty.

Not on a Knaus.... The only stipulation is "Damp check"... Which is all I have done... Anything else I can do myself... I.e.. Notice if a lock is f3kked or a handle is loose etc... Or if the burners on the hob are "not right"..

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[Minxy]

@Fletton ... looking at your avatar ... have you been for an audition for the 'Black Magic' man role?

 

[Fletton]

@Fletton ... looking at your avatar ... have you been for an audition for the 'Black Magic' man role?

@Minxy Girl .... You may say that.... But I could not possibly comment....

 

[Minxy]

@Minxy Girl .... You may say that.... But I could not possibly comment....

On second thoughts, I'm now leaning more to you going for an audition for Thunderbirds!

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[Fletton]

On second thoughts, I'm now leaning more to you going for an audition for Thunderbirds!

That comment could be construde as being somewhat “animated”..

 

[scotjimland]

Can't speak for UK built vans, never had one and wouldn't buy one. Hymer use the patented PUAL construction method which is bonded aluminium skin to high density PU insulation with plywood inner skin. There is no structural timber to rot and leaks at joints are virtual unheard of.. but just like a PVC they can develop leaks on roof lights and windows which if not attended to could leave watermarks on the marine plywood lining.. If a PVC leaks around the window that can also happen plus you have the risk of the steel body rusting around the window and if not attended to can do a lot of internal rusting.. PVC vans also have the additional problem of a ribbed roof which makes it more difficult to get a good seal with the window frame.

So while never complacent, I have never found any damp in my 17 year old Hymer.. only issue I've had was a leak from the main roof light window which I replaced..

 

[Lenny HB]

The mechanical service is only due every two years or 28,000 miles as you van is German I don't think the 2 years applies just the mileage.
As for hab checks total waste of mony, on our 3rd Hymer in 10 years never had a hab check. Why pay someone £200 to have a quick glance over your van they do bugger all for the money, German vans don't need it for the warranty.

I do have the annual damp check done but as Jim says is it really necessary on a Hymer mine has both external & internal aluminium walls but at only £60 not too bad.