Moan... Warranties what's the point... (1 Viewer)

[haganap]

Sometimes, what is the point of them? What an industry we spend our hard earned cash in.

This isn't a go at my dealer who has been really useful in all this. I have an issue with my oven, led to believe it's the Thermocouple but when spoke to the dealer that was changed prior to pick up. Long story short, the grill won't stay lit and the oven flame dances and goes out.

All the research suggests that the ovens are crap anyway and the control mechanism is shot. It's an oven out job which believe it or not is pretty straight forward replace parts and then put back in.
My dealer said, no problem bring it over and we will do it under warranty. Dealer is £80 worth of fuel away and a day off work and he knows this. He suggested I contact someone local to see if they can do it and can do it under my "GOLD STANDARD WARRANTY" . I have rang Tom Dick and Harry and all said they will not take on work under warranty. One even said he can't fit his "own" customers in never mind other peoples. The cheek of it? since when did I become someone else's bitch?

Any how, it aint a particularly difficult job and as the parts come in at £86 looks like muggins here will be having to take the job on.

 

[old-mo]

Inform said dealer that you are willing to do it if they send you the parts... but... as a token of good will see if they have anything you would like to add at greatly reduced price as a good will gesture..

 

[Southdowners]

Is your oven part of a tech tower?

If it is then you may find its a problem with the fans. We bought two N&B motorhomes and both had major problems with the oven and grill which sound very similar to those you describe. Ours were in a tech tower with the fridge at the bottom, oven above that and microwave at the top.

We visited the dealer (450 mile round trip) so many times we lost count. Each time the problem was 'fixed' the same thing happened again after a couple of uses.

It may be worth going back to the dealer as it may not be down to the thermocouple.

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[funflair]

I guess the point of the warranty is that it’s an insurance policy taken out by the dealer and really for his benefit not yours, I have heard lots of complaints about ovens I think they are Thetford.

And people wonder why I don’t really want an oven in our next van.

Martin

 

[Southdowners]

We thought the same Martin but we do use the oven a lot. Our new MH has a full size oven under the hob. Fingers crossed... but it has worked so far!

 

[haganap]

Is your oven part of a tech tower?

If it is then you may find its a problem with the fans. We bought two N&B motorhomes and both had major problems with the oven and grill which sound very similar to those you describe. Ours were in a tech tower with the fridge at the bottom, oven above that and microwave at the top.

We visited the dealer (450 mile round trip) so many times we lost count. Each time the problem was 'fixed' the same thing happened again after a couple of uses.

It may be worth going back to the dealer as it may not be down to the thermocouple.

Yes it is this Oven. The dealer fitted a thermocouple to it prior to picking up, I can't even turn the knob now... so looks like the control valve has seized. @funflair is correct of course. The warranty is for the dealer not the customer. Ill get it fixed, if not I will change it for a different oven Like a smev.

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[Southdowners]

Is it in a tech tower? If it is then replacing the oven might not solve the problem.

With ours the fans weren't up to the job and, despite them being replaced (according to the dealer) they continued to cause the same problems you have. We found out afterwards that the problem is a well known one. The fans cause the gas to cut out in the oven.

The last 'repair' by our dealer was to bypass the problem by wiring the fans directly into the lighting circuit. This meant that the fans wouldn't come on unless the main lighting switch was on! They didn't tell us what they'd done. We found out by chance when we had the oven on and I thought it was unnaturally quiet - later we turned the lights on and the fans sprang into action.

After checking what was causing this we called the dealer who, to our astonishment, said 'Oh, its OK, just don't leave the oven unattended' !!!!

I hope you'll get better help from your dealer than we did - good luck!

Sorry, that sounds really negative. I'm sure there will be a fix for your problem but I would ensure that the problem definitely lies with the oven itself and not the fans before spend any money on a new oven. Our problem was with the dealership and I think your dealer wasn't the same as ours.

 

[Robert Clark]

Your realer certainly leaves a lot to be desired
I also found them to be technically inept, so you’re better off trying to fix it yourself.

Best of luck

 

[xgx]

Worth checking whether doing the work yourself could invalidate the warranty ...on the whole vehicle...

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[skylinersi]

Is it in a tech tower? If it is then replacing the oven might not solve the problem.

With ours the fans weren't up to the job and, despite them being replaced (according to the dealer) they continued to cause the same problems you have. We found out afterwards that the problem is a well known one. The fans cause the gas to cut out in the oven.

The last 'repair' by our dealer was to bypass the problem by wiring the fans directly into the lighting circuit. This meant that the fans wouldn't come on unless the main lighting switch was on! They didn't tell us what they'd done. We found out by chance when we had the oven on and I thought it was unnaturally quiet - later we turned the lights on and the fans sprang into action.

After checking what was causing this we called the dealer who, to our astonishment, said 'Oh, its OK, just don't leave the oven unattended' !!!!

I hope you'll get better help from your dealer than we did - good luck!

Sorry, that sounds really negative. I'm sure there will be a fix for your problem but I would ensure that the problem definitely lies with the oven itself and not the fans before spend any money on a new oven. Our problem was with the dealership and I think your dealer wasn't the same as ours.

stunning! what a bunch of tossers.............some dealers need shooting!

 

[nelly]

I do not understand many of the comments the dealer said no problem bring it over we will fix it it's not the dealers fault it does not want to be driven to him or am I missing something
Neil

 

[Ivory55]

Think the warranty on 2nd hand vans that dealers give you through a warranty company are not that great as a lot of garages will not do warranty work for them. You can end up driving miles to get it done.

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[Manic]

Why not have the dealer fix it and make a trip away out of it.

 

[Ivory55]

Why not have the dealer fix it and make a trip away out of it.

That’s ok but not everyone has limitless spare time and what they do have would rather spend it going other places.

 

[CazPaul]

I do not understand many of the comments the dealer said no problem bring it over we will fix it it's not the dealers fault it does not want to be driven to him or am I missing something
Neil

Yes I cant understand what the dealer has done wrong here''Fetch it back and we will fix it'' they said.

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[CazPaul]

Your realer certainly leaves a lot to be desired
I also found them to be technically inept, so you’re better off trying to fix it yourself.

Best of luck

The OP said the dealer has been useful and this isn't a go at him, whatever has happened with this dealer in the past you cant criticise him here surely.

 

[haganap]

I do not understand many of the comments the dealer said no problem bring it over we will fix it it's not the dealers fault it does not want to be driven to him or am I missing something
Neil

Neil, to be fair I've said nothing negative about the dealer. He has honored his word. Bring it back and we will fix it. Not sure I would trust them to do so and the Oven is now in my Utility room with spare parts coming tomorrow.
This is more about the procedure of warranties. If I brought a car, I suppose you would take it back to the stealer who sold it to you if it was a small independent. However, a motorhome is a specialist vehicle and not like buying something like say a Mini. If I wanted a mini I could find a 1000 within 50 60 miles. However you would have to be very lucky to find your dream motorhome on your doorstep. So in essence you would think that another dealer near home would be greatful of the work. Unfortunately as @Sundowners said, there's no real way of ensuring it is fixed and not going to go wrong again.

Why not have the dealer fix it and make a trip away out of it.

I had considered this but I am extremely well paid and extremely busy. This is the scenario that I would be faced with. Trip to dealer who strips down and recognises the faulty part. Dealer then orders the parts in for hopefully next day delivery. Next day parts come and I am on my way. Total days wasted 2. Total in lost income excess of 1k total fuel £80. It's just not worth it. If it was something really major then sure, I would drive it over leave it there and expect a call in a week or two to pick it up. But it's not, it's a few parts on a crap oven that will probably breakdown again anyway if I read the reviews.

I'm more inclined to go with @funflair get rid of it, fit a bigger fridge freezer, some lithium batteries and rig the van up for using the microwave, fat free fryer, skillet or alike.

I knew the warranty would be cack anyway, they always are.

 

[lorger]

Paul could you not take it to a closer place and just pay for it then get your dealer to reimburse you. This way you don't need to mention warranty work to the local guy, we did this with our last van that we bought in Guildford. I spoke with my dealer he told me to get a price, we then agree on it and I paid the Dumfries dealer before sending receipt to my dealer.

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[haganap]

Paul could you not take it to a closer place and just pay for it then get your dealer to reimburse you. This way you don't need to mention warranty work to the local guy, we did this with our last van that we bought in Guildford. I spoke with my dealer he told me to get a price, we then agree on it and I paid the Dumfries dealer before sending receipt to my dealer.

Yes Gerry, I have tried that and the dealer is happy to do this. The problem is no dealer wants to know, earliest they can get in is May!!

 

[RogerThat]

I was in a similar position last month re leaking washroom sink.

Likewise, my dealer is three hour drive away (6hr round trip), and similarly would therefore include me having to take a full day off work, etc. I don't get that much annual leave as it is, and like you say, I'd rather be away enjoying it than using a day off to run errands

Thankfully, my dealer said get a local / mobile caravan repair guy to fix it and send them the bill. I asked "what if the bill is huge?" (as it involved removing the entire bathroom wall panel to get to the back of the sink) and the dealer said if it's going to be over £500 then call us first so they can speak to the repair guy.

But, fair play to all involved, I got a local mobile caravan repair guy out (one I've used before and trusted well), I paid him directly so he was happy and asked him to make the invoice out to my dealers name, instead of me. I simply emailed the invoice to the dealers, signed a form they sent me back and they paid me back within 48hrs.

Dealer was Nick Whale in Evesham (who I know don't have the best reputation) but again, hats off to them this time

 

[GWAYGWAY]

The new vehicle warranty is just as bad. The back to base is a waste of time. I have had as most will remember a bit of a problem with water ingress, first was the leaking roof owing to the missing sealant and screws second was the water pouring into the garage. I took it all the way back from Dover to Huddersfield for them to fix it. They had it for two hours whilst I waited and the rain deflector on the left side of the roof was taken off and the screws fitted with sealant to stop the water pouring over my dropdown bed when it rained. The garage door was not looked at as it would be a major job and might mean a new door, they didn't even look at it. When I phoned back about the door leak I was told that I would have to take it back and leave it there and they would let me know when it was done. That would involve another 380 miles up and bring the car with me drive home with the car and back up when they tell me it is done then back home, so 6 trips of 380 miles with the two vehicles. I told them what the trouble was in that the hole for the door was 3mm to big and the frame didn't touch the rubber and that I would do it myself, which I did sucessfully here in my workshop by removing said frame packing it out to fit and resealing the whole lot back in. I was informed that As I had done this myself, ALL WARRANTY was now VOID for everything, This and they still wanted me to send it to them for a dampcheck and plywood preservative spray underneath for £150 on top of the repair they did on the roof.
I have quite willingly told them it would not go to them for ANYTHING at all, I am quite able to repair most of anything on it, with the exception of any electronic which I doubt that their minions coud do anyway. It leaves a bad taste and I am quite in agreement with all the others on here that complain about the so called warranties. I did go to Premier MH in Chichester yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to be well received by them, If I need spares I will deal with them, but hope I need nothing. My warranty does expire in 4 months anyway, I do need a bas service in 12 days time according to the computor and that involves a MB dealer at £140 but the local one did try and inflate all the things it should have at 18 months to a bill of £450. So they might get told to go and multiply somewhere. Why do these firms think you are all mugs and too much money.

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[Robert Clark]

As the dealer has already had a go at replacing the thermocouple, it suggests there was a pre existing faul twitht he oven that the dealer has not rectified or tested properly.

Would it be reasonable therefore to expect the dealer to collect the van, repair it and return when completed?

 

[The Dotties]

As the dealer has already had a go at replacing the thermocouple, it suggests there was a pre existing faul twitht he oven that the dealer has not rectified or tested properly.

Would it be reasonable therefore to expect the dealer to collect the van, repair it and return when completed?

I for one, would be very wary of somebody else driving my van to a dealers and back. We’ve all seen them being driven to dealers and from and to shows.

 

[Southdowners]

I do not understand many of the comments the dealer said no problem bring it over we will fix it it's not the dealers fault it does not want to be driven to him or am I missing something
Neil

I commented... don't know if you mean me. I think the OP's dealer is being very fair.

My comments were just to alert the OP to the issues we had with our N&B ovens so that they don't overlook the possibility that the issue may lie with the fans, not the oven itself.

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[Southdowners]

We’ve all seen them being driven to dealers and from and to shows.

How would you know if they're being driven to dealers/shows?

 

[CazPaul]

How would you know if they're being driven to dealers/shows?

You can usually tell, when its the Peterborough show for example, on the way home just outside Peterborough loads of vans with trade plates passing at 80mph.

 

[Ivory55]

You can usually tell, when its the Peterborough show for example, on the way home just outside Peterborough loads of vans with trade plates passing at 80mph.

But they are only doing it for the benefit of the customers, they are clearing out the egr valve. Haha

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[haganap]

Well a busy few evenings it was then.
Having done loads of research and spoken with Dometic the problem was either a Thermocouple or The control valve. Total cost of parts was £80.

I therefore took the oven out disconnected it all. Held in by about 9 screws, some pipe work and of course some electrics. All disconnected I placed in my workshop (utility room) and began dismantling everything.
Cleaned everything up, replaced, ignitor for grill, Control Valve, thermocouple and put it all back together, stuck back in the van and I can now have toast and roast meat....


just got to carry out a gas leak test and hopefully all is well.

Total cost £80 and about 4 hours of graft..

 

[Southdowners]

Well done! Very impressive

 

[Basildog]

You can usually tell, when its the Peterborough show for example, on the way home just outside Peterborough loads of vans with trade plates passing at 80mph.

I wouldn't want to buy one that slow , I would want to see at least 95

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