Motorhome Problem France

[BillyBeckers]

We crossed into France yesterday 22nd April. Spent a night at a site just outside Abbeville and travelled to Fecamp today. After parking up on the site I noticed a strong smell of diesel. Further investigation revealed there was definitely a leak (fine spray of diesel as soon as the ignition is turned on) somewhere around the fuel pump area but was unable to identify the specific location. Suspect it may be split line.

I got a contact number for a local fiat specialist from the site reception and gave them a call. They advised the Van would have to be transported to their place by a recovery company via my breakdown company before they would look at it.

I called my breakdown insurance company to inform them of the issue and offered the number of the local specialist. About an hour later I got a call from my breakdown company saying the local specialist advised that the Van was too big for their workshop but gave them the number of another dealer who could handle the Van, but that I would have to make the initial contact. I asked why they could not have contacted the dealer as they had been given the number, but they stated it was my responsibility to do this, not theirs. I’ll call the garage tomorrow, but am surprised the breakdown company couldn’t do it directly.

I was also surprised by a couple of limitations that the breakdown company advised would apply to any subsequent claim I may make, but will go through my policy in detail tomorrow before posting anything that may be incorrect. It looks like an interesting few days ahead for the missus and the two dogs.

 

[Sedge5]

Hope you can get a quick resolution.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Can i ask who the breakdown company is

 

[BillyBeckers]

Can i ask who the breakdown company is

Comfort

 

[eurajohn]

You don't mention the year or engine type but if a Fiat Ducato with a 2.3 engine of between 2006 and 2012 it will most likely be the fuel filter, they are plastic and notorious for exactly your problem, easy to resolve and or replace can be easily changed.

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[PeterCarole29]

Comfort

Thanks I will watch with interest to the outcome
There is a lady member here who is exceptional helpful if you need translation someone I’m sure can put her name up if you need translation but good luck today
And do check your fuel filter as suggested and also feel around the engine bay as like water it can find a path downwards

 

[grasscutter]

Interesting that the breakdown company want you to contact the garage. I read a post the other day where the breakdown company wouldn’t deal with a problem as someone took it to a garage first.

 

[Montezuma]

I have the identical base vehicle; first registered in 2013 but built in mid-2012.

On two occasions, in its miserably expensive life, following servicing, it has suffered with this well-known fuel filter problem.

On each occasion, after driving home, I noticed a strong smell of diesel, and saw fuel dripping over the off-side front wheel..

The leak appeared as a hefty drip rather than a fine spray, but who knows, this could be the problem in this case.

I believe it is caused by over-enthusiastic tightening when replacing the cheap and nasty plastic filter.

On later models the problem was resolved, . . . . . . . apparently.

On one occasion the service was carried out by a Fiat main dealership, (while the vehicle was still under warranty), and the other occasion the dealer involved was a relatively local outfit with a decent reputation.

On each occasion the problem was resolved with a degree of alacrity.

 

[chaser]

We crossed into France yesterday 22nd April. Spent a night at a site just outside Abbeville and travelled to Fecamp today. After parking up on the site I noticed a strong smell of diesel. Further investigation revealed there was definitely a leak (fine spray of diesel as soon as the ignition is turned on) somewhere around the fuel pump area but was unable to identify the specific location. Suspect it may be split line.

I got a contact number for a local fiat specialist from the site reception and gave them a call. They advised the Van would have to be transported to their place by a recovery company via my breakdown company before they would look at it.

I called my breakdown insurance company to inform them of the issue and offered the number of the local specialist. About an hour later I got a call from my breakdown company saying the local specialist advised that the Van was too big for their workshop but gave them the number of another dealer who could handle the Van, but that I would have to make the initial contact. I asked why they could not have contacted the dealer as they had been given the number, but they stated it was my responsibility to do this, not theirs. I’ll call the garage tomorrow, but am surprised the breakdown company couldn’t do it directly.

I was also surprised by a couple of limitations that the breakdown company advised would apply to any subsequent claim I may make, but will go through my policy in detail tomorrow before posting anything that may be incorrect. It looks like an interesting few days ahead for the missus and the two dogs.

Surely their contract is to recover you to a garage, when we broke down last year we were took to garage who said they couldn't do it but we're then taken to another one who could do it, we didn't have a say in it as we didn't know one from another.
This was with LV breakdown but surely they should all work the same.

 

[BillyBeckers]

Thanks for the replies. It's great to know people are there to offer support.

The Van is 2015 with a 2.2 150 multijet engine. After further investigation this morning it appears that the leak could be coming from the joint at the bottom of fuel filter where the sensor attaches.

I've contacted two local garages in Fecamp. Both said they couldn't help as they were fully booked for two weeks. I also contacted a Fiat dealership about 25 minutes away in Ypreville Biville who declined for the same reason. I also asked the local garages if they could provide a number for a local mobile mechanic, both suggested they weren't aware of such a service.

Just before i posted the above update, the brother in law had a trawl through some you tube videos and found one that showed the exact issue I was having and identified the fix. The sensor on the bottom of the Filter was loose. After rotating about 3/4 of a turn the leak was fixed. The Filter was a new unit fitted during the last service last August, suggesting it probably was not sufficiently tightened after installation.

I feel confident enough to have cancelled the call out and will monitor the problem area after each leg of our ongoing travels, hoping there is no re-occurrence.

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[chaser]

Thanks for the replies. It's great to know people are there to offer support.

The Van is 2015 with a 2.2 150 multijet engine. After further investigation this morning it appears that the leak could be coming from the joint at the bottom of fuel filter where the sensor attaches.

I've contacted two local garages in Fecamp. Both said they couldn't help as they were fully booked for two weeks. I also contacted a Fiat dealership about 25 minutes away in Ypreville Biville who declined for the same reason. I also asked the local garages if they could provide a number for a local mobile mechanic, both suggested they weren't aware of such a service.

Just before i posted the above update, the brother in law had a trawl through some you tube videos and found one that showed the exact issue I was having and identified the fix. The sensor on the bottom of the Filter was loose. After rotating about 3/4 of a turn the leak was fixed. The Filter was a new unit fitted during the last service last August, suggesting it probably was not sufficiently tightened after installation.

I feel confident enough to have cancelled the call out and will monitor the problem area after each leg of our ongoing travels, hoping there is no re-occurrence.

Glad you have fixed it and sorry for going on about but surely what your breakdown should have done.
I would get on to them for your money back.

 

[BillyBeckers]

Glad you have fixed it and sorry for going on about but surely what your breakdown should have done.
I would get on to them for your money back.

I did have a follow up call from someone from the European customer support operation just after we resolved the problem ourselves advising it was likely to be 3 weeks before they would be able source a garage that would be able to assist due to local workloads.

It has certainly made us give more consideration to what we need to pack in case of unforeseen emergencies.
I will also be asking more specific questions around the support supplied in an emergency situation when the renewal comes up.

We moved on from Fecamp to Merville, with a couple of stops to check that the repair was holding. All ok up to now. Hopefully it will last for the remainder of the trip.

 

[Apacheman]

We were driving towards Évreux the other day when the red oil light started flashing. Had oil changed before heading to Europe less than 400 miles ago and all levels were fine. An internet check showed it was a service notice that hadn’t been reset. Found a Fiat dealer in Evreux, rocked up and they were on it within 5 mins. Reset service schedule, all good, no charge ?? You’d have to wait 4 weeks to get it booked in at our nearest Fiat Commercial garage,

 

[HeyJudyJudyJudy]

Glad you got it sorted Ste.

 

[Backlanes]

Great stuff you’re back in business BB, all the more so that you did it yourself, adds a bit more confidence.

You bring up a good point: it would be a useful resource on here to have a recommended spare parts to carry list by vehicle make/model.

I did a quick search but came up with corkscrew and cash, neither of which would have solved your problem though the former might have made it more bearable…

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[corconx]

As an aside in March 2004 - yes ove4 20 years ago - we were with Comfort in our Hymer when they had huge rain storms at the time, we had stopped for a long weekend with our friends who live in Spain, and to be honest I don’t think I have ever been in a motorhome and heard such terrible noise on the roof, by the next morning when we looked out, their drive which was a pill with S bend at the top had just huge gunnels going down through it. We were staying for further couple of days, but when we had a problem leaving The we was caught in one of the huge dips tilted the van to win the side, hitting the tops of his wall that went down the drive and in order to get out of the dip we were at an angle which took us to the dip on the other side! It didn’t sound too bad but we got ourselves round the corner and stopped at the bottom of the hill. I looked back to see bits laying in the ground. So I got up walked back at the hill and it was the wheel arch on the rear end, the coping stone had taken the Dent out of the side of the motorhome, and when I turned round to walk back down, I then saw the whole of the rear bumper hanging by its wires. Fortunately, our friend who was an electronic engineer was able to sort out all the wiring and good old duct tape stuck us back together. We were then due to come home. Having looked on the Hymer book to find out where the nearest dealer was, at that time it was near Pau in FRANCE, or near Bayonne. So we headed home and it was still raining heavily, we stopped on the level with Madrid on the way up and then took ourselves to the dealer in Bayonne. They had a good look at it, said they would have to get the parts from Germany and it would be better if we were to go to Pau who could fit us in and the cost was about £2000.

Here is where we then found comfort explained what it happened, it comes under the act of God or something, and this was how much it would cost to be fixed and we had to wait five days for the parts to get there would they cover it? They said they would call us back. We had no indication that they wouldn’t as we had planned to be travelling north we weren’t intending to get a lot of food except day by day, as we were going to be stopping in our garage for five days we decided we better go and do a shop. We got back to the garage and they had not heard from comfort so we found them again, and they refused. I said why, they said they could not guarantee the work if it was not done in the UK. I pointed out that this was the main dealer in Pau surely that was sufficient. They wouldn’t do it so we had to drive home like that and stop twice more to put clean duct tape on as it had so much rain the whole time kept coming loose.

Then took five months before it got sorted back in the UK we were not happy. The job they did at a coach place was fine. I saw no reason why it could not have been carried out by a Hymer dealer in FRANCE.

I wouldn’t ensure with them again. That is not my idea of breakdown and I agree with what chaser said above.

I know it’s a long time ago these things stick in your mind but it is how someone treats you when you have an accident that is more important than who it is.

Sorry it was so long

 

[chaser]

I did have a follow up call from someone from the European customer support operation just after we resolved the problem ourselves advising it was likely to be 3 weeks before they would be able source a garage that would be able to assist due to local workloads.

It has certainly made us give more consideration to what we need to pack in case of unforeseen emergencies.
I will also be asking more specific questions around the support supplied in an emergency situation when the renewal comes up.

We moved on from Fecamp to Merville, with a couple of stops to check that the repair was holding. All ok up to now. Hopefully it will last for the remainder of the trip.

I'm sorry to keep on about this, but didn't your breakdown even come out to have a look, surely they all advertise fixing your vehicle by the side of the road before sending for a garage if they can't fix it, if they did come out why didn't they fix it, if they didn't come out why not. What does it say in your policy?
By what you have said it seems to be a complete waste of money.

 

[clanjones]

BillyBeckers you were quite fortunate, the water sensor normally fails because it has been over tightened and cracks!

Don't ask me how I know but it happened in Germany on a public holiday!

Glad you have resolved it.

 

[BillyBeckers]

I'm sorry to keep on about this, but didn't your breakdown even come out to have a look, surely they all advertise fixing your vehicle by the side of the road before sending for a garage if they can't fix it, if they did come out why didn't they fix it, if they didn't come out why not. What does it say in your policy?
By what you have said it seems to be a complete waste of money.

The first question they asked after clarifying all the personal details was “Are you in a hazardous or safe location”. When I confirmed I was safe on a Site, they advised the next step was to arrange for my Van to be transported to the nearest suitable repair facility. Unfortunately, the earliest any of the garages could fit us in was 3 weeks. I asked Comfort if they could arrange for a local mechanic to come and take a look, but they advised this was not an option. I called the 3 closest Fiat dealers, who all advised it would be a minimum of 2 weeks before they could fit us in. I also walked to 2 local garages who gave the same response.

Thankfully, nipping up the sensor seems to have resolved the issue for now as we‘ve done about 700 kms since, although I’m checking it after each journey.

 

[yodeli]

I did have a follow up call from someone from the European customer support operation just after we resolved the problem ourselves advising it was likely to be 3 weeks before they would be able source a garage that would be able to assist due to local workloads.

It has certainly made us give more consideration to what we need to pack in case of unforeseen emergencies.
I will also be asking more specific questions around the support supplied in an emergency situation when the renewal comes up.

We moved on from Fecamp to Merville, with a couple of stops to check that the repair was holding. All ok up to now. Hopefully it will last for the remainder of the trip.

Happy to see you got sorted but, Just in case something happens again while in France, here is my mobile number 0682050584 . BUT as I am in Spain at the moment I think the code is +34 ( gus-lopez , am I right??)and drop the first 0 of my number. I will be driving back home (France) on saturday the 3rd, so try as well the France code +33 . Always start with a text message when contacting me, except on Saturday the 3rd from about 10am to 5pm : I'll have my ear plug and will be able to answer straight away!
Hope you'll have no more issues!

For other Funsters, you can take my number just the same if it makes you feel better, no problem!

Amicalement
Frankie

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[tkk]

I'm sorry to keep on about this, but didn't your breakdown even come out to have a look, surely they all advertise fixing your vehicle by the side of the road before sending for a garage if they can't fix it, if they did come out why didn't they fix it, if they didn't come out why not. What does it say in your policy?
By what you have said it seems to be a complete waste of money.

From my recent experience all their EU service does is tow you to a garage. It seems to be a basic get you off the highway service + the meagre passenger expenses. Repatriation of vehicle seems the best bit but I don’t know how it works in practice. Im developing doubts about the whole deal

 

[BillyBeckers]

Happy to see you got sorted but, Just in case something happens again while in France, here is my mobile number 0682050584 . BUT as I am in Spain at the moment I think the code is +34 ( gus-lopez , am I right??)and drop the first 0 of my number. I will be driving back home (France) on saturday the 3rd, so try as well the France code +33 . Always start with a text message when contacting me, except on Saturday the 3rd from about 10am to 5pm : I'll have my ear plug and will be able to answer straight away!
Hope you'll have no more issues!

For other Funsters, you can take my number just the same if it makes you feel better, no problem!

Amicalement
Frankie

Thanks for your very generous offer Frankie. It’s greatly appreciated, but we’re hoping the issue has been resolved.

 

[BillyBeckers]

From my recent experience all their EU service does is tow you to a garage. It seems to be a basic get you off the highway service + the meagre passenger expenses. Repatriation of vehicle seems the best bit but I don’t know how it works in practice. Im developing doubts about the whole deal

Attached is relevant European cover from the Comfort policy. A bit of an eye opener to be honest.

 

[yodeli]

Thanks for your very generous offer Frankie. It’s greatly appreciated, but we’re hoping the issue has been resolved.

Good for you, indeed! Funnily, my go to now have a problem with my Kangoo in Spain . Engine oil leaking , and it seems to be "Valve cover gasket" I'm supposed to go to France on Saturday, and have been told to stop regularly stop, let the engine cool down a bit and check the oil. Let's hope I'll make it to Balma at least so I can stay in Max and have it checked by my usual mechanic!!

 

[gus-lopez]

I think the code is +34 ( @gus-lopez , am I right??)

Yes that is correct for spain but if that is your French mobile number they would still ring the French code+33 .

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