Unsafe + Costly Van Fixes ££££'s - Has the Garage Messed Up?
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- Опубліковано 29 тра 2024
- After some expensive garage work on our van conversion we expected better. We didn't expect a failure that was very unsafe. Especially before we headed off for an adventure - this could've been nasty.
We don’t usually share this sort of stuff, and have remained positive about it. That said any advice on how you should tackle this sort of garage error would be appreciated.
As mentioned we are at van life festival this weekend. So please do come and say hi, we would love that.
Take care, and safe travels to you all.
#vanlife #wanderbus #motorhomeadventures - Авто та транспорт
Bleh - glad you guys are safe! Thanks for sharing this side of things. I just left LA in my 609D camper and stopped at a shop about 100 miles north, along the coast. Stopped at a diesel mechanic to have the oil, oil filter, and fuel filter changed and when he went to restart it he burned out the starter by running it hard without taking breaks, as there was some air in the fuel line (which diesels don't like). He's been great and I slept in the van at the garage last night but still haven't heard word back from the guy rebuilding the starter.
Lessons learned: Things going wrong are a great opportunity to learn about the mechanics of these old vehicles. Also, advocating for yourself and your rig is important because people try to push you around and can sometimes choose to not take responsibility, thinking that you're ignorant and won't know the difference.
Safe travels and enjoy those expensive brakes!
Ah sorry to hear you’re in a pickle mate, but sound you can stay in the van. You’re right about taking learnings from these things, especially from a mechanical sense - we have since really looked into the inner workings of our brakes (with thanks to many lovely folk) so at least have it fixed in our heads what’s going on. Hope you get sorted soon
@@WanderbusAdventures Yeah! Learned a ton - like is a manual bleed line on the fuel line. If you ever run it dry or change the filter, you can hand pump it until it starts :)
I've got a brand new starter and I'm on my way up the coast. Currently camping out in Morro Bay, CA. Beautiful here!
Safe travels to ya'll!
I'm absolutely fuming they put you all at risk. Don't pay !
Glad you made it to festival, have a good time ..enjoy yourselves xxx
Thank you, it’s great so far. Just need the wind to drop down. Weather that is 💨
Sorry to hear your news. Mistakes do happen, but you shouldn’t have to pay to get them fixed. If you do get an additional invoice, go to your local Trading Standards and they will advise you what to do next. Enjoy the rest of your week
That’s good advice and what we’ve read and heard from others, I think we can if we get charged again. Thanks for the tip on this, appreciate it. And thanks as always for watching. 🚐🚐🚐
I would suggest you contact The Black Belt Barrister via his UA-cam channel, he specialises on consumer law. I bet he can give you good legal advice.
Ah this is a great tip. Not heard of this channel or person before. Thanks so much for thinking of us.
Hey Rich and Kelly, so glad you managed to get away, would it be possible to get some of your stickers for my new caravan please,
All the best Neil
Yes of course! If you’d like one of our shiny limited edition ones you can get them via our buy me a coffee. This mainly covers the postage. buymeacoffee.com/Wanderbus
We often have the regular ones in the bus, so hopefully we will cross paths if the above doesn’t work for you. The shiny ones are cool though.
Yes of course! If you’d like one of our shiny limited edition ones you can get them via our buy me a coffee. This mainly covers the postage. buymeacoffee.com/Wanderbus
We often have the regular ones in the bus, so hopefully we will cross paths if the above doesn’t work for you. The shiny ones are cool though.
Thankfully it all worked out ok, the garage are culpable as the workmanship was putting it politely not up to scratch. Having worked in many garages it's common to replace corroded brake pipes with copper as it will never rot, the pipes are flared and new brake pipe nuts fitted and tested to ensure no leaks.
That makes sense. A few mechanics have said similar, especially about the pipe makeup and ensuring a proper flair. Seems like a bread and butter thing to get right, which is why the RAC mechanic was probably shocked to find it too. Thankfully all spotted and sorted, we will be keeping an eye on it though!
Trading standards and also speak with vosa the work they did was dangerous glad I'm able to do all my own work I don't trust anyone else to do it all the best guys donny
It’s certainly good to have the skills Donny and after this we are willing to learn. Up until now we wouldn’t have touched the brakes, as you know - you need to make sure they’re right. But with a bit of guidance we will definitely learn how to do it. Thanks for the tips too. Appreciate it. Safe travels 🚐🚐🚐
Glad you're okay! It hurts when this sort of thing happens - we've all been there, unfortunately. I've had gremlins in the brakes on both of my rear axles for 6 months now, been to multiple garages in France and Switzerland, paid top dollar, and then was recently referred to a guy working out of his uncle's garage on weekends - you know the type - the mechanical whisperer...fixed it right up. Sometimes...there is no rhyme, nor reason.
Ah sorry you’ve had issues too, but mega you’ve found a guru now. That’s good going. Not in the south west by chance?
Also thanks for sharing, it’s comforting to know there’s a community of like minded folk talking these things. Safe travels to you and yours 🚐🚐🚐
@@WanderbusAdventures yeah I'm near Toulouse actually, in Villefranche-de-Lauragais, at a nice Aire
Ah lovely. We are hoping to come back in summer.
So sorry to hear your news about the bus….😢 I would be angry too I would have never paid that sort of money out. But I have learned through my mistakes to get quote first.. so the repair of the vehicle is in writing. So if anything goes wrong you’re covered. On positive note I really hope you had a great half term and you had some down time. Wishing you all the best take care be safe. ❤
It was lucky you noticed it, could of been a different story altogether.
Some of these Mechanics are on crazy money when pricing up work :-(
We were really glad we checked. Must admit was checking the washer fluid and oil etc when noticing one of the reservoirs was empty. Glad we checked! Take care 🚐🚐🚐
Honestly you'd be better doing it yourself, I've had several bad experiences with garages recently.
More and more we think this is the way. Which is really sad, as you go to professionals to do a proper and safe job. But we are keen to learn and will take on most jobs. Thanks so much for watching. Have a great weekend when it comes 🚐🚐🚐
Gutted for you both but pleased it's sorted now.
Sad thing is, if you "Pay under protest" and then jump through hoops to recover the money legally... you're doing all the work.
Could you consider NOT paying and letting the garage decide if THEY want to jump through the hoops to recover the money from you?
Just angers me that you're the ones that have been wronged and yet you're still expected to pay and do the leg work...
At any rate, I'm pleased you're mobile and I'll cross my fingers you get it resolved to YOUR satisfaction.
Thanks for your support Pete. Yeah that’s definitely an option if a bill emerges. It made us so cross too, you pay people for their skills and knowledge - put trust in them and they let you down. Thankfully our first really bad let down, but still. Here’s hoping for no more. Thanks again for your support. Appreciate it.
No way they can charge you - it is definetly an improper job - which put you at risk of an accident. They even should come up with a solid refund on the first invoice for your incovenience and lost time. Otherwise don't be shy to mention your YT canal and maybe disclose a name ;-) --- In Germany there is a (automotive) guilds ombudsman who looks into such cases ...
We thought it was shocking when we found it, then the charge suggestion was another curveball. That’s the nuclear option for sure, and we want to do things the proper way wherever we can as feel this would benefit others more too. On the plus side all seems to be well now (touch wood). Thanks so much for your tips and support 🚐🚐🚐
@@WanderbusAdventures Maybe the RAC has an opinion on this ... AADODL (always a drop of Diesel left ...)
Glad you got it sorted eventually and there were no incidents beforehand! If they don’t charge then ok, maybe put it down to experience but if they do then see if that garage is part of any group or “approved” by the AA or RAC or similar and see what their complaints procedure is if any?
Thanks Ian. Yeah we are on alert for this additional bill, so far so good. We are also glad there were no incidents, just goes to show pre flight checks are worth it! Thanks for the advice mate. Hope you’re well and the moho adventures are in the works.
@@WanderbusAdventures All good here thanks, off to Fforest Fields next 😍😎👍🏻
@ian_morg that’s on our list
@@WanderbusAdventures I think you’ve said that every year so far 😂😂😎👍🏻
@ian_morg oh we have a long list. It looks mega there though.
Personally I’d take them to the small claims courts. That could of gone south pretty quickly if you’d run someone over and for them to ask for more money that’s just bare faced cheek. They put you and your family at risk. You are paying them for their so called expertise which they clearly do not possess. Good luck Richard
It’s worrying isn’t it?! Thanks mate, we are thankful it’s sorted and we got away. Oh and that we spotted it in the first place. Take care and thanks again 🚐🚐🚐
Take them to the small claims.
Fingers crossed it’s all remedied now, I think if they do send us a bill we will take a different route like this.
Do you have consumer affairs in the UR?
I don’t think so. We have trading standards and other bodies but it’s confusing knowing who to go to. How does it work in your country?
Use a different garage for next time
100% on this. We have a couple near us that are recommended. So will give them a try.
Most garages are scammers, find a good independent mechanic.
We have reached out to some new garages that seem promising.
So by charging you they absolve themselves, how arrogant. You dont look stupid so lets assume they are, how do they remain in business?
Sadly I think this is exactly the tactic they were trying to play. And it’s ‘clever’ to some extent. From what we have found out so far IF we get a bill we can pay under protest or risk it and not pay, either way you can then go to trading standards I believe. But we are looking into it. Either way it’s hard to believe the excuse given; but we are now mended and away - so we are thankful for that.
@@WanderbusAdventures What if they kill another family with their negligence? why would you not not name them to save others going to them for brake repairs? Have you done a google review of the garage?