Nev's home - an update on feedback from our dealer!

Phew - have finally sat down after what feels like a week of stress if not longer - but in reality only started on Tuesday afternoon.

Thankyou to all of you for Your support and suggestions on FB - it was very comforting to not feel alone.

Now - as we all know gary and I are not mechanically minded.

We drove to the lakes last Thursday and when we got there the back was smothered in gunky stuff!  Tree sap thinks I and cleaned it all off.

On the way home we stopped off at Sandbach services - the back of Nev was covered again - we looked in the engine bay and a leak was detected.we dipped the stick and the oil was below minimum.

We rang Danbury and they advised us off the correct oil to buy - top it up and all should be good - although it would be best if they took a look.

We spoke to Paul at Brand Autos - call the RAC.

So we bought oil and topped up - but it was still leaking (not the red oil cos they didn't have any but another call o Danbury said the 15w would be ok in the meantime.

So - Icalled the RAC - i said I thought there maybe oil leaking from the sump - thankyou FB - however there was trouble in the translation-  the dump? The frump? The front  - FGS!!!! Even I had heard of the sump!

He then hung up on me!!!!!!!!!!!

I rang back - a lady - she knew what a sump was and ordered the call out.

Then followed a call from the RAC man - which went something like - well I won't be able to fix it - shall I just save us all time and call the tow truck - errrrrrrr no - come and have a look please.

Whilst waiting for the RAC man I called them back to check what cover we had - well - you have recovery - great - you can be recovered for free for 10 miles then it's £85 and £2 a mile!!!!!!!!!

I think not. -check again - I'll need to talk to my supervisor - get on with it then - oh yes you are covered there will be no charge FGS again!!!!!!!

Then the RAC man arrived - he glanced underneath and said - well I can't fix that - shall I call the tow truck?

Jeez - then followed lots of scary stuff about how they wont take car of the van - it'll rip the step off - oh no it's lowered that'll cost more etc.

And he left - just as well tbh because I was about to do harm

Blood pressure rising again just typing this - so I shall call this chapter 1 - let me know if you want chapter 2

Can we just add in at this point how fundamentally useful it was that you had had a towhook installed up the front of your BraziBay? Without this, the standard way to pull a Kombi onto a recovery truck is via the front beam. You simply do not want this as it can cause untold damage.

Carry on Als.

Tim - you are so not wrong - this is a must for everyone - in a really stressful situation this did actually give some comfort - especially at winchtime

I have to say , whilst the RAC were useless on the phone to me too they thought I was in Belfast and not in Dover (really with my accent!) once the man in the van arrived he was absolutely splendid. As was the man with the tow truck. We didn't have the tow hook at that point but we do now

Yes Part 2 please....

It's stressful for sure , make sure you've got hi-vis vest , torches , glow sticks just in case you are stranded at night as well , we found it distressing being stranded on a busy roundabout

So - tow truck no.1arrives - i am in the driving seat and am for once following instruction without argument - it was a scary moment being winched up and I really felt as if Nev might take sideways tip - anyways all was well and Nev was on the back of the tow truck - he looked both embarrassed and proud at the same time - T and T Neville - T and T

Negotiations then began - can we drop Gary off on way to Brand Autos - can Millie come in the cab - apparently dogs have to travel in the van on the back - not a chance

Anyways our man was amenable and all was agreed to - off we set - Gary up front and me in the back - the cab was bigger than the inside of Nev in its entirety

Our driver was one of the talkative ones - Gary knew all about his daughters labour difficulties in seconds, his sons propensity for beating people up - and the fact that his granddaughter was names nevaeh - who's going to be the first to work that out!

The plan was that Gary would be ejected near Warwick and I would be taken on to Bicester - where Nev and I would swap vans after a 2 hour wait in the service station and then taken on to BrandAutos where I would spend the night in the van - ETA 2 am - lovely

Anyway our lovely tow man wasn't happy with that - so the company - EGERTON's spoke to the RAC and they agreed that we could spend the night at home and then go onwards in the morning

End of chapter 2

More?

Yep!!

I've poured a nice GnT - it's Friday after all.

I was lining up a beer, think I might need a crate to accompany this woeful tale!

Don't be rude boys. -if a tales worth dragging out

Hang on got to stop at Tesco's for a bottle of something red...

So morning arrives and brings with it Andy in tow truck no.2

He says - so what was the problem - oil leak says I - lets have a look says he - okeydokey

10 minutes later and 5 screwy things tightened and he says all fixed. - I says what? - he says all fixed

I go for a drive. - no leakage or seepage - I'm still wary. - so call Paul

Paul and Andy have a conflagration - 2 more screws. Tightened - and they. Agree all fixed

I'm still going to. Brandautos to get it checked -

So decide on a road trip with mother and dog - maybe that's why my blood pressure has gone up

So andy and tow truck follow me to mothers and we check again still alll good

So off we set down the M40 etc and arrive in one piece relieved at Paul's

And that's where you think the story should end BUT No it is only just beginning

End of Chapter 3

More?

Ok, I've filled my glass....

Will there be a Q&A at the end?

I should think so if anyone is still awake

So Nev is left with Paul and Mille, Mum and I head for Countryworld - I'm sure you've all been - great food

Then the phone calls start - you're tyres are dangerous and I can't let you drive away  - they are mis-shapen and the cord is showing

Ok. Then I'd best have two new ones

Ok they'll be here by 3.30 - now country world was good but not that good!

10minutes later - cos I'd asked him to check the handbrake as it wasn't holding the van

The break shoes are knackered - scratched, battered and broken

Ok then (with much trepidation at cost) best have them fixed then

Now - please bear in mind that this is a van that has been serviced at it's place of purchase every six months and in December was cleared of everything and it was noted that the tyres were in good condition

We have done less than 2000 kn since the service??!!

End of chapter 4

So a reasonable bill later - my front end being greased and we were released into the wild - well the M25 to head to Watling engineers for a tow bar fitting at 7.30am on Thursday.

I have been in conversation with the dealer we purchased Neville from and am awaiting further information next week.

I'm interested to know what people think of the above - should these things have been picked up in December at the major service? What If anything would be reasonable to expect from the dealership?

Lessons to be learnt?

The main thing for me is that unknowingly and unwittingly we have have been driving around in an unsafe vehicle - we could have had a disastrous outcome

??????????? The debate is opened to those who know more than me - your thoughts are invited

First of all, really glad it's all sorted and I can assure you once Dr Brand has worked his magic Nev will be tip top.
I've never used the RAC, however, in the eight years I've had Mish we've had five call outs and two trips on low loaders with the AA, never had any if the grief you seem to have had they have always been superb.
In answer to your question if I were you given the small distance travelled since your last service I would question wether that service was carried out 'correctly'.

Hi. Yes that was the tenure of the conversation I had with the new man at the dealership. Difficult to prove tho

Yes, glad Nev is all sorted.

If we 'park' the tyres and brakes for the moment which in theory at least could both have occurred after the most recent service - I have no idea how long (in km) a tyre takes to degrade in this way, or similarly the brakes so I might be wrong.

Was this the first long trip in Nev since the service?
How many kms covered since the service but before the trip to the lakes?
Any evidence of an oil leak before the trip to the lakes?
Why would sumo bolts suddenly work loose?
Is the sump gasket replaced as part of a major service?

Since the service. Bude and back. Bristol and back. Bath and back. Malvern and back.

No notice of an oil leak but not sure I would. No oily patches on road detected.

No idea to answers of last questions.

Glad you're home safely and Nev is fixed.
The way your tyre has worn on that inner edge looks like it has rubbed against something. Did Paul give you any idea why it had worn like this?

'Interesting Tale' - we are so glad everything has been resolved and all are now safe!
Definitely lessons to be learned and questions to be asked.

Some talk about under inflation. But we used psi recc by the dealer

Stressful times for sure,  so pleased Nev is home in one piece and we look forward to seeing you this time next week.

Good luck with the ongoing discussions...

Watch this space