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A Tale of Woe

Anthony1

Anthony1

Too young to be old
VIP Member
Messages
1,161
Vehicle
T5 SE 180 4Motion
Just returned from a 4000 mile trip to southern Portugal, via the Tunnel, France, Spain etc.

All going well and heading back home via various places in France. Pulled into a service station on the A10, en route t to La Rochelle. Filled up and then it all went pear-shaped. The van wouldn’t start. Had to get help from the shop for a push into a parking bay. Battery was completely flat.

Called Green Flag. They told me that private recovery vehicles are not allowed to enter Autoroutes and I had to go via the police. Green Flag initially told me to find the nearest emergency phone box. I said I wasn’t going to start walking up and down the autoroute looking for one. They eventually gave me a number for the police. I called, they sent out a vehicle and after a bit of checking, the chap said my alternator was finished.

Bizarrely, he offered to sell me a new battery for 165 euros but said he didn’t know how long it would last. I said no thanks, please just get me off the autoroute so Green Flag can take over.

He loaded me up using a heavy duty jumper to keep the engine running. After a lot of faffing about he took us to his depot (a Ford dealership), unloaded the van onto the forecourt and locked the gate and left. Green Flag had offered us an hotel but we decided to stay with the van.

No power to put the roof up. We had already run out of gas, so used a small camping stove to cook a horrible French tinned meal. Next morning Green Flag sent a truck. Even with his jumper pack the van would not work in reverse (DSG gearbox). He eventually got us loaded and took us many miles to their garage (another Ford garage), where it was confirmed, a new alternator was required. All conversations undertaken via schoolboy French and Google Translate.

Eventually Green Flag called and said the nearest hotel was 40k away and subsequently sent a taxi – a brand new gull wing Tesla. It was a Thursday and the garage said they would order a ‘new’ exchange alternator and fix it by the next afternoon.

The hotel was ok, no restaurant though. The first impressions of the town were dismal. It was Angouleme. I pre-empted the garage calling the next day, and asked Green Flag to send a taxi (same Tesla and off to the garage we went. En-route, Green Flag called to say the alternator the garage had been sent was broken and they had to order another one, and the van would be ready on Monday. We about turned and went back to the hotel for three more nights. Depressed or what?

A couple of days wandering around the city. Very nice it is too. But we were trapped in a town we had never heard of just killing time.

Monday came and we packed and waited. Late afternoon, I chased Green Flag who chased the garage who texted me and said the car was fixed. A Tesla ride to the garage and a bill of 1,318.53 euros later and we were on our way. I am going to try and claim back the VAT of 243.59 back but it could be complicated.

I cannot fault Green Flag, they arranged and paid for all recovery, taxis, hotel , but not parts and labour.

A few essential things, take out breakdown insurance, download Google Translate, keep your mobile phone fully charged and carry a bag of sorts to move stuff into an hotel, if the worst happens.

Here endeth my tale.

20221019_195250.jpg
 
I know your pain…
I had a breakdown in France myself this summer. My biggest regret was not staying with the van on the first night.
It was painful few days dealing with the RAC. They were spectacularly useless…!!!

From a breakdown on a Monday night. The van wasn’t assessed by a garage until the Friday morning by which time I had returned home.

Lessons I learnt:

1 - Stay with the van until a diagnosis and repair schedule is in place.
2 - RAC do not give you car hire and hotel. Opt for Car Hire, there’s always a cheap hotel somewhere…
3 - Have some small spare bags. When we left our van to return home we had no way of carrying the bulk of our clothes as they were packed directly into the van.
Btw, Decathlon do some cheap bags which we will now keep in the van as they fold fairly compact. Perfect for emergencies

 
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I know your pain…
I had a breakdown in France myself this summer. My biggest regret was not staying with the van on the first night.
It was painfully few days dealing with the RAC. They were spectacularly useless…!!!

From a breakdown on a Monday night. The van wasn’t assessed by a garage until the Friday morning by which time I had returned home.

Lessons I learnt:

1 - Stay with the van until a diagnosis and repair schedule is in place.
2 - RAC do not give you car hire and hotel. Opt for Car Hire, there’s always a cheap hotel somewhere…
3 - Have some small spare bags. When we left our van to return home we had no way of carrying the bulk of our clothes as they were packed directly into the van.
Btw, Decathlon do some cheap bags which we will now keep in the van as they fold fairly compactly. Perfect for emergencies

Very good advice about what you need if you have to leave the van. I'm starting a "bug-out" kit list..;-)
 
A few years ago, before Covid, I went into limp mode in the middle of Spain. I rang VW assistance and was taken to a VW main dealer (cars) in Placencia. It was a Thursday afternoon.
A broken turbo was the cause and a new one was ordered but because it was the weekend no work would take place.
VW assistance were superb and put me up in a beautiful hotel for 5 nights and went out of their way to make sure I had all I needed.
I actually broke down in exactly the same place on returning from Portugal and again they were excellent and the van came back on a truck while the assistance paid for hire car back to the Algarve and then easyjet flights back to the uk.
I have no hesitation in recommending VW assistance.
 
Really useful feedback regarding both Green Flag and VW Assistance in this thread. It backs up some previous posts I recall earlier this year when we all started venturing further afield. We all really hope never to use a breakdown and recovery service, but it’s pretty essential when touring away from home.
 
Really useful feedback regarding both Green Flag and VW Assistance in this thread. It backs up some previous posts I recall earlier this year when we all started venturing further afield.
Just returned from a 4000 mile trip to southern Portugal, via the Tunnel, France, Spain etc.

All going well and heading back home via various places in France. Pulled into a service station on the A10, en route t to La Rochelle. Filled up and then it all went pear-shaped. The van wouldn’t start. Had to get help from the shop for a push into a parking bay. Battery was completely flat.

Called Green Flag. They told me that private recovery vehicles are not allowed to enter Autoroutes and I had to go via the police. Green Flag initially told me to find the nearest emergency phone box. I said I wasn’t going to start walking up and down the autoroute looking for one. They eventually gave me a number for the police. I called, they sent out a vehicle and after a bit of checking, the chap said my alternator was finished.

Bizarrely, he offered to sell me a new battery for 165 euros but said he didn’t know how long it would last. I said no thanks, please just get me off the autoroute so Green Flag can take over.

He loaded me up using a heavy duty jumper to keep the engine running. After a lot of faffing about he took us to his depot (a Ford dealership), unloaded the van onto the forecourt and locked the gate and left. Green Flag had offered us an hotel but we decided to stay with the van.

No power to put the roof up. We had already run out of gas, so used a small camping stove to cook a horrible French tinned meal. Next morning Green Flag sent a truck. Even with his jumper pack the van would not work in reverse (DSG gearbox). He eventually got us loaded and took us many miles to their garage (another Ford garage), where it was confirmed, a new alternator was required. All conversations undertaken via schoolboy French and Google Translate.

Eventually Green Flag called and said the nearest hotel was 40k away and subsequently sent a taxi – a brand new gull wing Tesla. It was a Thursday and the garage said they would order a ‘new’ exchange alternator and fix it by the next afternoon.

The hotel was ok, no restaurant though. The first impressions of the town were dismal. It was Angouleme. I pre-empted the garage calling the next day, and asked Green Flag to send a taxi (same Tesla and off to the garage we went. En-route, Green Flag called to say the alternator the garage had been sent was broken and they had to order another one, and the van would be ready on Monday. We about turned and went back to the hotel for three more nights. Depressed or what?

A couple of days wandering around the city. Very nice it is too. But we were trapped in a town we had never heard of just killing time.

Monday came and we packed and waited. Late afternoon, I chased Green Flag who chased the garage who texted me and said the car was fixed. A Tesla ride to the garage and a bill of 1,318.53 euros later and we were on our way. I am going to try and claim back the VAT of 243.59 back but it could be complicated.

I cannot fault Green Flag, they arranged and paid for all recovery, taxis, hotel , but not parts and labour.

A few essential things, take out breakdown insurance, download Google Translate, keep your mobile phone fully charged and carry a bag of sorts to move stuff into an hotel, if the worst happens.

Here endeth my tale.

View attachment 101215

Thanks for posting and making us all aware.
 
Ditto above with regards to damage limitation. We had a rear calliper lock up in France this year. Boiled the fluid so no brakes. The boss was all for calling the AA. I refused point blank as we would have been in limbo from that point on.
Essentially we limped back to the campsite. At least from there we could control the situation which, at that point, was unclear. As it turned out a local garage fixed it the next day. Point is, always try to stay in control.
 
I know your pain…
I had a breakdown in France myself this summer. My biggest regret was not staying with the van on the first night.
It was painful few days dealing with the RAC. They were spectacularly useless…!!!

From a breakdown on a Monday night. The van wasn’t assessed by a garage until the Friday morning by which time I had returned home.

Lessons I learnt:

1 - Stay with the van until a diagnosis and repair schedule is in place.
2 - RAC do not give you car hire and hotel. Opt for Car Hire, there’s always a cheap hotel somewhere…
3 - Have some small spare bags. When we left our van to return home we had no way of carrying the bulk of our clothes as they were packed directly into the van.
Btw, Decathlon do some cheap bags which we will now keep in the van as they fold fairly compact. Perfect for emergencies

We spent ages in Decathlon looking for a bag. And bought one . But our clothes were packed in those clothes blocks and we had a soft cool bag. Not stylish but they worked, just.
 
Addendum

I would like to add, that after the repair my Kenwood DNX516DABS no longer works properly. It continually shows its features, screen after screen, for ever. Each screen lasting about 20 seconds. If you touch the screen it reverts to the sat nav, ie maps etc. I couldn't find a factory resent anywhere. I have emailed Kenwood and I am waiting for a response.

Kenwood replied: Menu - Set Up - Special - Demo -OFF.
 
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A few years ago we had a tyre blow out on my bike while on a French motorway. After a short while mr plod stopped and he contacted an contracted breakdown company who turned up and spent half an hour pumping tyre sealant into the tyre with a big split in it.( Extra €25 on the bill) took us to his garage which specialises in heavy goods vehicles and hadn’t a clue about motorcycles. We contacted AXA who we took out breakdown cover with and they sorted everything including taxi to our hotel and having the bike picked up on Saturday morning and taken to the biggest motorcycle dealers I’ve ever seen.

They even phoned and discussed what tyre I wanted as a replacement and different prices. ( That’s the only thing I paid for).
The recovery charges of €400 were paid by us but AXA compensating us on our return.

No garage should pluck a price out of thin air without first discussing it with you.
French motorways are a real money maker for breakdown companies who compete to get the contracts and probably others involved.
 
Have some small spare bags. When we left our van to return home we had no way of carrying the bulk of our clothes as they were packed directly into the van.
Btw, Decathlon do some cheap bags which we will now keep in the van as they fold fairly compact. Perfect for emergencies
Good advice! We have two of these blue IKEA bags for eventualities (also to store wet stuff when necessary). €2.99 a piece...
frakta-tas-voor-steekwagen-blauw__0711261_pe728099_s5.jpg
 
...At least from there we could control the situation which, at that point, was unclear. As it turned out a local garage fixed it the next day. Point is, always try to stay in control.
100% agree. Once you involve the recovery 'service' you're giving a hostage to fortune.
 
Thank you so much for sharing. All is well that ends well. So true on having good insurance with a decent provider.

Should the van have not warned you of a low battery voltage or alternator malfunction?
 
Addendum

I would like to add, that after the repair my Kenwood DNX516DABS no longer works properly. It continually shows its features, screen after screen, for ever. Each screen lasting about 20 seconds. If you touch the screen it reverts to the sat nav, ie maps etc. I couldn't find a factory resent anywhere. I have emailed Kenwood and I am waiting for a response.
Google cancelling demo mode on Kenwood head unit.
 
Alternator issues can give a range of symptoms, and it's often the voltage regulation electronics that fail rather than the core guts of the alternator.

Alternator failures can also be caused by faults elsewhere in the electrical system. So worth getting a competent car electrician to check everything over properly when you get home.
 
Sorry to hear about your misfortune - we too had an extended and expensive breakdown in Europe this year (southern France). Just to offer another thumbs up to Green Flag. They organised all we asked for, kept in touch throughout - and paid up promptly and in full on our claim without quibble.
 
Alternator issues can give a range of symptoms, and it's often the voltage regulation electronics that fail rather than the core guts of the alternator.

Alternator failures can also be caused by faults elsewhere in the electrical system. So worth getting a competent car electrician to check everything over properly when you get home.
Makes sense.
 
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