Caravan Holiday in Bonnie Scotland
Sat May 20, 2023 8:48 am
Saw some fantastic sights all the way up to Fort William, had a great time.
The last few days of the holiday were a disaster. Car played up in Carlisle, took it to a garage, he charged me £510, and couldn’t fix it, but got it running a bit better, 2 days later, with the caravan in tow, the alternator light came on, called the AA, I found a caravan site, left the caravan and Carol there, followed patrol van to garage,
They took 3 days to fix it and fitted a new alternator that cost me £775, decided to come home and cut holiday short, made our way down M1 car went into limp mode could only do 25mph on motorway, got to another campsite, AA truck picked us up loaded car on the back, and towed the caravan, We were on our way back home, Hooray!!
Nope! half an hour hour into our journey, the truck broke down, but managed to get us to South Mims called another AA truck, they put the car on recovery lorry, and towed the caravan towards home, he only got us 30 miles from home then the driver ran out of driving hours he dropped us off in a services station, called another truck, who said he would be with us at 7:30 which was an half hour wait.
That then went to 9 o’clock, then 11, o’clock, truck turned up, driver wasn’t told by the AA we had a caravan and wasn’t big enough to tow us.
They said they could get a bigger on at half past one in the morning, I told them to poke it, slept the night in the caravan.
Then, incurred a £99 charge for being parked for over 2 hours.
A big truck turned up the next day, it was the driver who ran out of hours, the day before, and he loaded us on and brought us home.
The car is still broken down, apparently it has 2 faults, a Failing Dual Mass Flywheel, and a high pressure fuel pump breaking down, estimated cost £3800!!! it’s is booked into main VW dealer, in Tunbridge Wells next Wednesday, the AA are coming to pick it up and take me there. You couldn’t make it up could you!!
Do you guys think, now is not the best time to tell the Mrs, I was thinking of treating myself to a new Pedal Steel?
The last few days of the holiday were a disaster. Car played up in Carlisle, took it to a garage, he charged me £510, and couldn’t fix it, but got it running a bit better, 2 days later, with the caravan in tow, the alternator light came on, called the AA, I found a caravan site, left the caravan and Carol there, followed patrol van to garage,
They took 3 days to fix it and fitted a new alternator that cost me £775, decided to come home and cut holiday short, made our way down M1 car went into limp mode could only do 25mph on motorway, got to another campsite, AA truck picked us up loaded car on the back, and towed the caravan, We were on our way back home, Hooray!!
Nope! half an hour hour into our journey, the truck broke down, but managed to get us to South Mims called another AA truck, they put the car on recovery lorry, and towed the caravan towards home, he only got us 30 miles from home then the driver ran out of driving hours he dropped us off in a services station, called another truck, who said he would be with us at 7:30 which was an half hour wait.
That then went to 9 o’clock, then 11, o’clock, truck turned up, driver wasn’t told by the AA we had a caravan and wasn’t big enough to tow us.
They said they could get a bigger on at half past one in the morning, I told them to poke it, slept the night in the caravan.
Then, incurred a £99 charge for being parked for over 2 hours.
A big truck turned up the next day, it was the driver who ran out of hours, the day before, and he loaded us on and brought us home.
The car is still broken down, apparently it has 2 faults, a Failing Dual Mass Flywheel, and a high pressure fuel pump breaking down, estimated cost £3800!!! it’s is booked into main VW dealer, in Tunbridge Wells next Wednesday, the AA are coming to pick it up and take me there. You couldn’t make it up could you!!
Do you guys think, now is not the best time to tell the Mrs, I was thinking of treating myself to a new Pedal Steel?
Re: Caravan Holiday in Bonnie Scotland
Sat May 20, 2023 9:20 am
There's the making of a song in there somewhere Dave, you probably need a new pedal steel to express it! What terrible bad luck, what model of VW was it?
Re: Caravan Holiday in Bonnie Scotland
Sat May 20, 2023 9:24 am
A 3 litre Touareg
Re: Caravan Holiday in Bonnie Scotland
Sat May 20, 2023 9:39 am
Dave, I would just buy the steel first and then wait for the fireworks mate 
Knowing Carol she won’t say much as she spoils you anyway.
Sorry to read about the holiday I reckon we can get a movie out of that story.
But seriously that was bad luck for the both of you.
Take care.
Roy
Knowing Carol she won’t say much as she spoils you anyway.
Sorry to read about the holiday I reckon we can get a movie out of that story.
But seriously that was bad luck for the both of you.
Take care.
Roy
Re: Caravan Holiday in Bonnie Scotland
Sat May 20, 2023 10:28 am
Dave you could have stopped here for a cuppa and a rest you obviously were not busy driving 
my Grandson is a breakdown trouble shooter for VW, he sits in his van all day waiting for one to break down.
my Grandson is a breakdown trouble shooter for VW, he sits in his van all day waiting for one to break down.
Re: Caravan Holiday in Bonnie Scotland
Sat May 20, 2023 11:33 am
Thanks so much for the information John, Carol has told me you have left his details on our answerphone, I will certainly contact him when I get back home.
Once again the famous John Davis comes to rescue of the needy, there will definitely be a place for you in Heaven.
Kindest Regards
Dave & Carol
Once again the famous John Davis comes to rescue of the needy, there will definitely be a place for you in Heaven.
Kindest Regards
Dave & Carol
Re: Caravan Holiday in Bonnie Scotland
Tue May 30, 2023 6:05 am
Hi John
I spoke to your Grandson (what a absolutely lovely chap) he certainly knows his stuff, it was like talking to a proper old school mechanic not a young fitter that just change parts in a modern garage these days. He was most helpful and even gave me a few pointers to suggest to the Main VW dealer, one of which was right on the button which was, before they investigate an expensive duel mass flywheel, check for a failed injector, they did and he was dead right.
he also asked me to get back to him once the car is fixed, to see the outcome. car due back tomorrow, I will keep him informed. Thanks again for the help mate.
I spoke to your Grandson (what a absolutely lovely chap) he certainly knows his stuff, it was like talking to a proper old school mechanic not a young fitter that just change parts in a modern garage these days. He was most helpful and even gave me a few pointers to suggest to the Main VW dealer, one of which was right on the button which was, before they investigate an expensive duel mass flywheel, check for a failed injector, they did and he was dead right.
he also asked me to get back to him once the car is fixed, to see the outcome. car due back tomorrow, I will keep him informed. Thanks again for the help mate.
Re: Caravan Holiday in Bonnie Scotland
Tue May 30, 2023 6:18 pm
we is here to help......
Re: Caravan Holiday in Bonnie Scotland
Thu Jun 22, 2023 9:33 pm
Hi Dave, So sorry for all that you have been through with the car.. I remember having a conversation with you a few years back at a festival and you were planning to come to Scotland back then too. If you ever decide to forgive Glencoe for wrecking your car, my offer of a cuppa, kip and brekkie still stands mate. Just make sure you make your trip at the end of the month so you and the lovely Carol can come visit us at the SSGW. You would be made most welcome ...
Re: Caravan Holiday in Bonnie Scotland
Thu Aug 24, 2023 6:43 am
Thanks for the Offer Davie. I will defiantly be back up again, we missed a lot owing to the car breaking down, and we will try to make it the end of a month so we can visit the SSGW, I might even pack the steel in the caravan. Sorry for the delay in answering, God knows how, but I missed your Kind Reply.
Kindest Regards
Dave
Kindest Regards
Dave