[88923]

Does anyone have any experiences, good or bad, of getting their base vehicle serviced in the Deeside, Chester, Ellesmere Port, Wrexham area? I will soon need to get my Fiat Ducato serviced soon so could do with knowing if anyone has used local dealers in the above areas. I'm afraid I'm a bit green with motorhomes and being a girlie :lol:, I know nothing about oily bits.

and before any girlies have a go....I'm only joking....I DO know where the oil goes.... :lol:

 

[88838]

.... in the wok,
or if it's extra virgin mix with balsamic v and dunk yer baguette


8)

 

[autostratus]

and before any girlies have a go....I'm only joking....I DO know where the oil goes.... :lol:

6 months ago I took our mh to Bristols in Banbury and mentioned to one of the reception staff that I was a bit concerned that the oil level was hard to judge when checking. I'd had a sneaking suspicion that I may have contributed to our breakdown in France although the French garage assured me I hadn't.

The reception guy took me to a young mechanic who started by saying (after lifting the bonnet) "This is the dipstick. Take hold of it like this and pull it completely out."
At this point I managed to stop him and explain that I hadn't driven for 50 years and currently drove about 16,000 miles a year of which 10,000 miles were continental miles without learning what the dipstick was and how to pull it out.
'Nough said.

Gillian

 

[dodger148]

Hi banjo
Last year I took ours into Mersey Ambulance at Ellesmere Port for its service and 1st MOT.

They were excellent and I got both jobs done for the price the main dealer wanted for the service. They also lent me a Fiesta courtesy car, the only cost being the fuel used (I didnt go far (Cheshire Oaks) so they didnt charge me for fuel.
It will be going back there this year.
If you think about it they are the biggest operator of the Sevil based vans in the area so will have more experience than the Fiat/Peugeot Main dealers

They are in the phone book but in case you cant find go on the Motorcaravanners Club Website and look up details on there

My other concern is there is No Dealer in the North West other than m-home dealers who are used toi dealing with plastic bodied vans.

On the habitation side, I have just done a ring round of NCC approved work shops and Harringtons at Delamere are the most competitive for what is supposed to be a standard check/service.

 

[88923]

Thanks Dodger,

Ellesmere Port would be good as it's only a few miles from where I work.

 

[Anonymous]

Took my Frisky (SWB Ford Transit) to my local Honda dealer for a once over when I got it & they did the brakes for me. They do my other car so it made sense.

 

[88923]

Hi Gillian,

Where did you tell the mechanic to put the dipstick??????
I had a similar experience with a guy in work.
I went out on site to supervise a job for a male colleague who was off sick. The fella with the spade took me to one side and said 'now love, do you know what drains are for?'.
'yes' I replied.
He then spent several minutes telling me what they were for anyway so I let him prattle on and then took great delight in telling him that his levels were wrong and he would have to re-lay them. He then said he wanted to see a 'proper engineer'.........

That was a few years ago and most men are more accepting of seeing a 'girlie' in a yellow jacket and hard hat but it's been a long and tiring process. (One day I'll tell you about the guy who put his toe nails in my tea 'cos he didnt like having a woman as his boss) :x

Buying any sort of vehicle is still a nightmare though. Why do salesman always want to sell me 'something that's easy to reverse, with plenty of room for the shopping - and sadly now, plenty of room for the grandchildren???' :lol:

 

[88838]

don't forget the colour coding - and a nice big rear view mirror so you can put your lippi on :twisted:
Seriously, I have noticed a great improvement over the last xx years,partly girl power - but also I think in the case of cars they are getting more complex and computerised - no longer a case of lifting the bonnet and having a quick fiddle with the starter motor - so it's harder for the macho types to parade their 'knowledge'. I've fortunately been able to move on from bangers as well, and so don't need to fiddle quite as much.
8)

 

[89425]

This post was brought abouts by reading Gillions post further up the page.

Its always difficult to know where to pitch the technical replies as you don't know how much some posters know. Some sound very knowledgeable, then complain your way over their head, or you go in too low and get moaned at again.

Hence I had to smile when Gillion encountered her 'Dipsick'. Poor lad was obviously going on what he had been told in the workshop! Think about that for a while ':wink:'

Never mind.

A poster on my office wall facing out towards the lecture room/students.

Children
Tired of being harassed
by your stupid parents?
ACT NOW
Move out,
Get a job,
Pay your own bills,
While you still know everything!!

Don't you just love finding out things?

 

[88838]

I think the main source of complaint is the attitude of whoever is giving out the info. there is nothing worse than being humoured and talked down to. Even you haven't a clue about whatever the subject may be, there is a right way to be told something.
In my previous [ie working] life I did a fair bit of training, to people with very different knowledge and experience levels, and as Steve said it's very difficult to know where to pitch the topic.
I always started by saying I was assuming no knowledge, so bear with me in the intro. Trouble is that means that any info post is going to be fairly long! but remember a little knowledge is dangerous :wink:
8)

 

[89425]

My my, its far easier to discuss anything face to face, as body language gives such a lot away. Sorry to refer to Gillian again, but I'm sure the 'Dipstick' will watch out in future for the raising of eyebrows, perhaps even the hair on the back of the neck raising. :twisted:

Having been through tough schools etc. I am pretty quick to counter act against 'smart' comments by people who think they know everything. Comes in very useful for some students. At the end of the day, I enjoy helping people as I find it rewarding... so long as they take on board all the points I have put forward.

 

[90128]

:lol: :lol: still laughing at banjo's post because I have experienced a mans attitude to women engineers etc

You see I bred a mechanic/engineer and yes she is my daughter can repair anything from a mini to a 44ton artic. So you will appreciate the look on some of the macho drivers faces when she can start a wagon engine where they failed. :wink:

First thing I ask her to do on any vehicle I buy is check the brakes and I mean wheels off, not just a quick look.

So you know who is going to service my camper

regards

sealady

 

[MOTORHOMER]

hello

Perhaps a database for recomended service garages. We have a peugeot boxer & live on the edge of the New Forest near Southampton. Anyone reccommend a good service garage


Thanks

Motorhomer

 

[nukeadmin]

Perhaps a database for recomended service garages.

Hey no fair, u guys coming out with so many good ideas, taking up all my social time making them :banghead:

lol i'll add that idea to my ever growing list of jobs to try and achieve

 

[MOTORHOMER]

Oh Dear & I have just suggested something else elswhere

I would say that this site is a hobby for you .


Good luck with it anyway

Motorhomer

 

[autostratus]

Perhaps a database for recomended service garages.

lol i'll add that idea to my ever growing list of jobs to try and achieve

If I can complicate things a little (as usual with me!).

The database should be 2 pronged at least as we have those mhs to be serviced during warranty and obviously attached to main dealers and then servicing after the warranty runs out.

Gillian

 

[88923]

Lucky you, Sealady,
Must be nice to have someone you can trust to do a job for you. I wish I'd done something useful like plumbing or electrics instead of building roads and digging drains :!:
No matter how hard I try though, I just can't suck my teeth, scratch and shake my head while saying 'that'll cost yer luv'.... ALL AT THE SAME TIME :lol: :lol:
One bunch of mechanics I did trust though, were the guys at Central VW in Ellesmere Port. I had a Mk 1 Golf GTi until not so long ago which they serviced and did a fantastic job. People come from miles around because they have such a good reputation. They really knew their vehicles.