AA cautionary tale......

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Skinny Mike

Skinny Mike

Well-Known Member
Posts
2,910
Location
Yorkshire (Center of the known universe!)
For your interest...

Yesterday after getting home from work the phone rang, so answering I found myself talking to the better half who was in a bit of a tiz and saying smoke was coming from under the bonnet of our beloved TD4. She had already rung the AA so I said I would get there sharpish as she was in a rough area.
So jumping into the trusty matiz I shot off and half an hour later was confronted with the better half stood at the side of the road and the friendly bloke from the AA with his head stuck under the bonnet.
After a quick glance I was happy to see the engine in one piece and no smoke. The nice AA man asked me to start the engine, I did, no smoke, put some load on say's the man, so the heater went on, the lights, the cd player and the heated seats. Ah ha say's the jolly chap from the AA it's your alternator and after a quick multi meter reading he verifies it.
So engine off, then a quick discussion after which it's decided I'll drive the freelander followed by the AA then the better half in the matiz.
So engine back on ( why does it keep starting if the alternator's shot?) and back home. Popping the bonnet I can smell burning glue! not electrical burning? but the nice man from the AA say's it's definately the alternator and by the way your cars rubbish and all we get is problems from these!!!!!:mad:
After explaining mines got a BMW engine in it and it's rather nice ta all the same, the AA man gets the wife to sign some papers and takes his leave.

Stick with it, it gets better :rolleyes:

So multi meter out and 12.65 volts nominal and 14.2 volts with the engine on!
So turn everything on, rev engine to 2500 and guess what 14.2 volts.

My alternators fine, thankyou Mr AA man

After head scratching and talking to the auto electrician brother in law, we can't track the burning smell down. But just as he's about to come over, more searching with the torch reveals some plastic wrap thats fallen next to the alternator and is gently melting!

So remove the plastic, 10 second job, go for a drive and everything is fine.

And the motto of this story,

Don't trust any tw*t, even if he's got a big yellow van, until you've had a good look yourself. I could have been a couple of hundred quid out of pocket.

Anybody know a good breakdown service :D
 
Bizarre thing for an AA guy to say that all they get is problems from these - his job is problems, if a car didn't have a problem - he wouldn't see it:doh:

Not all AA people are mechanics, they just go on a course then get sent out to fix peoples cars, I think the course goes along the lines of....if its got a K series engine then its head gasket failure:eek:
 
Skinny Mike said:
For your interest...

Yesterday after getting home from work the phone rang, so answering I found myself talking to the better half who was in a bit of a tiz and saying smoke was coming from under the bonnet of our beloved TD4. She had already rung the AA so I said I would get there sharpish as she was in a rough area.
So jumping into the trusty matiz I shot off and half an hour later was confronted with the better half stood at the side of the road and the friendly bloke from the AA with his head stuck under the bonnet.
After a quick glance I was happy to see the engine in one piece and no smoke. The nice AA man asked me to start the engine, I did, no smoke, put some load on say's the man, so the heater went on, the lights, the cd player and the heated seats. Ah ha say's the jolly chap from the AA it's your alternator and after a quick multi meter reading he verifies it.
So engine off, then a quick discussion after which it's decided I'll drive the freelander followed by the AA then the better half in the matiz.
So engine back on ( why does it keep starting if the alternator's shot?) and back home. Popping the bonnet I can smell burning glue! not electrical burning? but the nice man from the AA say's it's definately the alternator and by the way your cars rubbish and all we get is problems from these!!!!!:mad:
After explaining mines got a BMW engine in it and it's rather nice ta all the same, the AA man gets the wife to sign some papers and takes his leave.

Stick with it, it gets better :rolleyes:

So multi meter out and 12.65 volts nominal and 14.2 volts with the engine on!
So turn everything on, rev engine to 2500 and guess what 14.2 volts.

My alternators fine, thankyou Mr AA man

After head scratching and talking to the auto electrician brother in law, we can't track the burning smell down. But just as he's about to come over, more searching with the torch reveals some plastic wrap thats fallen next to the alternator and is gently melting!

So remove the plastic, 10 second job, go for a drive and everything is fine.

And the motto of this story,

Don't trust any tw*t, even if he's got a big yellow van, until you've had a good look yourself. I could have been a couple of hundred quid out of pocket.

Anybody know a good breakdown service :D
Click to expand...

:D:D:D:D:D:D nice one, do AA men look after their own vans? (see avitar):D
 
Mantamad said:
Bizarre thing for an AA guy to say that all they get is problems from these - his job is problems, if a car didn't have a problem - he wouldn't see it:doh:

Not all AA people are mechanics, they just go on a course then get sent out to fix peoples cars, I think the course goes along the lines of....if its got a K series engine then its head gasket failure:eek:
Click to expand...

Many qualified mechanics that are used to doing workshop repairs can't hack or don't have the knowledge to do roadside fixes and many breakdown mechanics struggle in a workshop enviroment. If I did the same repairs that I do on the roadside in a workshop I'd get the boot for being a cowboy.
 
Nearly 3 yrs ago our freelander broke down wi mrs in it, Same I got call turned up with the AA already present. I asked if it had a spark etc and he said HGF stating it had no compression. It got towed home and when I had a look it didnt have a spark - turned out to be rota arm. If it had been towed to a dodgy garage , I may have been stung.
 
briw1986 said:
Nearly 3 yrs ago our freelander broke down wi mrs in it, Same I got call turned up with the AA already present. I asked if it had a spark etc and he said HGF stating it had no compression. It got towed home and when I had a look it didnt have a spark - turned out to be rota arm. If it had been towed to a dodgy garage , I may have been stung.
Click to expand...

I rest my case:)
 
On the whole, I've found the AA to be quite good. Only thing I don't like is that they're unable to automatically locate you over the phone. Once when asked "Ok sir, where are you?" I was thinking "umm, I haven't a f*cking clue!!" so I replied (with little thought) "in the middle of nowhere". The operator must have thought that I was a complete numpty. Apparently though, the RAC are able to locate exactly where someone is calling from if they're calling via a mobile phone. I wish the AA had such technology!
 
RichM said:
On the whole, I've found the AA to be quite good. Only thing I don't like is that they're unable to automatically locate you over the phone. Once when asked "Ok sir, where are you?" I was thinking "umm, I haven't a f*cking clue!!" so I replied (with little thought) "in the middle of nowhere". The operator must have thought that I was a complete numpty. Apparently though, the RAC are able to locate exactly where someone is calling from if they're calling via a mobile phone. I wish the AA had such technology!
Click to expand...
Actually I believe the RAC can only track you down to the *cell* that you mobile is using to call them.
 
RichM said:
On the whole, I've found the AA to be quite good. Only thing I don't like is that they're unable to automatically locate you over the phone. Once when asked "Ok sir, where are you?" I was thinking "umm, I haven't a f*cking clue!!" so I replied (with little thought) "in the middle of nowhere". The operator must have thought that I was a complete numpty. Apparently though, the RAC are able to locate exactly where someone is calling from if they're calling via a mobile phone. I wish the AA had such technology!
Click to expand...

We use local knowledge. It's not uncommon for us to phone the driver direct and talk them through what they can see and the route they have taken to get where they are. I rekon there's probably only a couple of jobs a year where I cannot locate a vehicle.
 
I broke down in my TD4 2 years back (put petrol in it, but did not know at the time) and someone crashed into the back of the trailer I was towing, even though I pulled onto a grass verge as far as possible. I had full AA cover inc recovery etc.

Called the AA and was told as I was crashed into after breaking down they would not come out and to call my insurance company. Called the insurance company and they asked why the vehicle was not drivable and I told them because I have broken down and someone has crashed into me while parked. Sorry they said cant help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It cost me £250 to be recovered home, I got it back after a battle from the guy who hit me but it was hassle.

Makes you wonder just what you pay all this money for.
 
Seems to be a touchy subject,

Firstly Ratty, if you work for the AA or a breakdown company, I am not calling you a tw*t, I'm sure there are many good emergency blokes out there.

Whats really p*ssed me off is that after discussing the breakdown with the good wife, she told the AA bloke it smelt of burning plastic, not electrical. At no point did he shine a torch in the engine area (yes it was a dark) and at no point did he take any useful meter readings. Two minutes with the multi meter told me the alternator was fine and my knowledge of car electrics is very basic.
Surely a company such as the AA must train their mechanics to do such basic tests.
And the cars still fine, no more burning smells.
 
ratty said:
We use local knowledge. It's not uncommon for us to phone the driver direct and talk them through what they can see and the route they have taken to get where they are. I rekon there's probably only a couple of jobs a year where I cannot locate a vehicle.
Click to expand...
Every layby on the A9 from Perth to Inverness is numbered..is the best way for ourselves and the police to locate vehicles. As far as the call centres are concerned, the A9 is 2" of snake on a screen! If they don't get a layby number, then we call the driver direct. :)
 
At one time, maybe not currently, these roadside saviours were encouraged to sell you componants that they had decided were at fault, I believe batteries were a favourite:rolleyes:
 
Skinny Mike said:
Seems to be a touchy subject,

Firstly Ratty, if you work for the AA or a breakdown company, I am not calling you a tw*t, I'm sure there are many good emergency blokes out there.

Whats really p*ssed me off is that after discussing the breakdown with the good wife, she told the AA bloke it smelt of burning plastic, not electrical. At no point did he shine a torch in the engine area (yes it was a dark) and at no point did he take any useful meter readings. Two minutes with the multi meter told me the alternator was fine and my knowledge of car electrics is very basic.
Surely a company such as the AA must train their mechanics to do such basic tests.
And the cars still fine, no more burning smells.
Click to expand...

No offence taken. I work for an independent company and act as a sub contractor to most of the breakdown clubs. Unfortunately as in most walks of life there are guys and girls that are good at there job and others that are useless. :(

I try and treat all breakdowns as though it is a member of my own family that are brokendown. Unfortunately I do know of patrols that are jobsworths and that will look for any excuse not to get their hands dirty. Unfortunately we have a couple like it at our place too.
 
ratty said:
No offence taken. I work for an independent company and act as a sub contractor to most of the breakdown clubs. Unfortunately as in most walks of life there are guys and girls that are good at there job and others that are useless. :(

I try and treat all breakdowns as though it is a member of my own family that are brokendown. Unfortunately I do know of patrols that are jobsworths and that will look for any excuse not to get their hands dirty. Unfortunately we have a couple like it at our place too.
Click to expand...


Where you live they probably all are:D:D
 
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