Tdi squeaky belt warning, and GRR to RAC

K

Kieran Turner

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #1

Well, my "squeaky Dayco serpentine belt" (as diagnosed by me, addmitedly,
and also my local specialist who'd recently fitted the thing) wasn't that at
all.

It was an alternator in the process of seizing up. Final stage of the
process came with a sudden charge light (which hadn't been glowing at all
previously), a zero on the rev counter, and a small waft of smoke from under
the bonnet. Which got bigger...

Not so bad, thinks I, just call the RAC. I didn't expect them to be able to
get a replacement on Easter Sunday (and they couldn't) but I did expect to
be taken to a local garage. But they didn't want to take me to a garage
"because it's a Discovery and we can't tow it".

Once I persuaded them that they still should somehow recover the vehicle, I
was told the driver had been sent out of his area, and so didn't know of any
garages within ten miles. What I'd like to know is when the "tow you to a
local garage" part of the deal became "tow you to a local garage within ten
miles". I'm sure it's there in the small print, and so yes I have agreed to
that level of service, but still, I think they should have made more of
telling people about that.

Thanks only to the kindness of the individual engineer and the time he spent
on the radio, they *did* eventually call a tow firm for me, who took me to
their own workshops. Price of the alternator from them yet to be seen
(gulp.)

K

 

B

b.barwick

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #2

I too was very disappointed with the RAC, my landrover broke down (coolent
loss) they did tow me to a local garage, but, going round the first corner,
the RAC towbar snapped a chunk of my A frame.

After several telephone calls and letters, they refused to pay, so I
promptly cancelled my RAC membership.

That was some time ago, they are still taking (card) payment for membership,
even though, they say my card details have been removed from their system.

Not impressed with the RAC at all, they used to be good...............

Brian

"Kieran Turner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Well, my "squeaky Dayco serpentine belt" (as diagnosed by me, addmitedly,
> and also my local specialist who'd recently fitted the thing) wasn't that
at
> all.
>
> It was an alternator in the process of seizing up. Final stage of the
> process came with a sudden charge light (which hadn't been glowing at all
> previously), a zero on the rev counter, and a small waft of smoke from
under
> the bonnet. Which got bigger...
>
> Not so bad, thinks I, just call the RAC. I didn't expect them to be able
to
> get a replacement on Easter Sunday (and they couldn't) but I did expect to
> be taken to a local garage. But they didn't want to take me to a garage
> "because it's a Discovery and we can't tow it".
>
> Once I persuaded them that they still should somehow recover the vehicle,
I
> was told the driver had been sent out of his area, and so didn't know of
any
> garages within ten miles. What I'd like to know is when the "tow you to a
> local garage" part of the deal became "tow you to a local garage within
ten
> miles". I'm sure it's there in the small print, and so yes I have agreed
to
> that level of service, but still, I think they should have made more of
> telling people about that.
>
> Thanks only to the kindness of the individual engineer and the time he
spent
> on the radio, they *did* eventually call a tow firm for me, who took me to
> their own workshops. Price of the alternator from them yet to be seen
> (gulp.)
>
> K
>
>

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #3

On or around Mon, 28 Mar 2005 15:00:11 GMT, "b.barwick"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>I too was very disappointed with the RAC, my landrover broke down (coolent
>loss) they did tow me to a local garage, but, going round the first corner,
>the RAC towbar snapped a chunk of my A frame.
>
>After several telephone calls and letters, they refused to pay, so I
>promptly cancelled my RAC membership.
>
>That was some time ago, they are still taking (card) payment for membership,
>even though, they say my card details have been removed from their system.
>
>Not impressed with the RAC at all, they used to be good...............

AA not a lot better, these days, by all accounts.

Meanwhile... 300 TDi runs a 100A alternator, LR will charge you about 300
notes for same, Paddock about half that, ISTR.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"Festina Lente" (Hasten slowly) Suetonius (c.70-c.140) Augustus, 25

 

K

Kieran Turner

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #4

"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> AA not a lot better, these days, by all accounts.

And useless for we Landie owners - in the small print they have a weight
limit - as do the RAC. In the AA's case it's a little bit too low for most
modern Landies.

> Meanwhile... 300 TDi runs a 100A alternator, LR will charge you about 300
> notes for same, Paddock about half that, ISTR.

Thanks - I saw similar ranges of prices in the Rimmer Bros catalogue. I
presume part numbers ending in "P" mean pattern parts? They're so much
cheaper. Any idea if they last well?

K

 

S

SimonJ

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #5

> > AA not a lot better, these days, by all accounts.
>
> And useless for we Landie owners - in the small print they have a weight
> limit - as do the RAC. In the AA's case it's a little bit too low for most
> modern Landies.
>
The AA and RAC's limits are 3.5 tonnes. What landie do you drive?

FWIW, I'm jut about to go out to a 110 Defender OBO the AA, hope I can give
a little better service than you received!

 

T

TonyB

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #6

>
> Not so bad, thinks I, just call the RAC. I didn't expect them to be able
to
> get a replacement on Easter Sunday (and they couldn't) but I did expect to
> be taken to a local garage. But they didn't want to take me to a garage
> "because it's a Discovery and we can't tow it".
>
> Once I persuaded them that they still should somehow recover the vehicle,
I
> was told the driver had been sent out of his area, and so didn't know of
any
> garages within ten miles. What I'd like to know is when the "tow you to a
> local garage" part of the deal became "tow you to a local garage within
ten
> miles".

I'm with Green Flag. When my Disco blew a water pump in London they were
happy to take me back to Suffolk.

TonyB

 

S

SteveG

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #7

I feel it my duty to speak up in favour of both the RAC and AA. When the
alternator packed up on my 300Tdi Discovery at Reading services on the
M4 they arranged a flatbed to bring me home in Bristol ... no problem.
Likewise when the clutch fell apart in Gloucester they hauled it to the
garage in Pilning (30 miles away and past a franchised LR dealer).

The RAC flatbedded my V8 to the same garage from the M5 (about 12 miles)
despite the nearest LR dealer being only 2 miles away. The driver then
took me home (another 8 miles) before calling in that he was finished.

I really can't complain about the service from either organisation.

Regards

Steve G

 

K

Kieran Turner

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #8

"SimonJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>> > AA not a lot better, these days, by all accounts.
>>
>> And useless for we Landie owners - in the small print they have a weight
>> limit - as do the RAC. In the AA's case it's a little bit too low for
>> most
>> modern Landies.
>>
> The AA and RAC's limits are 3.5 tonnes. What landie do you drive?

2.5 in my last membership guide.

> FWIW, I'm jut about to go out to a 110 Defender OBO the AA, hope I can
> give
> a little better service than you received!

Yeah - I don't like being a moaner, and I have received brilliant service
from both organisations in the past - but it feels like they've got much
more tight-fisted of late.

I'm sure a lot of people abuse them. But it's a shame the solutions seem to
penalise everybody.

K

 

C

cyberwraith

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #9

Is there a weight limit in the RAC? I own a 300TDi Disco and being disabled
joined them to cover me if and when I brake down. I told them it was a Disco
and they did not mention anything about a weight limit??

"Kieran Turner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> AA not a lot better, these days, by all accounts.
>
> And useless for we Landie owners - in the small print they have a weight
> limit - as do the RAC. In the AA's case it's a little bit too low for most
> modern Landies.
>
>> Meanwhile... 300 TDi runs a 100A alternator, LR will charge you about
>> 300
>> notes for same, Paddock about half that, ISTR.
>
> Thanks - I saw similar ranges of prices in the Rimmer Bros catalogue. I
> presume part numbers ending in "P" mean pattern parts? They're so much
> cheaper. Any idea if they last well?
>
> K
>

 

K

Kieran Turner

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #10

"Kieran Turner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "SimonJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>> > AA not a lot better, these days, by all accounts.
>>>
>>> And useless for we Landie owners - in the small print they have a weight
>>> limit - as do the RAC. In the AA's case it's a little bit too low for
>>> most
>>> modern Landies.
>>>
>> The AA and RAC's limits are 3.5 tonnes. What landie do you drive?
>
> 2.5 in my last membership guide.

Inspired by this conversation, I had a check online and I see that the AA
limit applies only to "vans and pick-ups" and is in fact a 2.3 tonne limit.
For other vehicles it is indeed 3.5. (Is a Defender with no rear windows a
"van" for this purpose?)

I do believe that my printed guide of three years ago said 2.5 though,
because it was that guide which made me switch from AA to RAC.

K

 

K

Kieran Turner

Guest

• Mar 28, 2005

• #11

"cyberwraith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there a weight limit in the RAC? I own a 300TDi Disco and being
> disabled joined them to cover me if and when I brake down. I told them it
> was a Disco and they did not mention anything about a weight limit??

To clarify for myself I've had a look online, and the terms & conditions
which appear to be in force now (for new members at least) are different to
the ones in the printed guide I was using as my reference. Sorry for any
confusion caused.

The RAC website says generally excluded are:
Vehicles that exceed 2.3 metres (7ft 6") width, 3.5 Tonnes weight or 5.5
metres (18ft) length.

There is further info at their website.

K

 

B

beamendsltd

Guest

• Mar 29, 2005

• #12

In message <[email protected]>
"TonyB" <[email protected]> wrote:

> >
> > Not so bad, thinks I, just call the RAC. I didn't expect them to be able
> to
> > get a replacement on Easter Sunday (and they couldn't) but I did expect to
> > be taken to a local garage. But they didn't want to take me to a garage
> > "because it's a Discovery and we can't tow it".
> >
> > Once I persuaded them that they still should somehow recover the vehicle,
> I
> > was told the driver had been sent out of his area, and so didn't know of
> any
> > garages within ten miles. What I'd like to know is when the "tow you to a
> > local garage" part of the deal became "tow you to a local garage within
> ten
> > miles".
>
> I'm with Green Flag. When my Disco blew a water pump in London they were
> happy to take me back to Suffolk.
>
> TonyB
>
>

Green Flag wont cover 110 CSW's though.

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Helping keep Land Rovers on and off the road to annoy the Lib Dems

 

B

beamendsltd

Guest

• Mar 29, 2005

• #13

In message <[email protected]>
"SteveG <\"s.goodfellow\"@blueyonder" <"dot> wrote:

> I feel it my duty to speak up in favour of both the RAC and AA. When the
> alternator packed up on my 300Tdi Discovery at Reading services on the
> M4 they arranged a flatbed to bring me home in Bristol ... no problem.
> Likewise when the clutch fell apart in Gloucester they hauled it to the
> garage in Pilning (30 miles away and past a franchised LR dealer).
>
> The RAC flatbedded my V8 to the same garage from the M5 (about 12 miles)
> despite the nearest LR dealer being only 2 miles away. The driver then
> took me home (another 8 miles) before calling in that he was finished.
>
> I really can't complain about the service from either organisation.
>
> Regards
>
> Steve G

From the descriptions you and I have a higher level of cover
than the first two posters, i.e. take your vehicle home rather
than just to the nearest garage.

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Helping keep Land Rovers on and off the road to annoy the Lib Dems

 

B

beamendsltd

Guest

• Mar 29, 2005

• #14

In message <[email protected]>
"SimonJ" <[email protected]> wrote:

> > > AA not a lot better, these days, by all accounts.
> >
> > And useless for we Landie owners - in the small print they have a weight
> > limit - as do the RAC. In the AA's case it's a little bit too low for most
> > modern Landies.
> >
> The AA and RAC's limits are 3.5 tonnes. What landie do you drive?
>
> FWIW, I'm jut about to go out to a 110 Defender OBO the AA, hope I can give
> a little better service than you received!
>
>

The AA refused me cover on a 110 CSW too - infact the RAC
are the only ones who offered me cover.

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Helping keep Land Rovers on and off the road to annoy the Lib Dems

 

B

beamendsltd

Guest

• Mar 29, 2005

• #15

In message <[email protected]>
"Kieran Turner" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > AA not a lot better, these days, by all accounts.
>
> And useless for we Landie owners - in the small print they have a weight
> limit - as do the RAC. In the AA's case it's a little bit too low for most
> modern Landies.

I thought that too - but I signed up with the RAC at Micheals Wood
services on Saturday and the bloke was quite happy with 2 tons (he
never asked how many seats).

>
> > Meanwhile... 300 TDi runs a 100A alternator, LR will charge you about 300
> > notes for same, Paddock about half that, ISTR.
>
> Thanks - I saw similar ranges of prices in the Rimmer Bros catalogue. I
> presume part numbers ending in "P" mean pattern parts? They're so much
> cheaper. Any idea if they last well?
>
> K
>
>

There's two flavours of alternator for the 300Tdi Disco - internal and
external fan - 123.37 and 146.87 inc VAT respectively

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Helping keep Land Rovers on and off the road to annoy the Lib Dems

 

K

Kieran Turner

Guest

• Mar 29, 2005

• #16

"beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:3a8136534d%[email protected]...
> There's two flavours of alternator for the 300Tdi Disco - internal and
> external fan - 123.37 and 146.87 inc VAT respectively

Is there any advantage to either type?

As for price, that's about what I was seeing for the main part number with a
"P" suffix, and for the two other distinct part number listed. But the first
number, when without the "P", came to almost £500! Presumably it has a nice
green oval printed on it...

K

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Mar 29, 2005

• #17

On or around Tue, 29 Mar 2005 14:07:13 +0000 (UTC), beamendsltd
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>From the descriptions you and I have a higher level of cover
>than the first two posters, i.e. take your vehicle home rather
>than just to the nearest garage.

So do I, with the AA, and to be fair, they've done OK, mostly. I got a ford
granada fetched back from birmingham by 'em once.

Too, the RAC did a freind of mine OK by recovering her car with a burnt-out
clutch from the middle of nowhere. RAC transit had a very nice dolly
doofrit concealed in the back. Want.


--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
Satisfying: Satisfy your inner child by eating ten tubes of Smarties
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.

 

W

Will Wilkinson

Guest

• Mar 29, 2005

• #18

In message <8d6935534d%[email protected]>, beamendsltd
<[email protected]> writes
>In message <[email protected]>
> "TonyB" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> >
>> > Not so bad, thinks I, just call the RAC. I didn't expect them to be able
>> to
>> > get a replacement on Easter Sunday (and they couldn't) but I did expect to
>> > be taken to a local garage. But they didn't want to take me to a garage
>> > "because it's a Discovery and we can't tow it".
>> >
>> > Once I persuaded them that they still should somehow recover the vehicle,
>> I
>> > was told the driver had been sent out of his area, and so didn't know of
>> any
>> > garages within ten miles. What I'd like to know is when the "tow you to a
>> > local garage" part of the deal became "tow you to a local garage within
>> ten
>> > miles".
>>
>> I'm with Green Flag. When my Disco blew a water pump in London they were
>> happy to take me back to Suffolk.
>>
>> TonyB
>>
>>
>
>Green Flag wont cover 110 CSW's though.
>
>Richard
They covered mine without comment - needed to use them last year when
the injector pump failed and they had no problem recovering the car.

Will
'98 300TDi 110 CSW
--
lancre dot net - The personal domain of Will and Cath Wilkinson.
Send e-mail to news dot will at lancre dot net

PGP Fingerprint E089 1736 A023 9E5C AFA3 0B40 E5DC D80A 9E1F D521
Public key can be obtained from ldap://certserver.pgp.com

 

S

SimonJ

Guest

• Mar 29, 2005

• #19

> > The AA and RAC's limits are 3.5 tonnes. What landie do you drive?
> >
> > FWIW, I'm jut about to go out to a 110 Defender OBO the AA, hope I can
give
> > a little better service than you received!
> >
> >
>
> The AA refused me cover on a 110 CSW too
>
Cant think why they refused cover, I go out to many 110's for the AA

 

S

SteveG

Guest

• Mar 29, 2005

• #20

'Tis quite possible

Regards

Steve G



beamendsltd wrote:

> From the descriptions you and I have a higher level of cover
> than the first two posters, i.e. take your vehicle home rather
> than just to the nearest garage.
>
> Richard
>