Help!!! Motorhome is due for it's interim service and we think it needs cam belt, tensioners and waterpump doing as no p/work from previous owners. (Its a fiat ducato 2.8 turbo diesel, s reg with 45k on clock)
At a loss of a reputable garage based in or near Huddersfield. West Yorkshire.
Thoughts anyone
All help gratefully appreciated. We need to go brumming on hols soon😄
Local Fiat garage, pay the price and you know it has been done properly. Many garages do not like working on older vehilces because it may open a can of worms but Fiat garage can hardly refuse you. Otherwise try Brick werks nr you. They work on old VW campers mostly but may do yours.
Hello. We took our aged Talbot based Autosleeper to Calder valley motorhome garage in Ravensthorpe (very close for you!) for MOT and habitation service. It was busy so clearly it's popular, but it was very expensive and the fridge didn't work after they had checked it!
Also it didn't run very well afterwards, so took it to the garage where we take our very old Triumph Spitfire, not a motorhome specialist but they know how to deal with older vehicles. CMP in Knottingly so a bit further but not too bad. They did a good job at a good price.
I've also driven past a motorhome garage near Elland, no idea what it's called.
Another idea! If you bought it locally, have a look at where it had its last MOT as that might be a garage that deals with Motorhomes or older vehicles - that's how we found CMP - they'd done the MOT on the Spitfire.
Just taken my motorhome to Calder Valley Motorhomes in Ravensthorpe for its annual service, MOT & Habitation check and what a brilliant service I got.
After reading an earlier post regarding a fridge not working after it being checked, I asked the garage if they turn off the gas supply after they have checked everything and as I had guessed, they do turn off the gas at cylinder as a matter of safety, so earlier poster - did you check to see if your cylinder was off before posting on here?
Anyway, after receiving a poor after sales from a dealer who incidentally outsources their servicing anyway, I decided to take my motorhome to someone who knew what they were doing - Calder Valley motorhomes And am I glad I did!
Service = Excellent. - Kept me informed throughout.
Rates = Good value for money.
Outcome = motorhome is now running better than ever with everything set up running wise as you'd expect.
Service, MOT and Habitation all checked.
I even got a courtesy car whilst they had my motorhome.
Now, I could have taken it to a cheaper back street garage or to a garage that doesn't look after motorhomes, but it's 'horses for courses'. I wouldn't buy a dog and then stand barking myself. so, I took it to someone who specialises in motorhomes, someone who owns motorhomes and who knows what they're talking about. You get what you pay for. = Quality!
You don't spend thousands on a motorhome and then skimp on its maintenance.
Each to their own though. Would I return? Definitely!
Oh, and by the way, they also cater for cars, vans and classics!!
In my opinion motorhome service centres often play on the at that because buyers have paid considerable ammounts for their vehicles they will pay high prices for maintenance. A dealer local to me is quoting over £400 for a cam belt change on a 1999 2.8 Fiat whilst a local commercial service centre is happy to complete the job for under £300 using Fiat parts. Remember the base vehicle is stil a Fiat Ducato as used by hundreds of white van persons who are against over inflated mainteneace prices.
If motorhome is out of warranty then don't go anywhere near motorhome dealer workshop for service. As pointed out go to a commercial garage for vehicle service & habitation service you can do yourself on an ongoing basis. It's not difficult to check appliances are working ok.
Anybody with any sense does not drive with gas bottle turned on & a service centre does not turn off internal gas valves so one can assume fridge fault was overlooked.
A basic habitation service does not repair anything, it just checks for leaks & checks everything is working. It does not even include cleaning fridge burner.
If you do want a hab service or any appliance repairs then a mobile caravan service person is who to call, he will be cheaper & can do the job as motorhome hab service is little different to caravan..
I've always looked for a garage that specialises in commercial vehicles. Hopefully you could find one local to you.
As I now live in a rural location, my local garage handles everything from motorbikes, vans to Horse transporters. They also do a fantastic job servicing all sizes of motorhomes and cars.
I've never paid to have a full hab service done unless my van was under warranty.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
I have always used the local Fiat main dealer( D Salmon cars) in Weeley Essex who has over the past 4 years has given me good service.
Ok the prices are probably more than an independent garage but he has in the past also given me a small discount .
Had my cambelt, tensioner and waterpump done by him and I know he used the correct Fiat parts.
Would be nice to get some feedback from the originator of the post back in July last year.
If you have a smaller local family owned garage that is also a main dealer as with Salmon then you have best of both worlds. Usual problem with main dealers are that they are owned by large groups with management very far away from customer interface.
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Topic: Motorhome service
