Bloody AA + others!

General General Lotus Talk
1

What a nightmare of a day.

Alternator went pop at Snetterton (just as I was leaving) on Saturday so called the AA.
No problem they said we will send a patrol out. After a bit of arguing about who they think would be able to change an Alternator on an Exige at the roadside, they said the would call back with timing.
Recovery truck turned up at the exact time they said, however speaking to the driver, his company, not the AA, decided to just send the truck, and to send a low ride height freindly version, despite me requesting it the AA said nothing.

Obviously the issue of where the car was to was broached with the AA in the initial call. As it was already 5pm and Nick Whale in Brum would have been closed, it was recovered to my home address in Coventry to be onward moved on Monday.

Monday morning arrives AA refuse to move the car as the 25-30miles is not classed as a local move, they suggest I should have had the car taken to Nick Whale on Saturday night and left there until monday morning, on the road outside! Yeah right, like the car would still have been there 36 hours later.
20 mins of abuseing the AA on the phone got me nowhere (as expected, but it was fun ) I move onto plan B.

Lotus Assistance. As I have still got some warranty (hence why it’s off to the dealers to change the alternator) it comes with breakdown recovery.

So they send out a recovery wagon. Arrives at home and driver whinges on about how he has never seen a car as low as this, is it used on the road etc etc, he basically refuses to uplift and pisses off! Luckily for them I was at work and SWMBO was dealing with them.

On the phone to Lotus Assist again, after a few choice words, they apologise profusely, and go off the abuse the original garage and find a low ride height friendly truck, this takes 45mins. This will then take 75mins to get to my home. SWMBO is walking the kids to school at that exact time so I tell them to wait 30mins before sending the truck.
This it seems was too simple. LA had to call garage 30mins later to tell them to go collect the car. LA couldn’t guarantee they would remember so could I call back in 30mins to remind them .

Considering 1st call to AA was at 8am the car was eventually collected at 1:30pm!

I certainly will not be renewing with the AA in September, so that is �200 a year they have lost!

2

Sorry to hear that Mark.

So far the AA have been pretty good to me…but I know it’s only a matter of time before I get a similar story.

You seen/considered the Eliseparts alternator upgrade? Any signs that the alternator was going to go pop?

Hope it gets smoother from here on in.

Ian

3

Mark

it could have been worse - i drove down to Snetterton from leeds only to have the Sunday session cancelled due to snow and ice on the track…at least you got some track time!

4

Ian,

It’s a bit weird. Battery light flashes a lot on track. This time it was very bad so I missed the last session. When leaving it needed a jumpstart. Then the light came on permanantly.

Recharged it at home Sat night and then tried it Sunday morning and it worked and the light stayed off. Seems to pack up only when hot.

Eliseparts one won’t come under warranty unfortunatly.



Steve,

Heard on Sunday morning that it was snowing in Norfolk. Saw lots of people arriving on Saturday night while sat on the verge at the entrance.

5

Mark

That deffo sounds like the alternator is knackered - happened to mine at about 21K miles, & I replaced with a recon unit which cost about �80.

6

Yep Mark same problem late last year … I’m sure its the rectifier pack that gives up - had it all the time on road rallies … ( loads of lights and max revs )

Anyhow to cheer you up …

Was coming back from Wales on Sunday night in the tractor and it loses power = no boost - oh well I can trundle back at 40mph …

Sudden smell of burning oil, Mmmm its very smokey … OK take it easy must be turbo related …

This morning - yes sir your 48K Miles vehicle needs a new turbo - thats 1200 quid please

Land Rover customer (couldnt) care (less) Yes sir its most unusual at such a low milage but it is 5 years old … when the fcuk does age make any damn difference to an engine related major component? ( I ask) - sorry sir I’m not technical …

You wont get my next order I’ve spent 4K on this peice of crap in the last year… well we have beaten our sales budgets for the last 5 years sir … so you dont want my business then … You said that sir not me …Congratulations on passing the training course … Your invading my personal space sir I have to end this conversation … durrrrrrrrrr



Why do I want to drive the damn thing into the showroom window = Alternative see for sale section soon

7

Mine flickers occasionally at night, under max revs. I’m sure it’ll need changing soon, but it’s gone through more than one trackday with no probs so far.

Ian

8

Mine flickers occasionally at night

Mine used to…when I was younger

9

Well I can agree that the AA are a bunch of useless b’tards who will not be getting my money again! So far they’ve never manged to get me going again and always amanged to say “Sorry sir but what you actually NEED isn’t going to happen unless you give us more money… 2 days prior”…

So going for the LoT deal, see how that is

Also on the Land Rover note, a guy at work just melted his Auto box on a 3 year old disco (I think), but no warnings of over heating, the ECU is supposed to shut down everything if iot get’s too hot to stop is blowing… So he has a totally demolished auto box, metal coming out of the sump!!! 3k to replace!!!

10

Land Rover customer (couldnt) care (less) Yes sir its most unusual at such a low milage but it is 5 years old … when the fcuk does age make any damn difference to an engine related major component? ( I ask) - sorry sir I’m not technical …

You wont get my next order I’ve spent 4K on this peice of crap in the last year… well we have beaten our sales budgets for the last 5 years sir … so you dont want my business then … You said that sir not me

Why do I want to drive the damn thing into the showroom window = Alternative see for sale section soon

I’ve a Grand Cherokee and for exactly the reason above I take it to Surrey Off Road Specialists in Dunsfold (near Plans MotorSport), they are Jeep and Landrover independants - great laid back service and very affordable - they have been know to customise a few Wolf Landrovers for the guys up in Hereford so obviously know their stuff…

M

11

Spoken to Nick Whale today.

New alternator to be fitted this week so I can collect on Saturday.

Nice when you still have some warranty left.

12

all’s well that ends well Mark… eh…