Its been a mad 3 days. I've had to deal with this episode and at the same time another van that has a type of handbrake that makes it easier to get to the back from the front of the van. When you engage it, it then goes floppy and the handle will go back down to the floor. To release it, you pull it back up, put a bit of pressure on it, then press the button and lower it.
Its different - but easy to use.
Had a couple pick up 1 of these vans. Few days later, they call saying they can't release the handbrake. We do get calls like this and I tell them its not broken, just go through the process and it will release. They are adamant its broken. I tell them its not, but they don't believe me, I ask them to try again. This may go on for 20 minutes! Then all of a sudden they have released the hand brake.
Anyway, this one that called a week or so ago was answered by someone who obviously didn't want to put the effort in and just called a mechanic, who released it - just the normal way, no mechanicery required. Customer had to wait a lot longer than 20 minutes and we had a bill to pay.
They called back again Thursday, they can't release the hand brake. This time I answered it. They said its like before, I said yes and the guy came along and released it without having to fix anything. We go through the sequence of they say its broke, I say its not. In the end, even I got fed up with them and said, right I'll call a mechanic, but we will bill you if they release it without having to fix anything. So I calls a mechanic. He goes along and I get a call from him. Yeh, released the hand brake no problem, but the ABS lights are lit on the camper can we take it to our workshop and read the codes. Yes I says. He calls back a bit later... read the codes, cleared them, but they come back. So now its a warranty claim - the van is virtually brand spanking, only the 2nd hire, probably about 7k kms on it. So I ring the local VW dealership in Wellington and book it in. Then rings the customer back and ask them to take it to the dealers. No they say, its not safe! What! I ask, you have been driving it, why not now? Because the ABS is lit. But these lights have not just come on, they must have been on when you got to your campsite? No, they came on when the mechanic came. FFS, I don't believe that for 1 minute.
So I calls VW Roadside Assist, tells them we have a Crafter 50 that is booked in under warranty at a dealer, can they tow it please. Hang on they say, will call back. They calls back... No, Crafter 50 has an exemption from towing, its to heavy. FFS. So I call a tow truck, get them to shift it 11km on Friday morning.
Anyway, the dealer looked at it and comes back to me that the RH brake shoes have collapsed within the hub taking the ABS sensor out. Probable reason, being driven with the hand brake on.
Dealer tells me its been driven with the hand brake on, customer denies this, and denies the ABS was lit before the mechanic arrived.
This is obviously on going and I don't really know how helpful we should be. On the 1 hand they are a customer with a problem so we should help them, but I'm sure they have caused the problem, which has already cost us with tow & mechanic bills. I've told them it's possible the camper won't be fixed until Thursday and sounded them out on getting a plane up to Auckland to pick up another camper, but they say that is not an option.
So I've had these, together with all the day-to-day calls about missing power cables, electrics cutting out, how long will the batteries last, doors not closing, doors not opening etc and my 'day job' of checking the campers are OK before going out on hire. Was a 12.5 hour shift today... its why you lot have had my rant
