RAC No refund Rip off.

goldspanners

Keith wrote: »

The car was recovered over 40 miles and whilst I know they don't carry every spare part in the vans, they really should carry a Ford expansion cap, they may do but the contractor was simply sent to get the car back to our home.

im a service engineer and would you beleive every single machine i go to that needs parts that i dont keep on my van stock the customer always says "what do you mean you will need to come back, do you not keep any in your van?" they say this about everything. if i had to keep evey single part that might get broken damaged for evey kind of machine i fix i would eed a few artics following me around. an expansion bottle cap isnt a consumable part, i don't and won't keep these on my van stock. if it came off it came off for a reason,usually a serious one or one that was the operators fault. not a common part to just fail

Keith

Premier wrote: »

They don't just fall off or break if the vehicle is in good condition and well maintained.

The rubber in the cap gets old and so the cap no longer seals, allowing water to leak from the expansion cap. How does a well maintained vehicle prevent something from aging?

Goldie - Having seen over the years the random bits that are in the back of the AA vans, citroen ignition amp for a 20 year old car springs to mind, an expansion cap for a modern car isn't too much to expect, especially when if you buy a new Ford there assist line probably sends an AA van.

bryanb

Keith wrote: »

The rubber in the cap gets old and so the cap no longer seals, allowing water to leak from the expansion cap. How does a well maintained vehicle prevent something from aging?

Answer - By replacing old worn parts.

goldspanners

Keith wrote: »

The rubber in the cap gets old and so the cap no longer seals, allowing water to leak from the expansion cap. How does a well maintained vehicle prevent something from aging?

Goldie - Having seen over the years the random bits that are in the back of the AA vans, citroen ignition amp for a 20 year old car springs to mind, an expansion cap for a modern car isn't too much to expect, especially when if you buy a new Ford there assist line probably sends an AA van.

when you check the condition of your coolant you would see an aged and deteriorating rubber seal.

how many expansion caps would you like every AA van in the uk to carry then for every modern vehicle?

i have plenty of random bits aswell in my van but they get there for a reason,i try to stock all common parts but i cant keep everything. but i can get the machine to a safe area and i can diagnose what is wrong and i can order the correct parts and return to fit them. it isnt the AA's fault you didnt check or replace the ageing seal on the cap.

bryanb

Keith wrote: »

I know they don't carry every spare part in the vans, they really should carry a Ford expansion cap,

And Citroen glow plugs please, one of mine has gone.

motorguy

Keith wrote: »

an expansion cap for a modern car isn't too much to expect

You're right. And Vauxhall ones. Peugeot ones too. BMW's are popular so they should keep a stock of all those. Mercedes. I see a lot of those on the roads, so best keep a stock of expansion caps for those too. Rovers - still lots about.

In fact, why cant they just have vans sitting ready stocked with nothing but expansion caps? I bet the RAC do.

:rolleyes:

lincroft1710

Pgilc - you forgot Renaults, Saabs, Volvos, Mazdas, Subarus, Suzukis, Mitsubishis, Hondas, Hyundais, Daihatsus, Kias, Fiats, Citroens, Toyotas, Skodas, Alfas, Nissans.......

Keith

So we are all quick to point out that the AA shouldn't carry a collection of expansion caps, yet fail to point out why they carry ignition modules for a 20 year old Citroen? Or as they likely assist every new Ford they probably do carry a limited number of Ford parts in the vans, for example coil packs (hello Focus drivers).

I like the way no one has justified the way they suggest driving a car which is leaking oil, which was probably due to the paperwork involved in the tow rather than anything else.

Goldie - Coolant is every 3 years, I checked levels back in May during it's service, the expansion cap which I replaced looked identical to the replacement without taking it apart there was no way to show that it was faulty.

goldspanners

Keith wrote: »

So we are all quick to point out that the AA shouldn't carry a collection of expansion caps, yet fail to point out why they carry ignition modules for a 20 year old Citroen? Or as they likely assist every new Ford they probably do carry a limited number of Ford parts in the vans, for example coil packs (hello Focus drivers).

I like the way no one has justified the way they suggest driving a car which is leaking oil, which was probably due to the paperwork involved in the tow rather than anything else.

Goldie - Coolant is every 3 years, I checked levels back in May during it's service, the expansion cap which I replaced looked identical to the replacement without taking it apart there was no way to show that it was faulty.

if you were driving a 20 year old citroen im sure you would be happy he had that part if you needed it.

im a focus driver, my coil packs been fine for 5 years,but having said that i have bought a new oem one for a bargain price of £30 just incase,due to hearing of a few that have gone recently i think i might even swap it soon just incase.

ive been towed before by the AA there was no paperwork. you might find the reason might have something to do with statistics, the guys are on bonus if they dont fix the car and have to tow it then they dont get bonus, but if they fix it they get bonus, i know they didnt fix it but maybe the guy was working the AA's system a bit to make a few more quid, who knows?

mchale

Goldie - Coolant is every 3 years, I checked levels back in May during it's service, the expansion cap which I replaced looked identical to the replacement without taking it apart there was no way to show that it was faulty.[/QUOTE]


I think you will find that you should check fluid levels on your car once a week (some manufacturer's even suggest ever time you refuel),

so if you had being maintaining your car properly, you would have noticed the water loss/leaking rad cap