Breakdown Services

scudzilla

So what's people opinions of breakdown services here, do you think they're worth it?

Here's what happened to me this week

Last week i cancelled my AA membership after 6yrs, i've only used them once in that time and have a breakdown service with my insurance company.

On Thursday we the car failed to start in Dunboyne, 25km away from our gaff in Trim, rang the insurance companies breakdown and they sent a guy.

It seemed to me like a battery issue, and i did the old trick on a focus of holding down the odometer button and turning ignition, all faults come up on display then, fault 9318 came up, which is a low voltage/battery issue, no bother i thought, quick jump start and i'll be on me way.

Breakdown guy turns up and i tell him i need a jump, he connects the leads and nothing, still wouldn't start, he then check some fuses and the spark plugs, says it's a fuel issue as no fuel getting to engine, now i've had fuel issues before (not in this car), the car won't just stop dead, it splutters for a short while, which didn't happen here.

After close on an hour of messing about he said he couldn't fix it and that i'd need a tow.

Rang the insurance company breakdown and they said they would tow me 10km, no further, and that if i wanted to go to Trim, 25km away i had to pay myself, i rang a local trim guy who came and towed me home for 100Euro, dropping the car off at my local garage

Next day i rang the garage, my mechanic said that it looked like someone had put the jump leads on incorrectly and had blown the immobilisor fuse, car now working fine!! Total cost 100euro which included a new battery

Now have to try and claim back the 200euro i'm out of pocket

So should i stay with the insurance company or reejoin the AA?

CiniO

I once broke down in my wife's car 40 km away from home.
She has insurance policy with Aviva where breakdown assistance is included.
I rang them up, and towing truck showed up within 15 minutes.
I know what the problem was and I know it wasn't possible to repair on the spot, so he didn't even look under the bonnet as there was no point.
He loaded the car to the towtruck, and got me home, and put my car on my driveway which was exactly what I asked him. I didn't have to pay anything.

irish16

AS a mechanic of 20 years your story has a few holes. firstly you could read a code off a dash with a flat battery?The guy crossed the leads on the battery ? was there sparks? Did the car turn over after he crossed the leads cause if so they must have been on correct. I have seen afuel pump problem at anytime.You should youtube when leads are put on wrong see what happens. did he use leads ? most breakdown lads have a jump pack which trips if put on wrong ..I do reckon it was a blown fuse but crossed leads would do prob do way more damage . like fry a main fuse

martinr5232

That little 3 amp fuse can blow if the battery gets too flat ive seen it a hundred times thats why it wouldnt go with a jump.

kirving

If the voltage goes too low, the current will increase as the unit tries to draw the same amount of power, meaning that a fuse could blow.

irish16

SO its very possible that the lad who jumped this battery was had NOT crossed the leads.And the mechanic who replaced the fuse and claimed wrong jump star did not know that this fuse will blow if battery is flat??????

martinr5232

If he crossed the leads you would have more to worry about than a blown fuse.

dogmatix

scudzilla wrote: »

So should i stay with the insurance company or reejoin the AA?

Getting back on topic - yes. Rejoin the AA. I've had a number of issues down through the years and the AA have always sorted me out, but on the few occasions I've availed of the breakdown service provided by the insurance company, it's been patchy. So I have always renewed my annual AA membership, even if there is a service provided by the insurance company. Plus I like the fact that with the AA, it's the member who is covered, not the car. So I can use the service not matter what car I drive, even if I am a passenger.

I have no info on the RAC - do they operate in Ireland?

irish16

SOOOOO did ye get the money back ... What happened to the guy who was blamed in the wrong ? was he sacked? DID the 200 quid come out of his wallet .what was the outcome???????????????????????