What do you expect, or have experienced, with the various breakdown services? For example a headlight bulb on a long night trip.
Assuming you are travelling overnight to get to a ferry, your car is one of those that needs some dismantling, but you carry a spare bulb.
In other words, what `situation` entitles you to service if its other than outright conking out and being immobilised?
What experiences have you had in such `modern situations`
Regards
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I would suggest that anything which impedes your progress, such as a flat tyre, is worthy of a call-out.
As for the duff bulb, it seems almost mandatory to have only one dip beam these days! I understand that in some cases the front bumper needs to be removed, I would not expect the AA to do that. I think the general guidelines tend to be "if it can't be fixed within an hour with the tools available it's a recovery job" which seems reasonable.
I had a headlamp go on an old 6-volt 1942 Harley some years ago as it was getting dusk; my route home was street-lit all the way, so the fitter rigged up a temporary light to get me home, went to quite a bit of trouble too. If they can fix it so you can get home safely they should do so.
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I'd love to know a definitive answer to the bulb question. As you say, it's a dismantling job on many cars (apparently even cars as mundane as Ford Ka need the wheel arch liner undoing).
As the car is technically unroadworthy, then I would be dismayed if the breakdown organisations wouldn't repair. What are you supposed to do, put up overnight somewhere and have the car recovered to the nearest dealer?
Edited by Bill Payer on 13/04/2008 at 12:07
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I wouldn't expect a recovery man to start dismantling a car on the hard shoulder of a motorway during daylight, let alone at night.
There are probably insurance implications for how far they could go with a repair without the proper tools/knowledge. I doubt the recovery organisation wants to leave themselves open to allegations of not fixing a wheel arch liner back properly, even though it was dark, cold, wet and they were only trying to be helpful etc etc.
Edited by Chris M on 13/04/2008 at 12:14
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a dismantling job on many cars (apparently even cars as mundane as Ford Ka need the wheel arch liner undoing).
A bit off topic, but you don't need to take out the wheel arch liner to change the headlight bulb on a Ford Ka. What you do need are long fingers, a screw driver, a good source of light to figure out what is attached to where and how, as bulbs only seem to go when it's dark and raining, a lot of patience and noone in the vicinity to get upset about your swearing. I know, I have the badly scuffed knuckles to prove it!
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I' ve only ever used breakdown services twice, both times for recovery of written off accident damaged cars to my home. (neither my doing i hasten to add).
Purely out of interest RAC were straight on the phone to recover their costs from insurance, Autohome didn't try to recover their costs.
Don't think i could ever call them out to a puncture unless i had two punctures, and with something like a headliamp bulb, i personally would not own a vehicle that i couldn't change any bulb on reasonably quickly with a pair of pliers or a screw driver.
(not hi jacking your thread Oilrag, but a compound manager was telling me the other day that a special tool is required to fit rear bulbs on the current megane, if this is correct its lunacy, as he says that renault only allow i such tool to each dealership, i'm unsure how much is hearsay).
I suppose i'm reluctant to use the breakdown service for something easily fixable by me as its sort of using a life up, similar to claiming for a minor accident.
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Id say if it won't go, it's broken down. I had to call out the breakdown once because I only had a gallon or so of fuel in the tank, parked on a hill and the fuel ran away from the pipe.
To change a headlight bulb on mine you have to take out the expansion tank and that's far from the worst.
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The RAC (and possibly others too) define entitlement as follows:
"?Breakdown? is where the vehicle is inoperative and/or has ceased to function as a whole as a result of a mechanical or electric failure. A component failure (e.g. air-conditioning failure) in itself does not constitute a breakdown unless it causes the vehicle to cease to function as a whole."
" If you call us for assistance following an accident, fire, theft or act of vandalism or other incident covered by a policy of motor insurance, you will be liable to pay us for the costs of removal. "
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I'm with CSMA and they say:
Standard Cover - £49.50
A road rescue service that begins 1/2 mile from home and offers recovery throughout the UK. If Britannia Rescue can't solve the problem at the roadside, they will take you, your vehicle and up to 7 passengers to a UK destination of your choice.
* Roadside Assistance
* Nationwide Recovery
* Caravan and Trailer Cover*
* Help in case of Theft or Vandalism
* Relief Driver
Seems pretty comprehensive.
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A road rescue service
Read their small print to find out how that is defined. Then post their definition here as to when you qualify for free help. The RAC definition of "breakdown" is found in their full terms and conditions document.
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Read their small print to find out how that is defined
Here are the extracts from:
www.csma.uk.com/aboutus/brochures/pdf/Britannia-Re...f
" Vehicles must be in proper roadworthy condition and should be serviced and maintained in line with manufacturer guidelines and meet all legal regulations, including, if appropriate, having an MOT certificate. It is your responsibility to ensure that all vehicles are kept in this condition throughout the period of cover and we may ask for proof in the event of a dispute. The service does not cover vehicles which, in the opinion of the agent attending the vehicle, were not roadworthy or were broken down before your membership began.....
We do not cover normal vehicle maintenance and will charge you for any services that are not covered by the policy you have purchased including all its terms and conditions. ....
You must tell us if you are covered for services by any other insurance policy or can claim against another person. We may ask you to include our invoice in your claim against the other person or against your other policy to recover or reduce our costs. ....
In the event of a road traffic accident we may ask you to contact your motor insurance company in the first instance to arrange recovery to ensure you receive your full entitlements. If assistance is not available for whatever reason, we will provide the services as shown under your
cover entitlement. ....
Standard Cover
If your vehicle cannot be driven because of a breakdown, ....
Comprehensive Cover
We will provide help if the vehicle fails to start within half a mile of your address .... "
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Seems some subjectivity there on behalf of the agent?
I wonder how flexible they all are if one were to just carry a credit card, not be a customer, then ring them up if broken down and offer to join for a higher price?
It just occurs to me that with years passing on average with using breakdown agencies that could be coat effective? If they do it that is.
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I'm not sure what point you think you're making, jbif.
The maintenance, MOT stuff is all standard. You don't call out the RAC to service your car.
Standard cover is breakdown including not starting away from home. Most rescue policies won't start you on your drive or close to where you live. Comprehensive cover will even start you even if you're only half a mile from your home or at home.
I've had this cover for about 20 years and never, on the rare occasions I've used it, had an argument.
Currently my wife and I have "personal cover" so I'm covered on her car, mine and any other I drive. She's covered on hers, mine and any other she drives. Comprehensive all events.
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I personally would consider changing a bulb to come under "normal vehicle maintenance"; maybe it's because I was trained as a mechanic in my Army days, but IMHO the driver should be able to perform such a simple task. As has been said on this and many previous threads, the fact that it can nowadays involve substantial dismantling of the vehicle is simply ludicrous, and does not reflect well on the manufacturers.
I will not buy any car or motorcycle which needs special tools or skills to change bulbs, fuses, or a wheel. It is high time this was highlighted in the motoring press to encourage manufacturers to think differently.
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