Really good news @welshspencer, sorry for the thread drift but that is what the forum is here for, helpful answers but useful related advice along the way. 
Bon voyage. 
Very well done and so glad you look like making it home where I hope you will get it fixed.
Do the experts here think the original French garage should have done anything different?
Yes, lateral thinking about the other vans that are identical in all but name, Citroen C25’ loads around and spares should be easy to obtain. Eurocarparts is a very large compny and supply across the EU and 3rd nations. Alternator in question is a std Bosch part.
1 Like
Having read and re-read the thread… reckon there is insufficient detail to allow me (or OH who is the expert…) to pass judgement… so I’ll step back from this thread now…
To say that the garage lacks lateral thinking is ingenuous to say the least, on the occasional times that I have used the breakdown cover, my car was taken to the nearest main dealer, I don’t know if this was the case, but as a garage they would fit OEM parts for that vehicle regardless of others being available, mainly because if there is a problem afterwards they would be libel, with so much electroniques in a vehicule that is so sensitive can you blame them ,I think not.
A modern attitude taken by people who do not understand. This is an older vehichle with less tech, its basic.
2 Likes
As always you are right nobody knows but you
Whereas you do? Its an alternator. Would this chap be stranded if he was near me? Very doubtful, would have found a suitable replacement. You would probable schedule a meeting hahaha.
Some of are the people that get things done whilst others are standing around wondering.
1 Like
I have put the point of view of the garage as usual you know better fair enough.
Let me ask you this what would be your reply be if the alternater had failed after it had been replaced by a none OEM part. by the garage?
Sorry not going to waste what is left of my life on pointless hypothesis.
No but you would slag off the garage
As you know I am no expert but what I do know is that the big shiny garages have got no time for an ageing car and the smaller scruffy garages are more willing to help.
4 Likes
When we broke down near St Jean de Luz we were told that it would be 4 weeks before they could look at the car…not one garage but several.
1 Like
Know what you mean I took my 15 year old non working alternator to my local garaged and asked them for a replacement, they sent me to a local sparky who had a quick look and the asked if I had a soldering iron . He then sold me 2 carbon/graphite brushes for 5 Euros I must
have saved over 150 Euros thanks to the help from a small garage
4 Likes
That’s the spirit! I always try to fix before I replace.
I had a problem with selecting reverse gear in my Saab. and the local ‘specialist’ suggested a solution that would require removing the engine and gearbox. With a little Googling and reference to a Haynes manual, I identified wear in a specific nylon bush as the cause of the problem. I replaced it with an identically sized metal bush and the gearshift then worked better than new. It took a couple of days for the part to de beliveredplus about 2 hours of my time. Saved probably €600…
6 Likes
It is about thinking things for yourself. I arranged the return of our car to our region and the return of the rented car without returning to the breakdown region. The Insurance co played no part in this.
It was supposed to be 170 but they over charged me. 244 and my van is not 3500 in weight .Didn’t offer any help took me to where they wanted not where I wanted didn’t give me an hour assistance and was not interested
hi all decided to stop of again to charge both battery up at a motorhome site in arras as the sun is not out and lesuure battery is now flat. Rather than risk it and break done again. As I have no way now of checking how much power is left in the cab battery so stop over to charge both batterys
Re the garage could they have done anything better. Yes they were very unhelpful they charged me 244 when. I should have been 170 as my van is not 3500 kg I pointed this out to them and showed them the weight. They just played dumb. They didn’t ask me where I like to go. Just dumped me in a car Park outside there garage and left me. Called one person for parts then said no. Most other garges would if rung around different places and got that part or found someone to fix the alternator
All they were Intretsed in was recovery money
But anther garage in the town like I said was very helpful to me and got me going again and didn’t charge me anything. So I did find a good one.
2 Likes
I’m afraid my experience with French garages is closer to Corona’s. Despite nice people in all of them, and I’m very happy with and recommend them for different things.
But it’s me learning about French culture as quite a few other sorts of tradesmen I might need may not have as flexible a mindset to solve problems too. But as Flocreen says who can blame them with the constraints and requirements on them. Though I do find it intensely frustrating sometimes. Occasionally I’ve wondered if I was in Germany not France with the rigidity of the mindset.
If the correct service was not given or overcharged ( but maybe charge base is type of vehicle not just weight) then could perhaps make an official complaint to the regulating entity? I could imagine if service requirements were not adhered to rigorously this would be taken seriously. You’d have to have documentation and would there be a time limit to complain?
1 Like
Really shows us that money is not hard to come by here in France, Most people seem to be making a decent living
1 Like