Alko ATC Problem

RogersRamblers
RogersRamblers Forum Participant Posts: 4
edited February 2017 in Caravans #1

We picked up our new 2017 Elddis Crusader at the beginning of December, towed it the 40 miles from the dealers to home but when I went to release the stabiliser mechanism before maneuvering the van onto the drive I noticed the ATC light was now flashing red (it was solid green when we set off) indicating it had developed a fault.  I checked the towbar wiring was all in order before contacting our caravan dealer and booked the van in to be looked at.  After disconnecting the pushrod we returned the van to the dealers on a Saturday in January.  The dealer looked at the ATC and were unable to solve the issue so the ATC box was removed and sent back to ALKO to look at.  They have now been looking at it for 2 weeks and still it is not resolved.  We have our first booking to test the new van next weekend which I have just had to cancel to save falling foul of the late cancellation rules.  Not great service from ALKO, surely after 2 weeks they should be able to tell if its a major fault and requires replacing or minor and can be repaired?

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,152 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #2

    In the world of caravan dealers/manufacturers two weeks is but the blink of an eye - sorry.frown

  • RogersRamblers
    RogersRamblers Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited February 2017 #3

    Thanks Tinwheeler, I do forget that sometimes to some people time has no relevance.  Our dealer said they are trying to learn customer service from the car industry, I doubt if we'd spent that sort of money on a car and it had a brake problem I would be expected to crawl underneath it to disconnect something to make it safe for me to drive it back to the dealers and then almost 3 weeks on, still be without it.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,152 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #4

    The caravan/MH industry has a long, long way to go in terms of customer service and quality control, RR. I fear that as long as we customers keep giving them our money, we're not likely to see an improvement. As you might have guessed, I have a very low opinion of the whole industry. 

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited February 2017 #5

    RR

    You can tow it without the alko. The brakes still work, or should do. The alko is only to automatically apply the brakes selectively if you start to get a tank slapper.

    Paul

     

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #6

    You could do, but if like us you get a discount on your insurance for having ATC, I would not do it without informing the insurance company. After all it is a matter of record with the dealer and presumably Alko that it has currently been removed.

  • DanR
    DanR Forum Participant Posts: 39
    First Comment
    edited February 2017 #7

    Yes check ref the insurance if you are thinking of towing.

    Are you sure it is ALKO who are holding up the process and not the caravan dealer? It could be that they are blaming ALKO for their tardiness in sending the part off.  I would be inclined to contact ALKO direct.

    My dealings with ALKO in the past have been very swift, dealings with my caravan dealer, pretty poor really! I would not trust them to wash the van!

    Cheers Darren

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