Yes . Not quite highlands, we were just in the Cairngorms national park near Balmoral. Last Thursday, gearbox problem. Motorhome is in a VW commercials garage in Aberdeen, they are struggling to get parts.....
It's not great, we're stuck in a Travelodge near the garage, they've got the gearbox off and the broken bit is the drive shaft between clutch an gearbox. Renault don't stock parts for the van (based on a Renault Trafic 2.5 diesel 1996). Now looking for a scrapyard with one. Found a transport company to take it home for £800 . But we'd have the same problem at home.
Update. we've contacted our recovery service and they are transporting the van home and giving us a hire car for 24 hours so our immediate problems are solved. Still got to source a gearbox and get it put in but at least we'll be at home.
Can you not join the RAC or AAand get a tow back with them? I’m sure they may charge a little extra, but not £800… Ignore, I see you’re sorted.
It's a 7hr trip by car, more with a trailer on the back two ways is 14hrs minimum £250 on fuel...£800 doesn't look bad
I didn't think it was a massive amount either. As posted earlier, we are sorted for getting home. Under the terms of the recovery, the garage has 1 working day to fix it otherwise they take you home, my partner Anne put her work head on (seems to be still working after a few years of retirement ) and sweet talked them....
Another update. We got home last Friday but no motorhome, called the garage in Aberdeen when it hadn't arrived on Monday to find it was still there. Finally it arrived home yesterday and today I bought a gearbox from a bloke on Facebook who's breaking an old Renault Trafic van, he's delivering it on Sunday. Just got to find a garage to fit it for me. Fingers crossed it all goes well.
Excellent news Brush. I’m surprised you actually understood what the Aberdonian was saying. They talk a different language there.
Daft question but if it’s the driveshaft that’s broken why do you need a new gearbox? Can’t you just replace the driveshaft?
Not a daft question, however, the splines in the end of the shaft engage on the main shaft inside the box, unfortunately both have been worn away. To repair it would be a complete gearbox overhaul - provided you can get the part(s) which would need replacing. Renault don't have parts for the vehicle so you'd struggle to get them, except from a scrap gearbox - which seem to be like rocking horse crap. A straight swap of the gearbox is the simplest solution. The one we're getting is costing £500 + £90 for delivery. We had a gearbox problem last year which may have been a precursor of the eventual failure and was quoted £1100, for our box to be reconditioned.
