You may remember what happened to our FREEDOM motorhome at the end of October last year, when we were on our way to Kristinehamn to give a lecture on motorhome travel in Europe? All of a sudden, in the middle of the motorway, the motorhome stopped working and we had to stop at the side of the road and wait for the recovery team.
Since then it has been at the workshop in Kristinehamn and when Peter called on Friday ... it turned out that the windscreen wiper motor is still faulty!
Table of contents
Long time in the workshop
Our poor motorhome has been in the workshop for a long time now. We have been surprised that the workshop has not called, but have not been in a hurry because it has been winter. Now spring is very much on its way, and of course we want our motorhome back! Peter called on Friday and was told that it is not ready at all.
Clogged fuel filter
The whole thing probably started with a clogged fuel filter. In fact, we had problems last summer with diesel dripping from the bonnet on a few occasions. We then returned it to the workshop in Stockholm and were then told that the filter was fixed. But the question is whether it really was ...?
A small explosion
What happened on the motorway was a small explosion in the fuel filter. This damaged the earth cable to the battery and a connector to the windscreen wiper motor. The workshop has now replaced the fuel filter and repaired the earth cable. The remaining fault is the connector to the windscreen wiper motor.
How to get a contact?
Changing the small connector for the windscreen wiper motor is apparently a simple operation. If you have such a connector, that is! These connectors cannot be bought new, so the workshop is forced to buy the whole package of windscreen wipers and everything related to it.
It will not only be more expensive in terms of purchases but also significantly more complicated (and more expensive of course) to change. So that's why the motorhome is still standing still... The garage has promised to call around and look for a contact and in the meantime we can only wait. Any tips?
Saturday "consolation"
When you are without a motorhome, you have to try to pick yourself up in some other way. Last night it was with some good food and drink. Not crayfish season? No, maybe not, but they were in the freezer at Martin Olsson's ... And we tried "Sumpan Ale" for the first time. Really good!
Lennart says:
Sorry about the campervan, the season starts now for some!
02 April 2017 - 7:02
Helena says:
Yes, we had probably thought that the season would start about now ...
02 April 2017 - 7:59
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
Is the connector on the windscreen wiper motor or to it,
The windscreen wiper motor should be in the scrapyard search on Googel
The contact shows a picture of it!
02 April 2017 - 7:26
Helena says:
Thanks for the tips! It's a bit difficult to photograph the part because the car is in Kristinehamn, but maybe you can find pictures online? According to the workshop, they have not found at the scrappers either ...
02 April 2017 - 8:02
Mr Steve says:
Car repair shops' poor ratings in market tests have once again proved to be correct. Sad for you, of course, but you know the art of turning adversity into success. Crayfish with accessories is undoubtedly a good way to ease the disappointment.
Let's hope for a quick solution and get you back on the road soon.
02 April 2017 - 7:39
Helena says:
The fuel filter thing is a bit odd. We are going to look for the receipt. We thought we had fixed the problem ...
02 April 2017 - 8:04
Matts Torebring says:
But! Poor you, you have it worse than us. At least we know what it will cost, and we know when our new motorhome will be ready. I console myself with the fact that everything will be top notch at home when we leave late in the day. I got a new name for it this morning over coffee. We have "Sabbath spring" from the motorhome.
02 April 2017 - 7:44
Helena says:
"Sabbath spring", haha. How long do you have to wait before the motorhome arrives?
02 April 2017 - 8:04
Matts Torebring says:
About two more months, it is said...
02 April 2017 - 8:57
Husis blog says:
I don't like being in a workshop because my owners take better care of me. However, I hope that "your" workshop will resolve this soon so that FREEDOM can get out on the road. You can look at it positively from the point of view that you have saved FREEDOM's winter storage costs.
02 April 2017 - 8:14
Helena says:
Well, we hope to get on the road soon!!!
02 April 2017 - 11:13
Ama de casa says:
Wow what time it has taken... But it's the small, small details that make it... Hope they / you find that little thing quickly! At car junkyards it is usually possible to find odd things (I have heard). Sollentuna car dismantling perhaps? If it is still there.
Looked delicious with crayfish! I wonder what it looks like in the freezers here in the Scandinavian shops? Maybe it is possible to find a bargain... The Spanish Spanish crayfish that you find in similar packages as the Swedish Spanish crayfish are not good at all. Tastes nada... 🙂
Have a nice Sunday!
02 April 2017 - 9:25
Helena says:
Thanks for the tip, but apparently it seems to be difficult even with the scrappers. They want to sell the whole thing together because they earn more from it. Guess that's what we will have to do. Just waiting for a message from the workshop first ...
02 April 2017 - 11:14
Lars Permeln says:
Explosion in the fuel filter seems mysterious, it indicates some kind of gas formation that ignites. I think the root cause is something other than the fuel filter. Try to find a complete used coil engine. Certainly extremely difficult to find just a small connector. There are a lot of companies that sell used/refurbished car parts. Workshops usually know where these companies are located.
02 April 2017 - 9:26
Helena says:
It was indeed an explosion and probably could have started a much bigger fire. Scary! Thanks for the tips!
02 April 2017 - 11:16
Tia says:
The scrapyard is also our tip. We also had problems with diesel leakage on Hobby last summer. After changing the diesel filter you apparently have to tighten it with a special tool and our workshop didn't have that, hence the leak. We stopped at two Fiat garages in France where the first one just waved us away as if we were infected with something and the second one fixed it immediately without waiting for fifteen minutes without wanting to charge. There you can talk about service and interest in having a good reputation for your product. ?
I hope it gets better soon - spring goes by so quickly?
02 April 2017 - 9:47
Helena says:
Thanks for the tip about the scrapyard! However, it seems that it is difficult even there, because even they want to sell the whole thing together. I guess it will end up that way, but the garage hasn't given us a final answer yet on what they think we should do. We have also stopped at some workshops in France and received good help there.
02 April 2017 - 11:17
Seija Viitamäki-Carlsson says:
Check with our motorhome repair centre
065210030
Janne's car repair. A very good workshop, MEGA. They find used cars. Call!?
02 April 2017 - 10:00
Helena says:
Thank you, how sweet! I'll pass on all the tips to Peter 🙂 .
02 April 2017 - 11:19
Solan says:
Have zero knowledge, but you seem to have knowledgeable blogger friends. Keeping my fingers crossed for the motorhome's recovery. Hugs to you youngsters from Vita Classica in Bad Krozingen...
02 April 2017 - 10:13
Helena says:
Yep, many good tips in the comments here 🙂 Kurbad? Have a nice time!!!
02 April 2017 - 11:20
Jussi Lundell says:
Hello ......
Have you talked to Tore in Arboga he usually has a solution for most things.....
Greetings Tore......
Just a little tip.......
02 April 2017 - 10:33
Helena says:
Hi Jussi! We will say hello 🙂
02 April 2017 - 11:20
Monet says:
Must say that the whole story is strange to my now French car repair ears, a whole winter in the workshop and no action to make it work? Either they find a contact or, in the worst case, they have to replace the entire windscreen wiper motor? The car can't just be left like that. This would have been completely unthinkable in France, I can tell you. Here they would have pulled out all the stops, kept us informed and given us a quote for what they thought was the best solution. And solved the problem! Unfortunately, I have little experience with Swedish car repair shops, including the branded ones. The difference between how things are done here cannot be described. The car is taken care of right away, during the repair period you get a loaner car free of charge and most things are solved within one or two days. French mechanics are characterised by professional pride and a high level of technical know-how plus an inherent service spirit. In fact, I think you need to stand up for yourselves. You need the car for reporting trips too, don't you? Insist that the car is used in the service, maybe that will help. To me it sounds more like a lack of commitment than difficulties in finding the right spare part. Also thinking about the problems you had with it stalling on and off during the European trip and my husband telling you that you could continue to drive but that you ran the risk that one day it would stop, just as it did. I remember him saying that he was not surprised when I told him what had happened to you. Will ask him again what he thinks about it all if you want?
02 April 2017 - 10:46
Helena says:
Hi Monet and thanks for your long comment! 🙂 Yes, of course it is strange that it has been in the workshop for so long ... It is of course part of the matter that we have not called and nagged because we do not have winter tyres on it ... But now we have to start working on it! The error we had during the European trip was another one. We changed the throttle when we got home, so that's completely fixed now! This is something else ...
02 April 2017 - 11:23
Monet says:
Glad the second error was fixed. Still agree with others that this new one should have been fixed a long time ago. Hope it resolves well and quickly. Our dear Liberty was sold last autumn to a younger couple who immediately drove it south and took the opportunity to visit us. Completely unexpected to see the car again and a little sad it was. But each thing has its time ...
02 April 2017 - 15:34
Helena says:
I understand that it felt a little sad, but just as you say, each thing has its time! Hopefully you have good memories, and other things to look forward to!
03 April 2017 - 17:34
mygodastefinest says:
What a luxurious motorhome you have! Keep your fingers crossed that it can be quickly fixed!
Hugs Jenny
02 April 2017 - 10:54
Helena says:
Our motorhome is getting a bunch of years old, but we still love it 🙂.
02 April 2017 - 11:23
Henny says:
What a sad story, I hope the problem with the plug is resolved soon. I do think that the workshop you had to use has been abnormally slow. Have they worked with Freedom only when there was nothing else to do? A little phase 3 so to speak. If nothing else, they should have kept you updated on what was done during the months it was there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a quick solution so you can get back on the road.
02 April 2017 - 11:34
Helena says:
Yes, it always feels slow ... We haven't rushed them because it was winter and we wouldn't have the campervan, but still ...
03 April 2017 - 17:29
Role o Carina says:
Ugh so sad more der Freedom, hope it resolves quickly now!
We will soon bring home our Matrix, aiming for the Easter premiere, Can't wait 🙂 .
Enjoy the spring sunshine .....
02 April 2017 - 12:07
Helena says:
It's great to have an Easter premiere! Have fun!
03 April 2017 - 17:30
Goatfish says:
You want to feel luxury even with your motorhome, don't you? 😀 not just luxury dinner 😉
Yes, my goodness, what a mess that can make, in my opinion a small thing that becomes a mountain.
Nice commentators to help you with tips!
Now I have come home from the deep forests of Värmland, which gave me quiet peace and community. Handing out an accompanying cyber hug <3
02 April 2017 - 14:27
Helena says:
Yes, it is clear that we long for our motorhome!!! It sounds like you had a good time in the Värmland forests, wonderful!
03 April 2017 - 17:31
Across the board says:
There is always a lot of pressure from now on at hb-workshops. So even on this one I guess. That they have not fixed this throughout the long winter, I think it feels strange! (and careless....) Good luck!
02 April 2017 - 14:46
Helena says:
Yes, a bit strange actually ... Let's see if something happens now that we have started "nagging"!
03 April 2017 - 17:31
BP says:
Poor Freedom. I really hope it works out and that you don't have to take Freedom to the garage for "winterisation".
Your comfort meal was really worth it. Funny by the way that you can buy crayfish legs all year round now (even at my local ICA;-) ).
02 April 2017 - 19:49
Helena says:
I still think it feels a little strange to eat crayfish this time of year ... but it was good! 🙂
03 April 2017 - 17:32
Ruth in Virginia says:
VINDRUTETORKAREMOTOR - 20 letters in ONE word!
Surely there must be some shorter word or punctuation, e.g.
"windscreen wiper motor". Just wondering. 🙂
Well, in any case.
02 April 2017 - 23:23
Helena says:
Haha, you've been over there on the other side of the pond for too long! Here in Sweden we like long words! Joking aside, I can agree that it was a long and awkward word!
03 April 2017 - 17:33
Christine - 29°. says:
How sad that it takes such time and that the contact is so difficult to get hold of. Understand that you want the motorhome back now that spring is coming (which I think it looks like by looking at various different instagram accounts) 🙂.
05 April 2017 - 6:47