Swift/Autocruise Motorhomes/PVCs - Habitation Servicing

[Mel B]

This thread is intended to give some useful INFORMATION to Swift/Autocruise motorhome/PVC owners - NOT for people to have a slanging match about the manufacturer!!! :D

 

I've been sorting out where to get our habitation service done when we get back off holiday which has been confusing as the handbook says the work must be done by a Swift Approved Workshop, but their website for our particular van (2012) says:

 

1. You must ensure that the habitation part of your motorhome has an Annual Service (see clause 2 below) within 90 days before or 60 days after each anniversary of the original date of purchase. In order to preserve your SuperSure and Body Shell Warranties the third Annual Service must, however, be carried out before the expiry of the 36 month period from the original date of purchase. If you have not performed an Annual Service then Swift will not be obliged to perform any work under the applicable warranty . Original VAT invoices must be retained as proof that Annual Service have been carried out.

 

2. The Annual Service on the body shell and habitation area must be carried out in accordance with the requirements in this handbook. You will be responsible for any charges made for an Annual Service. If the Annual Service is performed by an authorised Swift Group Service Centre then Swift warrants that the Annual Service has been performed correctly. If the Annual Service is performed by an unauthorised repairer or service centre then if the Annual Service has not been performed in accordance with the requirements in this handbook and/or work has been performed on your motorhome that is defective or faulty, then Swift will not be obliged to perform any work under this Warranty (insofar as it relates to defective or faulty work or defective Annual Service).

There are a couple of local NCC approved service workshops but NOT a Swift Group Service Centre. One of the NCC approved ones is a mobile workshop chap but he's not VAT registered (£80 for a full habitation and damp check), or FM Caravans who are VAT registered (£120 inc VAT for full habitation and damp check).

 

So I contacted Swift for clarification as to EXACTLY what I should do to comply with the warranty conditions and was told that, as there aren't many Swift Group Service Centres, and a dearth of them in this area in particular, they are now accepting habitation servicing carried out to their 'requirements' by service centres who are NOT Swift ones but who ARE NCC approved.

 

Unfortunately though as the mobile chap isn't VAT registered I was advised not to use him but to go to FM Caravans who Swift often recommend anyway. We have used FM in the past when we had to have work done on a previous van and they did a fantastic job so I don't have any qualms about going there.

 

So, contrary to what the handbook says, Swift will definitely accept habitation servicing carried out (to their standard) by NCC approved workshops so this should make it much easier for people to get it done without having to trek to a Swift Group approved one and, more than likely, make it a lot cheaper too!:-D

[Guest JudgeMental]

habitation service on a panel van.....they are having an almighty laugh at your expense sweetie :-D

[Brian Kirby]

But, remember it will be for you to prove the Swift requirements were met. How will you do that? If Swift provide a checklist of all items to be serviced, so that the service agent can tick them off, fine, as you would then have some documentary evidence at least to that level. But if Swift then decided, in their infinite wisdom, that the checked items had not been properly carried out they could still void the warranty, leaving you to pursue the service agent to remedy faults at his expense for the remaining duration of the warranty. I appreciate the cost and inconvenience of long journeys for service, but on a £K40 van, how much will you really save in three years? Is it worth it?

[Mel B]

Brian Kirby - 2013-05-07 7:36 PM

 

But, remember it will be for you to prove the Swift requirements were met. How will you do that? If Swift provide a checklist of all items to be serviced, so that the service agent can tick them off, fine, as you would then have some documentary evidence at least to that level. But if Swift then decided, in their infinite wisdom, that the checked items had not been properly carried out they could still void the warranty, leaving you to pursue the service agent to remedy faults at his expense for the remaining duration of the warranty. I appreciate the cost and inconvenience of long journeys for service, but on a £K40 van, how much will you really save in three years? Is it worth it?

 

Seeing as Swift have said that an NCC approved workshop is acceptable, and NCC workshops have to meet set standards why would that cause a problem? Plus Swift have specifically recommended using FM Caravans to me. :-S

 

All I'm doing is showing that Swift are happy with an NCC workshop which will help a lot of people and, to be honest, it's about time ALL manufacturers did this as it is a step in the right direction to avoid people being pressurised to use the original selling dealer at their not insubstantial prices for these things. If you want to go and pay 'dealer' prices Brian that's up to you, but if it's good enough for Swift, it's good enough for me! :-D

[Mel B]

JudgeMental - 2013-05-07 7:33 PM

 

habitation service on a panel van.....they are having an almighty laugh at your expense sweetie :-D

Really? Why??? I appreciate that there's not as much to do as on a coachbuilt, but there are still things that require checking to ensure the warranty is kept 'intact'.

[Guest JudgeMental]

Mel B - 2013-05-07 8:22 PM

 

JudgeMental - 2013-05-07 7:33 PM

 

habitation service on a panel van.....they are having an almighty laugh at your expense sweetie :-D

Really? Why??? I appreciate that there's not as much to do as on a coachbuilt, but there are still things that require checking to ensure the warranty is kept 'intact'.

 

with the CB I used to have the damp test yearly for about 50€ to keep the warranty valid. I have never had a habitation check in 20 + years. what exactly do they do...

[dshague]

i had the hab check done for the first three years on our pvc at my supplying dealer found a leaking window first year changed it .£150 and they supplied a loan car .its not a rip of for peace of mind ..

[Mel B]

JudgeMental - 2013-05-07 8:34 PM

 

Mel B - 2013-05-07 8:22 PM

 

JudgeMental - 2013-05-07 7:33 PM

 

habitation service on a panel van.....they are having an almighty laugh at your expense sweetie :-D

Really? Why??? I appreciate that there's not as much to do as on a coachbuilt, but there are still things that require checking to ensure the warranty is kept 'intact'.

 

with the CB I used to have the damp test yearly for about 50€ to keep the warranty valid. I have never had a habitation check in 20 + years. what exactly do they do...

 

I assume from what you've said though Eddie that it wasn't a REQUIREMENT for this to be done to keep your warranty, just a damp check? So you did what was REQUIRED to keep the water ingress warranty valid (thank goodness from the subsequent problem your van had!) ... believe me if there wasn't a requirement I wouldn't bother as I can do most of the checks myself, so would just have a damp and gas check carried out, but unfortunately that isn't an option.

[lennyhb]

Sounds a bit like rip off Britian again, like Fiats warranty UK supplied to keep warranty have have it serviced every year, continental supplied no annual requirement just every 28000 miles.

 

I've only ever had damp checks done, never had a problem with warranty claims. Supplying dealer suggested if you want a habitation check do it every 5 years, which seams sensible as gas hoses should be replaced every 5 years. Also worth checking the fridge jets & chimney flue every couple of years (I do it myself).

[Arthur Brown]

Hi

Fine if you have the knowledge and expertise to carry out these checks but the original post was to indicate Swift would acdept other NCC approved workshops carrying out their required checks. The thread then took a turn which suggests this habitation stuff is not really important. It is. Most of you have indicated that you do it yourself and that is fine but for the none experts it is still good practice, regardless of warranty issues, to check for damp, check the operation of all the gas appliances etc. Thanks Mel for the original information which is applicable to Swift owners. However, please do not think a habitation check is not important, One of mine identified a gas leak which was insignificant at the time but would have become a dangerous issue.

Art

[Keith T]

Not Swift based, but Burstner Motorhome: we had the habitation check done each year for warranty puposes for three years, then the following year just the damp and gas check, and on the 5th year a full check as the cost was not much greater than just damp and gas. Each time we used the Burstner appointed delear/service agent.

 

We are now on 6th year, so out of warranty, but did have a problem on the gas oven, which we have had sorted out, and gas check done (not through the Burstner dealer!) but a well know local caravan dealer down here, and the total cost far that was less than just a standard gas check had been previously

[Mel B]

lennyhb - 2013-05-07 9:11 PM

 

Sounds a bit like rip off Britian again, like Fiats warranty UK supplied to keep warranty have have it serviced every year, continental supplied no annual requirement just every 28000 miles.

 

Our Fiat service requirement is every 48,000 km (approx 30,000m) but they recommend, if the annual mileage is low, that the engine oil and brake fluid are changed every two years and between services that you check the fluid levels and perform routine checks.

 

The actual interval for changing the oil and replacing the engine oil filter depends on the vehicle usage conditions and is signalled by the warning light or message (if present) in the instrument panel (see chapter “Warning lights and messages”) or every 24 months

 

Also the warranty on our Fiat base vehicle is 3 years, I assume your van's is 2 years?

[Brian Kirby]

Mel B - 2013-05-07 8:07 PM

 

Brian Kirby - 2013-05-07 7:36 PM

 

But, remember it will be for you to prove the Swift requirements were met. How will you do that? If Swift provide a checklist of all items to be serviced, so that the service agent can tick them off, fine, as you would then have some documentary evidence at least to that level. But if Swift then decided, in their infinite wisdom, that the checked items had not been properly carried out they could still void the warranty, leaving you to pursue the service agent to remedy faults at his expense for the remaining duration of the warranty. I appreciate the cost and inconvenience of long journeys for service, but on a £K40 van, how much will you really save in three years? Is it worth it?

 

Seeing as Swift have said that an NCC approved workshop is acceptable, and NCC workshops have to meet set standards why would that cause a problem? Plus Swift have specifically recommended using FM Caravans to me. :-S

 

All I'm doing is showing that Swift are happy with an NCC workshop which will help a lot of people and, to be honest, it's about time ALL manufacturers did this as it is a step in the right direction to avoid people being pressurised to use the original selling dealer at their not insubstantial prices for these things. If you want to go and pay 'dealer' prices Brian that's up to you, but if it's good enough for Swift, it's good enough for me! :-D

 

This was clause 2 from your warranty.

 

"2. The Annual Service on the body shell and habitation area must be carried out in accordance with the requirements in this handbook. You will be responsible for any charges made for an Annual Service. If the Annual Service is performed by an authorised Swift Group Service Centre then Swift warrants that the Annual Service has been performed correctly. If the Annual Service is performed by an unauthorised repairer or service centre then if the Annual Service has not been performed in accordance with the requirements in this handbook and/or work has been performed on your motorhome that is defective or faulty, then Swift will not be obliged to perform any work under this Warranty (insofar as it relates to defective or faulty work or defective Annual Service)."

 

Read again that sentence beginning "If........." Who decides if the required standard has been met? Swift. I'm not knocking, just questioning the wisdom of the assumption you appear to have made. Your quote does not actually say that Swift is happy with an NCC approved workshop (unequivocal), it says they will be happy only providing the work is "performed in accordance with the requirements in this handbook" (highly equivocal) - which they (note) will decide. So back to my question. How much might you save?

 

If there is a dispute, using the NCC workshop you will have to argue your case: you may win, you may lose. If you use a Swift approved workshop there will be no argument, Swift will automatically accept that the work was done properly. They say so - unequivocally. So, for a difference of what, £100 per service x 3, over three years, you accept the risk that a fault may not be repaired f.o.c. under warranty. Simply I question the wisdom of that decision. To me, relative to the cost of the van, and the possible cost of repairing a failed item, it is short term gain with potential for longer term loss.

 

It is a risk, it is not cut and dried. That is all that I'm saying.

[AliB]

Mel, I also contacted Swift about the warranties. It was probably 3 years ago. I go the same answer as you in that any NCC approved company could carry out the checks to satisfy the warranty conditions. However, if any faults were found only a Swift workshop could carry out the remedial work..

 

2 years ago Richard Baldwins found a slight leak in a water pipe to the shower. It was behind a panel so not visible. I believe it was my fault as I had not drained the pipes correctly for winter storage and the trapped water froze. The pipe was replaced free of charge. No doubt if left unattended this would have manifested into a bigger problem and ruined one of our valuable time-of-work holidays. To me, the cost of the habitation check was worth it.

[derek pringle]

Hi All,

Mel, I think this is a valid posting for the people it concerns, however, if I was you I would request an e mail or some paperwork from Fiat stating what they have told you verbally before I went elsewhere for my service.

To me it seems like Insurance in that if you never have any warranty issues then you could say there was a few quid to be saved by not going by to the letter of the manufacturers schedule, but if you do hit problems then the extra travel and expense of going to the Main Agents would be considered money well spent.

I am not for one minute saying that Mel is thinking about savings but more about convenience.

A further point I would make is that I am sure I have read of manufacturers going the extra mile in some cases where the vehicle has technically been out of warranty and they have still rectified fualts. I think that a fully stamped service book by their approved workshops would help an individuals case in this circumstance.

cheers

derek

[rolandrat]

Last week I took my motorhome to the Auto-Trail aftercare workshop for its annual habitation service, a 260 mile round trip. Apart from the cost of diesel it was £264 inclusive of vat. You might ask why I took it so far when a local dealer could have done it, the reason was because the Auto-Trail fitters know their motorhomes inside out and do a first class job. It was issued with a clean bill of health for a further year and I have piece of mind knowing my investment isn't about to become a sponge on wheels. Anyone who is about to buy a motorhome must always ask to see it's habitation service record, if it hasn't got one then walk away.