Help please! Air con died during road trip.

Help please! Air con died during road trip.

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Origin Unknown

Original Poster:

2,297 posts

169 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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Started our holiday today with travel to Dieppe for 2 days. I had the air on regased yesterday at halfords auto centre and they were telling me how they got the temp down to 2.6 degrees. On the road to euro tunnel today and air con is blowing warm air. Grr!

Our next leg is to Italy for a week and then to Switzerland, I really need the air con back on with 5 of us travelling

Are there any recommendations of an air con specialist in dieppe. Looking for someone I can trust.


phil y

548 posts

122 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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Can't help with a recommendation, but Speedy ( looks like a French Kwik Fit equivalent) do air con: http://www.speedy.fr/climatisation/index.html

If you've got Euro breakdown cover, they may be able to find you someone. They may also be able to help with translation if your French skills are anything like mine.

You could also try one of the forums for British expats in France, they may have some local knowledge.

Hope you get it sorted.

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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When I had a problem with my car in France a couple of years ago I was recommended to use NorAuto. They did a great job.

Maybe see if there's one of them local.

smifffymoto

4,545 posts

205 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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Feu vert,Roady etc.Most towns will have garage that an sort you out.

Origin Unknown

Original Poster:

2,297 posts

169 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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Thanks. There is a speedy and a norauto nearby so I'll try one. I'm hoping halfords have cocked up and left something loose and not exposed a serious fault.

paulwirral

3,126 posts

135 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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Nor auto were advertising a re charge for just short of 40 euro last time I was in France , only thing I've ever seen cheaper than England , apart from wine !

thefrog

341 posts

219 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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It may be worth having it checked for leaks, no point refilling it if it all goes out to atmosphere within hours smile, you'll soon be asking where to have it refilled in Dijon, then Lyon, then Nice...

Origin Unknown

Original Poster:

2,297 posts

169 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
quotequote all
Success!

NorAuto weren't interested in even looking at it even with a French translator member of the family there.

Straight onto a BMW dealer who were closed for lunch until 1400. Chap returned early and let us in, explained the issue to him and he asked to take it into the workshop. Returned with the car 10 mins later to say the Thule bike rack lighting board was disabling the air con. Can't explain any more as that was explained through our family friend translator.

Start car without light board and connect after means both work. And it does!

The chap refused any payment too. Top stuff!

magooagain

9,963 posts

170 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
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Glad you got it sorted.

Good French customer service . Who would have thought eh!

Origin Unknown

Original Poster:

2,297 posts

169 months

Thursday 20th August 2015
quotequote all
Good French customer service and BMW dealer in the same sentence!

Fatt McMissile

330 posts

133 months

Friday 21st August 2015
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Over the years I've taken holiday guests with car problems to Renault, Seat, Volvo, Mercedes, Toyota and Jaguar dealers and on all occasions they have received courteous, prompt, and efficient service. Without exception they appreciated that a family holiday was being disrupted and did everything they could to help. In each case I suggested that our guest bought the guy who went out of their way to help them a decent bottle, and they were so relieved they were happy to do so.

Of course, Brittany and Bretons are not the same as Paris and Parisiens or the south of France ......

Steve