How long do you think it takes?................

[3rtt]

To fit a new (automatic) gearbox to a Renault Espace ?

Cheers,
Ian.

PS this is a genuine story that is happening to me.

PPS I just love my Noble.

[worty]

If I were doing it about



















7 months and 23 days non stop and I'd have lots of extra bits left over
worty

[D_G]

Post up the car details, year/engine etc and I'll get you the book time.

Dave

[3rtt]

How about 11 weeks.

My Espace (2.5 years old) was put on the back of the low loader July 11th and taken to local Renault garage.

Many parts fitted including a new gearbox last week, problem still not solved (lack of drive) and Friday told that now the engine has slipped the cam belt and fu....d the engine.!!!!!!

Big car companies with big budgets, or small car companies who care about their customers. I know which I prefer.

Oh by the way, I am a Renault fleet customer who purchases the vehicles for my company.

I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,
Ian.

Edited by 3rtt on Monday 1st October 07:46

[joust]

Hope you get it fixed soon. Just goes to show how even the big guys can really screw things up.

J

[3rtt]

So just to keep you updated how a 'BIG' car company car get things organized (or not).

July 10th gearbox (auto) failed in my Renault Espace V6 DCi.

After many attempts to solve the problem Renault decided to put a new gearbox in the car.

Gearbox arrived, fitted, engine started up, revs increase with geabox in drive, nothing. Revs increased more......then BANG......engine slips cam belt and pistons hit valves. One V6 oil-burner engine bu...red.

New engine arrived last thursday, started to fit the new engine to the new gearbox.

Today, Friday.....dare I ring and ask what the progress is?

Cheers,
Ian.

[sc00by57]

YES..... just so we can hear the latest outcome a week later.... its not ready for collection yet or they would have phoned...

[Adrian W]

3rtt said:

So just to keep you updated how a 'BIG' car company car get things organized (or not).

July 10th gearbox (auto) failed in my Renault Espace V6 DCi.

After many attempts to solve the problem Renault decided to put a new gearbox in the car.

Gearbox arrived, fitted, engine started up, revs increase with geabox in drive, nothing. Revs increased more......then BANG......engine slips cam belt and pistons hit valves. One V6 oil-burner engine bu...red.

New engine arrived last thursday, started to fit the new engine to the new gearbox.

Today, Friday.....dare I ring and ask what the progress is?

Cheers,
Ian.

I take it that for all of this time you are driving their loan car?

[nigelw]

I think we should mix threads here , and fit a 600 bhp race engine to your Espace !

[3rtt]

nigelw said:

I think we should mix threads here , and fit a 600 bhp race engine to your Espace !

Now there's an idea.

Remember the project that Renault did with with a F1 engine mid mounted to an Espace ? Now that would be fun.

I would be happy to take Lee's new (Yamaha) engine and Italian gearbox mid mounted. I'll bet that could be brought to completion faster than the Reggie can fix my car right now.

Just phoned the Renault dealer to get an up-date. Guess what........shall I string it out...

No. The answer is: The engine and gearbox are fitted, but we still cannot get the gearbox to work. We are expecting an engineer from Renault to come next week and take the whole car to the Gearbox manufacturer in Swindon to look at it.

Now where did I put Lee's phone number?

Cheers,
Ian.

Edited by 3rtt on Friday 26th October 12:56

[Adrian W]

Sounds like a gearbox re-manufacturer in Swindon, you sure they are not trying to do this on the cheap, if the car is under warranty (by definition it must be as they have fitted the new parts) why havnt you taken legal action to get your car back or a replacement?

[3rtt]

Adrian W said:

Sounds like a gearbox re-manufacturer in Swindon, you sure they are not trying to do this on the cheap, if the car is under warranty (by definition it must be as they have fitted the new parts) why havnt you taken legal action to get your car back or a replacement?

The car is under warranty and everything is being carried out by Renault UK through their Renault Dealer in Gateshead.

The only person I could get to speak with today at the Dealership who understood what was happening, was the mechanic on the job. He explained that because they could not get the new gearbox to work (for the second time) they are instructed to wait for a technic bod to arrive from Renault UK, who will authorize for the complete car to be transported to the UK arm of the gearbox manufacturer that is based in (from what he understands) is in Swindon.

I could bore the pants off you with the correspondence I have made with Renault UK Customer Services, Renault Fleet operations, even with Renault UK Ltd MD Roland Ernest Bouchara, who bounced my letter straight back to their Customers services without acknowledging my letter. Big organizations, red tape, nobody taking ownership of a problem.

As it stands, I have 2 people from Renault coming to visit me on Thursday next week to discuss with them taking the car back. It will be interesting to see if the car is fixed by then.

Cheers,
Ian.

Edited by 3rtt on Friday 26th October 14:02

[nigelw]

It's making Noble ownership look like a piece of cake ! ... hope they fix it soon !

[DanH]

That'll teach you to buy shoddy French cars

[3rtt]

DanH said:

That'll teach you to buy shoddy French cars

Thanks mate

Have a good weekend, and keep it on the black stuff.

Cheers,
Ian.

[3rtt]

Well, in answer to my first question "How long does it take to fit a new Auto Gearbox to a Renault Espace"

The Answer is ............. 4 Months.

Got it back last week after fitting new Gearbox (and new engine). Total warranty cost to Renault just over £11,000

Renault fleet offered to take the car back (at the lowest Trade-in price) plus supply new car at regular fleet discount. Not much of a deal considering how long the car had been off the road, and the inconvenience caused by all their red tape.

I'm in discussion with them about replacing our fleet early next year.

Lee, do you fancy building a 'hot' people carrier ? (Now there's a concept)

Cheers,
Ian.

[V6GTO]

Ian...am thinking of buying a Traffic( LWB with the best engine and all the toys), how much can you get me one for?

Martin.

[3rtt]

V6GTO said:

Ian...am thinking of buying a Traffic( LWB with the best engine and all the toys), how much can you get me one for?

Martin.

Right now, for about 50p. But you know, it doesn't make sense to choose Renault. Having this experence with the time (red tape) it has taken to repair my car, I don't think I can afford have any of my Sales reps off the road if (when) they should happen to break down.

Also, there are some great options of Crew vans from VW, Mercedes and others that won't have such an effect on personal tax.

Cheers,
Ian