What can Roadside assistance fix at side of road RAC AA etc
Discussion
Hi would like to know what the RAC, AA, greenflag etc can fix at the side of the road. Apart from the usual wheel changes and batteries. I work in an AA approved garage so only see cars comming in with clutch issues, snapped cam chains etc. Which can't be fixed. Would be great to hear from any former patrol technicians etc. Or anyone who has broken down recently in a fairly modern car 2006 onwards.
I've had a crank position sensor completely rewired at the roadside, in freezing conditions late at night in February. Out came the gas soldering iron and everything.
I've not needed it, but certain VW diesels s
t injectors frequently enough that there's usually an AA van in each region with injectors in stock ready to code in.
I've also had a head gasket leak fixed roadside after a trip to a motor factors for some K Weld.
I've not needed it, but certain VW diesels s
t injectors frequently enough that there's usually an AA van in each region with injectors in stock ready to code in.I've also had a head gasket leak fixed roadside after a trip to a motor factors for some K Weld.
Not much in my experience.
They've never been able to fix any of my breakdowns, but I never really expected them to. I have breakdown cover for the recovery (to home or destination) rather than the assistance.
These days even changing a battery is not always a straightforward job (AGM batteries, coding new battery into the car).
They've never been able to fix any of my breakdowns, but I never really expected them to. I have breakdown cover for the recovery (to home or destination) rather than the assistance.
These days even changing a battery is not always a straightforward job (AGM batteries, coding new battery into the car).
It very much depends upon who they send.
Usually directly employed patrols will do everything imaginable to get you going again as roadside repair rates are a massive KPI that's used often in marketing etc. It's also generally much quicker and cheaper to fix what they can there and then rather than having you further wait around for an expensive recovery.
If it's a private contractor it can be hit and miss as many seem to just be local recovery companies without much kit with them..
Usually directly employed patrols will do everything imaginable to get you going again as roadside repair rates are a massive KPI that's used often in marketing etc. It's also generally much quicker and cheaper to fix what they can there and then rather than having you further wait around for an expensive recovery.
If it's a private contractor it can be hit and miss as many seem to just be local recovery companies without much kit with them..
Not broken down in a while, but in the 90”s they used to carry a random selection of generic and patch parts.
Fan/auxiliary belts
Various straight Hoses/couplers/internal springs
Throttle cable inner wire and generic ends
Exhaust repair couplers
Fuses/relays
Wheel studs/nuts
Engine/gearbox oil/crush washers
Basically anything that could be rigged to get you home, or a proper garage the next day.
Fan/auxiliary belts
Various straight Hoses/couplers/internal springs
Throttle cable inner wire and generic ends
Exhaust repair couplers
Fuses/relays
Wheel studs/nuts
Engine/gearbox oil/crush washers
Basically anything that could be rigged to get you home, or a proper garage the next day.
I had a car which overheated when the radiator fan stopped working, and I was crawling in tourist traffic. The moment I noticed the temperature gauge was at the 'bloody hell' reading, a jet of steam shot out of the rad. It turned out that one of the cross pipes had ruptured, so I thought it was a trip home on the back of a truck.
However, the nice RAC man knocked the fins off the offending cross tube, cut it down the centre, and rolled each end up to seal that particular tube. I was very impressed, especially as the radiator was only accessible through the front grille and he was working with a pair of long nose pliers!
It worked great for the trip home, as well as for the next week whilst I waited for a new rad. I had one eye watching the temp gauge like a hawk though.
However, the nice RAC man knocked the fins off the offending cross tube, cut it down the centre, and rolled each end up to seal that particular tube. I was very impressed, especially as the radiator was only accessible through the front grille and he was working with a pair of long nose pliers!
It worked great for the trip home, as well as for the next week whilst I waited for a new rad. I had one eye watching the temp gauge like a hawk though.
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