Breaking dawn
Page 24
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
T found the 10 truck makers' lresponse times to a breakdown (CM19-25 Januar0 interesting reading, with MAN picking up top billing.
However, in my experience in the last week, I would not rate MAN as number one.
I had two minor breakdowns in one week—both on MAN trucks. The first, on a 7.5 tonner, Hater found out to be caused by a bolt which had come out on top of the gearbox so only select third and fifth gear could be selected.
As I was away from base, I rang the nearest MAN dealer and asked to speak to service. The reply was: She is on the phone, could you hold?". Four minutes later I was asked for my number and asked if it was OK for her to ring back. Twenty minutes elapsed and no reply, so I got straight through to service. Explaining the trouble, I asked how long it would be before they could get a fitter. I was rather abruptly told their technician was already on a breakdown and there was a job waiting for him when he got back. I asked how many fitters worked in the workshop (as I was given the impression there was only one), and would they like the truck's details. The answer was 10 people and no, she did not need the details.
I then found a local commercial vehicle repairer and the minor repair was carried out in 10 minutes.
A few days later on a 17tonne MAN, the exhauster butterfly had stuck in the closed position. Tasked the driver to operate the exhauster button to free the butterfly, which it did. As he progressed on his journey, he called at another MAN dealer and asked for a drop of oil just to put around the butterfly mechanism and airoperated piston. The fitter replied that he would have to
make out a job card and pull a fitter off a job to do it.
operate Iveco Fords which have also had minor problems and on both occasions when they broke down, the dealer was out within the hour and they were up and running within two hours of the initial call.
The local MAN dealer closes workshop and stores at 18:00hrs and opens at 08:00hrs Monday to Friday; Saturday 08:00hrs until 13:00hrs; closed Sunday. If you require spares out of hours you are charged a £15 call-out fee front MAN Euroservice.
The local Iveco Ford dealer is open 24 hours—at last, a dealer has realised transport is a 24-hour operation. Name and address supplied.
7: It should be noted that CM is test phoned the manufacturers' emergency breakdown number, not direct to the dealer