So the week began last Tuesday morning with the car starting ( this becomes more relevant to my story as we go on) and so after a giving Deb and Danny a hug and a kiss goodbye Pete and I were away. First stop was 100 m done the road as the van mirror had fallen off!!! a quick fix and we were away again. After a uneventful drive to Melbourne we had collected Teagan (pete's daughter) and navigated our way through city traffic with the van on the back and come out the other side heading towards our first stop. The chosen destination was a little place called Lannecorrie just east of Bendigo.
This was a wonderful spot next to the Loddon River, there were murray gums lining the banks, a nice walk along the river, clean toilets and only about 3 other vans set up. The weather was sunny (although cold) and our first night was uneventful.
So we wake up to a slightly foggy morning with the thought to stay another night before heading off again. Now as most of you are ware we had been having some troubles with the new car so i asked pete to make sure that Colin Watsons had fixed it and that on this cold morning it would start. with mutters of I'm sure its fixed he went to the car and.nothing!!!!!! After most of the day trying to start the car(with a lot of advice and help from his new mates..lol) we are envisioning having to call the RACV and i decided to give it a go (well what could it hurt at this point) much to Pete's disgust the car started. so without turning it off we broke camp at about 3:30 and headed to Mildura were i was able to book it in with Holden their for the next day.
So there we were with about a 5 hour drive including night driving something we always swore we would not do, ahead of us and the the only certainty that the car we paid a lot of money for was broken
We arrive at the Apex Park at Mildura and set up for the next three day (thinking that this is what we would need to have the car fixed) and all head to bed. The next morning was the same, car does not start. The RACV was called and with a tear in his eye Pete watches the Tow man load his Brand New Holden Colorado onto the back of the tow truck.
following this was a long day of waiting, at 4:30 the call was made and pete was collected by the courtesy car and on his was to pick up the car, it was fixed. Pete comes back with lots of 'I'm conferment that this time my new mate Gary has fixed the car and we will be all good.
the next morning is Friday and the Car STARTS so we spent the day visiting Petes Aunty Jean - a very funny old lady whom has some of the best sayings every. Pete " so do you watch the Tennis Aunty?" Jean " It bores me to snores, Pete).hahah loved it.
And of course you can't go to Mildura without a bite to eat at Stafano's so lunch it was followed by a stock up of Pasta sauce.
Saturday Morning was still cold and the plan was to pack up and head across the boarder to a fishing camp just outside if Wentworth, so we started packing the camp up and Pete went to Start the car and.NOTHING!!!!..AGGGGHHHHHHHH
Since we knew that the car would start once the temperature increased we decided to continue to the fishing camp and deal with the car after the weekend as we were meet Pete's Cousin. a quick side trip to see cousin Kath and we were away again.
We set up camp just as Lindsey arrives with the very good looking girl named Lucy (his collie dog), his boat and on with our first days fishing we went.
Much to pete's disgusted the only person the catch a fish that day was Teagan (a protected silver brim that had to go back) but much fun was had by all.
Pete and Lindsey proceded to fish the next two days (still without catching fish).lol they were so funny every time the came back it was with the look of a small boy that had been trying so hard to learn something but not quite got it yet.
so that brings us to todaywe have moved into the Lynch house while Mildura Holden check out the car and we hope to have some answers in the next 24hours or so.
all i can say is as soon as its fixed Teagan and I have voted a quick trip north from here until the average daytime temp is at least 25 degrees
that it for this week, quite eventful..all i can say that if every week is this stressful Grant i want my job back..
love Sylva (and pete and teagan)
herbie said
11:58 PM Jul 10, 2013
GOOD report,but I must say your Pete is a calmer man than I would be in that situation Holen would be getting the vehicle back shoved that far up their ...you know where the sun don't shine.
No way would you or anyone have to put up with such a unreliable vehicle.
What happens if they cannot find the problem? Do you go on like this for your whole trip.
I would be too damn sceard to stay in a free camp out the scrub in case there was no phn service to call for help if the thing never kicked over.
I would be camping next door to a Holden dealership in each town every night I stopped just in case.
Good luck with it all but gee how frustrating to start your trip with car problems.
Regards Herbie.
Dougwe said
02:15 AM Jul 11, 2013
Agree good report but not about the Colorado, that's not good. Apex park, Mildura is a nice park I hope you enjoyed it there. I like the sites along the front row. Especially when the paddle steamers come past and turn around, just like being at your font door.
ballast2 said
05:13 AM Jul 11, 2013
Are there any more bad reports about the colorado out there. we are thinking one to tow our Stirling Poptop
Thanks Jack, Cherie and the four legged kids.
Dougwe said
03:18 PM Jul 11, 2013
Pop your question into 'Techies Corner' Jack, I'm sure you will get a good response as that is the sort of question for there.
Sylva said
01:57 AM Jul 16, 2013
Turns out at it needed the fuses box replacing. Something to do with the fuel pump relay fuses
Gerty Dancer said
02:03 AM Jul 16, 2013
So pleased to hear it was such a simple fix, although you must be wondering about the competence of the other mechanics!
Now enjoy your trip!
herbie said
03:36 AM Jul 16, 2013
Wow, such a simple problem, makes you wonder regarding the mechanic (or so called )on not finding such a minor issue.
I would be sending a nice email to the work shops who have looked at your vehicle regarding all this ,to let them know maybe this
is what they may need to look at if some other poor bugger turns up with the same problem.
So the week began last Tuesday morning with the car starting ( this becomes more relevant to my story as we go on) and so after a giving Deb and Danny a hug and a kiss goodbye Pete and I were away. First stop was 100 m done the road as the van mirror had fallen off!!! a quick fix and we were away again. After a uneventful drive to Melbourne we had collected Teagan (pete's daughter) and navigated our way through city traffic with the van on the back and come out the other side heading towards our first stop. The chosen destination was a little place called Lannecorrie just east of Bendigo.
so we spent the day visiting Petes Aunty Jean - a very funny old lady whom has some of the best sayings every. Pete " so do you watch the Tennis Aunty?" Jean " It bores me to snores, Pete).hahah loved it.
This was a wonderful spot next to the Loddon River, there were murray gums lining the banks, a nice walk along the river, clean toilets and only about 3 other vans set up. The weather was sunny (although cold) and our first night was uneventful.
So we wake up to a slightly foggy morning with the thought to stay another night before heading off again. Now as most of you are ware we had been having some troubles with the new car so i asked pete to make sure that Colin Watsons had fixed it and that on this cold morning it would start. with mutters of I'm sure its fixed he went to the car and.nothing!!!!!! After most of the day trying to start the car(with a lot of advice and help from his new mates..lol) we are envisioning having to call the RACV and i decided to give it a go (well what could it hurt at this point) much to Pete's disgust the car started. so without turning it off we broke camp at about 3:30 and headed to Mildura were i was able to book it in with Holden their for the next day.
So there we were with about a 5 hour drive including night driving something we always swore we would not do, ahead of us and the the only certainty that the car we paid a lot of money for was broken
We arrive at the Apex Park at Mildura and set up for the next three day (thinking that this is what we would need to have the car fixed) and all head to bed. The next morning was the same, car does not start. The RACV was called and with a tear in his eye Pete watches the Tow man load his Brand New Holden Colorado onto the back of the tow truck.
following this was a long day of waiting, at 4:30 the call was made and pete was collected by the courtesy car and on his was to pick up the car, it was fixed. Pete comes back with lots of 'I'm conferment that this time my new mate Gary has fixed the car and we will be all good.
the next morning is Friday and the Car STARTS
And of course you can't go to Mildura without a bite to eat at Stafano's so lunch it was followed by a stock up of Pasta sauce.
Saturday Morning was still cold and the plan was to pack up and head across the boarder to a fishing camp just outside if Wentworth, so we started packing the camp up and Pete went to Start the car and.NOTHING!!!!..AGGGGHHHHHHHH
Since we knew that the car would start once the temperature increased we decided to continue to the fishing camp and deal with the car after the weekend as we were meet Pete's Cousin. a quick side trip to see cousin Kath and we were away again.
We set up camp just as Lindsey arrives with the very good looking girl named Lucy (his collie dog), his boat and on with our first days fishing we went.
Much to pete's disgusted the only person the catch a fish that day was Teagan (a protected silver brim that had to go back) but much fun was had by all.
Pete and Lindsey proceded to fish the next two days (still without catching fish).lol they were so funny every time the came back it was with the look of a small boy that had been trying so hard to learn something but not quite got it yet.
so that brings us to todaywe have moved into the Lynch house while Mildura Holden check out the car and we hope to have some answers in the next 24hours or so.
all i can say is as soon as its fixed Teagan and I have voted a quick trip north from here until the average daytime temp is at least 25 degrees
that it for this week, quite eventful..all i can say that if every week is this stressful Grant i want my job back..
love Sylva (and pete and teagan)
GOOD report,but I must say your Pete is a calmer man than I would be in that situation Holen would be getting the vehicle back shoved that far up their ...you know where the sun don't shine.
No way would you or anyone have to put up with such a unreliable vehicle.
What happens if they cannot find the problem? Do you go on like this for your whole trip.
I would be too damn sceard to stay in a free camp out the scrub in case there was no phn service to call for help if the thing never kicked over.
I would be camping next door to a Holden dealership in each town every night I stopped just in case.
Good luck with it all but gee how frustrating to start your trip with car problems.
Regards Herbie.
Thanks Jack, Cherie and the four legged kids.
Now enjoy your trip!
Wow, such a simple problem, makes you wonder regarding the mechanic (or so called )on not finding such a minor issue.
I would be sending a nice email to the work shops who have looked at your vehicle regarding all this ,to let them know maybe this
is what they may need to look at if some other poor bugger turns up with the same problem.