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Safety Recall on Vito
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Author:  Derby Ram [ Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Safety Recall on Vito
Well well well..........
As some will be aware my first M8 Vito from Cab Direct burst into flames whilst I was driving 2 years ago aged 9 months (the cab not me :D )
Both Mercedes and Cab Direct sat back and basically did stuff all and let Sun Alliance foot the £33,000 replacement bill.It was too badly damaged to pinpoint but there were signs of electrical arcing.
I incurred a £5000 loss from hiring a replacement cab and lost airport transfer bookings alone.

So imagine my reaction when an Urgent Safety Recall letter arrived the other week as.......

...on certain vehicles,the possibility exists that the alternator main electrical feed wire could chafe on an air conditioning pipe,and potentially cause an electrical short circuit which could result in a localised fire

NO SH*T SHERLOCK :shock:

I haven't had time to send a letter in yet

So....any helpful advice or wording I should use? I do aim to be polite and constructive!!
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Safety Recall on Vito
Derby Ram wrote:

So....any helpful advice or wording I should use? I do aim to be polite and constructive!!

F***ing told you so. :shock:
Author:  C.A.E [ Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
It very well may be worth writing them a letter, be factual and polite, outlining the situation but don't ramble on and turn it into an essay or they will not read it. Bullet point the facts, cause and consequence.

Don't count on any feedback, though they MAY possibly offer you some kind of compensation if you play if right. There were many cases of Fiat van reverse judder which took two years for fiat to admit to - they didn't pay out retrospectively - but merc might offer at least an apology!

You say there were signs of arcing - where abouts? Was it near the alternator, or was it the ECU? Did you have a lift/electric wheelchair access fitted? These are things you need to ascertain before even subtle finger pointing can begin.

I have seen many fires through add-ons such as lifts and towbars fitted to vehicles which have overheated the ecu causing fires. These are mainly multiplex vehicles, but others have been affected.
Author:  Derby Ram [ Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Cheers C.A.E, I think it was the ECU but the forensic engineer said it was too badly damaged to say whether it was a cause or result of the fire.
There were no add ons,not even a radio.
Author:  Nidge [ Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
Derby Ram wrote:
Cheers C.A.E, I think it was the ECU but the forensic engineer said it was too badly damaged to say whether it was a cause or result of the fire.
There were no add ons,not even a radio.


Did they find anything with your cab when they recalled it?
Author:  Chris the Fish [ Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Midlander wrote:
Did they find anything with your cab when they recalled it?


I'd guess a burn mark on the tarmac. :lol:
Author:  Derby Ram [ Fri Jul 22, 2011 5:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
They changed the Three-phase alternator wiring harness.Never said if there was a problem,just changed it.
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