The Yeti wouldn't start today. Key wouldn't turn in the ignition. The headlights wouldn't come on and no horn.

Last week there seemed to be minor hiccup with the red battery light showing very temporarily when I thought it shouldn't have....so today when confronted with this I guessed there must be a problem.

Turns out I couldn't turn the key simply coz the steering lock was tight up against the end of it's travel and just needed releasing a tad to allow the key to turn. And, of course, no headlights or horn for obvious reasons which I overlooked in my minor absence of reason and common sense.

The earlier red battery light must have been another senior moment - albeit still unidentified - but is of no concern whatsoever.

So I felt a proper chump but the RAC man was a star and politely pacified me by saying how easy it was to do it...and other similar pleasantries as he tried to relieve my embarrassment.

First time I can remember doing that without the penny dropping straight away - but not today!

However the service centre staff on the Skoda Assist line was faultless...gave me a period of time in which to expect him (can't stand the expressions - 'window' or 'time frame' )...and the RAC patrol rang almost straight away to confirm attendance within 25 mins - which he stuck to.

In between times I called the dealer just to let him know and seek advice if the patrol couldn't get it going and he was also helpful and outlined what may have to happen. Grateful for that too.

Easy to crticize when things go wrong.. but not this time. Excellent service.

PS. In subsequent conversation with the patrol he said he'd been in the game as a mechanic and as a RAC patrol for 30 years..........and liked Renaults. Said they were no worse than most other makes, except Lexus, which he said were a cut above the rest (my words, not his). Surprised me as, for whatever reason, I'd have expected a breakdown man to have gained a different view. So maybe I was wrong on that one too????

It happens to all of us from time to time. I did something similarly daft the other day. Only problem is I cannot remember what it was :'(

Selective memory loss probably.

Bless Oldstan! I think the RAC man was happy it was just an easy callout! hehehe

On my Audi I once had had a flat battery too (at home). I had had Green Flag at that point and called them. They sent me a text just after the call with a URL link in the text saying if you have a smartphone "click here". I did and low and behold a map interface came up showing my location AND that of a breakdown truck coming my way! It tracked the truck all the way to my house so I knew exactly where it was and when I had to come out the front door to meet it! I thought this must be very reassuring if you are a lone female stranded somewhere... I was surprised the other day when Rockhopper and I waited for the RAC to come to his Yeti's rescue when the RAC did not have this GPS interface (yet Green Flag does!).

Bless Oldstan! I think the RAC man was happy it was just an easy callout! hehehe

On my Audi I once had had a flat battery too (at home). I had had Green Flag at that point and called them. They sent me a text just after the call with a URL link in the text saying if you have a smartphone "click here". I did and low and behold a map interface came up showing my location AND that of a breakdown truck coming my way! It tracked the truck all the way to my house so I knew exactly where it was and when I had to come out the front door to meet it! I thought this must be very reassuring if you are a lone female stranded somewhere... I was surprised the other day when Rockhopper and I waited for the RAC to come to his Yeti's rescue when the RAC did not have this GPS interface (yet Green Flag does!).

Yes, He did say he was happy to have have an easy fix especially as a previous one earlier in the day had gone belly up, albeit through no fault of his. And indeed I'm impressed by the tracking facility you mention, but as you would expect, I'm still in a pre-smartphone era and still marvel at some of the stuff most others took for granted years ago and have moved on from in to stuff that either I've not heard of - or simply baffle me.

He did say there are three levels of response you might expect to benefit from when calling the RAC/Skoda Assist. Top of the list are patrols with silver coloured VW vans specifically dealing with VAG group breakdowns and with correspondingly high levels of VAG knowledge. Next was (what he was) an orange VW van with patrols with general response capabilities but also with VW specialisation knowledge as well. Both of these two carry the VAG diagnostic kit. And finally there's the general patrol in any make of van and with no specific training on VAG stuff. The first two are more likely to get parts and fit them for you than the latter.

At the end of the 3 yr RAC membership period, if you still had the car and wanted to renew, would you need to specifically apply for Skoda Assist membership within the RAC, or could you just join the RAC via any one of the many channels that discount it...ie. Tesco Reward points which seem to offer RAC membership for not a lot if you redeem your Three for One points?

Yes, He did say he was happy to have have an easy fix especially as a previous one earlier in the day had gone belly up, albeit through no fault of his. And indeed I'm impressed by the tracking facility you mention, but as you would expect, I'm still in a pre-smartphone era and still marvel at some of the stuff most others took for granted years ago and have moved on from in to stuff that either I've not heard of - or simply baffle me.

He did say there are three levels of response you might expect to benefit from when calling the RAC/Skoda Assist. Top of the list are patrols with silver coloured VW vans specifically dealing with VAG group breakdowns and with correspondingly high levels of VAG knowledge. Next was (what he was) an orange VW van with patrols with general response capabilities but also with VW specialisation knowledge as well. Both of these two carry the VAG diagnostic kit. And finally there's the general patrol in any make of van and with no specific training on VAG stuff. The first two are more likely to get parts and fit them for you than the latter.

At the end of the 3 yr RAC membership period, if you still had the car and wanted to renew, would you need to specifically apply for Skoda Assist membership within the RAC, or could you just join the RAC via any one of the many channels that discount it...ie. Tesco Reward points which seem to offer RAC membership for not a lot if you redeem your Three for One points?

Oldstan I'm somehow not surprised that you do not have a smartphone.

Interesting about the RAC vans! Mike got a non VAG man then as he was in a Transit and had never before been near a Yeti (he said). BUT he was with us in 15 minutes flat from calling them. He also got the error code sorted so can't fault him for not being a VAG specific man then.

As to renewing after three years: I don't think it makes a difference. If the VAG van is close or closest they will still send it out to any VAG car - regardless of it being an included RAC cover or one bought in year 4 onwards. Just one thing though in the RAC smallprint. They do NOT cover cars for punctures that don't have physical spare wheels! Interesting as they DO cover these during the first three years (as many come like that ex factory as we well know with the Yeti) but won't thereafter....

Oldstan I'm somehow not surprised that you do not have a smartphone.

Oi you! Watch it! I'll have none of that sort of talk!

(Just off to adjust the dial return speed on my 'type 706' telephone).

(Just off to adjust the dial return speed on my 'type 706' telephone).

:giggle: :giggle:

That's the one. The later version was the 746. The wall mounted one was the 711. And don't forget the Trimphone....quite an advance in it's time - it had a distinctive warbling tone ringing, as opposed to the earlier bells. In fact TRIM stood for Tone Ringing Illuminated Model. The 'Illuminated' bit referred to the luminous dial that lit up at night like the digits on a Timex watch.... (using the radioactive component that, as is perfectly clear, had no effect on my own mental condition during the time I repaired them for the, then, 'Post Office Telephones' (previously GPO and more recently British Telecom) in the 1970's.

This is all Yeti relevant as you can, of course, get an optional phone kit specific to the Yeti comprising a TRIMPHONE mounted in the centre armrest.

http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/phones_1960-80.htm

Study the enclosed link - I'll be asking questions at the end of the time allowed.

Edited 9 February, 201214 yr by oldstan

:giggle: :giggle:

That's the bat phone isn't it?

As for the trim phones, I remembr them well.

We had a Senegal parrot at the time and he had learned to mimic the ring.

We kept being woken up by the phone ringing in the middle of the night till we figured him out, the bugger.

"We had a Senegal parrot at the time and he had learned to mimic the ring.

We kept being woken up by the phone ringing in the middle of the night till we figured him out, the bugger. "

That's really strange you said that...I was going to say in the earlier post that the distinctive noise of a Trimphone was mimicked by all and sundry. A bloke at work did it as a party trick (albeit one he did several times a week thus risking having a Trimphone shoved up his 'Press Button B' coin slot). And I've heard wild birds doing it outside (as, indeed, most birds are).

Reminds me of when my car wouldn’t start when the key appeared to be sticking. Then I realized the car I was sitting in wasn’t mine! Same bat color and same bat parking area.

Edited 9 February, 201214 yr by Saber