Hi Peter et al,
I was entertained by your experiences with guys who rally round in times like you had, as I had a very similar experience when we on the way to Moz in 2009, and the starter motor burnt out near Hluhluwe. And because it was a Saturday, the unbelievable help from all the guys on the tour was fantastic, plus a very good auto-electrician friend from Emangeni, who came to the fore. He in turn was out fishing at Malelane, and drove all the way to us, to confirm the problem. Short of replacement at R6500 + labour + call out etc., ex Nissan in Empangeni, totalling R9000 and some change, (but of course there was no starter to be found in RSA anyway), he said he would sort it out himself. He took the starter motor back to his workshop, stripped and cleaned, and had the coil rewound ex Durban, and back in the patrol by the following Tuesday.
In the interim, we flat bedded the patrol to Empangeni (all paid by the insurance, organized telephonically by one of the tour guys), and parked it off at a friend's house.
Fortunately we were able to get back to Durban with my daughter, and then repacked the old Discovery 1, and left on Monday afternoon with trailer in tow, and all papers sorted.
Slept over in Swaziland, and found our way to Inhambane the next day (long journey as you all know). The rest of the trip to Paindane was completely dependent on the GPS - now in total darkness through the palm trees and tracks, until we found the gates at about 20h00. (And we had never been there before!)
The total cost for the starter motor was R1800!! (including VAT!) I cannot express how much we appreciated all the help and kindness, and I know how you feel too!
Regards,
Chris.
Regards, Chris.
PS: Never had a problem with the starter motor since!
Sal myne binnekort opsit.