The generator was one of the elements on the RV that had been performing very well, had done all the required maintenance of running it monthly and oil was replaced this summer so for some unknown reason at start it would backfire and die a couple of times before running normal so we decided to find an Onan authorized repair shop, who else would be qualified to work on an Onan
First visit was around the middle of August. I explained the problem and they made me sign a paper explaining their procedure, there was a charge of about 315.98 for "diagnosis fee" they can spend up to two hours to diagnose the problem. So we left the RV and would pick it up when ready. After a day or two they called for us to go and pick it up.
We got there early and were told that they found nothing wrong with the generator, even the mechanic came to tell me that he found nothing wrong and it had been running just fine, I could not believe it because it happened to me every time, he reassured me there was nothing wrong and because he was the expert I believed him, he said he will drive it around the front. In a way I was happy because I though it was something so minor that got fixed when disassembling and assembling it back again. I wasn't totally convinced and..
Right before driving away and still in their parking lot I went to turn the generator on and just by pure luck the nice lady that works the front office was walking by to take the next costumer and she heard all the backfiring and how the engine died. Her description to the mechanic was my best help make a point about a real problem that went unsolved.
I am not sure how the diagnosis was done the first time around but they called me the next day to say that the LP Regulator needed to be replaced, a week went by and I called to find out the status. I was told they had been calling Canada and had left a message. I called Canada and found out there is only one person working in the warehouse so I called a few more times until I got to talk to the guy (if he is pulling parts sure he is not at his desk) I politely asked if he could expedite the order.
About a week later I was told the part had arrived, it would be a few more days to install and solve the problem.
When I went to pick it up, they drove it around the front and I was excited and did not mind paying a 993.18 for the replacement of the LP Regulator. So before driving it back home I started the generator, lo and behold, still backfires but it wont die, the explanation was maybe there is a little bit of moisture or air on the line, it will go away after a few times. Not so happy about it but I had to believe them, they are the experts.
Five weeks went by and I kept turning it on about every three days only to find out it didn't improve, so I called and scheduled an appointment since I had a couple of trips in mind.
When I got there they wanted me to pay for the "diagnosis fee" again 315.98 dollars to which I refused because it was the same problem. Roger came out and I started the generator in front of him so he could hear how the motor hesitates and backfires at start every time. He agreed there was a problem and he said the only way to isolate would be to connect their LP supply directly to the generator to see if it does the same thing. That should have been part of the initial diagnosis, had they done that I would not be having this "deja vu"
The uncertainty of not knowing whether they would absorb any "diagnosis time" made me make a decision to not return. It is not like I am going back with a different problem. Any customer service oriented firm should take responsibility and agree to carefully asses the problem and find a solution. I never had to physically demonstrate any problem I had with a vehicle to prove that there is a problem, never. So why this place could not tell there was a real defect and come up with the real cause still baffles me. If you are a trained technician you should pick it up right away the very first time, your trained ear should catch it, mine did!. Maybe they are too busy working on fire engines from Fire Stations that have deep pockets with taxpayer money.
Minus four stars for trying to swindle me with a "new" diagnosis fee, they got their training from a used car dealership in Kalamazoo, somewhere between Detroit and Chicago read more