A Big THANK YOU

Submitted: Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 18:46
ThreadID: 82608 Views:4606 Replies:7 FollowUps:9
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Hi all,
Just wanted to say a big thank you to the owner and his mates from the BP Fuel station in Jurien Bay,
Saturday afternoon we were heading out to the Drovers Cave. Anyone that has been out there would know that the track out there is very sandy and VERY soft,
We were about 1 Kms of the black top when it became very apparent that High 4 hadn't engaged and was not going to anytime soon(gotta Love electronics)
as we lost forward momentum we started to sink and sink we did.
I spent about 1/2hour trying to get the 4WD system to lock in and trying to dig our way out. It became apparent very quickly that there was no way we were going to get our self's out of this mess.
My first call was to the Jurien Police the call was directed to Geraldton, after about 15 Min's on the phone with them the only thing they could do was to give me the number for a tow company basses in Geraldton, they didn't answer there phone and i am still waiting for them to call me back.
Anyway long story short I did a search on the Internet and found that the BP station in Jurien had a towing service, after speaking with them the owner he said that he was at the station on his own and couldn't leave but he gave me a number of a local who helped dumb bunnies like myself out, we called and the same thing message bank and I am still waiting for him to call me back.
I grabbed the hand held UHF and started back for the road hoping that someone may see me standing on the roadside and stop to see if they can help.
I hadn't quite made it to the road when I got a call for the wife saying that the owner of the BP had called back to make sure we were OK and that someone was on there way to give us a hand, when Karen said that we hadn't been able to contact anybody and I was my way out to the road he said that he would get a friend to call out to the servo and get his recovery vehicle and some one would be with us within the next 1/2 hour.
Within 20 Min's his mate pulled up at the end of the track to pick me up.
we spent the next 3 hours dragging my lame duck out of it sandy grave.
Once back on the black top we followed him back to the BP. where I was really pleasantly surprised at how muck they wanted of there time and effort.
I don't want to say how much he asked for or how much I ended up paying him, all I will say is that I gave him double what he asked for and even then I am embarrassed that that's all they would take. I don't like taking advantage of people and their generosity and feel that had I been able to get the police to send someone out to help us, it would of cost a bleep load more.
If you are ever out that way stop off and grab some fuel, hes a great guy and we need to support guys that are willing to go that extra mile when we stuff up.
I don't want go through the list of who we called but if you think you have cell coverage so you are OK think again I was very surprised by the lack of help we receive from people that I always thought were there to help us out when we stuff up.


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The only person to get everything done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe

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Reply By: Bushranger1 - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 19:36

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 19:36
Hi Andrew,

It just so happens that I do a bit of work at the Cooljarloo mine near there & usually stay at Jurien Bay so I will certainly support that guys business.

Thanks for the information. Hope you get the problem with your truck sorted soon.

Cheers
Stu
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Reply By: rocco2010 - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 20:01

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 20:01
Gidday

If they are the same guys who helepd me out when I had a breakdown in the Leseur national park a year or so ago I can only endorse what you say. They certainly went the extra yards that day to get me mobile again.

Cheers

rocco
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Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 20:04

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 20:04
Nice to hear the good side of your bad day Andrew. Thanks for sharing. I hope you 4wd problem is not serious and soon resolved. I'm sure fellow travellers reading this will reward BP Jurien with their custom.

How often these things happen on a weekend. We had a breakage (tow bar) between Kimba and Glendambo in 2006. I drove some distance back to the nearest station. They were busy, with shearing starting the next day and guests due to arrive at their station-stay. It was annual race day at Roxby and Saturday afternoon yet the station owner cheerfully spent ages on the phone making call after call following up leads trying to find someone to help, finding no-one suitable at home anywhere, all the while reassuring me we would find help. He would take no money for the cost of the phone calls. Someone else came in (not sure if family or station staff) who said there was someone new at Glendambo who was an RAA serviceman. This mechanic was home and worked the rest of the afternoon welding the tow bar soundly so we could travel safely home (tow bar then replaced when we got home). Meanwhile his wife, who had just come back from working at her new job gave me cups of tea and a pleasant afternoon. The charge was reasonable and as luck continued, they had the day before got a credit card by phone system happening and i was their first credit card customer. As we were on our way home and had no cash on us. You meet the most helpful people in outback areas.

Motherhen
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Reply By: Nutta - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 20:32

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 20:32
I've got some friends in the country and it amazes me how laid back they are.

i remember the harvester or something breaking down and everyone basically grabbed a beer and wandered off to worry about it tomorrow.

In town it would be a mad scramble to have it fixed in 10 minutes!

I do love the relaxed atmosphere out there.
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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 13:43

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010 at 13:43
Hi Nutta, ask any old bloke and he will tell you as I will, problems are best resolved with a cool head. Get all wound up and you make more mistakes and besides, It will all look a lot better in the morning.
Cheers, Bruce.
At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Reply By: DOEY- Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 20:41

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 20:41
i love reading these stories. it makes you feel humbled. i am 8 months into a trip around oz and havent had any misfortunes yet (touch wood). I am in geraldton atm and will be passing through Jurien Bay early january, will be sure to stop by and refuel. Its always good to support business who support you (us) as in travellers.
nice to hear you got out safe mate. please tell me you dont drive a rodeo, as ive been hearing lots of horror stories about their 4x4 systems.

doey
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 22:33

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 22:33
What horror stories? I just bought one and the reports have been excellent, there are ones out there with over 300k on the clock that people swear have not had an issue.

A lot of the 4wd issues from what I have read can be attributed to people not implementing the instruction manual. It's not that straighforward.

If they can finish Paris Dakar rallies with the push button system I can't see how it is that awful.

I guess I'll get to know pretty soon though.
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Follow Up By: Ianw - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:01

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:01
The 03 model I drive at work will not engage or disengage 4wd unless totally stopped. Bloody nuisance to drive !

Ian
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:09

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:09
Yeah I knew that, but hey I came from a Hilux where I had to hop out to engage the hubs each time, and then again to unlock them, so I figured coming to a stop but not having to get out was not going to be a huge issue for what I do. But I got a bargain, perhaps they were sick of it too, time will tell.
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Follow Up By: Quadlux - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:12

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:12
I Hired a push button activated 4x4 (6500K on the clock) Got 20k down a 350km stretch of gravel the ABS light came on and it disengaged the 4x4. On speaking to the hire company the electrical issue was common. The ABS sensor gets dust in it and when the ABS fails you can not use the 4x4 function.
Craig
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew C (WA) - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:15

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:15
Well I guess, yes it's an Isuzu D Max and Isuzu make the Rodeo/Colorado for Holden.
Max has never let me down in the past, I had some work done during the week which meant the ECU had to be unplugged, this threw up a few warning lights on the dash. one being the check engine light the other was the check 4WD light.
The check engine light fixed self after about 15kms and the check 4WD light was seen to by Isuzu, they told me that it was a wind up warning which was nothing to worry about, it comes on when you drive on the black top with 4WD engaged, and can easily be cleared by pressing and holding all 3 selector switches at the same time for approx 20 seconds.
In hind sight this should for tipped me off as I never use 4WD on the black top, but they told me that they had check the 4WD operation during their test drive.
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Follow Up By: DOEY- Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:40

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:40
sorry Andrew if my mention of a rodeo seemed to hijack your thread.

Porl: the horror stories relate to the 4x4 not being able to be engaged or disengaged especially if you are in soft sand and need 4L or you need to drive a long distance home in 4L (imagine limping home on the highway in 4L), could be quite inconvenient.
Dont get me wrong, i own an RA rodeo, so i am familiar with the issue but have never experienced it myself, if i do i know how to fix it.
On the earlier RA's you need to reset the 4wd computer under the drivers seat. In later models, it was realised by isuzu to be a bit of an issue so they implemented a reset procedure using the 3 buttons as mentioned above.
As far as needing to come to a complete stop to engage from 2h to 4l, its not so much that it would be a hassle, its just that it is not suppose to work that way therefore is something is not functioning as it should.
I love my rodeo, and would upgrade to a d-max when i have some more funds.
Andrew: the check 4wd light can come on for a number of reasons, anything from ABS as stated, water/moisture in the computer to transfervwind up. How are you finding the fuel economy?
Doey
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Reply By: Member - Barry B (WA) - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 22:44

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 22:44
Hi Andrew,so did you get to the bunkers?If the owner of BP is the same one as 3 months ago,a rotund sort of fellow,his name is Rob,and my idea of a typical small country business bloke.Restores your faith,doesn't it ?
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew C (WA) - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 22:59

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 22:59
Hi Barry,
No we left Cervantes at 1.30pm on Saturday planing a trip through the Drovers Nat park then through the Lesueur Nat park the Sunday do the bunkers,
Well that was the plan any way as you know we go 1kms into the Drovers N/P and we finally got back to our van in Cervantes at 7:30pm Saturday.
I just couldn't get the trans to lock into H4 it made all the right noises but would no play ball.
hopefully we will get back there in the next 2 weeks-or so
yes the proprietor of the BP is Rob (top Bloke) and the best thing About walking into Rob's store is it's the real deal he actually carries spare part, not a shop full of bread milk and chocolate bars
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Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:15

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:15
was the "recovery" unit a TOYOTA ... by any chance .... hahaha
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew C (WA) - Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:25

Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at 23:25
No it was a Nissan

I was glad to see it but where we got to in 2 WD he struggled to reach in low 4
But hay the Nissan got me OUT!!
i am not sure which one of us was happier to see the black top Max or the Nissan.

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