Lost my Whale water inlet flap!!!

Hi All.
      I know the Whale water system divides us about as equally as BREXIT but like the vote, I have a Whale system and am stuck with it!!.
However after a rather taxing drive back from Newhaven yesterday, crawling along he motorways of southern England, I arrived home to find the flap like door, to my Whale water inlet missing.

A call to Whale, and they stated that they did not do this as a spare part, A call to Autosleepers and they don't do a spare part either but were willing to replace the whole unit at £50 something quid!! That's replace not fit.

Good old on line shopping revealed that you can get them as a replacement part, however seemingly in Ivory or White for around a fiver.

Mine is Dark Grey !! 

As anyone out there in Autosleeper land ever had to replace on of these inlet covers ?   Grey appears to be unavailable even though 1 website states that grey is fitted to newer models.

Your help would be appreciated.


Phil

Phil,

PM sent.

Hi Molly.
            Cheers, I found that one, however its just the door flap I require. (£5 as against £40 for the whole unit )I have found the door flaps in White and Ivory but Grey, appears to be hard to get hold of. Even though it appears that grey is the latest colour used on Autosleepers.
It appears to be a replaceable part.
Many thanks for your reply.

Phil

Hi Phil,

It's not available in grey.  Apparently the grey unit is a different design and the cover can't be replaced on its own.  I was told by Whale it needs to be a full unit replacement

Hi Molly, 
                  fantastic a £1 worth of plastic and it cost £50, a great piece of design 

By the way, did you see if one of the replacement flaps fitted, as I would rather have a white door than a £50 bill.

Thanks for all your help Molly.

Phil

You could always paint it with the correct colour from an auto paint shop.

Hi All, 
           I will certainly be exploring every option before I part with £50 for a piece of plastic.  


Cheers.

Phil  

Our Whale cover used to flap in the breeze due to warn closed type of catch. Viewing it in the mirror thinking it will eventually part company from the van. Solved by jamming a piece of plastic in the hinge now keeps it closed. To replace the cover (that is an option for the future) it would mean taking out the whole unit to release the cover and prefixing with more adhesive. Personally not bothered what colour and for a fiver, that's a bargain.

My Whale inlet isn't hinged but slides up and down, and is grey. Is yours a grey hinged one?

Hi Dave, 
      Yes its hinged at the top, rather like the cover on the hookup inlet on the van. Same sort of design and same colour, different size.

Whale say they do not make a replacement door in grey, however the unit and the door is a Whale item.

Not sure if these are a special order by Autosleepers.? Who say they can spply a complete unit only.

Have found a grey complete unit on the internet for £40 (made by Whale !) however have ordered a white door for £5, will see if I can fettle this to fit first and perhaps use a rattle can to colour it.

Phil

It could be that Whale think the slide version is grey and the hinged version is white and you happen to have an odd in-between unit. I can't see how "just the cover" could be changed on my unit so that would be why *I* would have to buy the whole unit where a hinged flap can be replaced more simply. Let's hope so and you just need some paint.

Well, the £5 platic door flap arrived (in Ivory) and fitted perfectly in minutes.

Still cannot understand,Why I was unable to get it in Grey, the colour on the Whale one fitted to my 2014 Symbol.

If you see a Symbol in Gold White, with an Ivory Whale filler door flap... Give Us a wave  

Phil

Good to hear you got a replacement. Strange they dont do them in grey as my van is the same colour as yours with the same colour of covers. You could always get a spray can made up in the same colour at a Halfords or local  auto paint supplier. Dont forget to use a bit of plastic primer first to help stop the paint peeling.

phil1855 wrote:Hi All.
      I know the Whale water system divides us about as equally as BREXIT but like the vote, I have a Whale system and am stuck with it!!.
However after a rather taxing drive back from Newhaven yesterday, crawling along he motorways of southern England, I arrived home to find the flap like door, to my Whale water inlet missing.

A call to Whale, and they stated that they did not do this as a spare part, A call to Autosleepers and they don't do a spare part either but were willing to replace the whole unit at £50 something quid!! That's replace not fit.

Good old on line shopping revealed that you can get them as a replacement part, however seemingly in Ivory or White for around a fiver.

Mine is Dark Grey !! 

As anyone out there in Autosleeper land ever had to replace on of these inlet covers ?   Grey appears to be unavailable even though 1 website states that grey is fitted to newer models.

Your help would be appreciated.


Phil

Hi Phil,

My name is Hayley and I work in the marketing department for Whale. Are you able to private message me directly? I've been trying to private message you but I don't have functionality to do this unfortunately.

Best wishes
Hayley

Hi Hayley , nice to see someone from Whale monitoring the forum. After I reported problems with faulty submersible pumps a few months ago I made the suggestion that Whale monitor the forum  from time to time as they were getting a bad reputstion for reliability which they were seemingly unaware of . Its a pity that A/s do not have someone do the same as it would be a valuable insight into customers experiences good and bad and lessons could be learned.

Over the last 40 years I have had to phone Whale twice about problems. In both cases a replacement part was provided very quickly and FOC.  Thanks for the contact here, Hayley, showing that Munster Simms still care.

Thank you all for your comments. I'm looking into the availability of our grey flap lids and will give you all an update as soon I have any information. Best wishes, Hayley

Thank you Haley, we are looking forward to your update.
Mel

Hi All ,
     Just back from Ferry Meadows in Peterborough..... fantastic time away, Going to PM Hayley now, 
Will keep you updated.


Phil

Hi All.
           Hayley has been in touch and is sending me an elusive grey Whale door flap!!

She has asked that I include contact details for Whale on this post so here goes.

Please let the other members of the forum know that if they have any issues with their lids to contact our Customer Support team via the details below:
 
Tel: [url=tel:+44 845 217 2933]+44 (0)845 217 2933[/url]
Email:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Open Hours:
Monday to Thursday 9a.m. to 5p.m. GMT
Friday 9a.m. to 4p.m. GMT
Saturday 9a.m. to 1p.m. (voicemails checked between 1p.m. and 5p.m.) GMT
Sunday - voicemails checked betweeen 9a.m. and 1p.m. GMT


Thanks to Hayley and Whale for a super response


Looking forward to having the van back to normal.


Regards


Phil

Thanks Phil

I've copied your post to the Factsheets so it won't get swallowed up.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Hi All,
            Grey door flap arrived this morning, fitted and looks good.

Thanks Hayley and thanks Whale.......great service.

Phil

Excellent result and excellent response from Whale . I too found them excellent when I reported problem with the submersible pump. Its a pity other companies cant live by the same customer ethic.