another trip back to dealer for repairs

Hello All,
We are seeking symphathy and just need to cry to fellow cat owners.
As you all know we are newbies, we bought our first cat on March 31 of this year and we were so EXCITED & THRILLED brought it home that evening and done a few mods to start making it our own. The first thing discovered when we were changing the lug nuts (the ones on it were a little rusty and were the long shanks) we prefer the nicer stainless steel lugnuts and the short shanks. There was one stud crossthreaded and we had to take the airgun to get it off and of course it had to be replaced. And yes we were a little upset. But thankful we discovered this at home instead of sitting on the side of the road and no air compressor to be found..hahaha.

Ok our first trip in our new baby was Good Friday weekend. and now the crying begins.....[url=http://www.wildcatcamperforum.com/javascript:emoticonp(':pale:')][/url]
We had a main water leak,(had to go to Lowes and replace the supply lines), our oven wouldn't work, I couldn't make biscuits for breakfast, My husband loves biscuits and gravy when we camp. And then of course I couldn't bake a cake for dessert. And we noticed the cylinder on the slide was rusted and pitted. GEE WHIZ we said to each other......But we knew there would be little things go wrong and need fixed. So we had a wonderful camping trip anyway.
So we took it back to the dealer for 15 day stay, brought it home last night and the OVEN STILL DON'T WORK, and now the Entertainement center just DIED. So of course I called the dealer this morning and expressed my dishearting mood. The dealer said they were sorry we were having this trouble and bring back to make it right.
We have plans going to a local camping spot this weekend and we are going anyway! We will have a good time despite I can't bake anything in the oven. (Don't worry though we can still have biscuits in the morning, we will just make them on TOP of the stove instead.)[url=http://www.wildcatcamperforum.com/javascript:emoticonp('')][/url]

So our baby cat will be going back to the dealers once again when we get back next week and HOPEFULLY everything will be repaired before Memorial Day weekend.

Well, thanks to you all for listening to my whining and crying, I feel better now.

Happy Camping To All & Safe Travels
Bert

If it makes you feel any better, we have had so many problems with ours that the factory is sending a driver down in two weeks to take it back to Elkhart.

Hap & Bert and Rhexigent;

I hate to hear about your problems you are having. Our '04 had some minor quality issues when we first got it, but those are all worked out and the Cat has been solid for the last 3-4 years without an issue (not counting the ones that I created).

I hope everything gets straightened out. Nothing worse than missing camping trips because the Cat is in the shop.

Oh, Rhexignet, sorry to hear of your sadness also. Hopefully you will be back on the road very soon and Thanks so much to you and MaxRock for your kindness.

Happy Camping
Bert

Not to beat a dead horse, but how are you trying to light the oven? The first time we went out, it took me almost 15 minutes before it lit. Since then, no problems. Did you light all 3 burners first? Push in on the oven knob while you hold your extended lighter around the pilot light area? We don't have to hold ours in, but some do. I find that sometimes, I have to move the flame all over the place before it will light. Give it another try, there is no such thing as camping without biscuits!!!!

So sorry to hear about your problems Bert and Hap and Rhexigent. I guess Scruffy and I have been lucky with ours. We've had some minor problems that were resolved quickly, either by the dealer or by us. (Knock on wood)

I hope everything gets resolved and you can enjoy your 'Cats to the fullest.

Tater

Thanks to you all for your sympathy. It just helps to tell someone your woes sometimes. MOO2613, I wish it weren't true, but unfortunately we did light all three burners first. And yes we've wiggled the fire stick everywhere in that black hole they call a oven. Ha Ha!!!!
Again, thanks to everyone. We all just have to laugh at things from time to time.
Hap

Very frustrating. We certainly understand. Ours is an 06 model that we bought new. Had some initial minor problems, quickly resolved. This is our fourth season. The only issue we had was a gas regulator went out and had to be replaced. Otherwise, trouble free.

Hang in there. It will get better.

I agree with MOO, it takes a long time to get our oven lit also, hold the knob in and keep trying.

We just used ours for the first time last month, I didn't know where to hold the match at first, then I realized I had to push the knob in to get the pilot light lite.

Sorry you have expierenced the problems with your Cat. I have a '06 Cat TT and have only had a couple of minor problems that my dealer fixed the first time and a Concertone that Rod Batts from Forest River replaced after it was out of warrenty. We are very please with our TT. Our oven is a little hard to light also but it cooks well. Hope you get all your problems fixed soon.

Thanks to everyone for your help. Sorry for confusion though, need to clarify problem. The pilot light will light, but whenever we turn the knob to cook position, the pilot light goes out. We have tried lighting all 3 burners on stove top, and kept them burning & held the knob in for the oven for 3 minutes and as soon as we turn the knob to cook position it goes out.
Our weekend trip was nice though. Always a pleasure to camp for a couple of days, it rejuvenates the soul.
We will be taking the cat back to the dealers hopefully this week, and then maybe the repairs can be done before Memorial Day Weekend.

Thanks again to everyone for your help.

Happy Camping & Safe Travels to all
Bert

Bert,
Hang in there...it gets better eventually!!

TC

Hopefully your problems are either in the thermocoupler, or the the gass pressure to the oven. Both are fairly easy to fix.

It amazes me at times how manufacturers can stay in business when they don't have proper dealer representation.

robertz675 wrote:It amazes me at times how manufacturers can stay in business when they don't have proper dealer representation.

I think it's because they don't have enough competition. If they did then Dometic would either have to straighten up or go bust.

Hello all,
Just wanted to give a update on our "cat adventures" Went to pickup cat yesterday for
the oven and cylinder repair. The oven WORKS! HEY!!!!! now we can have biscuits and gravy this weekend. and yes we got a new cylinder, however, when we got home we found the cylinder was not adjusted correctly, the slide does not go all the way out. Oh, well......We will adjust ourselves. The dealer did wash the cat though, so we don't have to get that done before this Memorial Day trip. Also, when we got home last night, Kevin installed the "shurflo vent" in the bedroom, looks very nice. I'm sure we will enjoy that fan on these summer nights. Wishing everybody a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend.

Bert

Glad to hear it's back. I think I would have the dealer adjust the slide. That way they are liable if something goes wrong.

Yes hang in there it does get better, just have to work out the bugs.
My Concertone stoped working on one of our weekend trips, I toke the screws out and pulled it out and the power wire just had come out of the crimp. I wouldn't cared much, but to watch TV outside you have to run the audio through the radio (32QBBS)

Hello everyone,
Hope everybody had a great Memorial Day camping weekend. We did! This trip was the best yet, got to make biscuits and bake a cake. The weather was great. Everything worked on the Cat this trip, well, except the outside speakers are still cutting in and out. But, other than that I think we have finally got the Cat stable. Now we can get back to doing some mods we want.
The Shurflo vent Kevin installed in the bedroom works great! I would recommend these.

Thanks to everyone for your help and concerns over our new Cat.

Wishing everyone a great camping summer!

Bert

bert and hap,

I'm glad y'all had a great time and the Cat held up her part! If you took any pictures please post them in the galley!

Glad to hear all went well, hopefully the rest of the season will be just as good.

Hang in there guys, the 'Cat is worth it. We too have had some small issues, but in talking to owners of other makes in the campsites we have visited - I believe we have by far, a much better product!

Thanks to everyone for your kindness. We didn't take any pictures last trip, but we will next time and be sure to post them.


Thanks again.
Bert

Congrats Bert!! Full steam ahead!!

TC