I feel slightly stupid now but issue resolved. Despite the instructions suggesting you turn it clockwise, you actually turn it all the way anticlockwise. Was very stiff first go but has loosened off after a few goes. After using my (must be nearly 20 year old) NIlfisk that used a switch that was the logical direction I couldn’t think it would be any different on the Ava. Hopefully this helps someone in the future

 

I have been reliability informed that there is a massive back log of repairs with Ava as there is no spare parts from October 2023. Paid reviewers on Youtube to push their product has made their products in demand, but have no customer service back up when things go wrong. Lots of customers been with faulty products for months, and Ava don't seem to be helping resolve the issues with the dealers or customers.

 

thats a real pity as I’d been only looking at them other day in local shop when picking up few bits seemed best bang for money for me 99% car washing 2times year maybe for patio and drive garden walll ect,seemed best out of what they had kranzle karcher and Ava on display

 

So they give you instructions to turn it clockwise but then expect you to discover it turns anti clockwise and so far you effectively have to turn it half way and then go back for a second go to complete the manoeuvre. That's so poor in terms of design & ease of use I can't imagine it's correct, if it is 🙄.

 

I agree, it’s not the slickest of switches and seems daft to have to move it all that way. You get a positive clunk each way and there’s no way it’s turning the other direction. I will wait to hear back as the I have raised a ticket with Ava.
Maybe I should have stuck to nilfisk…. Time will tell

 

Some initial good marketing spiel, and some evangelical reviews. Time will tell if it runs into the sand. Where are these machines made?

 

Yes, it's typically what you will get. Machines that quote massive numbers and drop significantly seem to be the cheaply made models seeking attention. 170 down to 115 for example, what's all that about?
Take the K5, 145 max, 125 in use, far more acceptable. One of the reasons they quote the high number is it might be there briefly at turn on so they can cover themselves for damage, and of cause it sells, everyone thinks 170 bar, wow. 500 lph dropping to 330 lph in use, it's pretty pathetic really. ( I'm referring to another machine mentioned recently there)
Well done for identifying it.

 

That seems odd that the arrow shows clockwise, the 0 - 1 are on a clockwise configuration and yet you have to turn it fully anti-clockwise.

Not knocking you bud but that just doesn't seem right at all, especially if it was 'stiff' to turn that way. It's a switch so you'd expect a slight resistance but not 'stiff'.

Very confusing indeed.

 

Have a look at 20:30 on this video, he is not turning that anti clockwise, just a quick turn clockwise. Imagine turning it off in a hurry, all that turning 🤔

 

video for context. Hopefully this works. I watched 2 reviews and they both turned clockwise. All I can think is the latest batch has a different switch?

 

Is it me or have AVA lost the initial oomph around customer services

@mods do they still venture on here anymore ?

 

i dont have an ava, but to me that looks like a dodgy switch!

 

Well I didn’t hear back from them today regarding my query on the switch… I’ve looked into their customer service, or lack of since yesterday and I’m wondering if I should just send it back (ordered through Amazon)

 

I’m wondering if I should just send it back (ordered through Amazon)

You have at least two good options having ordered from Amazon. They want you to be happy with what you buy, if you are not, it's easy to fill out a return and you can explain why in the comments box. You will have the option of a replacement if you want to go down that route or a pain free return and refund without any of the controversy you might encounter elsewhere. I always keep that in mind, I once bought an expensive washer from a known "good bloke" who didn't seem to want to deal with a faulty return.

 

If I go down the returning it route what is the opinion of comparable Nikfisk machines? Looks like C150, E160/170 are in the similar ball park price range. Or something else totally different?!

 

I’ve ended up down a pressure washer rabbit hole. Looking at the Easy P57 specs it looks like the headline advertised pressure is 145 bar online. The specs in the manual suggest the ‘rated pressure’ is 97 bar. Is rated and working pressure the same thing?

 

Update. I sent the Ava back. I’ve just ordered a Karcher K5 compact from toolstation as they seem to be best price and have stock. Couldn’t find the K7 compact anywhere as that would have been the one I’d have gone for.
It was between this and the Nikfisk Excellent 170.
Hopefully I’ve made a good choice!

 

It does appear they are a victim of their own success. It is good to get another player in the market, especially as looking at the reviews they seem to have some good design features at a reasonable price. I wonder if the customer in this case is doing the final R&D testing as they potentially went to market too early.
Is this solely a UK issue with AVA or across Europe - I believe the fuses blowing on the bigger machines is UK due to our higher voltage

 

Fuses blowing is due to our plugs being fused at 13A, in Europe a Shucko is rated to 16A and less issues.

I have a P80 which I have been happy with (2022 buy) but only today the service kit needed for the 5 year warranty came back into stock - I have just ordered immediately so lets see if they ship it or not...

Seems they stopped selling P80 here, and I was confused as the repair kit is called P60-P70 now for the 4 cylinder one but I have only email where it shows the same PN is for the P80 so maybe it just blew fuses too easy and they stopped selling it? They had a P90 2 years ago that was Europe only as it would not fit on a UK circuit. Any extension lead voltage drop makes it likely to pop the fuse, but the long hose as standard (steel reinforced and pretty anti-kink) mitigates some of that.

The machine has been solid, and I was sold on their right to repair, but they definitely seem to have pulled back from the UK with not many stocking the machines outside Amazon, no deals and RRP prices on Amazon only last 12 months from what I have seen.

I just ordered the 5m lance to clean the house, been waiting for a sale on Amazon for a year with none coming and now need to do the job - this thread has me wondering if I made a mistake now spending any more with them... should have ordered on Amazon and returned it if rubbish.

 

It’s funny as it took them 12 days to respond to my initial query. In which time I had waited for a response and didn’t get one, started refund process, arranged pick up courier and ultimately got the money refunded. The service from that side was actually ok.
Although the purchase was through Amazon, it was Ava who was the seller and who dealt with the refund etc.

Another reason was that the rated pressure of 97 bar seemed low, so the K5 at 125 bar rated is much higher.

 

Yeah the max vs rated is one to watch out for, my P80 is rated at 130 continuous against 160 max I believe - it’s certainly significantly more powerful than the B&Q job it replaced!

I wondered if they only have a few English speakers on support? In any case the only time I asked question about when the service kits would be in stock it was a super slow reply and that was about 2 years ago…