Basil

Had a chance now to test the system and I am pleased to say this has completely cured the issue. So I would say I am pretty certain your issues are being caused by the sensing probes and/or connections. Bas

I had the same problem after the last trip out with erratic readings, including the lights lighting in sequence ladder fashion and red light and bleeper warnings. With a full tank a correct all lights reading but as soon as level dropped, probably below top stud, the erratic readings start. I have no way of getting to the inside of the tank so decided to remove the sensing screws and replace them. Now the first issue. For some reason the Wellnuts used in the kit are around 25mm which means that as you attempt to unscrew the screws because of the scale/corrosion the screws won't undo and just twist the uncrushed rubber within the tank, meaning you are unable to remove them! This meant the only way to remove them was to pull them outwards, the excess rubber allows this, and then cut them off thus releasing the wires. Unfortunately this does mean, certainly in my case, the remaining portion has to be pushed into the tank. On inspection I found that the wiring appeared to be only crimped to the tags and I believe this plus general corrosion was causing a resistance, so not just the scale on the screws. I therefore soldered new tags to the wires. I decided against using the long rubber Wellnuts on reassembly and used some shorter ones, approx 12mm, which are readily available on a well known internet site! These were just a little longer than the thickness of the plastic tank and made a much better and tight fixing. On reassembly I used Copperslip between the screw and the wire tags and also smeared it over the screw heads and tags, from the condition the old ones were in, I decided it was a better option than the silicone that had previously been used as it certainly hadn't stopped the corrosion. I then recovered with waterproof tape as the original setup Bas p.s. Sorry for long reply!

Though do be aware David L that with Britannia Rescue the only vehicle covered in Europe is the one stated on the policy as the main vehicle. The any vehicle cover is UK only, unless of course it has recently changed. I am with Britannia Rescue and have been since being let down twice with Green Flag Mayday! Bas

Easiest option I believe is to call a mobile auto key and locksmith, I have details for an Essex based one but can't advise nationally. From experience they come to you and are, normally, able to open any lock and make keys from the existing barrel. It is actually frightening how quick they are able to open the lock, matter of seconds in my case. New keys made in under 5 mins, whole job 15 mins and reasonable charge. Bas

I asked that question when I added the bicycle cover and was guided to the section 27 in the insurance booklet, see attached screenshot. Bas

I believe you will find public liability cover within the terms of the policy. Bas

Ours are covered under our house insurance with LV, so far they have been consistently less costly than others at every renewal. Bas

An interesting, I thought, article I read the other day about East of England Ambulance Service. Although it does state in the article the fleet is nearing the end of it's service life, it appears it is ditching it's whole fleet of Fiat Ducatos in favour of Renault Master and Ford Transits citing unreliability and the fact that 40% of the fleet has been out of action all through the time of use. links anyone is interested. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-67873215.amp I realise the original post was regarding water and condense but with the comments regarding Fiat's attitude I thought it may be of interest that it's not only individuals having issues. Bas

Laimeduck, I appreciate your situation but was passing on information to the OP in, I hope, offering information regarding his question, from my knowledge and perspective, not to get into a discussion of the rights and wrongs or the ifs and buts of an individual's situation. I also appreciate your personal situation as, certainly with the UK, they keep moving the goalposts, unlike the continent, where at least your designation is for the life of the vehicle. We changed ours from our very much loved but noncompliant Eldiss in 2015 to meet the current, and we thought immediate future, regulations only to find a year later we were no longer compliant!!! However my experience both approaching Lille and on another occasion Lyon it started with large matrix boards saying, obviously in French and translated by my co-pilot, High Pollution reduce speed to 50kph. The next said Vehicles Crit Air 3 all others leave at next junction. I am not aware of what happens when you leave at the junction as we were compliant. I did observe gantries with cameras covering all lanes after the junction but I am not aware what these were for. With the Lyon one we did take the diversion as there was an extreme amount of traffic on the road we intended to use and it basically put us onto another Autoroute that circled further out from Lyon with Matrix boards notifying where you should go. The only thing I would say is if you are alone and only have the grasp of French that I do, it could be difficult! Bas

In answer to laimeduck's point, yes I totally agree that some vehicles would not be allowed through the variable zones, I did as much say that in my comment, the areas are not as you state 'can be designated' they ARE designated with a variable limit that applies to those vehicles at the time. Surely the fact that you can't enter the relevant zones that is the essence of the OP's question? Clearly those that are unaware of them being used have not driven past Lille or Lyon at the times they have been activated, I have so know that they are being used. Anyway I personally don't care one way or the other whether someone does or does not want to spend a tiny fraction of money, it's as always personal choice but I do believe the OP should have the benefit of any available information and then make their own decision! I also remember now why I stopped participating in this forum. Bas

Whilst I understand people not wishing to enter cities with their motorhomes, I personally feel that for the sake of a very small outlay (€5 France, €5 to €10 Germany) for the life of the vehicle it is really no reason not to buy one. One point that seems to be being missed is that it is not only towns and cities affected, there's also Zones that are variable according to pollution at the time. As you can see from (I hope!) attached picture this can severely restrict the the areas in which you can travel, leaving only a couple of unaffected routes north to south. Bas

No worries I didn't believe you were questioning anything, just saying that we haven't experienced any issues ourselves. That's not to say others don't have a different experience. I often see 'things' others do on site and wonder if they are as fortunate as us in not having bad experiences! Guess that's life. Bas

Have to say we have used our water systems in both caravans and motorhomes the same way for over 45years and have never had a stomach upset issue. But I guess that's the luck of the draw and how careful you are with your sanitary system! Bas

We always travel with a full fresh water tank, it's just not worth the hassle of having no water available during the journey and at the destination should none be available. Our fresh tank holds 125litres. We always empty the waste tank upon leaving a stop, always providing facilities are available. This means we always have at least three days viable use of our own facilities. There's no discernable affect on the mpg, always get just above 36mpg loaded or not, but the van always feels better driving fully loaded rather than part loaded or empty. We have carried this out for the whole time we have been motorhomers, so quite a long time! Just our view. Bas

There are no additional premiums for the NFOP insurance irrespective of your prior conditions. Bas

We use NFOP insurance, annual multi trip, no medical questions, just mustn't have been told not to travel by a doctor. Very competitive price for a block policy. However you have to be under 74 at inception, although once a member provided you continue to renew no age limit. You also have to have been an NFOP member for six months before you can apply which means joining now would enable insurance from mid April beginning of May. The insurance covers world-wide and cruises, which a lot of others don't without paying for an extension. Bas

Cannot be turned off on the Kia. Bas

Clearly the systems differ from maker to maker. Bas

I don't believe you are correct that it won't allow you to drive too close to the car in front, not in my experience anyway. The reactive cruise control will do that but the auto braking system is looking at how quick you are approaching an object ahead. The system operates, i.e. brakes,if it works out that at the closing speed you have to an obstruction will result in a collision. I can't say that I have any reason to dislike the system but I do agree that it can be off putting when you first experience it, mind you I can say the same for my first 'proper' experience of ABS and ESP but I am quite used to those now. Bas

We also have a vehicle fitted with the auto emergency braking system, a Kia. It has so far presented no real problems with one exception which was whilst negotiating a roundabout. The roundabout is on a moderately fast (50mph) dual carriageway which was at the time completely empty and I probably approached it a bit 'enthusiastically'. This particular roundabout has three exits/ entrances one right angle left one right angle right and the middle one which I was approaching on. As I turned around the roundabout to my right the brakes suddenly applied mid turn just after the left entrance. I can only sumise that the solid hedgerow bordering the kerb of the roundabout was picked up as a stationary object and applied the brakes as there was no other obstruction. So yes it can be a little disconcerting. Bas

For information, I am unable to explain the reason that wiggling the thermocouple makes it work, unless guessing, it repositions the flame contact position or re sets a 'dirty' connection at the tap end. However I can definitely assure you there is no earth return as a thermocouple is a concentric wire, i.e. one wire within another, made from two dissimilar metals fused together at the heated end. It is this that creates a small EMF that operates an electromagnet within the tap. A loose, dirty or poor connection at the tap end would give problems, as would the heated end not being correctly placed in the flame. It can be too hot or too cool if out of position. Most likely though it's likely to be on the point of failure. Bas

Thing is it doesn't only happen abroad, my first blow out was in the UK on the M2 heading to Dover! Bas

As onecal says, in France you have to have same MAKE of tyre on the same axle and was the cause of me having to purchase two second hand tyres to replace the one shredded tyre. The size of tyre was the other problem as GB supplied Boxers had a different tyre size to EU ones and the GB size was not readily available in France meaning two would have had to be shipped in from GB. Bas

Having had the experience of two deflations over a two year period on our previous motorhome there is no way I would accept a motorhome without a suitable spare wheel. On both occasions the tyres were left completely shredded and a pump up kit would have been as much use as chocolate teapot! The first occured in UK on the way to get a ferry from Dover, but I stupidly changed the wheel and continued to France thinking I would obtain a new one next day, long story but ended up having to purchase to old, very expensive part worn tyres in France and then buy two new ones when we got home. The second occasion was in the South of France shortly after leaving St Tropez. As we were on our way home I decided to chance getting back without a spare due to the difficulties experienced previously. We have two cars supplied new with no spare wheel, both of which I have acquired space saver wheels for, or least ways came as part of the purchase, one of which has been used two weeks after the car was supplied!!! No spare for me is a deal breaker. Bas

I believe a lot of users forget that a SatNav is just a tool and like any other tool one has to use the brain to use it effectively. If you follow them without any questions at some point you are bound to be caught out. I confess to being caught out myself travelling on a German Autobahn where it took me off at a junction, back the other way to the previous junction and back on to the motorway then straight on, totally pointless. The stupid part for me was I knew that there was at least 50 miles before I needed to switch to another Autobahn but a moment's lack of thinking and following the instructions allowed this to happen. Lesson learned for me anyway. Bas