man of norfolk Posted September 27, 2013 Posted September 27, 2013 I've just bought a 2011 Swift Bolero and have read about the wet engines on the Ducato and the changes made such as the engine cover. Wasn't there something to do with wiper motor as well? Mine seems to have a rubber sleeve over it? Is this the solution? I've just found that if you take off the small body panel over the drivers side headlamp held by 2 screws and 2 pull of clips there is a water drain pipe that is not connected and hanging loose! There is just a hole that gets blocked and if clear will let water in. I noticed this as there was a puddle of water around the drivers side wiper drive spindle which will eventually leak water inside. Check yours. As a retired automotive design engineer I have not been impressed with 15 years of driving previous Ducato motorhomes and again this later one! About time you got it right FIAT. Do i need to watch out for any other potential problems? 2011 2.3 turbo diesel 6 speed.
Mrs T Posted September 27, 2013 Posted September 27, 2013 Welcome to the forum Keith, Theres a conflicting word or two here, you are familiar with Ducato's if I read your notes correctly. Why did you buy another?
bolero boy Posted September 27, 2013 Posted September 27, 2013 The water pipe should obviously be connected to the underside of the scuttle (the drain hole you have found) so that it can direct water away from this area. If fact, when working you will see excess water (from,say, washing the van) coming out close to the offside front wheel.
Tracker Posted September 27, 2013 Posted September 27, 2013 Hope you have a pre DPF version!! Good luck - you'll need it!!
Keithl Posted September 27, 2013 Posted September 27, 2013 man of norfolk - 2013-09-27 6:04 PM As a retired automotive design engineer I have not been impressed with 15 years of driving previous Ducato motorhomes and again this later one! About time you got it right FIAT. Sorry but I think you have answered your own question with this statement. Me, I wouldn't touch a Fi*t with a proverbial barge pole! I had enough of them 30 years ago! Keith.
Rayjsj Posted September 27, 2013 Posted September 27, 2013 There are 3 drain pipes from the scuttle, 2 small (hidden by the wiper shafts) and 1 larger one, with a 'grille' set into it that gets blocked very easily, (I clean mine with an old toothbrush ) and use a piece of plastic covered Curtain wire to clean out the small ones. I also sealed the 'join' in the centre of the two scuttle mouldings to stop water leaking in through the join. this is a 2012 model ! NOT a very clever design, a 12 year old could have done better. Ray
Guest pelmetman Posted September 27, 2013 Posted September 27, 2013 All together now............Progress eh?....:D
George Collings Posted September 30, 2013 Posted September 30, 2013 As water ingress to underbonnet components has now afflicted motorcaravans based on the last three models of Seval vans one can only come to the conclusion that its a genetic problem, Do vehicles have DNA The trouble is the model cycle is about 13 years for vans and all the senior designers responsible for the last one have retired before work starts on the next. Perhaps some graffiti on the design office wall is needed . DNA = Drain Need Attention in metre high letters perhaps.
the general Posted September 30, 2013 Posted September 30, 2013 Is there any photos of the three drain pipes/scuttle as they should be in the engine bay?
man of norfolk Posted October 4, 2013 Author Posted October 4, 2013 Mrs T - 2013-09-27 6:38 PM Welcome to the forum Keith, Theres a conflicting word or two here, you are familiar with Ducato's if I read your notes correctly. Why did you buy another? Yes i do know about previous FIAT Ducato's having had to replace 5th gear frequently. The trouble with buying a motorhome now is nearly all of them are from the samer generic strain - Fiat/Peugeot/Citroen. The only other competitor I considered was the good old Transit but there was no motorhome on this chassis that we liked. Too many broken down Mercs for my liking. So I bit the bullet and bought a Fiat again. It being just 2 years old I am hoping it is more reliable than the 10-12 year old ones previously owned. On the other rare chassis, they are just rare and we did not see any.
colin Posted October 4, 2013 Posted October 4, 2013 George Collings - 2013-09-30 7:53 PM As water ingress to underbonnet components has now afflicted motorcaravans based on the last three models of Seval vans one can only come to the conclusion that its a genetic problem, Do vehicles have DNA The trouble is the model cycle is about 13 years for vans and all the senior designers responsible for the last one have retired before work starts on the next. Perhaps some graffiti on the design office wall is needed . DNA = Drain Need Attention in metre high letters perhaps. I think this is the answer, as Ford seem to periodically design engines with inadequate oil supply to the cam shafts.
Mrs T Posted October 4, 2013 Posted October 4, 2013 Keith, I still find your comments opposite to my thoughts, of all the adverse stories on this forum FIAT is always at the top of complaints and yet you suggest Mercs' as not good, I really cannot recall a day when reading of a Merc failure in some way. Few vehicles are perfect and on the Merc Rapido we had there were many minor difficulties but never with the Merc parts, always with the attached Rapido bodywork which I don't contribute to the chassis and engine.
Sydney1 Posted October 4, 2013 Posted October 4, 2013 Volume of issues is directly related to thte numbers sold. There are many times for motorhomes on Fiat's sold compared to Mercs so I'd suggest that seeing a greater incidense of issues would be as expected. Still disappointed that mybvrand new AT suffered from water ingress with the EGR failing after less than 2000miles. And I don't blame AT for that.
Muswell Posted October 4, 2013 Posted October 4, 2013 Mrs T - 2013-10-04 10:27 AM Keith, I still find your comments opposite to my thoughts, of all the adverse stories on this forum FIAT is always at the top of complaints and yet you suggest Mercs' as not good, I really cannot recall a day when reading of a Merc failure in some way. Few vehicles are perfect and on the Merc Rapido we had there were many minor difficulties but never with the Merc parts, always with the attached Rapido bodywork which I don't contribute to the chassis and engine. This is true but Sprinters and Vaneos did have a corrosion problem. Just read the courier owner driver forum.
Rayjsj Posted October 4, 2013 Posted October 4, 2013 the general - 2013-09-30 10:12 PM Is there any photos of the three drain pipes/scuttle as they should be in the engine bay? They are not the easiest things to photograph, and I wasn't even aware of the 2 small ones until another 'X250' owner pointed them out to me. Facing cab from front, 1 small drain pipe right beside 'Drivers' wiper shaft, (not easy to see), then the Larger (main)plastic drain pipe, with plastic 'insert grille assy.' this is what gets blocked very easily with fallen leaves etc., and needs cleaning out OFTEN. R/H side of scuttle, another small drain hole, to the right of the 'Passengers' wiper shaft. both of these small diameter rubber pipes get blocked as well. All causing an 'Overspill' of water into the engine compartment. I hav'nt yet discovered a way to cure it properly, I just regularly clean out the scuttle, especially now with all the falling leaves. Ray
Hihosilver Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 As i detailed in another thread my 07 fiat engine has had to be rebuilt because water got into the air filter housing and was sucked into the motor. I expect to finally get the RV back this week after having it off the road since 5th July. If you want to avoid water dramas as Fiat can't/ won't fix them, get into your rv yourself and install inch sized hoses and end connectors into the scuttle so all water is removed and there is no way it can drop onto the motor.
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