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Hi All,

Hope you don't mind me 'lumping' these all into one.. We've had a couple of great trips in the van and are getting more comfortable with it. There are a few things however I was hoping you might be able to help me with... (I've searched for answers, but haven't managed to hit on them yet, so apologies if it's been covered!) also - if you need more info.. let me know

1) Batteries & Charging...We used the battery down to about 12 on the meter whilst away so in advance of our next trip I plugged it into the house for 3/4 days... But it didn't go up beyond 12.5? Is this a sign of needing new batteries? How long should it take to charge? The charging light flashes green when plugged in and the 12v is off but I'm not noticing any difference otherwise! Does the battery charge when you're driving?

2) Our door handle and lock has only as of a couple of days ago started acting up - in so much as it is protruding from the socket/handle section (can upload photo if it might be useful) are they easily fixed or replaced? if feels like the spring in it has come away from whatever was holding it in position before.. but that's just a guesstimate!

3) Some had fitted a rear parking camera, which is fixed on the back, but has removed half of the wiring and has no screen. I'm not too electrically minded - but generally speaking, are these easy to remove (as I've no real need for it!)

4) Air suspension.. can't figure this out there is clearly a valve beside the handbrake, and there are lines going to the rear... I'm contemplating getting suds and an electric compressor to find the source of a leak (Which I'm assuming there is, as I cant seem to get any pressure in it) anyone had anything like that before?

5) It is an old engine (93 ducato, 2.5 diesel) and we don't run it everyday. But in terms of starting it can take 2 x turns to start or a touch of the accelerator as it's biting to get it firing on all... Just wondering could this be linked to the (possibly) weak batteries or is it likely to be a starter motor/injector issue (or maybe just in need of a good service!?)

I'm reasonably useful when it comes to pulling things apart and figuring them out.. but i usually have a haynes manual or similar as a back up any help would be appreciated, and I also hope to update this with whatever solutions I do find!

Thanks a mill,

Killian

Batteries seem the right choice to try. Helga has great pointers and sorry i Cant help with air suspension either.

A multi metre is a good thing to have in the van so buying one is not a waste of money ,your starting problems, may be you need to replace the glow plugs or battery as has been suggested , I live in Kildare too if you would like me to have a look at the van with you PM me your address

Dave. Legend......

hi killiand, if its any use I recently bought a 1994 hymer 55 on a ducato with the 2.5td engine,
I believe that on engine there are no glow plugs as such instead there is a pre heat in the manifold and the relay for that is on the wing over the battery. I believe they are troublesome mine has a push button fitted! as regards starting, if mine started after 2 turns from cold I would be estactic! sometimes after lying up for a few days the battery sounds like its a little flat but after a few turns she bursts into life, but I will get the battery checked just to be happy,

ye - to be fair, I've gone a couple of weeks at a time and I keep joking that it'll always be within 3 turns she'll jump to life! and she does! the thing that gets me is - even if there's a lot of driving over a weekend, the start can still need that little bit of 'encouragement' - and then the charging issue on top of that has the seed planted.. you're absolutely right, I'll check them to put my mind at ease if nothing else!

Will also look for that manifold - would that be on a non-turbo as well?

Broms- thanks for that.. there's a guage beside the schrader valve and there's a constant nil reading on it.. I hadn't thought to check the valve tself, so I'll give that a shot first (definitely have the tool for it in the shed somewhere!) but I haven't identified an outlet valve yet.. where is it located on your system?

Thanks for the help!

Re the starting.

Although mine is a 2.3 and slightly different thought you may be interested in advice given to me by a Diesel engine specialist.

If you use fully synthetic oil in a Motorhome (as recommended for mine) this can cause problems as fully syn is designed for heavy use (i.e. every day). On a vehicle that is not used say every 2-3 days max all of the oil will fully drain back into the sump and unlike part synthetic or non synthetic it FULLY DRAINS DOWN thus taking all of the slippy stuff off everything, so when you come to start after a few days you are moving metal on metal thus a lot more effort to turn/start hence the reason it starts and speeds up after 2 or 3 cranks (the oil has got there)
I now use Semi synthetic and it starts first time no matter how long I leave it.

Also change the oil ever 12 months even though according to schedule it should be good for 000's more as winter can cause condensation in the engine and water can get in the oil

Interested to hear if anybody has had similar advice/experiences

David

Thanks a mill for that!

I was given different advice with regards to lubrication which was - NEVER use dipethane as a cleaner! And to drop some two strike motor oil into the petrol - as it will stay on the injectors etc and keep them nice and lubricated! Not sure if anyone has heard similar?

Excellent to know about the full vs semi synth - hadn't thought of that and it would make a lot of sense!

I use two stroke oil in my diesel, one of those things of one shot every fill, if you happen to get dodgy bleached diesel (and lets face it, there's plenty round Co. Armagh), then the two stroke restores the lubricant in the diesel