annual winge fest

Just back from my 8 week 4000 mile tour of Britain and have the usual list of (expensive) repairs

(1) EGR valve in the engine sticking causing periods of acute embarassment driving along at 10mph with clouds of dense black smoke billowing out behind (fixed at cost of £300)

(2) habitation door refused to lock or even latch closed - last two weeks of journey it was tied shut with a piece of string (fixed £90)

(3) sliding latch on fridge door broken (not fixing this as I simply refuse to pay £15 for a new one)

(4) (the one some might be able to help with)  the plastic tap to drain the water tank broke, is it possible to replace it with a brass plumbing fitting?

(5) 6 blown bulbs!!! 5 of them being brakelight bulbs- the screw holes for the light mountings are starting to loo very tired and loose


Still unlike my trip last year at no time was I stranded at the road side

Not a cheap thing to run these motorhomes!

Afraid these things happen when you actually use a vehicle. I converse with two motorhomers who are shocked when I recount my tales of repairs and bits breaking on my van.
One of them averages a grand total of 500 miles a year in his eight year old van which he's owned from new, the other does ten times that but upgrades to a new van every two years.
So neither are likely to experience the problems I have, covering 7000 miles a year in my now 11 year old van.

Afraid these things happen when you actually use a vehicle

True, but it seems that every time I use the van something breaks (unlike my cars which go on for years without issue).

I dont get it with the brake light issue 3 on the nearside 2 on the offside and I think I blew two last year as well -I suspect that its caused by the back end bouncing around on the dirt tracks that pass for B roads these days

An one got any input about changing the plastic drain tap with something metal?

raymondo wrote:

An one got any input about changing the plastic drain tap with something metal?

If you put 'drain tap' into the search box, there are many threads regarding this problem.
You can replace with metal, or like for like.
There are masses on ebay.

PB

An one got any input about changing the plastic drain tap with something metal?[/quote]

Hi. You would do better to start a new thread.Your question is lost in your report.

However the search function is best used by selecting search next to home at the top of the page.
then select Advanced search.
enter "water drain tap"
Select search for all terms.
Then Google will search ASOF for you.

Regards

Micky

Have a look and see what CAK Tanks have to offer, or perhaps O'Leary's.

If they don't have what you want it's not going to be easy to find.

Dave

I've never changed a vehicle light bulb in years either, and that includes bikes which are subject to very harsh conditions. There are some rubbish Chinese bulbs out there though, you've not bought a job lot of those have you?
Regarding the drain tap, I replaced the cheap and nasty originals on both the fresh and grey water drains after the levers broke off. I bought a pair off ebay, still plastic, but much more robust.
I've also had quite major things go wrong with the van, which I never have with cars, such as replacement fuel and water pumps, front discs etc. I put it down to infrequent use over the winter months which encourages moisture and corrosion. In my case laying up in winter is unavoidable.
Al.

raymondo wrote:Just back from my 8 week 4000 mile tour of Britain and have the usual list of (expensive) repairs

(1) EGR valve in the engine sticking causing periods of acute embarassment driving along at 10mph with clouds of dense black smoke billowing out behind (fixed at cost of £300)

(2) habitation door refused to lock or even latch closed - last two weeks of journey it was tied shut with a piece of string (fixed £90)

(3) sliding latch on fridge door broken (not fixing this as I simply refuse to pay £15 for a new one)

(4) (the one some might be able to help with)  the plastic tap to drain the water tank broke, is it possible to replace it with a brass plumbing fitting?

(5) 6 blown bulbs!!! 5 of them being brakelight bulbs- the screw holes for the light mountings are starting to loo very tired and loose


Still unlike my trip last year at no time was I stranded at the road side

Not a cheap thing to run these motorhomes!

My EGR warning light came on,on my way into Whitby, really fed up with these ruddy things, would you believe this is the third time with three Puggie vans.
The van is booked into Peugeot Scarborough on Tuesday for a diagnostic test etc, no doubt this will be another £300 + quid to replace it.
Wish i could afford a Merc. 
Replaced the fridge travel lock back in July.
Boaby

In my opinion diesel engines are essential for motorhomes, I doubt you could buy a petrol these days anyway. But I've recently bought a new petrol car after 20 years of diesels, and after hearing of all the expensive problems friends are having with modern diesels I'm not regretting my decision.
Al.

Give it time Al.

The government persuaded people to go diesel with pump prices lower than petrol. Would you be utterly surprised if the trend was nudged back the other way now?

Dave

My EGR warning light came on,on my way into Whitby, really fed up with these ruddy things, would you believe this is the third time with three Puggie vans.

That is the weird thing, I didnt get a warning light.

The first time "it" happened was three years ago in Telford I went to pull away nothing much happened just clouds of black smoke, after a couple of hundred yards driving as if it was only firing on 3 cylinders it sort of coughed and drove as normal - it did happen again for maybe 4000 miles when it happened only very infrequently.
this year however it happened maybe 2 times out of three starts and it got to the stage when you never knew if it was going to get you away from a junction.

It has also blown the same radiator hose twice (in six years).


And when I saw the springs which hold the door locked - I realised it was probably more secure tied shut with bailer twine as it was for the last 2 weeks of my trip

As for £15 for the sliding catch on the fridge door!!!!!!!!!!!! (although to be fair there is a place sells them for £9 +£5 P&P)

Hi Ray
We had a wee 59 Symbol  5 years ago and that's what happened to it, black smoke, cough splutter stop. Restarted and managed it back to Scarborough, fortunately it was under Peugeot warranty.
My last van a 09 Nuevo, no smoke or sputter, just the warning symbol and loss of power, £371 repair bill from Peugeot Wellingborough, 3 weeks into the 2nd year Marquis Automarq warranty and claim refused.
We have had this van for 12 months and its ran like a sweety, until this trip up here to Whitby.warning symbol on, loss of power??
I use premium diesel all the time and the maddening thing is that I had a software update on the ECU last month.
Boaby

burlingtonboaby wrote:Hi Ray
We had a wee 59 Symbol  5 years ago and that's what happened to it, black smoke, cough splutter stop. Restarted and managed it back to Scarborough, fortunately it was under Peugeot warranty.
My last van a 09 Nuevo, no smoke or sputter, just the warning symbol and loss of power, £371 repair bill from Peugeot Wellingborough, 3 weeks into the 2nd year Marquis Automarq warranty and claim refused.
We have had this van for 12 months and its ran like a sweety, until this trip up here to Whitby.warning symbol on, loss of power??
I use premium diesel all the time and the maddening thing is that I had a software update on the ECU last month.
Boaby

Diagnostic test this lunch time confirms a "sticky EGR valve" and another £400 thank you. The funny thing is one of their salesmen asked me if was interested in one of their new diesel cars. NOT ON YOUR LIFE SIR.
Even their coffee was grap.
Boaby

You could do with a decent one-man mechanic instead of main dealer. I'm assuming yours is a 2.2 , EGR valve is around £69 (or £120 for genuine part) and hourly rate around £50 would save you a packet . Where dealers get their labour rates from I don't know. My nearest VW dealer charges £115 per hour, my mechanic charges £40 and a new VW specialist has just started near me charging £20 per hour.

Paulmold wrote: Where dealers get their labour rates from I don't know. My nearest VW dealer charges £115 per hour

Having recently bought a brand new car, and just taken it in for it's first service, I know the answer to this.
Walk through swish double automatic doors into spotless massive open plan offices. Give details to receptionist, shown into a plush lounge with all the comforts of a five star hotel. Offered a selection of fresh coffees and biscuits. After a short wait, escorted to an advisor who walks you to your car, and clipboard in hand, examines both inside and outside, noting any existing defects. You're then taken to a minibus which shuttles customers the 2 miles into town so you can shop while the work is done. Two hours later the minibus takes you back to the garage and the whole process is repeated in reverse.. Pay £285 for what is basically an oil and filter change and drive away your washed and valeted car, even though you never asked for that to be done.

At my local garage, walk in, hand keys to mechanic who might be working under a carlift, walk home. Come back several hours later, look at the bill, £35, and pay the mechanic who did the work. Pick up car and remove the plastic disposable seat cover yourself. 
Al

Spot on!  My mechanic lets me stay and watch while he does any work on my taxi so long as I make the coffee. He doesn't let anyone else stay but then again he gets all my cars (5 to date) from auctions for me and makes a bit on each for his trouble and then knows he'll get all my servicing work (and he gives me disposable seat covers to use in the motorhome when it's sitting at home to protect the seats from the sun). A true mechanic not a technician, worth his weight in gold but don't tell him.

Paulmold wrote:You could do with a decent one-man mechanic instead of main dealer. I'm assuming yours is a 2.2 , EGR valve is around £69 (or £120 for genuine part) and hourly rate around £50 would save you a packet . Where dealers get their labour rates from I don't know. My nearest VW dealer charges £115 per hour, my mechanic charges £40 and a new VW specialist has just started near me charging £20 per hour.

Yes Paul it's a 2.2 ,130bhp Peugeot/Ford Puma Diesel engine and yes I could have purchased a replacement EGR unit on the Internet at well below the price I payed.
When the EGR symbol sign came on in the van I was only 15miles from the Peugeot dealership, I made an appointment on my way home and arranged for a replacement EGR unit within 48hours.
Fortunately it was a beautiful sunny afternoon, the mechanic had to work outside as the van is to high to fit into their workshops.
Peugeot Scarborough bend over backwards to a commentate me and repair my van within my time frame, my local dealership has the workshop facility's, however not the diagnostic equipment or a mechanic to complete the task.
The van is running like a well oiled sewing machine , it will get a good run over the moors to Whitby next week and down to Lincoln the following weekend.
Boaby