Stanton reversing camera

HELP?

Since buying my 2014 Stanton just a few months ago, I have a host of issues. The one I want to sort out first is the famous reversing camera failure. I know it is the Veba/Cmos system and the camera is set above the braking light (stupid idea).
It works fine for 100 yards or so, then the picture goes all zig zaggy, black and white and disappears completely...I have spoken with Veba who are really helpful. They admit the camera is poor quality and suggested replacing the whole system. Fair enough.
But before I go to that length, I would like to try replacing just the camera...easy enough - simple bolt and standard plugs...BUT....
How the hell do you access the back of it? The rear panel outside is one whole piece of plastic?....and inside there are cupboards behind the camera. The back of the cupboards are all one piece, part of the wall and not removable unless I cut them.
HAS ANYONE ANY IDEA HOW TO ACCESS THE REAR OF THE CAMERA ON THIS MODEL?

Once Ive changed the camera I will look at changing the ridiculous mirror/screen.
Then look at removing one of the leaf springs to make it ride better (I have airbags already).
Then re-trim the whole of the soft furnishing in a less putrid colour, replacing the uncomfortable driver's seat for a Ducato seat at the same time.
I will live with the incredibly basic stereo/radio, skinny steering wheel and steering wheel controls on the wrong side....why did I get rid of my Rapido? lol
The dealers told me the Mercedes was by far the very best way forward ?!!.....Hmmm, Ive had 6 previous vans, all Peugeot and Fiat and all were superb.
OK, the mechanics and gearbox on the Mercedes is nice, and it does look sexier.

Les

There is a small access disc cut in the rear wall of my Gloucester in the cupboard to access the camera. Not easy to see, if you don't know it is there. Look again, you never know.

Weclome to the forum.

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO ACCESS THE REAR OF THE CAMERA ON THIS MODEL.

Are you sure it's the camera that is causing the problem? The rear view mirror mounted monitor is known for its unreliability and can exhibit similar symptoms to yours. I'm on my second one and it occasionally blue screens, mainly in hot weather.

When the van was new I also had a flashing picture that was eventually traced to a bad plug / socket connection at the camera end. Fortunately it was deal with by Autoleeper under warranty as access to the camera involves removing the fabric trim and insulation which is glued in place.

Incidentally I've also installed a second ccd camera under the rear bumper where it's unaffected by rain, unlike the Veba one. There is a spare power and video socket, in our case under the driver door step, for a second camera. Either camera can be selected using the remote control. The only problem was routing the cable from the camera to the door step.

Hi Les
Welcome to the forum from sunny Bridlington 
Boaby

I gave up after the second one.  Get a new system not VEBA.  Happy New Year.
PeteJ

big'nuf wrote:HELP?

Since buying my 2014 Stanton just a few months ago, I have a host of issues. The one I want to sort out first is the famous reversing camera failure. I know it is the Veba/Cmos system and the camera is set above the braking light (stupid idea).
It works fine for 100 yards or so, then the picture goes all zig zaggy, black and white and disappears completely

The power for the system is taken from the fridge output of the Sargent EM50 unit. The blade fuse holders do not have guides and it is easy to insert the fuse and have one end touching the outside of the holder, allowing the fuse to disconnect as the van moves. The fridge would also stop working on 12v at that time.

If you want to access the camera connections at the rear then you have to cut an access panel in the back of the cupboard, neatly so it can be replaced.

To test the system you can access it over the cab interior light and connect a camera there to test the system and monitor, you can use the output of most digital cameras for the test.

Thanks for all the replies....
Not certain its the camera - I'm just going by what the technician at Veba stated...he is certain it will be?
I like the idea of camera under the number plate to avoid the rain....
I don't really want to go cutting the interior trim about.
I have been quoted £350 to supply and fix a whole new system (not Veba) maybe that would be the best option...?
I will take the interior light out as suggested though, and see if i can connect up a camera to test it....

keep the ideas coming...
Replacement seats?
Leaf spring removal?
Stereo upgrade?
Ha haaa

Still to cold to finish installation, but tests with camera here seems to work

We've had a few members with MB base who have wanted an extra rear leaf spring, no-one has wanted to take one off.
You mentioned changing the upholstery. That's going to cost about £2500 by Regal or Premier Furnishing.

Redwink wrote:
Still to cold to finish installation, but tests with camera here seems to work

Judging by the amount of muck that sticks to the back of our Stanton (even with custom-made mud flaps) I don't think that camera will give a very clear picture of anything, particularly with the UK weather!
However, judging by your photo, you might be in Australia.

big'nuf wrote:.......................
Then look at removing one of the leaf springs to make it ride better (I have airbags already).
......................
Les

Removing one of the leaf springs- or spring leaves?

The first idea would make the van go round in circles and the second would not be wise.

The heavier Merc chassis only have one leaf per spring so I'd be surprised if the Stanton has more?

Peter Brown wrote:The heavier Merc chassis only have one leaf per spring so I'd be surprised if the Stanton has more?

Unfortunately Peter it is not that simple- you may recall the battle I had when the van I ordered with a 3500kg-spec chassis arrived, courtesy of A-S penny-pinching, with 3200kg plus a sticker (but without the sticker!) chassis. There are several different specs of single leaf-spring and several combinations of both spec and number of helper leaves, don't mention anti-roll bars!

If our friend has the same spec rear suspension as my 2014 Stanton then I suspect that what he is contemplating is removing the helper leaf. Why, I don't know, as all this will do is reduce the safe payload (semi-air assistance, which I also have, does not affect payload) and make the vertical movement of the rear appear softer (ride). If he wishes to improve the handling, the semi-air will have done that, further improvements would be down to a stiffer anti-roll bar, however this would affect the ride quality adversely; it's all a bit of a balancing act and not to be undertaken lightly. My experience is with racing cars, rather than commercial vehicles but the same basic laws of physics apply.

If only A-S had supplied the Merc UK-spec 3.5 tonne rear suspension in the first place, rather than a Euro-mongrel to save money.

If you remove spring leaves I suspect your insurers may cut up rough as they will be concerned about roadholding.
I wanted to change from 17inch rims and 215/45 tyres to 15inch with 195/65 on my Prius for better economy and resistance to kerbing. Rolling radius would be virtually unaffected. Checked with insurers who told me they would then decline to cover.

Well, interesting. Thank you Pete & Peter.
I have a single spring with a helper spring. I also have the air bags fitted.

I spoke with a very helpful technician at the air bag company who has worked there for 25 years and have encountered this issue many times - he even told me I had a Sprinter based AS before I even told him...? 

He said he tries to tell everyone not to have the air bags fitted unless you are carrying a scooter or something very heavy. Here is his reason; The springs on the AS are very heavy duty as AS expect you to load the van to the limit....They are very hard/stiff when new and take many thousand miles before they wear in. As my van has only done 5000 miles, the springs are still very stiff therefore the airbag is not doing anything....his advice?....
Either sell the van and buy a Fiat (good move lol).
Or carry a very large concrete block in the back,
Or...and this is what he would do....swap the springs for some off a older van that has covered as many miles as possible and been used as a donkey. He said you want the springs to be very worn, flat or even bending the wrong way slightly.
He said, charge the air bags to 2bar, the weight of the van will be carried on the bags, assisted by the springs and you will have a perfect ride !?

OK, I ran this by my friend, a commercial mechanic, who laughed and said what a daft idea.
He then called me back and said the more he thought about it, the more he thinks the guy is right and it would be a good idea.
He then suggested we remove the helper spring and try it...if its no better, or worse, we could easily put the spring back on....?

Now, I dont know what to do lol...any comments?...any experts?....anyone managed to achieve a smooth comfortable ride yet?


As regards the seats...We knew when we bought the van we would have them re covered so factored this in....they are a vile orange colour.
(Been quoted £1500 at Tappers).

Rev Camera...well I gave up...all too complicated. We will have a complete new system fitted (not Veba).

with thanks to all. Les

I have a smooth and comfortable ride- suspension as supplied by A-S, semi-air rides fitted. Prior to fitting the air, the van used to wallow slightly on roundabouts. I inflate to 35-40 psi, as recommended by the fitters; this has raised the rear end by about an inch (viewed at rear wheel arch).

I suggest that you talk to Mercedes Benz Commercial Service Department. They will be able to download the exact specification your chassis was built to for A-S. In my case a heavy-duty front suspension was fitted but the rear spec is for 3200 kg payload, rather than the 3500 kg I ordered. A-S seem to think that getting the van re-plated was acceptable, rather than paying the extra £1k for the 3500 kg payload to M-B spec. Presumably this is how A-S specified all their chassis/cowl units back in 2014; now they are fitting the UK spec cab fittings (started with the 2016 model year, I think), rather than a mongrel set-up they may have also come to their senses regarding 3500kg suspension. Costs will have been passed on if that is the case; shame this was not an option in 2014.

I eventually managed to get A-S and the Dealer to pay a third each for my air-rides.

Put your VIN number into this to get your build specification including weight and suspension. http://carinfo.kiev.ua/cars/vin/mercedes

Guys.
Thank you very much. Have entered vin into link and come up with "harder rear spring, C33" and "A50 front axle reinforced"...doesn't mean anything to me, lol.
I am not sure if I want to mess around with the springs now?
How will I know how much air to put in the bags?...the technician said about 1 bar?..but doesn't seem to make any difference.

And how do I get the vehicle weight changed to 3500 kg?

Les

big'nuf wrote:
And how do I get the vehicle weight changed to 3500 kg?

Les

See SVTech website.

A50 Option : Front axle rating increased by 320lbs, recommended for RVs, ambulances etc.

C33 Option : 2 leaf rear springs with steeper spring rate than standard with greater roll resistance, recommended for high CoG vehicles.


Further description here, pg69 for A50, pg 77 for C33. http://www.sprinter-rv.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sprinter-equipment-handbook-my2016.pdf

Cheers Peter L
You guys know everything lol
(Except mine has just one spring with a helper spring).
Thanks for all the advice, as I said, Im now reluctant to change the springs....lguess I need to find a large concrete block then?

big'nuf wrote:Guys.
Thank you very much. Have entered vin into link and come up with "harder rear spring, C33" and "A50 front axle reinforced"...doesn't mean anything to me, lol.
I am not sure if I want to mess around with the springs now?
How will I know how much air to put in the bags?...the technician said about 1 bar?..but doesn't seem to make any difference.

And how do I get the vehicle weight changed to 3500 kg?

Les

Try 30 psi, 2 bar for a start, you will probably have to go to 3 bar, 40 psi, with a full load, that's what I do- we have a spare wheel on the tow-bar and two bikes on the back rack. Same van as yours, same springs. I don't tend to cart water around with us- it's heavy (imagine trying to pick up those two big tanks!).


Here's something more useful than a concrete block: https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t10681p50-new-stanton-no-spare-wheel?highlight=spare+wheel

Don't read all the thread, lots of it is out of date/conjecture/waffle!!! Just go to the end and scroll up 'till you see the spare wheel photos.

Thanks Pete,
I have tried all pressures...simply rubbish ride. But will try again.
I usually carry full load of fresh water...but from what i can gather, the more weight, the better it should ride?
I am confused with all the spare wheel issues...I have a spare wheel carrier built into the van, under the rear end as you would expect...factory fitted from new?
Still, nice idea if you do not have a carrier...

big'nuf wrote:Thanks Pete,
I have tried all pressures...simply rubbish ride. But will try again.
I usually carry full load of fresh water...but from what i can gather, the more weight, the better it should ride?
I am confused with all the spare wheel issues...I have a spare wheel carrier built into the van, under the rear end as you would expect...factory fitted from new?
Still, nice idea if you do not have a carrier...

Factory wanted about £1600 to fit a spare wheel under; required smaller "special" tanks, they said.

The more weight... the heavier the van.