Hi all, this is going to be one heck of a long post, but hopefully one that will give a warning and raise genuine points of discussion. The post is maybe too long, I'll do it in two parts. I've posted it in chat and not technical because I think this should go to a wider audience (if prepared to read it) and I hope Jim is happy with this. One reason for the lengthy post is to anticipate any questions or suggestions that may follow.
At the end of 2021 we took delivery of a brand new Adria Matrix Plus 600DT, the model with an electric drop down bed, rear washroom and garage, excellent storage etc, Fiat Ducato based of course.
I'm sad to say we've had so much trouble with it, now culminating in a major breakdown two months out of warranty, which I'll come on to. In the 2 years and 17k miles we've done there hasn't been any time when we've had a 100% fully functional vehicle. Our previous van was an 8 year old IH, a heki blind had failed plus a couple of other niggly things, and I started to think it's not getting any younger, things begin to fail, might be time for a change, plus we'd identified this Adria as a layout that really appealed.
My god, I had NO idea of what I was letting myself in for, seriously no idea.
We've been plagued by faulty cupboard catches (I posted a thread about that) blinds have failed, overhead 'sunroof' blind failed, we've had to wait months for part, solar panel hassle (I posted another thread on that recently) the van has been back to the dealers so often it could take itself there. An engine warning light came on en route to Spain in January '22, with 700 miles on the clock, losing us about 3 days because all garages in the region being so busy. Turned out to be a spurious code, the garage who did plug it in advised the first thing to do is cancel the light and see if it returns. We did that, and it never returned. I appreciated their help and honesty.
So I think that's the first point of discussion, that if you have a van that you're largely happy with, that has been reliable and well built, but are thinking of changing, I'm here to say the grass is far from greener on the other side. I realise that vans can't be kept forever, and this is something that we all have to take a view on, but I thought it might be of interest to anyone thinking of changing a vehicle that has been hitherto reliable, that maybe you might want to get some more years out of your vehicle.
One thing I have learned though as far as I'm concerned, IH blows Adria completely out of the water when it comes to build quality.
Our breakdown then, and the main topic of this post - Adblue.
We were due to leave home in Sutton Coldfield Wed 31st Jan. Friday before (26th) I get our van out of storage to take home for loading in good time before going away. On the short journey home the engine warning light comes on.
Out of sheer good fortune I have got to know a guy called Mark who is something of a diagnostics expert (mainly on Land Rovers & Range Rovers), and out of more sheer coincidence he has bought a Swift Kontiki himself, based on a Fiat Ducato, and so showed an interest in my problem. He's based on a farm on the edge of Sutton Coldfield, I zoom round there.
He has been seeing Adblue problems on the vehicles he works on plus also on agricultural vehicles such as tractors and combines etc. He tells me crystallisation in the adblue system and injector nozzles can be a problem, and there is a product available to combat this made by Wynn's. He plugs in his diagnostic kit and comes up with vague codes relating to adblue. As our van had been unused for over a month he feels there is a good chance crystallisation is at the bottom of it.
So instead of spending the day loading the van I go and buy some Wynn's Crystal Clean and Protect (an additive for the additive) and end up driving the van up the nearby A38 to see if engine light comes back on. It does.
We repeat the process of cancelling the light and me driving up and down the A38 throughout the Friday, at this late stage before our trip there isn't much else we can do, without success.
Over the weekend I also crawl under the van in search of the adblue injector, having watched videos on YouTube showing how they do crystalise up but are also quite easy to clean. However I am unable to locate the injector, I believe I can see it but it is completely inaccessible. This is worrying if cleaning these items becomes a regular job.
A phone call to Mark on Monday morning - he doesn't know the location of the injector on the Ducato but thinks I'm incorrect over where I think it is. That will be something we'll confirm at a later date.
So what to do re our trip to Spain?
One option, both highly recommended by him and his colleague who is also very knowledgeable, is to have Adblue Delete carried out on the ECU, and that will solve all adblue problems and I'll never have to buy any again On a vehicle so young however, and being so close to our trip, and not having time to research this for myself, I decline, after all we were due to travel in two days time.
Mark advises then to continue with our trip, he thinks using the van on a long trip is the best way to clear any crystallisation. He advises the purchase of a Topdon OBD Dongle for about £70, it uses an excellent Smartphone app, available on Amazon Prime on next day delivery, and can be used to diagnose and cancel engine lights.
I was in the motor trade myself prior to retirement and ran a small garage business, so I know that diagnosing faults can often be tricky and sometimes you have to let things develop - faults can go away and sort themselves out (such as when a vehicle is put back into use, motor vehicles can suffer from lack of use) or the problem develops into something that can be diagnosed.
So I make the decision
to travel to Spain.
At the end of 2021 we took delivery of a brand new Adria Matrix Plus 600DT, the model with an electric drop down bed, rear washroom and garage, excellent storage etc, Fiat Ducato based of course.
I'm sad to say we've had so much trouble with it, now culminating in a major breakdown two months out of warranty, which I'll come on to. In the 2 years and 17k miles we've done there hasn't been any time when we've had a 100% fully functional vehicle. Our previous van was an 8 year old IH, a heki blind had failed plus a couple of other niggly things, and I started to think it's not getting any younger, things begin to fail, might be time for a change, plus we'd identified this Adria as a layout that really appealed.
My god, I had NO idea of what I was letting myself in for, seriously no idea.
We've been plagued by faulty cupboard catches (I posted a thread about that) blinds have failed, overhead 'sunroof' blind failed, we've had to wait months for part, solar panel hassle (I posted another thread on that recently) the van has been back to the dealers so often it could take itself there. An engine warning light came on en route to Spain in January '22, with 700 miles on the clock, losing us about 3 days because all garages in the region being so busy. Turned out to be a spurious code, the garage who did plug it in advised the first thing to do is cancel the light and see if it returns. We did that, and it never returned. I appreciated their help and honesty.
So I think that's the first point of discussion, that if you have a van that you're largely happy with, that has been reliable and well built, but are thinking of changing, I'm here to say the grass is far from greener on the other side. I realise that vans can't be kept forever, and this is something that we all have to take a view on, but I thought it might be of interest to anyone thinking of changing a vehicle that has been hitherto reliable, that maybe you might want to get some more years out of your vehicle.
One thing I have learned though as far as I'm concerned, IH blows Adria completely out of the water when it comes to build quality.
Our breakdown then, and the main topic of this post - Adblue.
We were due to leave home in Sutton Coldfield Wed 31st Jan. Friday before (26th) I get our van out of storage to take home for loading in good time before going away. On the short journey home the engine warning light comes on.
Out of sheer good fortune I have got to know a guy called Mark who is something of a diagnostics expert (mainly on Land Rovers & Range Rovers), and out of more sheer coincidence he has bought a Swift Kontiki himself, based on a Fiat Ducato, and so showed an interest in my problem. He's based on a farm on the edge of Sutton Coldfield, I zoom round there.
He has been seeing Adblue problems on the vehicles he works on plus also on agricultural vehicles such as tractors and combines etc. He tells me crystallisation in the adblue system and injector nozzles can be a problem, and there is a product available to combat this made by Wynn's. He plugs in his diagnostic kit and comes up with vague codes relating to adblue. As our van had been unused for over a month he feels there is a good chance crystallisation is at the bottom of it.
So instead of spending the day loading the van I go and buy some Wynn's Crystal Clean and Protect (an additive for the additive) and end up driving the van up the nearby A38 to see if engine light comes back on. It does.
We repeat the process of cancelling the light and me driving up and down the A38 throughout the Friday, at this late stage before our trip there isn't much else we can do, without success.
Over the weekend I also crawl under the van in search of the adblue injector, having watched videos on YouTube showing how they do crystalise up but are also quite easy to clean. However I am unable to locate the injector, I believe I can see it but it is completely inaccessible. This is worrying if cleaning these items becomes a regular job.
A phone call to Mark on Monday morning - he doesn't know the location of the injector on the Ducato but thinks I'm incorrect over where I think it is. That will be something we'll confirm at a later date.
So what to do re our trip to Spain?
One option, both highly recommended by him and his colleague who is also very knowledgeable, is to have Adblue Delete carried out on the ECU, and that will solve all adblue problems and I'll never have to buy any again On a vehicle so young however, and being so close to our trip, and not having time to research this for myself, I decline, after all we were due to travel in two days time.
Mark advises then to continue with our trip, he thinks using the van on a long trip is the best way to clear any crystallisation. He advises the purchase of a Topdon OBD Dongle for about £70, it uses an excellent Smartphone app, available on Amazon Prime on next day delivery, and can be used to diagnose and cancel engine lights.
I was in the motor trade myself prior to retirement and ran a small garage business, so I know that diagnosing faults can often be tricky and sometimes you have to let things develop - faults can go away and sort themselves out (such as when a vehicle is put back into use, motor vehicles can suffer from lack of use) or the problem develops into something that can be diagnosed.
So I make the decision
to travel to Spain.
