Doc on tour, France, Spain, Morroco.

[Northernraider]

My thoughts exactly but if I say something it just gets dismissed out of hand so give up, also when the fluid was changed was it bled completely, is there some air floating about somewhere that moves when the fluid gets hot?

It isn't doing the same thing it was doing before they were bled the pedal isn't going to the floor so it's not the same problem.

 

[Northernraider]

There is a trick to finding good oranges, tangerines etc. Pick one up and scrape your finger nail over the skin and smell it. The intensity of the smell produced will be equal to the taste.

I tasted one ... but the bags were sealed lol . Possibly not the same oranges

 

[chaser]

It isn't doing the same thing it was doing before they were bled the pedal isn't going to the floor so it's not the same problem.

Exactly , so have they been bled properly.

 

[PaulW2]

It isn't doing the same thing it was doing before they were bled the pedal isn't going to the floor so it's not the same problem.

I suspect it may be.

What you describe is fading. Fading is typically caused by overheating. Sometimes, but not always, this overheating boils the fluid and causes the pedal to drop.

 

[MichaelT]

Well they did the same on the last 6 miles to tafroute coming down long mountain road .. brakes doing nothing had to use mostly gears ... pedal remained mid way it did not sink like it did when fluid boiled. You'd almost think the brakes were not on .yet they were fine the rest of the road here . So I'm not sure what's going on.. brakes were smelly when I stopped to let them cool down drivers wheel didn't feel too hot passenger side did.

I will need to take wheels off and take pads out check all the pistons are free etc again .

The new master cylinder is ordered and CaptainPaul should collect it tomorrow.

Call me stupid but as it seems to be when going downhill is it maybe fluid tipping so not getting pushed thru or maybe an airlock. Even something lose or a pipe with a small hole that opens when tipped or something loose that sort of thing?

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[Carpmart]

Call me stupid but as it seems to be when going downhill is it maybe fluid tipping so not getting pushed thru or maybe an airlock. Even something lose or a pipe with a small hole that opens when tipped or something loose that sort of thing?

There is fluid in the reservoir so the angle can’t be an issue. This is a hydraulic system with many 100’s of PSI of pressure probably 1000psi plus when braking hard. Any hole will always be there and not open up under harder braking.

 

[MichaelT]

There is fluid in the reservoir so the angle can’t be an issue. This is a hydraulic system with many 100’s of PSI of pressure probably 1000psi plus when braking hard. Any hole will always be there and not open up under harder braking.

So I am stupid

 

[Northernraider]

Exactly , so have they been bled properly.

if it was simply air Charlie the pedal would go to the floor and it would need pumping. It doesn't and it hasn't.

It still has a firm pedal the brakes just don't work. So either there's a lack of pressure or a lack of friction at the wheels . I'm not sure which.

I've never in 34 years driving and hundreds of vehicles had brakes not work like these .

I'm tired of repeating the Same thing too. I've no idea what's causing the problem and I won't till the wheels have been removed again and the pads and calipers checked.


I'm changing the master cylinder when it gets here on the recommendation of others. Personally I've no idea if it's that or not.

The brakes are failing when hot as far as i can see but where they're failing isn't easy to check till each wheel has been removed.


To add to the fun the red light is coming on with a vengeance again too ....it was a pain in the arse driving here.


It seems ivecos just don't like hills they're shite at going up them and shite at stopping going down them .

Moby wasn't great , I thought this one would be better.

 

[Carpmart]

They certainly don’t like downhill running…. I hate driving mine down steep hills.

Going up, it’s just power to mass… 7T+ for mine and 200 ponies is not a great equation …

 

[PaulW2]

It still has a firm pedal the brakes just don't work. So either there's a lack of pressure or a lack of friction at the wheels . I'm not sure which.

I'll stop pestering you now, but in a closed hydraulic system like this where your pedal remains in exactly the same position I don't expect that there is a reason to suspect a loss of pressure, is there?

But loss of friction, due to heat, going down long hills under heavy braking is well-documented.

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[Carpmart]

So I am stupid

I really didn’t intend to be in anyway disparaging…

 

[Northernraider]

They certainly don’t like downhill running…. I hate driving mine down steep hills.

Going up, it’s just power to mass… 7T+ for mine and 200 ponies is not a great equation …

I'm not sure if it'd the waste gate sticking again or if something else but I get power till just before I go to change up gear then it dies, red light flashes and I'm back to square one. It was going great after we sorted it first time but a few times I've went out to overtake and when I hit the throttle all is well then suddenly it chokes red light flash and power lost . It seems to not like revving over 3500rpm when driving but can happily rev way higher when clutch is pressed .

When wheels are off again I'll get another look at the waste gate etc ... and try to grease it rather than wd40 it .

 

[Northernraider]

And to add more drama a feckin lorry hit me with his mirror on the drivers side of the van ....marked the paint between lounge and kitchen window and along kitchen window itself .

Out trying to remove it with t cut at the minute

 

[DandG5515]

Just food for thought mine is a much lighter twin rwd van, like Harvey's it chews through rear pads in 30k but fronts last 60k, so a lot more braking on the back unlike a car. The master cylinder generally has 2 circuits, front left rear& rear right, other circuit front right and rear left. So if one circuit fails you still have a more balanced chance of stopping on one circuit.

Just another thought is there differentiation valves linked to back axle set by ride hieght? These adjust the split between front and rear depending how the van is loaded. I had an MOT failure when one had seized.? I don't know if aftermarket pump up air suspension would upset these settings?

Sorry if these points have already been raided.

 

[Northernraider]

I'll stop pestering you now, but in a closed hydraulic system like this where your pedal remains in exactly the same position I don't expect that there is a reason to suspect a loss of pressure, is there?

But loss of friction, due to heat, going down long hills under heavy braking is well-documented.

Which could only then mean the pads are not gripping the discs. It had new pads all round in September.

When wheels are off I will check each corner and see what I find .

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[PaulW2]

I'm not sure if it'd the waste gate sticking again or if something else but I get power till just before I go to change up gear then it dies, red light flashes and I'm back to square one. It was going great after we sorted it first time but a few times I've went out to overtake and when I hit the throttle all is well then suddenly it chokes red light flash and power lost . It seems to not like revving over 3500rpm when driving but can happily rev way higher when clutch is pressed .

When wheels are off again I'll get another look at the waste gate etc ... and try to grease it rather than wd40 it .

I had a 2010 (auto box) one with a failed turbo that would go into limp mode at the least convenient times, especially when accelerating. Took quite a long time to get it accurately diagnosed.

It was sometimes downright dangerous - overtake a lorry and then go into limp mode halfway along, causing me to drop back while I had cars behind me...

 

[pagey]

the more i read on your brakes i seems to me the pads are crap miles too hard or the calipers are rubbing a bit and the pads are running hot to start with before the descent, changing the master cylinder wont cure the overheating but you may have 2 problems so still worth doing

 

[Northernraider]

the more i read on your brakes i seems to me the pads are crap miles too hard or the calipers are rubbing a bit and the pads are running hot to start with before the descent

It could well be the pads . I don't know .

 

[funflair]

They certainly don’t like downhill running…. I hate driving mine down steep hills.

Going up, it’s just power to mass… 7T+ for mine and 200 ponies is not a great equation …

You will love a retarder

 

[CazPaul]

You will love a retarder

How much are those?

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[Northernraider]

Anyway I'm in tafroute now and at the garage I want to get paintwork done. I've told the guy what I wanted done and he said OK let me think about it. , I then had a telephone interview about a warden job in Yorkshire and then just as I went to take dogs out momo came back to discuss the van ... said we'd chat when I got back with dogs and I saw him driving out as I returned lol. ...so as yet I've not discussed the price etc . I'm parked up in their yard as they've there own aire. Might be tomorrow before I find out . There's a few newer expensive vans , Concorde. Frankia etc here getting work done aswell as a few older ones

Once I've found out about the paintwork etc I can then jack up the van and get wheels off. I've not mentioned any painting of the underside etc yet as I want to see what price he quotes for the bodywork first.

The van is filthy inside and out. And I feel this feckin country is doing more damage to it than anything at the minute , the dust is ridiculous, it's an inch thick on the dash and worktops etc just from driving the last 2 days. It needs gutted .

The speed bumps are causing chaos inside I've lose hinges and screws and more rattles. I can't understand why anyone brings a good van to this country..and then you've the drivers. Some dick head lorry hit the side of the van as I was leaving agadir .. he tried to force his way in to my lane leaving me nowhere to go and then his mirror ran along the side of the van from the middle backwards , fortunately it just left a black plasticky streak that I've managed to t cut off but I'll be glad to get sorted and out of morroco.

I'm hoping he doesn't give me a ridiculous price for the paintwork as I've a figure I'm prepared to pay and that's thst. If too dear I'm tempted to just leave it for now as the vans in a worst state than it was when I left home and it's getting me down. I was proud of this vans condition and trying to improve it but I feel the world's against me with it

 

[PaulW2]

Anyway I'm in tafroute now and at the garage I want to get paintwork done. I've told the guy what I wanted done and he said OK let me think about it. , I then had a telephone interview about a warden job in Yorkshire and then just as I went to take dogs out momo came back to discuss the van ... said we'd chat when I got back with dogs and I saw him driving out as I returned lol. ...so as yet I've not discussed the price etc . I'm parked up in their yard as they've there own aire. Might be tomorrow before I find out . There's a few newer expensive vans , Concorde. Frankia etc here getting work done aswell as a few older ones

Once I've found out about the paintwork etc I can then jack up the van and get wheels off. I've not mentioned any painting of the underside etc yet as I want to see what price he quotes for the bodywork first.

The van is filthy inside and out. And I feel this feckin country is doing more damage to it than anything at the minute , the dust is ridiculous, it's an inch thick on the dash and worktops etc just from driving the last 2 days. It needs gutted .

The speed bumps are causing chaos inside I've lose hinges and screws and more rattles. I can't understand why anyone brings a good van to this country..and then you've the drivers. Some dick head lorry hit the side of the van as I was leaving agadir .. he tried to force his way in to my lane leaving me nowhere to go and then his mirror ran along the side of the van from the middle backwards , fortunately it just left a black plasticky streak that I've managed to t cut off but I'll be glad to get sorted and out of morroco.

I'm hoping he doesn't give me a ridiculous price for the paintwork as I've a figure I'm prepared to pay and that's thst. If too dear I'm tempted to just leave it for now as the vans in a worst state than it was when I left home and it's getting me down. I was proud of this vans condition and trying to improve it but I feel the world's against me with it

Sounds like you're doing pretty well, actually.

You've reached your paintwork destination, you should have time to get the wheels off and look at the brakes (and the wastegate).

And once that's all done it's pretty much mission accomplished isn't it?

 

[andyjc]

re the turbo - I had a similar intermittent issue, albeit on a Golf. Turbo hoses, vacuum pipes etc all checked and OK. Wastegate actuator also seemed fine when tested so decided to remove the turbo and split it to check the variable vanes. These can be clogged due to oily residue but mine were relatively clean. The answer was the cast housing itself which had rusted just enough on the inside edge to stop the vanes operating properly. Once cleaned up and put back together it's been fine for the past thirty thousand miles, the difference in performance was amazing. Doing this on the road of course is a different proposition to being in the workshop however there's nothing particularly difficult about it. A couple of points; it's worth checking for play in the bearings as this might colour your decision as to whether it's worth taking it apart or replacing and if you do decide to split the turbo casings, soak the bolts with penetrating fluid for a couple of days first - oh and take it slowly.

 

[Northernraider]

Sounds like you're doing pretty well, actually.

You've reached your paintwork destination, you should have time to get the wheels off and look at the brakes (and the wastegate).

And once that's all done it's pretty much mission accomplished isn't it?

Aye well that depends on the discussion with the painter. Hopefully agree a price I'm happy with and then while they make a start on prep I can have a good look at the brakes etc. If price no good I'll just go park on the aire and take wheels off anyway as I need to check it out.

Will know more tomorrow.

I believe its all relatively simple things causing the problem but all happening together just stresses me out .

 

[chaser]

Aye well that depends on the discussion with the painter. Hopefully agree a price I'm happy with and then while they make a start on prep I can have a good look at the brakes etc. If price no good I'll just go park on the aire and take wheels off anyway as I need to check it out.

Will know more tomorrow.

I believe its all relatively simple things causing the problem but all happening together just stresses me out .

Well now , this light coming on could be part of the problem, it all works on vacuum, as does the brake servo, could the two be somehow the problem?

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[Razamataz]

Yes but I have posh ones already View attachment 999480View attachment 999481View attachment 999482

Looks like you’ve still got the coat hanger in!!!(first photo.. where your looking into the far distance )

 

[Northernraider]

Well now , this light coming on could be part of the problem, it all works on vacuum, as does the brake servo, could the two be somehow the problem?

Well the thought has crossed my mind but I honestly have no idea. At the minute my head is fried with this van. I could be doing with something going right for a change

 

[Carol]

Tam I'm just pleased you have arrived at Tafroute safely I don't understand a word about the working of the brakes I've just been worrying that they worked enough to get you to Tafroute. Hopefully the price will be acceptable and hopefully you will find a solution for the brakes, much as I personally loved our travels in Morocco I tend to agree with you that it's not doing you any good so probably a good idea to head back to Spain when you feel ready. Good luck with the interviews for the Site warden in Yorkshire, I've everything firmly crossed that things start to improve for you.
Yours is such a diverse thread but always truthful interesting and gives a lot of us a virtual trip with you and the dogs.
Thank you.

 

[Northernraider]

Just food for thought mine is a much lighter twin rwd van, like Harvey's it chews through rear pads in 30k but fronts last 60k, so a lot more braking on the back unlike a car. The master cylinder generally has 2 circuits, front left rear& rear right, other circuit front right and rear left. So if one circuit fails you still have a more balanced chance of stopping on one circuit.

Just another thought is there differentiation valves linked to back axle set by ride hieght? These adjust the split between front and rear depending how the van is loaded. I had an MOT failure when one had seized.? I don't know if aftermarket pump up air suspension would upset these settings?

Sorry if these points have already been raided.

There's a load sensor valve on the rear axle ...its different from ones I've seen before too . I'm not sure if the rear air affects it or not but it's factory fitted on this van so I'd imagine it's taken in to consideration.

 

[Northernraider]

Lots of other dogs here , and the garage has 12 of there own lol ...many of which are a litter of puppies.

Few interesting vehicles too ....a lovely old setra bus which I'll hopefully see finished.

Nice wee aire they have set up. They've a toilet , shower and electric for those who need it. Separated spaces etc. Not far from the town and also a large buy waste ground for dog walking so if negotiation goes well it won't be too hard to stay here a while till works done.

Lots of music and cheering coming from the town tonight but I think it's new year here today...someone told me the 13th a few days ago .

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