Motorhome won't start

[Rick Axon]

I have a Swift Sundance 2003 reg, built on a Fiat Ducato Chassis.
Stated it up a couple of days ago and moved it a few feet in our drive. Went out again an hour later and it wouldn't start.
I get a message saying "oil High" followed by another message "Day 0", there's an icon of spanner in the bottom left of the screen. (See photos)
The battery charge says 12.3 V and the oil level is halfway between the low and high marks on the dipstick.
Any ideas will be most welcome.

Thanks
Rick

 

[scotjimland]

.

 

[denisejoe]

There is a limp mode I had a 2004 jtd went into limp mode in Calais as we were heading to ferry 30 mph max turned out injector wiring .

 

[Minxy]

read the whole thread... no limp mode , if there was it would be mentioned in the Owners Handbook.. no such word as limp in it..

Handbook says , Ignoring it can invalidate the warranty ,, on a 20 yo van I think it's expired

It's in the flipping title! If you do a search you'll find there are a lot of references to limp mode in vehicles of that age ...

 

[Figaro]

Try pushing the button in an the accident fuel cut off valve it should be under the bonnet on the scuttle left hand side as you look in

Rick Axon This is the accident fuel cut off switch, it's on the bulkhead just to the right of the starter battery
Worth trying

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[Gromett]

... or maybe not ...

2003 Ducato 2.0 JTD swb suddenly gone into limp mode. | FIAT Ducato

Ok. I bought this van to move my wife and my self to Italy from the Netherlands. It has been great so far hauling a full trailer with my shop tools through the alps. Suddenly I took it out yesterday and it will not rev. I managed to get it home but it won’t do over 50km. Sitting still it won’t...

www.fiatforum.com

There is a limp mode I had a 2004 jtd went into limp mode in Calais as we were heading to ferry 30 mph max turned out injector wiring .

You are both speaking at crossed purposes here. scotjimland never said there wasn't a limp mode. He said that the service light coming on does not put it into limp mode.

On a 2003 2.8JTD ignoring the service warning indicator it doesn't put it into 'limp mode' or stop you driving normally ..

 

[Minxy]

You are both speaking at crossed purposes here. scotjimland never said there wasn't a limp mode. He said that the service light coming on does not put it into limp mode.

Looks like he's gone into sulk mode as I can't see any of his posts now ...

 

[TR5]

If the key is with a remote, have you tried changing the battery in the remote - probably a CR2032.
Had this very recently with an Audi, not enough power in the remote.

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

I have a Swift Sundance 2003 reg, built on a Fiat Ducato Chassis.
Stated it up a couple of days ago and moved it a few feet in our drive. Went out again an hour later and it wouldn't start.
I get a message saying "oil High" followed by another message "Day 0", there's an icon of spanner in the bottom left of the screen. (See photos)
The battery charge says 12.3 V and the oil level is halfway between the low and high marks on the dipstick.
Any ideas will be most welcome.

Thanks
Rick

View attachment 828829 View attachment 828830

Have you sorted the problem out yet or not???

It's obvious the warning light's are conflicting each other, you need to find out why ! Call a mobile mechanic and get the oil and filter replaced 1st, then reset the oil change indicator back to correct day's left. This should then allow you to start the engine. I would also add a forte flush once you have it running and allow it to clean any deposits out, as seens to me you could have a build up of sludge in your pick up pipe, this would in tirn give you false readings and low oil pressure. You will need to drop the new contaminated oil again, but will be worth the expense in the long run . . .

 

[Tony50]

Are you sure the battery connections are clean and well fixed, is the earth lead from battery to vehicle clean I would remove and clean any way as visual does not always work, next check where engine gearbox assembly earth's again remove and clean or add a good size earth cable ,I have known a car to loose its engine earth and burn I the choke cable on a old car as it lost its earth , I would add I haven't read all the replies, but I'm suggesting the non cost way to go.

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[Rick Axon]

Morning Everyone,

I've just taken the battery off charge and it started first time, so it looks like I may need a new battery.
Thank you all for your advice and comments. I've learnt a few new things on here especially about re-setting the Service warning indicator.

This is indeed, an excellent forum, full of helpful people.

Thanks again

Rick

 

[Gromett]

Morning Everyone,

I've just taken the battery off charge and it started first time, so it looks like I may need a new battery.
Thank you all for your advice and comments. I've learnt a few new things on here especially about re-setting the Service warning indicator.

This is indeed, an excellent forum, full of helpful people.

Thanks again

Rick

Thanks. I really appreciate you coming back and letting us know the end of the story. So often we are left hanging Nice one
And glad it is something easy to fix...

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

Thanks. I really appreciate you coming back and letting us know the end of the story. So often we are left hanging Nice one
And glad it is something easy to fix...

I suppose you have learned the hard way, not having regular services will catch you out, although how many mechanics would test the battery prob not many.
Main thing is you can replace the battery at least inconveniences caused ! Maybe get an oil service and flush will do it good, and give you a peace of mind for the future

 

[Rick Axon]

Are you sure the battery connections are clean and well fixed, is the earth lead from battery to vehicle clean I would remove and clean any way as visual does not always work, next check where engine gearbox assembly earth's again remove and clean or add a good size earth cable ,I have known a car to loose its engine earth and burn I the choke cable on a old car as it lost its earth , I would add I haven't read all the replies, but I'm suggesting the non cost way to go.

Thanks for your suggestion. I cleaned the terminals and Vaselined them before putting it on charge. The earth lead is only a foot long and is easy to access, it's clean and secure. The van started first time after I took it off charge,

 

[Gromett]

I suppose you have learned the hard way, not having regular services will catch you out, although how many mechanics would test the battery prob not many.
Main thing is you can replace the battery at least inconveniences caused ! Maybe get an oil service and flush will do it good, and give you a peace of mind for the future

Did you mean to aim this at the OP?

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[RV72 SAM 🏴]

Did you mean to aim this at the OP?

Yes sorry Gromett, wasn't paying attention to the thread

 

[stuartholmes]

I love how so many great suggestions get offered and in the end it boils down to the same fault as my A30 had in 1971...

Brilliant though, so I thought I'd add two non-start solutions I learned from my own experience in the last couple of weeks in case they help someone else.

1. Audi A3 - Engine turned over and appeared to start but cut out again almost immediately. Nice man from the AA plugged in his machine and diagnosed transponder fault, verified by trying my wife's key which worked fine.
Q. Why didn't I think of that ?
A. They didn't have transponders on A30s

Permanent solution call out the local car key company, who diagnosed the fault was not with the transponder itself but with the gunky stuff that Audi put in the key to glue it in place. He said it wasn't needed & was just interfering with the signal so cleaned it out, the key works fine and he wouldn't accept payment because he said he hadn't ''done anything''. This is five star A30 generation service so mega shout-out to NottinghamCarKeys.co.uk!

2. Ducato campervan - Wouldn't turn out the diesel pre-heater indicator light, engine turned over but wouldn't start. Bit annoying because we'd only stopped for fuel & were blocking the pump for the next customer.
Other nice man from AA came - one hour & 54 minutes later, petrol station closing so very handy that we had food & toilet onboard - and diagnosed expired earthing strap, fitted a replacement out of his box of tricks, engine started better than ever & he also wouldn't take payment for it. I know his labour is effectively pre-paid but a 'free' earthing strap sent us home moderately happy, if somewhat later than scheduled!

Since then I've done some googling & apparently earthing strap faults are not uncommon and have many manifestations but between myself and my wife and our children and our campervans & motorbikes we must have well over 100 years worth of motor vehicle ownership and up to this point I don't think I have ever even heard of earthing straps. So when did they become a consumable item? And why are they not on the service schedule?

The longer I live the less I know. Or more I know I don't know. Or something like that.

 

[Tony50]

Believe it or not wife went dentist about 4 year's ago , I waited outside , went to start battery had it , about 3 weeks ago wife went to a different dentist,same thing wouldn't start battery had it , what a expensive coincidence, and this time it was a Private Dentist !!

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

I love how so many great suggestions get offered and in the end it boils down to the same fault as my A30 had in 1971...

Brilliant though, so I thought I'd add two non-start solutions I learned from my own experience in the last couple of weeks in case they help someone else.

1. Audi A3 - Engine turned over and appeared to start but cut out again almost immediately. Nice man from the AA plugged in his machine and diagnosed transponder fault, verified by trying my wife's key which worked fine.
Q. Why didn't I think of that ?
A. They didn't have transponders on A30s

Permanent solution call out the local car key company, who diagnosed the fault was not with the transponder itself but with the gunky stuff that Audi put in the key to glue it in place. He said it wasn't needed & wasejust interfering with the signal so cleaned it out, the key works fine and he wouldn't accept payment because he said he hadn't ''done anything''. This is five star A30 generation service so mega shout-out to NottinghamCarKeys.co.uk!

2. Ducato campervan - Wouldn't turn out the diesel pre-heater indicator light, engine turned over but wouldn't start. Bit annoying because we'd only stopped for fuel & were blocking the pump for the next customer.
Other nice man from AA came - one hour & 54 minutes later, petrol station closing so very handy that we had food & toilet onboard - and diagnosed expired earthing strap, fitted a replacement out of his box of tricks, engine started better than ever & he also wouldn't take payment for it. I know his labour is effectively pre-paid but a 'free' earthing strap sent us home moderately happy, if somewhat later than scheduled!

Since then I've done some googling & apparently earthing strap faults are not uncommon and have many manifestation but between myself and my wife and our children and our campervans & motorbikes we must have well over 100 years worth of motor vehicle ownership and up to this point I don't think I have ever even heard of earthing straps. So when did they become a consumable item? And why are they not on the service schedule?

The longer I live the less I know. Or more I know I don't know. Or something like that.

Those were the day's my friend, although I was only 10 year's old I still remember sitting between my Dad's leg's and driving his A35 Van. Mom had an A40 which I also drove on field's and black rock sands on holiday. Pc plod was alway's knocking on our door asking why I was in driver's seat Pc Tom Jones was our local beat bobby who used to love a cuppa T and a biscuit, he was sound and alway's looked out for us.

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

Believe it or not wife went dentist about 4 year's ago , I waited outside , went to start battery had it , about 3 weeks ago wife went to a different dentist,same thing wouldn't start battery had it , what a expensive coincidence, and this time it was a Private Dentist !!

Wow that's a bit weird to say the least, so your wife got bad teeth now as you barred her from dentist's

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[stuartholmes]

Mom had an A40 which I also drove on field's and black rock sands on holiday.

I had an A40 too. (Later)

Is there a thread here for cars (& campervans/mohos) we wish we still owned?

 

[stuartholmes]

what a expensive coincidence, and this time it was a Private Dentist

I feel a bus ride coming on...

 

[denisejoe]

Don’t worry about the high oil level if your not parked on the flat

 

[Rick Axon]

Sadly, I sold the Motorhome today, I couldn't afford to keep it running and use it as often as we wanted to.
We won't be getting another.

Thanks again for all your suggestions. Even though I'll probably never own a Motorhome or Camper van again, I'll stay subscribed to Motorhome Fun, even if only for the toilet comments

Good luck to the rest of you and Keep on Trucking"

 

[Figaro]

Did you fit a new battery and cure the non start problem ?

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[pappajohn]

i would put the battery on charge for a while and see if that sorts it

Agreed......12.3 volts is 50% discharged.
Should be 12.6v/12.7v

 

[pappajohn]

Did you fit a new battery and cure the non start problem ?

Post #40

 

[Tony50]

I feel a bus ride coming on...

Next time she can walk to the dentist

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

Hope not saved a few quid, as long as it starts it will be fine, probably just needed a good run before he sold it on.
Good luck Rick hope you have less stress now not worrying about the bus !

 

[Rick Axon]

Did you fit a new battery and cure the non start problem ?

No, the battery was fine after it was charged and I've now sold it.

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[Rick Axon]

Hope not saved a few quid, as long as it starts it will be fine, probably just needed a good run before he sold it on.
Good luck Rick hope you have less stress now not worrying about the bus !

Thanks, it was getting stressful, It did have damp problems, so sold it to a dealer rather than ebaying it.