Steering on Fiat Ducato

[KUSKUS]

Have any of the current steering failures got centre under trays fitted?
I had a look at my 2022 Carthago A class and it has no centre section fitted
Would it be worth fitting centre under tray to stop spray?

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Have any of the current steering failures got centre under trays fitted?
I had a look at my 2022 Carthago A class and it has no centre section fitted
Would it be worth fitting centre under tray to stop spray?

Now that could be a very good suggestion

 

[KUSKUS]

Engine looking rather exposed without undertray

 

[chrish]

There are several accounts of similar problems with power steering failure on the Facebook Adria Twin page. I have a ‘check power steering’ message intermittently on start-up together with same for electronic handbrake and airbag. They clear quickly and the van drives ok. Van has spent 3 weeks with dealer but they couldn’t replicate the warnings so haven’t done anything! I’m concerned that power steering failure might be on the cards, so it’s back to another dealer.

Hi SeasideBill, I have seen the same messages and the cause for me was low voltage, to cut a long story short I had configured the victron B2B's (3 of them) incorrectly and on a trip after a few days off grid they had drained the Vehicle battery to 10 volts whilst driving, that's when I saw the messages. The messages only ever appeared on that trip, and since correcting the config for the B2B's the vehicle battery has always stayed charged.
Could it be the state of charge for the vehicle battery, or maybe a bad earth or battery connections ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Engine looking rather exposed without undertrayView attachment 986464

It was scary when I looked under mine, that exhaust pipe that comes out the front now on the 2.2 doesn't 'arf look low and I have the VB front struts it would be 2" lower with standard struts.
Thinking about fitting a centre tray but that would give even less ground clearance & we often go down rough tracks.

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[KUSKUS]

Fiat Ducato undertray on EBAY for £66 + postage from Poland

 

[Lenny HB]

View attachment 986470View attachment 986470 Fiat Ducato undertray on EBAY

UK supply or from Poland?
Link?

 

[KUSKUS]

No Lenny cant find UK supplied one its the polish one Undertray

 

[ontheroadagain]

Thinking about fitting a centre tray but that would give even less ground clearance

It looks like the the tray would be very close to the exhaust.
(Perhaps that is what the cut out is for).
Has anyone managed to identify the exact location of the connection that causes this problem?

 

[Sideshow Bob]

It looks like the the tray would be very close to the exhaust.
(Perhaps that is what the cut out is for).
Has anyone managed to identify the exact location of the connection that causes this problem?

The cut out is for the exhaust and there are 2 different types of undertray depending on if it’s a new model or an older one as the exhaust is different also I fitted the Polish one and it’s good quality and fits well

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[KUSKUS]

Looking at the three connecters on the steering rack under the motorhome and you can see there isn't any water protection whatsoever , no rubber boot or anything.
I am not surprised that they are failing.
I am thinking of spraying Liquid Moly electronic spray and wrapping with self amalgamating tape.

 

[Barriesimpson]

Looking at the three connecters on the steering rack under the motorhome and you can see there isn't any water protection whatsoever , no rubber boot or anything.
I am not surprised that they are failing.
I am thinking of spraying Liquid Moly electronic spray and wrapping with self amalgamating tape.



View attachment 986476

View attachment 986477View attachment 986476View attachment 986477

Unplug it and pack it with vaseline. That's what we do on the jet skis.

 

[KUSKUS]

interesting idea

 

[Barriesimpson]

interesting idea

As you can imagine, jet skis get wet and in our case with salt water. Vaseline protects all the electrical and electronic connections perfectly. Been using it for years.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Looking at the three connecters on the steering rack under the motorhome and you can see there isn't any water protection whatsoever , no rubber boot or anything.
I am not surprised that they are failing.
I am thinking of spraying Liquid Moly electronic spray and wrapping with self amalgamating tape.



View attachment 986476

View attachment 986477View attachment 986476View attachment 986477

Great photos Kuskus, it seems that we should be able to disconnect these plugs and treat them with some contact cleaner to clean them and possibly Vaseline to stop water ingress in the future, don’t suppose disconnecting them with the ignition off would affect the Canbus system?

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[KUSKUS]

That was my exact thoughts, will it affect anything if disconnected?

 

[Landy Andy]

Be careful shoving Vaseline in all your connections. It’s not recommended any more as Vaseline can have an effect on some plastics and rubber seals. Dielectric grease is the proper stuff, and safe. But still need caution using it, as it is non conductive, so if you put too much into a connection, then push the connection together it can force its way in between the terminals causing them open up, and causing open circuits, or bad connections. Some of these circuits such as canbus and the like are very picky, low current, and delicate.

 

[ontheroadagain]

That was my exact thoughts, will it affect anything if disconnected?

And what about the warranty?
If you pack it full of Vaseline but it still gives bother at a later date, Fiat will likely claim that you have caused the issue by filling it with Vaseline!

 

[KUSKUS]

Yes true but mine is two and a half years old German van so technically out of warranty

 

[yorkiebar]

And what about the warranty?
If you pack it full of Vaseline but it still gives bother at a later date, Fiat will likely claim that you have caused the issue by filling it with Vaseline!

Yes, unfortunately we're stuck. Attempt a manual "fix" and should it all go south and require a warranty claim then may be refused. Do nothing and there's the potential that you're stuck on the hardshoulder of a motorway waiting for recovery and a 3 month wait for replacement parts.

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[Sideshow Bob]

Yes, unfortunately we're stuck. Attempt a manual "fix" and should it all go south and require a warranty claim then may be refused. Do nothing and there's the potential that you're stuck on the hardshoulder of a motorway waiting for recovery and a 3 month wait for replacement parts.

I think for me, if it’s done carefully it would be really worth doing and even just spraying the male and female parts of each plug with Liquid Moly Electronic spray would really help and unlikely to be blamed on any future inspection

 

[andyelbac]

The cut out is for the exhaust and there are 2 different types of undertray depending on if it’s a new model or an older one as the exhaust is different also I fitted the Polish one and it’s good quality and fits well

I have just received my center under tray from the Polish supplier. They were very efficient and helpful in identifying which tray I needed. I note though that there are no assembly instructions and a variety of different fasteners. Did you have any issues attaching it? Do you need to remove the side tray first? How did you know which fasteners to use where? Grateful for any advice.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

I have just received my center under tray from the Polish supplier. They were very efficient and helpful in identifying which tray I needed. I note though that there are no assembly instructions and a variety of different fasteners. Did you have any issues attaching it? Do you need to remove the side tray first? How did you know which fasteners to use where? Grateful for any advice.

It was quite simple in reality and I agree the instructions aren’t clear
You should have two rivets that need to go at the back of the tray inserted into the chassis and the other clips and screws go down each side of the tray