What have you fixed on your motorhome this week? (2 Viewers)

[NigelNovice]

2 things today after the weekends travels, first the fridge door lock after our 4yo grandson was flicking back n forth, a simple fix (Dometic) prise the sliding part off- easy, align it with lock metal bit and press/pop it back on done, next up SWMBO tried closing hab door without first releasing catch thus pulling it of the wall a tad, a previous fix using plastic rawlplugs of mine had failed but now I have Rivnuts and so a couple were employed the replace them with some M4 set screws to suit

 

[1967bowesj]

Not fixed but upgrade. The front cab side windows only had stick on blinds so found some dometic ones.
Easy to fit and no more fitting those poppers

 

[Reallyretired]

Wired up the maxxfan. Not wishing to emulate Gadget John's cockup and finding evidence of wiring in that part of the ceiling I used a very small sized half round 'decorative' trunking, doesn't look too bad.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Not fixed but changed the gearbox oil for fully synthetic on our 25k mile 2014 Fiat Ducato based Hymer B544. Not strictly necessary but made me feel better knowing what’s in there and what amount.
I drained it out within ten minutes of returning from Nottingham to Hull on Saturday so it was nice and warm, left it draining for an hour or so, annealed the copper drain plug washer, refitted it at 22nm then filled with 2.9ltrs of Petronas Tutela Matryx via a long tube and funnel.
I took the air filter top off to find the vent hole for filling but having done it now I wouldn’t bother if I did another.

 

[NigelNovice]

Fitted a new Leisure battery to replace suspect one, got a new grill pan as the old one had no handle and a handle from various Motorhome/camping outlets was £34!!!!! a complete pan & handle £17 of Ebay sorted

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[Sue and Rick]

Fridge door, loose top bracket. Pain in the a.. for 5 weeks in France. Smoothie as silk now no need to lift it onto the bottom runner.

 

[NigelNovice]

Head unit (Android radio, sat nav) when I fitted it I discovered that Fiat Ducatos don't have an Acc position to power items without engine running, not ideal in a Motorhome so I bought an inline Diode and a small round illuminated rocker switch, whipped the head unit out and with a bit of wiring, crimp on connectors and heat shrink insulation I now have a switchable live feed that doesn't back feed the dashboard and allows head unit to power up with engine off, good for programming sat nav, listening to music and go on internet etc. only £3 for Diode.

Universal In-line Diode

Electrical wiring products, parts and accessories for vintage and classic cars

www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk

 

[Emmit]

If by fixed you mean finding a fault, knowing how to repair it before it cost you more money, then today I cracked it. (and at the same time made me annoyed with myself)
Prior to an MOT next week I discovered that an orange side light was not working.
I've ordered one but I'll have to put off the Test until I've got the part in my hand.
Doh!

 

[NigelNovice]

So Motorhome failed MOT yesterday on a broken rear spring, one swiftly found with 24 hour delivery , had the old one un bolted ready for out by tea time last night barring pulling out from underneath, discovered I needed to drop shock absorber off and the anti roll bar drop link to give clearance this morning, new spring arrived about 1:30 and I soon had it in and all bolted up by 4:30, retest in the morning as we are heading to Scarborough on Friday for a Northern soul weekender, its a good job I'm gifted or I'd be Fxxxxd.
Coming from an engineering background stamping part number on a stressed part is not a good idea, I have seen steel plate crack because of a centre pop mark when being folded

 

[Wabs]

I intend to fit another Earth strap in the next couple of days, because she’s behaving like a stroppy French hooker,( obviously just what I’ve heard)

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[pagey]

nothing we are not talking

 

[Wabs]

Must be same one

 

[sgl5gjr]

Went to use the Snipe 3 satellite and it would not lock on to the satellite so after several tries I parked it up and decided to try again back home....so ....tried it at home...where I know it's a clear line of sight and it whirred around then popped the fuseand was stuck pointing west (Ish)....emailed the supplier/fitter and also Snipe people in Korea before the DIY approach to no avail. As the unit had only been used around 10 times in 2 yes I was peeved.... anyway up I went and I ease the dish and it went "clunk" so I guessed it had jumped a cog. Put the fuse in to try.....all good with no blow...so switched on and pressed "Home" and it parked perfectly. So I the decided I ought to flash the firmware, checked the "how it's done" on internet, did that and then ....tried it and all back to normal again......

 

[Essgeebee]

Thanks for the advice and experience of Funsters who responded last week to my post about Burstners (and other motorhomes) not having their engine batteries charged by solar or hookup.
Today I fitted a Vanbitz battery master device which should transfer excess charge from my solar panel into my engine battery. It was fairly straightforward thanks to pictures and a description posted by others. I just want to see the indicator light turn red showing charge flowing into my starter battery. Maybe tomorrow if we get a bit of sunshine.

 

[Essgeebee]

Thanks for the advice and experience of Funsters who responded last week to my post about Burstners (and other motorhomes) not having their engine batteries charged by solar or hookup.
Today I fitted a Vanbitz battery master device which should transfer excess charge from my solar panel into my engine battery. It was fairly straightforward thanks to pictures and a description posted by others. I just want to see the indicator light turn red showing charge flowing into my starter battery. Maybe tomorrow if we get a bit of sunshine.

Well, a bit of an anti-climax. I fitted my Vanbitz Battery Master last week and I have yet to see the indicator light turn red (indicating a charge from leisure to cab battery). I’ve had sun on the solar panel - still green; had the moho on hookup but still the light stays resolutely green. Hab battery at 13v and higher, can battery showing 12.2v. Wonder what I’m doing wrong.

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[NigelNovice]

My drop down door on my Spinflo Caprice mk3, it decided to come off one side hinge, it looked like hot glue had held it before so I redid it with same, it lasted 2 days whilst we were out for W.E. so back at base the 2 pack epoxy comes out and that seems to have done the job, Next

 

[funflair]

Fixed, fixed, you expect me to admit that you need to fix things on a Morelo OK go on then, cheap plastic locker catch broke but all fixed now, not replaced thougfh as that could just break again so fixed good and proper

 

[Cookieboy68]

Just fitted some uprated front springs, gas shocks and top bearings on our 20 year old hymer b574, took 4 hrs ,fitted them at my freinds workshop.
What a difference, no more low front end up by 70mm,body roll considerably reduced and potholes don't feel as severe .Well chuffed

 

[PP Bear]

Morelo cheap plastic locker catch broke

Hmmm all I can read is Morelo cheap plastic, can’t be surely

 

[PP Bear]

Sitting in Northern Commercial waiting for the jollybus to come out from the workshop after MOT…..pinkies crossed

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[funflair]

Hmmm all I can read is Morelo cheap plastic, can’t be surely

OK does "expensive plastic that still breaks" sound better it is a fact though that no matter how much you pay for a van it will share some common parts with more budget models.

 

[Folkranger]

it is a fact though that no matter how much you pay it will share some common parts with more budget models.

Sounds a bit like Margot out of The Good Life speaking.

 

[PP Bear]

Sitting in Northern Commercial waiting for the jollybus to come out from the workshop after MOT…..pinkies crossed

Didn’t pass

They failed it on emissions and handbrake, exactly what they failed it on last year. Last year I adjusted up the handbrake correctly, didn’t touch the emissions as there’s not a lot you can do and it passed the reshow and no further mention of emissions.

Strange thing is, I hardly never ever use the handbrake, but it failed again, so need to re-show, but can’t get in until next Wednesday.

Need to find somewhere else as it’s Northern Commercial and I have to say, this branch is rubbish in my opinion. Not very customer focused, terrible attitude like they’re doing me a favour. Last year, despite me booking it in at a specific date and time, when I arrived they denied any knowledge of me coming and make me wait ages. This year it was the wrong registration so that delayed them and while they used a cover for the seat, they still managed to put there filthy boots on my step mat Defo ain’t going back for a 3rd year.

So the handbrake is re-re-adjusted and I always take the motorhome for a blast down the A21 for 2 runs before taking it in, so what can you do about emissions. Been serviced, new air filter, nice oil, vehicle up to temp etc. They suggested an additive, but why did it fail first show last year and fly through on re-show and I never touched it.

Anyone used those additives for an MOT

 

[peterc10]

Didn’t pass

They failed it on emissions and handbrake, exactly what they failed it on last year. Last year I adjusted up the handbrake correctly, didn’t touch the emissions as there’s not a lot you can do and it passed the reshow and no further mention of emissions.

Strange thing is, I hardly never ever use the handbrake, but it failed again, so need to re-show, but can’t get in until next Wednesday.

Need to find somewhere else as it’s Northern Commercial and I have to say, this branch is rubbish in my opinion. Not very customer focused, terrible attitude like they’re doing me a favour. Last year, despite me booking it in at a specific date and time, when I arrived they denied any knowledge of me coming and make me wait ages. This year it was the wrong registration so that delayed them and while they used a cover for the seat, they still managed to put there filthy boots on my step mat Defo ain’t going back for a 3rd year.

So the handbrake is re-re-adjusted and I always take the motorhome for a blast down the A21 for 2 runs before taking it in, so what can you do about emissions. Been serviced, new air filter, nice oil, vehicle up to temp etc. They suggested an additive, but why did it fail first show last year and fly through on re-show and I never touched it.

Anyone used those additives for an MOT

I assume that you are referring to Northern Commercials at Hildenborough. We live in Tunbridge Wells and they are the nearest Fiat "professional" dealer to us. I tried them a couple of times for work, but they were dreadful, far from "professional" and very expensive. I now use Tomsett at Stockbury, near Sittingbourne for services and MOTs. Much better attitude, very helpful and much cheaper. They service cars and motorbikes too, but the owner is a motorhomer and now carries out lots of works on motorhomes.

I was there yesterday to get both the motorhome and scooter MOT'd. Did both while I waited. There were 4 other motorhomes there having work done. The motorhome MOT failed at first because the windscreen washers were not working. I managed to get them going and showed him them working, so he just issued a new pass certificate at no extra cost. Mind you I will have to have a look at them as they were not working very well.

Its a bit of a drive for us, but worth it. And on the way back home I stopped at West Malling and filled up the gas bottles.

 

[steve69]

Coming from an engineering background stamping part number on a stressed part is not a good idea, I have seen steel plate crack because of a centre pop mark when being folded

Nothing to do with corrosion then.

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[Trevor Wbm]

When we bought the van in Sept 20, the electric Tecno Step was prone to occasionally sticking, but one or more sharp kicks eventually fixed it.

In early June this year it finally stayed stuck. Removed it, took it apart and glared at it for a while as you do, then greased it all up and put it back together again - with no effect whatsoever. Bugger.

Ordered a new motor from SouthDowns Motorhomes on the 9th June. Long story short, it's evidently been transported from wherever it's made in the far east on a velvet cushion carried by runners, who didn't work at weekends.

It arrived yesterday 25/10. To my surprise I had remembered how to put the drive assembly back together - bench tested and OK. Just fitted it back in the van, works pefectly including automatic retraction when the engine starts.

Happy with this.

 

[cyberyacht]

Just spent a couple of hours fiddling with my step. Replaced a blown 3A fuse and the warning buzzer has come back to life, well sort of, a bit weedy. Dashboard switch still doesn't retract the step though. Run out of ideas so a note for when the hab check gets done.

 

[PP Bear]

I assume that you are referring to Northern Commercials at Hildenborough. We live in Tunbridge Wells and they are the nearest Fiat "professional" dealer to us. I tried them a couple of times for work, but they were dreadful, far from "professional" and very expensive. I now use Tomsett at Stockbury, near Sittingbourne for services and MOTs. Much better attitude, very helpful and much cheaper. They service cars and motorbikes too, but the owner is a motorhomer and now carries out lots of works on motorhomes.

I was there yesterday to get both the motorhome and scooter MOT'd. Did both while I waited. There were 4 other motorhomes there having work done. The motorhome MOT failed at first because the windscreen washers were not working. I managed to get them going and showed him them working, so he just issued a new pass certificate at no extra cost. Mind you I will have to have a look at them as they were not working very well.

Its a bit of a drive for us, but worth it. And on the way back home I stopped at West Malling and filled up the gas bottles.

Thanks for the reply and just by sheer coincidence, I found Tomsett today and will definitely be taking my business there in the future. I don’t mind the drive, I’m just outside Sevenoaks in one of the villages and won’t mind the drive as it’ll give the motor chance to warm up and give the best results for emissions. Definitely won’t be giving Northern Commercial anymore of my business in the future.

With them failing my van last year on emissions and then passing it after I literally did nothing, I’ve been through my last 12 mot’s and never so much as a mention of emissions on any of them, so don’t really know what’s going on. I also noted that last year the weights they listed on the mot were 1381kg front axle and 1941kg on the rear and a total of 3322kg. Todays mot lists 1820kg front and 2175kg rear and an overall weight of 3995kg. Not sure what they’re playing at, as there has been no change to the vehicle whatsoever over the last year

I’m going to ring Tomsett tomorrow and ask if they can do another mot or will they look at the areas that failed. Northern Commercial won’t do anything until next Wednesday.

Anyone that’s interested in Tomsett….

Motorhome MOTS | tomsett-kent-mot

www.tomsettkent.com

 

[Burgo]

Little Lizzie, who is now mostly blind and as deaf as a post, was a bit quick off the mark to go in last night, and took the direct route straight through the door fly screen, before I could slide it open.
Not looking forward at all to restringing it as doing a roof Heki one was one bad enough but am led to believe the door Horrex ones are a total PITA.

 

[Landy Andy]

I found a new MOT place, as previous one has gone. Had to do some phoning around to find one. Knew it was a good place when he said “bring down after lunch, and I’m sure we can get it done”. Nice, my sort of place, and the sort that allows you to be in the workshop whilst it’s done.
Drove over there, waited for 10mins, then in. Passed everything with flying colours, and even got comments on how good the handbrake was, and that he’d never tested a Moho with such a good handbrake that it locked the wheels, and shoot out the brake tester.

Very pleased as I’ve just done recent work to the fuel system on it to stop it’s black smoke.


Sorry PP Bear, very different experience to you today.

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