[RPCCS]

The government MOT website says the current MOT expires in June 2018 so you might want to query that with the information you have Lee (October 2018)?

Thanks for that Andy M, salesman will just deny that one😐

As to price I did hunt around on web and thought price was about average but I was only looking mainly at dealerships.

Did come across another 2 that were cheaper around almost £1000 same year but nearly double the mileage.

Maybe private sale would have achieved better deal as forecourt sales are always on top price wise.

Maybe it's a false sense of security but feel a bit safer with dealer😒

With a dealer, they have a duty of care to their customers, if anything goes wrong, you have more comeback than you would with a ,private seller

[lee_dewing]

With a dealer, they have a duty of care to their customers, if anything goes wrong, you have more comeback than you would with a ,private seller

Thanks Rich.

I've paid £5822 total incl. vat that's with roof bars fitted also.

All subject to RAC report of course 😌

[P @ F]

They only snap if you are unlucky or never change the oil , keep an eye on the level of oil as starvation is what causes the chain to fail , they have a very small sump so it must be kept at max for long life .
I have done my homework on this engine as mine had double your miles at time of purchase !

P@F: Thanks very much for the information,  having suffered a snapped cam belt and knackered engine on old escort can do without this!

My old van was 16 yrs old ford escort and worth £200.

Having a newish van do this would be heart breaking😢

P@F  so fiat doblo has no cam belt?

But if timing chain snaps same result? Engine destroyed 😖

Do you know how many miles before a new timing chain is needed?

Thanks lee

Yes , its just a chain instead of a belt , but as you say its the same result if it snaps , damage will vary on the driving condition at the time , it could totally wreck , or you might get very lucky and just need valves and rockers , either way it goes , unless you can strip it yourself you will be paying high labour costs just to find out , and thats why people go down the scrap it route !

Back in the day lots of engines will have been chain , then the move over to belt revolution happened , today lots are going back to chain by the look of it .

I think that Fiat recomend 100k as the renew date , but it could outlast the van and it could go at 50k , just one of those things !

Lots of filter and oil changes are the best attack , i now do mine every 6 months as i sort of got lazy and left it 18 months when i got the van , low milage was my thinking , but its a lot of stop/start in our game .

I think you have done ok on price , I got my Fiorino at 3 years old  with 65k on it  for 4800 all in .
But i was in a hurry as my T4 clutch was about to give up after 10 years of abuse 
And at £1200 to sort out  a newer van was the better option , I do miss her though !

[Clever Forum Name]

Had the same engine in another van.

chain snapped at 66,666 miles lol!!!!

The give away is the noise! it was full service history but what i didn't know was the van was a field van so it was left ticking over all day!!

[lee_dewing]

P@F: Thanks for all the knowledge, try to get mot and services spaced 6 months apart with oil and filter change.

Found an mot tester through a mate, who's fair😊

Take it your Old van was transporter?

How do you get on with florina?
I had ford courier for a week and found it abit tight.

But to be fair if I had bought it, I would have made it work!

I use barrels, 10 x 25 litre a day: Because my ro system is at my parents.
Unfortunately they don't have off street parking😞

Even more unfortunate I live in a back to back house 🏠 no garden😁

The ford courier was lovely to drive but as a stop gap;  it was like one of those cupboards where everytime I open the doors stuff fell out😁

[lee_dewing]

Sorry to hear that clever forum name.

I know my old escort was 16 years old but if I had not got lazy with the service schedule it would probably be still going.

Hadn't had it serviced for nearly 2 years😖 begrudged spending money on it as list of problems was getting longer😁

[Cookie]

Lee,

I think this ones probably meant for you -  look at the reg! Lee Windowcleaner Dewing!

Joking aside. Looks like a decent van that should last you a good few years ....

[lee_dewing]

  well spotted cookie 😁

[Brian Nunn]

That is a lovely looking van Lee.

I have never owned a Fiat, are spares as readily available as for a Ford?

[P @ F]

That is a lovely looking van Lee.

I have never owned a Fiat, are spares as readily available as for a Ford?

If you are talking second hand spares , then ford is probably easier , but i have had no problem finding parts brand new at good prices , even Fiat main dealer are not stupid money .

So far i have done ....Injector seals £2 each at GSF
                                           Glow plugs £16 each at Europarts
                                            Clutch kit  £90 at Europarts

I need to do the suspension tops next (common fault , design flaw at Fiat) upgraded ones from Fiat are £35 each , so no big deal   

[lee_dewing]

P@F.

Do you do your own mechanics?

Also do you have any experience of warranties?

I mean buying a warranty for peace of mind, to try and avoid costly problems.

Thanks lee

[lee_dewing]

Thanks Brian 

Fingers and toes crossed

[P @ F]

P@F.

Do you do your own mechanics?

Also do you have any experience of warranties?

I mean buying a warranty for peace of mind, to try and avoid costly problems.

Thanks lee

I'm a bit of a jack of all trades but a master of none kind of chap , I will tackle any  job after a bit of homework or fooltube watching , I have done pretty much all you can to cars and vans , head gaskets , clutches , resprays , the list goes on , BUT , the only thing i would not do is a cambelt or chain  , that I would pay for as one tooth out and its game over !

My experience of the warranty world is varied , I have had to call on a warranty twice in my life , once on a Clio that decided after 2 weeks that it didnt want to keep its oil in the gearbox , I called the forecourt and reported the problem , I was told that as it was a moving part it was NOT covered ,  WTF !
It was even written in the smallprint on warranty book , so that warranty was not worth the paper , they did however put it right after a few calls and a little visit to them , they said it was a goodwill gesture , more like as it turned out to only be a driveshaft seal , better to just do it to get rid of me !

The other time was with my T4 , after 1 month the power steering went proper stiff , that too had dumped all its power steering fluid onto the road , after a crawl under the van I found that the pump shaft had gone through the side of the pump , I also noticed fresh silicone all around the engine sump so it had only just had a repair prior to me buying it , then I noticed that the crankshaft pulley had been put on backwards  , no wonder the shaft went adrift with a misalined belt !
That one was a recovery and no questions repair job !

So what I am saying is ,, There are good warranties and bad warranties too , which will you get       

[lee_dewing]

Thanks P@F

Sounds like you had your fair share of bad luck

It's great that your confident enough to tackle mechanics, I'm not

Sounds like you would give most mechanics a run for their money from the list of jobs you've done their.

Very impressive    I tip my hat to you!

Who would be best for doing a timing belt, would you just goto a fiat dealership?

That would probably be my thinking.
Over the local small garage.

[P @ F]

Normally I use a local trusted garage for my belts/chains , but its always worth getting a price off the main dealer , certain jobs can be very close in pricing up .
I think that some small garages dont want the job at times so over inflate the price ( as we do  )
And i think that our chains could be one of them jobs , I looked on youtube and I wouldnt fancy it myself if I was more confident ! 

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

I would personally recommend Warranty Direct if you want some peace of mind. I am one of the most sceptical people on the earth with things like this but I was recommended them and my gearbox lost 5th gear- couldn't have been easier or more pleasant to deal with. No quibble repair, remanufactured box fitted with full parts and labour covered. The level of cover is so good your natural reaction is it's too good to be true but my experience and their reviews back it up.👍

[lee_dewing]

I think that some small garages dont want the job at times so over inflate the price ( as we do  )
And i think that our chains could be one of them jobs , I looked on youtube and I wouldnt fancy it myself if I was more confident !

😁  mate of mine use to be a mechanic, he said if he could, he would of just mot'd and done services all day😁

Thanks P@F

[lee_dewing]

I would personally recommend Warranty Direct if you want some peace of mind. I am one of the most sceptical people on the earth with things like this but I was recommended them and my gearbox lost 5th gear- couldn't have been easier or more pleasant to deal with. No quibble repair, remanufactured box fitted with full parts and labour covered. The level of cover is so good your natural reaction is it's too good to be true but my experience and their reviews back it up.👍

Thanks PW that's good to know!

I use to get the which magazine and remember that some of the warranties were worth having.

I remember an AA guy saying put away £400 a year for a second vehicle.

But gearboxes, clutches and of course the dreaded timing/cam belt can really be crippling or even fatal to our trusted workhorses'

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

I would personally recommend Warranty Direct if you want some peace of mind. I am one of the most sceptical people on the earth with things like this but I was recommended them and my gearbox lost 5th gear- couldn't have been easier or more pleasant to deal with. No quibble repair, remanufactured box fitted with full parts and labour covered. The level of cover is so good your natural reaction is it's too good to be true but my experience and their reviews back it up.👍

Thanks PW that's good to know!

I use to get the which magazine and remember that some of the warranties were worth having.

I remember an AA guy saying put away £400 a year for a second vehicle.

But gearboxes, clutches and of course the dreaded timing/cam belt can really be crippling or even fatal to our trusted workhorses'

If your timing belt/chain was to fail, providing your vehicle has been serviced as per manufacturer's schedule then all the damage would be fully covered. If your turbo failed then not only the turbo but everything else that failure caused would also be covered. 👍

[lee_dewing]

That's good to know.

I suppose there gets to a point where the warranty is too dear.

Some one said to me once, buy a vehicle at 2 years old and sell by 5 yrs old.

1st two years of a vehicles life is the sharpest depreciation and by year 5 gonna have to start forking out for repairs.

Never been able to afford to do that 😁

Thanks again PW