General Sam's doblo.......

[Sam168i]

Well I have had my doblo for nearly 2 weeks and really impressed with the little girl!

I have put 1000 miles on her and she has been great returning 50mpg although she is very sluggish but I have her booked in to have her mapped tomorrow to try and get rid of the flat spots.

I have a good few plans but will mainly be a works van too but will document my progress as I get her into shape!

As I have said before she is a ex sse van which came with 80k and all racked out.

Anyway some pictures of how I got her





First things I need to sort are,

Front seat covers (since she is a work van)
Genuine carpet mats (but more luxury in the cab)
3rd hi level break light is in poor shape and all cracked
Missing screen washer cap
Passenger speaker crackles so needs replaced
Front 12v socket doesn't work.
Speed limited to 70mph although not too important but will just allow me that extra speed for over taking since 70mph indicated is only 65mph

I will get all the above sorted and should pick stuff up to replace all that tomorrow after work and after she has been mapped.

So far I'm loving the little fiat!

 

[Sam168i]

So today she was in for a remap at acr tuning and the power is much better and smoother.. also getting 5mpg more on the way home than I did going there (30 miles each way)

Only one slight problem is that I have a leak somewhere under the air box out one of the injectors and the is diesel on the rocker cover so that will need to be investigated.

He has however not managed to remove the limiter but has supplied me someone that can.

 

[Sam168i]

Once I got home i had a few deliveries,

Got a new rear light £20 from fiat



Seat covers £18 Amazon and are great quality



Purchased a usb socket to replace the 12v one that is broken and surprised when the plug just went straight onto this one!



I have also had a look at the awful speaker and it's all ripped so bought new ones that should hopefully come tomorrow



Also got a dash cam through but will wait till tomorrow to fit it.



All though I have sorted a couple of issues Im still finding some small issues.

Rear board on the back door brackets are broken so will need to fabricate new one to stop it rattling about.



Both rear tyres are starting to perish so will nip to the tyre place tomorrow and see what they say.

 

[Sam168i]

This morning I went to my local tyre fitters and ended up with 2 Michelin crossclimate tyres for the back for £140 the pair, good tread pattern for when I'm at the farm on the muddy roads so will see how they do



Front were changed around 3 months ago so should keep me going just now.

I got new speakers through with adaptors but somehow when I removed the original I misjudged the size!

Anyway after being very impressed with focal access range in my partners car I decided to get the same type for mine although I got components so will see how I get on.



I started with swapping the tweeters, I wasn't sure if I should hide then behind the covers or cut the covers out and have them showing. Ended up cutting the old covers out and glad I did as they fit and look very subtle



Anyway had to get the speaker and adaptor to fit on to the metal fixing bracket and decided to use puraflex which should be up to the job!.



I went via fiat on my way home and the mats I ordered were the wrong ones, they were left hand drive ones so back to waiting for them.

 

[woolfie]

Hi Sam welcome to the world of doblos. Recently I too had a diesel leak below the air filter box and found it was the plastic fuel supply pipe had worn through from rubbing on the bottom of the filter box. Unfortunately this part can only be sourced from fiat at £130 for the three plastic pipes they don't sell them individually. Just thought I would let you know as it wasn't to obvious at first where the leak was. Nice looking van you have . Love the colour. Regards Woolfie

 

[Sam168i]

Hi Sam welcome to the world of doblos. Recently I too had a diesel leak below the air filter box and found it was the plastic fuel supply pipe had worn through from rubbing on the bottom of the filter box. Unfortunately this part can only be sourced from fiat at £130 for the three plastic pipes they don't sell them individually. Just thought I would let you know as it wasn't to obvious at first where the leak was. Nice looking van you have . Love the colour. Regards Woolfie

Thanks for the heads up woolfie,
I have removed the air box to see of I can see where the leaks coming from but nothing much yet, I have ordered a new leak off hose as the top of the injectors are also wet so will see if it helps.

 

[Sam168i]

Well it's been a productive sunday!!

Popped via halfords to pick up a leisure battery and took the tilt bins out which the battery fits snuggly in. I will get a couple of alloy angled bar to fix the battery down.



I also got a split charge kit to use on the battery and all wired in





I have also picked up a first aid kit, bulb kit and a fire extinguisher since there was already a bracket in front of the passenger seat.



Also got my dash cam wired in

 

[Sam168i]

Today I got some brackets made of anodised 2mm alloy sheet for the broken ones on the board attached to the rear door.



I have also got my speakers all fitted and much better than stock but now my head unit is holding back so will look at maybe using an amplifier for them.




I also picked up this on offer at halfords today while getting new bulbs for the works van



Now a little bad news, after my map on Friday the little van has developed a hesitation at certain revs mainly only while at cruising speed! Hopefully it's just the leaky diesel pipe that will hopefully come tomorrow otherwise I may need to get it on the dyno and ensure the new map is running correctly.

 

[Sam168i]

Today I went via vauxhall on my way home and picked up a leak off pipe as fiat was a week wait and vauxhall was in stock and found out was only £21 instead of £41 fiat wanted!



So got straight to it and got it fitted

Old vs new



Fitted and cleaned out all the diesel sitting in the rocker cover to see if this has solved it and if it's not then maybe give a better indication where the leak is coming from.



Also got my new windscreen washer cap fitted, that should now keep the crap out.



I have ordered an inverter and a few other bits that should be here tomorrow so will probably be a busy weekend

 

[Sam168i]

This morning I checked to see if it's still leaking diesel and unfortunately it is!



But since I have given it a good clean I can see that the top of injector 3 is wet and 3 and 4 on the rocker cover has filled with diesel so ordered injection pipes from fiat that come as a set of 4 for £75 so they should come in on friday

Got a delivery through of new tilt bins as the ones in my van are mostly missing.

 

[Sam168i]

Had my inverter and work lights delivered today,

I got my led flood lights mounted today but still need to mount the switch which I will do later.



Also recieved my inverter but due to the wheel arch I needed to raise it up to fit behind the tilt bins so got a scrap bit of 2mm alloy sheet and folded it. Hope it works.

 

[Sam168i]

Well I went into town and picked up the correct mats and injection hoses



Mats fitted and makes a massive difference from the plastic floor.



I decided to fit the injection pipes today as the smell of diesel is getting annoying. Hopefully this sorts the issue but gave it a good clean around the injectors again so it's clear if it's still leaking.



I got a quote to remove my speed limiter which was £60 plus vat so I decided to buy a Bluetooth obd scanner and adaptor. Which was £9 posted



I then purchased the multiecuscan software for £47 and just like that I removed the speed limiter! So saved myself a few quid and now have the ability to do a lot more without the need of going to the dealer!



That's all for today as its a stunning evening so away out on the bike.. Hopefully I will get the back finished tomorrow.

 

[Sam168i]

Well definitely didn't get as much done as I wanted as I need to fabricate an alloy panel to mount all the switches and gauges which I will get done tomorrow

Stripped out where the inverter will be placed.



The bracket that I folded earlier in the week fitted with rivnuts



Inverting bolted down and wired in





I also got a few bits for fitting to the panel that will control the leisure battery and inverter, I will have a gauge to monitor leisure battery level and usage,
Inverter switch, sockets to extend from the inverter to somewhere more accessible, 12v fuse box, 12v usb socket and currently awaiting on 2 12v sockets and a switch.

 

[Sam168i]

Decided to get a a spare bit of 2mm alloy sheet and copy one out the van that I can fit all my control panels and switches.

Original



New sheet folded



And into the cnc machine so save any manual labour



All the gauges test fitted before I have it powder coated (missing rocker switch)

 

[Sam168i]

I have started on the wiring today for my 12v leisure system but only got this far before I got bored. Got an anderson plug to connect directly to the battery when needed and also my fl bar mounted in a watertight case.



Also got 2 items through the post,

First one is a pioneer 2 channel amp, I was sick of the poor output of the standard head Unit so hopefully this will make a lot of difference as it seems well matched for the focals, just hope it's small enough to hide behind the dash or somewhere else discreet. Oh and got a free air freshener!



Second is a detachable witter towball that I won on eBay, it's originally from a 2014 vauxhall combo but should fit the doble since it's basically the same van.



I will try and get this fitted tomorrow except the wiring before I fly out on Thursday so will be quiet for a week till I'm back.

 

[Sam168i]

Well back from holiday and hired a fiat 124 spider and what a car!!




Came home to this.





Decided to just fit it right away as it looks fantastic.



Although my mileage has started flashing which I believe is a proxy problem with changing the head Unit so will need to plug it in and see.

I also got the tow bar fitted but still have wiring to get but think I will buy a dedicated loom for it.

 

[KERABO]

You have been busy Sam.
Well documented account of you work.

I have the 2.0 multijet and it would spin the front wheels so easy even with steady driving so I also fitted Michelin but I used Alpin snow tyres as they grip very well.
I don't know if it's the same on yours but the tyres are supposed to be Commerical type and strength.
As mine is only a family car and I did check and it's just within the weight limits and will never be loaded up.
So used car tyres. Made lots of difference to the ride and noise.

Ken

 

[Sam168i]

You have been busy Sam.
Well documented account of you work.

I have the 2.0 multijet and it would spin the front wheels so easy even with steady driving so I also fitted Michelin but I used Alpin snow tyres as they grip very well.
I don't know if it's the same on yours but the tyres are supposed to be Commerical type and strength.
As mine is only a family car and I did check and it's just within the weight limits and will never be loaded up.
So used car tyres. Made lots of difference to the ride and noise.

Ken

I haven't noticed much from the tyres yet but hopefully they will shine when the winter hits as its a mile drive up a mud road to my in-laws farm.

 

[Sam168i]

Really not had a chance to do much but did get steering controlls through to see if I can get them fitted and working through the new head Unit. Let's hope the plug is behind the airbag and will be plug and play.

View attachment 184731

Also started making a bracket for the anderson plug.







I will have it powder coated once a new fuse box and a few other bits arrive to finish the rear control panel.

 

[Sam168i]

This evening I spent a lot more time than expected

First was removing the airbag to see if the plug is behind it for the steering controls



You guessed it no plug so more research needed into what is required but the canbus wiring for the switched is in the plug that enters the clock spring, it just doesnt come out the front.




So put it back together and thought I would get the flashing odometer sorted which I hoped would be a quick fix but no matter what I did the flashing returned.

The proxi settings just kept telling me that the entertainment was non responsive and I felt like I was just going to need to live with it until I read on here somewhere where some one run a proxi scan with the head Unit disconnecting and it worked a treat! So no more flashing odometer.....