Have been asked to post this from Motorhome Facts - could be useful for those that have had issues or couldn't find any old threads.
"I've had my MH, based on a Ducato 2.8JTD for a couple of years. From day one it has had a starting problem, in that it rarely started first turn of the key but started immediately second try, and thereafter ran absolutely fine. It was an irritation more than anything. I found it embarassing when it happened in front of other people, to be honest.
The supplying dealer failed to rectify it, and also a local MH service engineer.
I have a mobile service engineer come to me to service my car, and he is now tasked with looking after the van mechanicals too. I asked him to see if he could get to the bottom of the starting issue.
He rigged his fault code reader, and it came up with crank/camshaft synchronisation fault. He changed both the sensors, but the problem persisted. He consulted a company specialising in ECU repair and then did further research himself.
I recently booked him to service the van, and he said he had discovered this starting issue was known to Fiat, it concerned a certain number of chassis which included mine, there is a simple fix and he would apply it when he carried out the service.
Well, he did that on Friday, and the fix was as follows.
The cam sensor is fixed to the top of the cylinder head on a bracket held by 2 machine screws. The fix is to put a pair of washers under the bracket, effectively raising the sensor. This reduces the magnetic impulse it receives from the pulley as it rotates.
Well, the effect is astonishing. The engine now starts like a dream. Turn the key, wait a couple of seconds, start and away she goes instantly. I'm a happy bunny at last. I wanted to go public with this, as I had no idea how to sort this problem. My service engineer used lines of communication within the industry that would not have been available to Joe Public.
The details are as follows.
The range of chassis numbers is from 7443608 to 7545710
For the pair of washers, the Fiat part number is 0010523401, they are fitted to the machine screws under the cam sensor bracket.
The sensor then needs adjusting so it is 0.8-1.5mm from the pulley face.
The washers cost £3-20p, and tbh the fitting of them would be within the ability of the averagely competent DIYer. "
HTH
"I've had my MH, based on a Ducato 2.8JTD for a couple of years. From day one it has had a starting problem, in that it rarely started first turn of the key but started immediately second try, and thereafter ran absolutely fine. It was an irritation more than anything. I found it embarassing when it happened in front of other people, to be honest.
The supplying dealer failed to rectify it, and also a local MH service engineer.
I have a mobile service engineer come to me to service my car, and he is now tasked with looking after the van mechanicals too. I asked him to see if he could get to the bottom of the starting issue.
He rigged his fault code reader, and it came up with crank/camshaft synchronisation fault. He changed both the sensors, but the problem persisted. He consulted a company specialising in ECU repair and then did further research himself.
I recently booked him to service the van, and he said he had discovered this starting issue was known to Fiat, it concerned a certain number of chassis which included mine, there is a simple fix and he would apply it when he carried out the service.
Well, he did that on Friday, and the fix was as follows.
The cam sensor is fixed to the top of the cylinder head on a bracket held by 2 machine screws. The fix is to put a pair of washers under the bracket, effectively raising the sensor. This reduces the magnetic impulse it receives from the pulley as it rotates.
Well, the effect is astonishing. The engine now starts like a dream. Turn the key, wait a couple of seconds, start and away she goes instantly. I'm a happy bunny at last. I wanted to go public with this, as I had no idea how to sort this problem. My service engineer used lines of communication within the industry that would not have been available to Joe Public.
The details are as follows.
The range of chassis numbers is from 7443608 to 7545710
For the pair of washers, the Fiat part number is 0010523401, they are fitted to the machine screws under the cam sensor bracket.
The sensor then needs adjusting so it is 0.8-1.5mm from the pulley face.
The washers cost £3-20p, and tbh the fitting of them would be within the ability of the averagely competent DIYer. "
HTH
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