Technical 2014 X250 2.3 engine blow up help

[simonm]

Hello all. I have a friend stranded in Germany in a 25k Miles motorhome that has had the engine go clatter and stop.

It has been dragged into a local Fiat Professional garage for investigation.

Their very limited explanation is valve broken, and then a detailed estimate for a new engine, new turbo, EGR valve, a new filter (fuel maybe) a myriad of seals and baskets and a final bill of €14 thousand. Ouch!

This MH has always been serviced, but at 25k miles not many of them. It has always been driven sedately by the elderly owner and not raced or rallied.

Can anyone offer any suggestions why such a huge estimate? I simply think as she is elderly, female, on her own and in a foreign country they are simply stitching her up.

Thoughts anyone please.

 

[Newholland Tech]

"Clatter and stop " is normally a good combat indicator on a modern engine that a cam belt has failed .

This leads to valves hitting the top of pistons and it then just get's worse from there .
Turbo , EGR valve , Oil Filter , Oil , myriad of gaskets are normal for an engine rebuild after a catastrophic failure which "clatter and stop " seems to indicate .

The limited explanation of broken valve is simply the causal part .

I feel for your friend stuck in Germany .....is she insured ....AA or the like ?
Maybe getting it back to the UK could be an option and fitting a recon engine from a reputable company ?

Diagnostics by forum is always a bit dodgy ....was it low on oil ? Did it overheat ?

The description from the dealer reminds me of when we once "retired" from a stage rally ....the reason for retirement was given as alternator failure which was true ....however the reason for the alternator giving trouble was the part of the engine block it should have been bolted to was removed by the conrod that snapped at 7000 rpm .

 

[RS3100]

As Newholland Tech says, it does on the face of it sound like the timing belt may have either snapped or slipped, which can lead to contact between the valves and pistons causing quite expensive damage.

What was the temperature at the time that it happened? There have been instances of ice forming between the teeth of pulley wheels in low temperatures causing the belt to slip or jump the teeth on starting.

When was the belt last changed? At 5 years maximum between replacement it should have been due some time this year.

Your friend needs to ask if the belt has broken or slipped, or if not, what has caused the damage. If the belt has snapped, and had been replaced within the dealer network in line with their schedules, she should be pushing for goodwill from Fiat Customer Services. If it wasn't yet due for replacement, or the damage is attributed to some other failure, it may still be worth contacting them as long as the van has been serviced in line with the schedule. It can't do any harm, and if you don't try etc!

 

[rayc]

I suggest your friend uses her recovery service to repatriate the vehicle to the UK. I had a friend who had a faulty comformatic gearbox on his 3L Ducato in France and was quoted €7000 to replace it . It was repatriated to his local garage in the UK and was replaced for half that price.

 

[corcai]

€3000 will get you a remanufactured engine on ebay. €1500 a low miles used one. Haggle at a scrap yard maybe €1000 for the latter. No way would I pay €14k

 

[simonm]

As far as she’s aware this is not a belt failure, but is a valve failure. The belt won’t have been replaced yet, barely 5 years old and 25k miles.

As I’ve written above, it was being driven normally, sedately as one would expect of an elderly lady. The conditions were bright, dry, warm and nothing out of the ordinary.

Also, to add to the mix she now lives in Germany, has done done for several years and is now solo as her husband died only a couple of months ago.

With no family to speak of, in a foreign country she’s now a bit overwhelmed by what’s happened.

 

[RS3100]

I'd still recommend her contacting Customer Care. They have English speaking staff who can liaise between her and the garage, and if nothing else give her an explanation of what has happened and what needs to be done and why, in a way that she or you can hopefully understand.

 

[chris3234]

As far as she’s aware this is not a belt failure, but is a valve failure. The belt won’t have been replaced yet, barely 5 years old and 25k miles.

As I’ve written above, it was being driven normally, sedately as one would expect of an elderly lady. The conditions were bright, dry, warm and nothing out of the ordinary.

Also, to add to the mix she now lives in Germany, has done done for several years and is now solo as her husband died only a couple of months ago.

With no family to speak of, in a foreign country she’s now a bit overwhelmed by what’s happened.

5 years from registration of manufactor?
Being a motorhome it's likely to be have been sat around for 12-18 month after having the cab build awaiting the motorhome section adding by the convertor then going on to the dealer to be sold