General 2016 Ducato not happy

[david772]

Hi everyone
I bought a new 2016 Ducato 130 last March and from day one i was not happy.
When I collected the van and got it home I rang Fiat and told them that the engine idles at just under 1000 revs which seems a bit high but worse than that when you push the clutch in to change gear the revs go up then come down which surely is not going to do the clutch much good.
It doesn't do it all the time but probably 1 in every 10 gear changes and the revs can go up to about 1500 when changing gear
Fiat sent round a mechanic from a recovery firm not Fiat and he told me that it was normal to do that and was an aid to stop the engine stalling.Really
Stupid me took him at his word and have lived with this for over a year.
However more things have happened.
The starter motor was playing up clicking and sometimes took 10 or so turns of the key before it would start.This was not all the time so you've guessed it called Fiat and they sent out another mechanic this time from Citroen and of course it started first time. The clicking non starting carried on for a few weeks and then it was fine started first time every time so dont know what that was all about.
Next I have lights on the dash that are dimmly lit in the background.You really notice it at night.Again this can't be right.
Finally after 21000 miles the clutch pedal has become really squeaky and it feels a bit stiffer as well. I put a blob of grease on the spring but it makes no difference. One thing I did notice when you start it from cold the pedal does not squeak then after about 5 miles it starts, it is the most annoying sound.
I think I have mentioned all. Any other Ducato owners with similar problems and remedies would be good to hear
Thanks in advance
Dave

 

[HughJampton]

I pass on the other issues, but there is a known and common issue with the instrument cluster which causes (various) warning lights to be permanently and dimly illuminated.

I have had the cluster replaced under warranty on my 2015 'van, and any Fiat Professional dealer (and Fiat themselves) should know about the fault.

Mentioned in passing here:

https://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/347092-self-levelling-suspension-warning-light.html

https://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/295479-faulty-dash-warning-lights.html

....and on just about every motorhome forum you could find.

 

[Anthony489]

Hi David.

I would expect idling speed to be more like 800 and unaffected by clutch position. Some people have had abnormally high idle when there has been a poor engine earth and the alternator control circuit "thinks" that the battery is flat and tries to compensate by boosting the charge at idle. A clicking starter happens when there isn't enough current in the starter solenoid to pull it fully into engagement, so the main contacts don't close and the motor doesn't turn. This could point to either a low battery or a high resistance anywhere in the high current battery/solenoid/starter circuit and its earth return. I suggest you check this out including the engine/gearbox to body earth strap and the battery terminal clamps (under the floor in front of the passenger seat on RHD). The battery clamps are affected by heat and vibration, so the fault can come and go. The clutch is hydraulic so there aren't too many moving parts to squeak inside the cab but they are hard to see Maybe something is drying out once things warm up ? As the poster above mentions, dim warning lights are a common problem (whatever the dealers may claim) and the only solution is replacement or repair of the instrument cluster. I hope these notes help, but I am more familiar with 2009 vans and things may have changed, so of course the problems with your van could always turn out to be something different ! I suggest you pester the supplying dealer sooner rather than later, and hope you get things sorted.

 

[rolopolo]

As above re, the dash glowing lights, had same on my 2012 x250 and was swapped under warranty,

The starter, I'd firstly check the battery terminals But, what I found was the starter terminals were badly corroded after one winter. So disconnect battery under cab floor, then get under, remove the battery terminals/wires & clean up any rust from terminals nut & threaded post, refit & cover with ample copper grease,

Re connect battery,

Earth strap from gearbox to chassis (thick braided) remove,
Throw in bin (after getting a high ampage cable made to measure) clean contacts and nuts etc, fit new strap and cover with copper grease, sorted my starter issues out