Hi all and Merry Christmas. One for the moderators. In the new year, would it be possible to have a section dedicated to older, pre- computer, Ducatos as they are as different to the later models as Fiat are to Ford. I get quite disturbed reading constantly about fault codes that, very often, go unresolved because of the difference in quality of fault code readers. I wouldn't know where to start with a modern van so I prefer to keep it simple. I am sure there are lots of owners of older vans who would be willing to contribute to such a section. Hope it's worth considering. All the Very Best for a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Ian
General belated Christmas present
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General belated Christmas present
My experience is more related to the older diesels and I also have several relevant technical manuals once we have worked out which engine series and even manufacturer of the engine fitted to the Ducato concerned.
May I echo the Happy New Year bit and add Healthy as at my age I have given up on the Prosperous bit.
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I will go with that as well.My experience is more related to the older diesels and I also have several relevant technical manuals once we have worked out which engine series and even manufacturer of the engine fitted to the Ducato concerned.
May I echo the Happy New Year bit and add Healthy as at my age I have given up on the Prosperous bit.
Regarding the suggestion, I am not so sure that it would be viable, as electronic control of the engine goes back to 2000, so you will soon be looking only at vehicles that are over 25 years old. Also I think more a matter for @ben , than for the moderators.
There is a band of us that have worked on these wehn they were new, and have a few workarounds for silly stuff that have cropped up or parts not available…the issues usually arise wehn we take our ages and decreasing memories into account.
As previously mentioned, pre 2000 is wehn there were less electronics BUT immobilisers began being fitted in the nineties. Many code readers covering these eras are next to useless, and post 2000 are very hit n miss, an affinity with an AVO meter is a much better bet, providing you know the values of what you’re testing.
Also, as previously mentioned, a diesel engine is a much simpler proposition to ‘get going’ so just needs fuel and a start
As previously mentioned, pre 2000 is wehn there were less electronics BUT immobilisers began being fitted in the nineties. Many code readers covering these eras are next to useless, and post 2000 are very hit n miss, an affinity with an AVO meter is a much better bet, providing you know the values of what you’re testing.
Also, as previously mentioned, a diesel engine is a much simpler proposition to ‘get going’ so just needs fuel and a start
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Do not forget air.
Hi all and thank you for your replies. It is good to see there are still people around with better knowledge of these older vans than me. I heartily agree that these older engines need both fuel and air to get going but you've missed one other vital element. Before ever starting my van, between turning the key and the glow plug light going out, a little prayer doesn't go amiss. It has worked 99% of the time, so far. I hope it keeps working for me and you well into the future. By the way, I'm an atheist so God only knows how it works. All the Very Best, Ian.
I was intrigued how "old" we are talking.. 
Potentially mid 90's,
when the turbo motors were popular, but before the JTD/commonrail
My Ducato was an 88 model 2.5, probably a SOFIM.. I forget..
Simple tech, predates the 3 pin in all probability
I suspect you were without OBD2 Until @2002 era,
So turbo intercooler motor diagnostics would be pretty complex,
The old hassles of Blue and Red Keys wouldn't help either.
Potentially mid 90's,
when the turbo motors were popular, but before the JTD/commonrail
My Ducato was an 88 model 2.5, probably a SOFIM.. I forget..
Simple tech, predates the 3 pin in all probability
I suspect you were without OBD2 Until @2002 era,
So turbo intercooler motor diagnostics would be pretty complex,
The old hassles of Blue and Red Keys wouldn't help either.
Yes, air
The search function is good, to a point, especially wehn a thread goes off on a tangent
If you’re talking folk, late fifties on wards, I’m 60 next year…if you’re talking vans, Rudolff Diesel up to about 1988/9I was intrigued how "old" we are talking..
Potentially mid 90's,
when the turbo motors were popular, but before the JTD/commonrail
My Ducato was an 88 model 2.5, probably a SOFIM.. I forget..
Simple tech, predates the 3 pin in all probability
I suspect you were without OBD2 Until @2002 era,
So turbo intercooler motor diagnostics would be pretty complex,
The old hassles of Blue and Red Keys wouldn't help either.
As for glow plug relays, that’s where it sometimes falls down…if you search the threads, you’ll find that they’re impossible to get hold of for a certain type. Actively bypassing them is something I’ve done in the past, (early immobiliser red/blue keys type) but I think now I’d have to stand in front of one to be able to remember how.
Fitting of a tractor type timed relay is relatively easy, getting a feed to the immobiliser is the key…don’t fully remember but a feed from/to pump sticks in my mind but I maybe seeing through the fog with steamed up glasses. I did remember writing it down, with a wiring diagram, but, having ‘filed it away’, it could be in the barn, garage, loft etc etc, and I’ve moved house three or four times since then!
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My 1962 Landrover had a simple glowpug circuit. Four series connected plugs supplied from the starter switch via a resistor. A dash warning light was connected in parallel with the resistor. The light illuminated if all was well, when the plugs were energised. Turn the key to glowplug position, wait for ten seconds, then start.
Simplest is best
HI again, Before we get lost in tangents, can I reiterate my OP request for a dedicated section for older vans. The search facility idea is great if you have a known problem but, if you are just browsing the forum for ideas or information of a general nature, you have to sift through a lot of posts that are irrelevant to your old van. The posts I log do not generally apply to modern vans so I risk wasting your time. I still think the forum is the best source of information on Ducatos and I wouldn't want to change it's basic layout. I just wish that old vans could be treated separately. All the Best, Ian
The only problem I see is where some one like me looks at the unanswered posts for example and wishes to assist we may not look at Ducato specifically as may have a wide range of general technical knowledge and data on many models.
As an example 1.9 and 2.5-2.8 Ducato engines were often used in many other manufacturers vehicles which we have technical experience of, but may never have owned a specific Ducato with that engine.
@cid
To get back to the OP’s original point. The early ones are now, what would be described as, ‘classics’, so could it be possible to have a section in there for fiats early commercials. The issue of the existing threads could surely be ‘tagged’ or linked as ‘we find them’
I’ve owned, or worked on, every type except the very latest, from 2000l petrol to 3000l diesel…some I never had to touch 2.3 and 3l.
The 2.2 was a pain but the pre electrikery 2.5 and 2.8 were a ‘delight’. I’ve also worked on them at dealerships other than Fiat, the PSA ones, obviously, but also Iveco and briefly at Renault.
To get back to the OP’s original point. The early ones are now, what would be described as, ‘classics’, so could it be possible to have a section in there for fiats early commercials. The issue of the existing threads could surely be ‘tagged’ or linked as ‘we find them’
I’ve owned, or worked on, every type except the very latest, from 2000l petrol to 3000l diesel…some I never had to touch 2.3 and 3l.
The 2.2 was a pain but the pre electrikery 2.5 and 2.8 were a ‘delight’. I’ve also worked on them at dealerships other than Fiat, the PSA ones, obviously, but also Iveco and briefly at Renault.
