Technical Ducatto Engine Failure (6000 miles)

[sjlaird]

Dear Fiat Forum,

We are proud owners of a Swift Bessacar motorhome which is on a Fiat Ducato chassis. We bought it new (our first after having a second hand one and enjoying the freedom) that was in 2018.

I am looking to find out if anyone has had the following experience (after many friends saying when we bought it don't buy one on with a fiat engine, my famous words to them was "don't be daft it will never do enough mileage to have any issues").

At 6000 miles on our holiday and with no warning coming up the A1 the engine began a rattling noise, I slowed down to hear it better and made my way to next layby to safely pullover and call for recovery. It was a very loud metallic rattling sound.

The recovery guy came, and when I let him hear he said stop the engine and we will need to recover the van to a dealer for investigation. (for another story we had a great experience and help from the guy from the recovery place in Seahouses in Northumbria).

After sitting untouched at the dealer from 21st Aug and having to chase multiple times the van finally got on the ramps last week and I'm told the lower part of engine has a lot of damage and will require a replacement engine. A huge shock to us and I'm being told by the garage that it might not even be possible even after stripping down at a cost of £1100 for 10 hours labour and that the cost to replace will be circa £15,000.

How can it be that the engine can fail so young, with not warning are we just unlucky?

 

[varesecrazy]

Hello and welcome :wave:

Sorry to hear that bad news..

Do you know what has actually happened?

Oil starvation would be my guess

At such an incredibly low mileage I would be suspecting a build issue.

So :

Which engine is it.. and what and where has it had done Service wise?

Fiat CARS do offer a reasonable 'goodwill' repair service

Biggest issue with a conversion is how OLD the vehicle is based on BUILD rather than conversion or Registration.

Your dealer is sounding unhelpful.. or have they waited for FIAT to get involved??

Charlie

 

[Anthony489]

Hi sjlaird

Firstly, you have my sympathy. This may be a rare occurrence, but that's no consolation when you are the unlucky one.

I don't know how mechanically knowledgeable you are, but I hope the notes below might help.


It seems to me that there are four possibilities:

Wear and tear - not at that low mileage
Driver error - I'm assuming we can rule that out too
Premature failure of a faulty component in the engine
Assembly error in the engine

The noise could be due to a component coming adrift and moving around inside the engine, e.g. a big end cap bolt failing. Alternatively, one or more main crankshaft or big end bearings may have been damaged due to overheating after a lubrication failure for some reason. If oil pressure is lost completely you would get an immediate dashboard warning. After that, the bearing(s) will rapidly heat up and fail, after let's say a few minutes running i.e. not instantaneously. Removing the sump and the bearing caps will reveal this.


It doesn't sound as though your engine has overheated or seized up, so the pistons/bores and the valves/cylinder head etc should be OK. Even if your bearings have failed, they are repairable with the engine out. Alternatively you need a reconditioned "short" engine which is basically the mechanical parts minus the cylinder head and valve gear. The cause of the failure needs to be identified as well, of course.


The price you have been quoted seems on the high side, but there are quite a few hours labour involved in removing the engine and replacing it (from below).


Given the amount you have already paid for diagnosis, you are entitled to a detailed report of the damage and its likely cause. You will then be in a position to decide what to do next, which would include moving the van to a different competent repairer e.g. one who is maybe a little less pessimistic and/or has a lower labour rate !

If (as seems likely) the failure is due to a faulty engine part or assembly, you have a strong case for at least partial redress from Fiat. However, I suspect you might have a fight on your hands.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

 

[IceVovo]

Hi sjlaird

3 years young is that engine.

That doesn't sound right.

What is the engine model?
Is this a fiat van?
what model?
How many kms?


Anyway, all parts can fail prematurely.
But to stuff the bottom of the engine....oil or lack of oil is pretty much going to be the problem.
Or a component failure.

I would be surprised if this wasn't covered under a warranty?
...but depends on the manufacturer.

I would say it is not a normal occurrence...if maintained properly.
...You may be very unlucky!!

 

[Pugkid]

Hello I've changed and engine on a jtd 2.3 what would labour charge be build turbo inlet manifold everything over from old engine to new flywheel every component fit new waterpump timing belt clutch refit etc...what would labour charge be ..up and running sweet now ..also refit 2 new camshafts