Ducato Fiat Ducato motorhome

[CaradoSteve]

Hi everyone just bought my first motorhome after caravanning over 30years got fed up towing. It is a Fiat ducato 140 multijet based chassis./ Carado t 459.motorhome.I am sure I will be on this forum for all things Fiat.Thanks Steve.

 

[steveras57]

Welcome to you! be sure to post any questions in the relevant area!

 

[Reg9482]

Hi everyone just bought my first motorhome after caravanning over 30years got fed up towing. It is a Fiat ducato 140 multijet based chassis./ Carado t 459.motorhome.I am sure I will be on this forum for all things Fiat.Thanks Steve.

Hi Steve, I also own the t459 carado and have just joined this site.
I bought mine new in 2021 and apart from a new battery ( this month) it hasn’t missed a beat ( done 30,000 mls).
Just one new little fault yesterday, the electric side step has a buzzer that goes off if you don’t retract the step when starting the engine.
Mine has stopped working.
Ive lubricated the contact switch underneath and that’s as far as my technical skills go!
I’ve looked in the manual and can’t find anything remotely related to that topic and no mention of where the fuse could be!
Any ideas?
The step works fine, it’s just the buzzer that has stopped working, cheers

 

[Communicator]

Hi Steve, I also own the t459 carado and have just joined this site.
I bought mine new in 2021 and apart from a new battery ( this month) it hasn’t missed a beat ( done 30,000 mls).
Just one new little fault yesterday, the electric side step has a buzzer that goes off if you don’t retract the step when starting the engine.
Mine has stopped working.
Ive lubricated the contact switch underneath and that’s as far as my technical skills go!
I’ve looked in the manual and can’t find anything remotely related to that topic and no mention of where the fuse could be!
Any ideas?
The step works fine, it’s just the buzzer that has stopped working, cheers

In a typical step circuit the "step out" switch is closed until the step is fully retracted. One contact of this switch is normaly connected to earth (chassis), and the other to the negative terminal of the buzzer. The supply side of the buzzer requires a supply controlled by either ignition on, or D+ (engine running).
On modern vehicles both of these alternatives may be taken from a repeat relay box. The designation of such a box will depend upon the maker of the MH electrical system fitted by the converter

 

[Reg9482]

Hi, thanks for getting back to me . Do you expect i will have to get in touch with carado directly or would the supplying dealer (camperUK, lincoln) have a workshop manual informing where the relay box should be?
Another option for me would be an auto electrician but I would have a go myself if I knew where to find the relay and buzzer.
I’ve tried following the cables from the step switch but they disappear into a loom on the chassis ! .

 

[Communicator]

I do not think that I can help further than in general terms as above, but here are some thoughts.
The make of the electrical installation e.g. Sargent, Schaudt, or CBE may help.
Also if you have an owners manual, is an electrical diagram included.
Your dealer should be able to fix the problem, but ata price if not under warranty.
Did the buzzer sound when you turned on the ignition. or when you started the engine?
What is the make of the step? I am familiar with Thule / Omnistep, but there are others.
I would expect to find a permanent connection to 12V negative (earth) at one side of the step limit switch, and with the step other than nearly fully retracted, the switch should be closed, making a connection to the second terminal.
Which type of step operating button have Carthago installed? The choices for a Thule step are a double ended rocker switch, which is really two switches, or the complex, and expensive single button system, which may use the limit switch when retracting the step.

 

[Reg9482]

I have a basic owners manual but there is no wiring diagram unfortunately.
I’m fairly sure the buzzer started as soon as ignition turned on but not 100% positive ( van back in storage).
The step is made by Thule.
From memory I think the description you made of the step switch is correct.
The step is operated by a rocker switch just inside the habitation door.
My van is the German CARADO T459 model 2021.
Thanks again for your assistance.

 

[HughJampton]

Carado being part of the Hymer family, the electrics will almost certainly be Schaudt (now Lippert).

The fuse for the step itself will be in the EBL (if marked in German, it will be "Tritstuffe"), but if the step is working correctly, both in and out, it's unlikely to be that. (the most common cause of problems is the switch you've already lubricated, but that would potentially have step effects as well as the buzzer).

I'm not sure there is a separate fuse for the buzzer. As for the buzzer itself, the easiest way to find it is by following the noise, but.......... . Patently it needs to be relatively close to the driver. Your'e probably looking for something like the picture below, stuck somewhere with double-sided tape, and not always immediately visible. As a first try, I'd look under both driver and passenger's seats, a common location. It's not been unknown to stick it behind the lower dash panels. (If you locate it, you should be able to test it).

 

[Reg9482]

Carado being part of the Hymer family, the electrics will almost certainly be Schaudt (now Lippert).

The fuse for the step itself will be in the EBL (if marked in German, it will be "Tritstuffe"), but if the step is working correctly, both in and out, it's unlikely to be that. (the most common cause of problems is the switch you've already lubricated, but that would potentially have step effects as well as the buzzer).

I'm not sure there is a separate fuse for the buzzer. As for the buzzer itself, the easiest way to find it is by following the noise, but.......... . Patently it needs to be relatively close to the driver. Your'e probably looking for something like the picture below, stuck somewhere with double-sided tape, and not always immediately visible. As a first try, I'd look under both driver and passenger's seats, a common location. It's not been unknown to stick it behind the lower dash panels. (If you locate it, you should be able to test it).

View attachment 456524

Thanks very much for your input. The next time I get my van from storage I will endeavour to find the buzzer.
I really appreciate all the advice and I’m so glad I joined the Fiat forum.

 

[JG99]

Thanks very much for your input. The next time I get my van from storage I will endeavour to find the buzzer.
I really appreciate all the advice and I’m so glad I joined the Fiat forum.

Hi Reg9482,

In our Carado T337 this buzzer (see picture) sits just is in front of the EBL under the driver seat (ours has the driver seat on the left; don't know if for a RH car the EBL moved to the right or stays under the left seat).

BTW Don't know what make yours is, but the steps on our Carado is a 'Thule Double Step 12V'.
The instructions and schematics for several Thule steps you can find here:

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/comfort-and-security/steps.

 

[Reg9482]

Hi Reg9482,

In our Carado T337 this buzzer (see picture) sits just is in front of the EBL under the driver seat (ours has the driver seat on the left; don't know if for a RH car the EBL moved to the right or stays under the left seat).

BTW Don't know what make yours is, but the steps on our Carado is a 'Thule Double Step 12V'.
The instructions and schematics for several Thule steps you can find here:

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/comfort-and-security/steps.

Thanks very much for the info, I can’t wait to get my van from storage and investigate further, cheers