Ducato Woes..... (1 Viewer)

[PP Bear]

Not really had time to get away as much as if like this year and I miss it

So I was really chuffed to get away and spend a long weekend on the South Coast

Everything was perfect, right up until we headed home along the main A27 and an engine mount sheared clean through, dropping the engine onto the lower front subframe. You couldn't make it up if you tried

Luckily no moving parts came into contact with the subframe so no damage there. Also no oil or coolant leaks to report, phew

Luckily I've got full breakdown cover so some 5 hours later we're home without any more hiccups. The recovery company were excellent and very professional and quoted some £550 if we never had the breakdown cover, so I'm glad it came with the insurance

Looking at the bolt you can clearly see corrosion at the point of shear. I had the cambelt changed some 2 years / 11000 miles ago and they reported a problem with an engine mount, so it does make me wonder if there's any connection, but no way of actually knowing

It's now in the local garage who have reported that FIAT don't supply just the bolt, I'd have to get the entire mounting at £165........however the new part would need to come from Europe and they quoted 10 days transit due to migrants raiding their last 2 trucks

So the garage is using a local machine manufacturer to make me a new high tensile bolt and should have it back to my by tomorrow. Here's hoping

 

[Mikeco]

Don't know what year your van is but the one we had was 2008 and the engine mountings were changed due to them not being man enough for the job. This was all part of the solution to the reverse gear problem.

Mike

 

[PP Bear]

Don't know what year your van is but the one we had was 2008 and the engine mountings were changed due to them not being man enough for the job. This was all part of the solution to the reverse gear problem.

Mike

Thanks Mike,

Mines a 2006 model with the 2.8JTD.

I've not suffered any form or reverse gear problem with it, but I agree the mount doesn't seem man enough.

Seems the entire engine rides on the one bolt and it's a heavy engine. I've done some research on forums, but can't find any other stories of the bolt shearing like mine did.

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[Larrynwin]

Better check mine , ta

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

It is difficult to see the detail on the end of the bolt but I suspect that part way across it is rusty?
I have seen bolts in this type of mounting damaged as they are difficult to line up and when removed and refitted the corrosion on and in the threads jams causing the bolt to be strained when refitted.
A blast out with the airline and wire brushing the bolt before fitting should stop this happening.

 

[f6c]

Hope your back on the soon

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[PP Bear]

Hope your back on the soon

Thank youuuuuu

 

[PP Bear]

Quick update

All fixed and back on the road once again, yipppeeeeeeee

Quite happy with the ker....ching bill too....£169

Could have been a lot more expensive than that considering the engine quite literally fell a good 8 inches (toots and Dux, you'll have noooooo idea what 8 inches is ) on to the subframe at 60mph!!!

So all in all, a happy PP Bear

 

[big map]

So happy that you are sorted. Get back out there.

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[Phill D]

glad your sorted ... your fitters troop were obviously not following up in convoy..

i would have a word if i were you...

 

[mitzimad]

Quick update

All fixed and back on the road once again, yipppeeeeeeee

Quite happy with the ker....ching bill too....£169

Could have been a lot more expensive than that considering the engine quite literally fell a good 8 inches (toots and Dux, you'll have noooooo idea what 8 inches is ) on to the subframe at 60mph!!!

So all in all, a happy PP Bear

as both the engine and subframe were doing 60mph its irrelevant at what speed it happened smiley

 

[PP Bear]

as both the engine and subframe were doing 60mph its irrelevant at what speed it happened smiley

Unfortunately it did matter, as the steering literally went nuts as the engine and hence gearbox dropped. It effected the steering and the drive shafts

Thought I'd had a double front blow out or worst the steering was so crazy, so it was relevant mitzimad

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[Larrynwin]

Of all the Ducatos on this forum this appears to be the first case of this nature.
Should we be worried or was this just a case of one dodgy bolt??

 

[PP Bear]

glad your sorted ... your fitters troop were obviously not following up in convoy..

i would have a word if i were you...

Was looking for the freddy foden, but didn't have my flag out

 

[PP Bear]

Of all the Ducatos on this forum this appears to be the first case of this nature.
Should we be worried or was this just a case of one dodgy bolt??

Think it was a case of one dodgy bolt.

On close inspection of the bolt, it had corrosion at the point of shear. I do believe that the previous garage had something to do with it and never fitted the bolt properly after changing the cam belt.

They admitted they had sheared a mounting bolt at the time and I think they found a replacement that wasn't up to the task. However it was 2 years and 11k miles ago.

After the engine had dropped, I could see that there had been quite a bit of movement on the mount.

I don't think there's any need to worry and mine was really a one off.

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[Lenny HB]

Pleased you got it sorted at a reasonable price, I don't understand why you didn't follow you on the garages report of an engine mount problem & if it isn't the same mount would be wise to check the others.

 

[PP Bear]

Seems I spoke too soon

Climbed underneath to drop the oil and filter and found that the front right inner drive shaft seal had split

Luckily I haven't driven it anywhere to let road grime and water into the joint, so it's another trip to the garage to change the boot

Also found one of the top coolant pipes had sheared a mounting bracket, but no leaks. Temporarily fixed that with a couple of large zip ties for now

Booked in for tomorrow morning

Hopefully it'll now end for this occasion

 

[TheBig1]

with the new split boots you can fit a new one in 30 minutes without dismantling. cut old one off and carefully pop the new one on being careful to keep mating sides clean/ glue together and fit new clips/ties

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[dave newell]

When was the cambelt last changed? This bolt would have been removed as would the entire mounting. Its definitely not a common issue as far as I'm aware, first one I've heard of.

D.

 

[DBK]

I had the engine drop like that on a Citroën B19. The engine mount was a tall inverted triangle with 2 bolts at the top and one at the bottom. Someone hadn't fitted the bottom bolt so it only hung, and pivoted on the top two. The inevitable happened and the engine dropped onto the road.

 

[Lenny HB]

with the new split boots you can fit a new one in 30 minutes without dismantling. cut old one off and carefully pop the new one on being careful to keep mating sides clean/ glue together and fit new clips/ties

Don't bother split boots are only a temporary fix you be lucky if one last 6 months even if you fit a top quality one like Bailcast, get the job done properly.

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[Wildbill]

Your in the REME and you take it to a civilian garage if it was me it would be in the work shop PDQ

 

[PP Bear]

Don't bother split boots are only a temporary fix you be lucky if one last 6 months even if you fit a top quality one like Bailcast, get the job done properly.

Got the job done properly as you said. Didn't want to trust it to a split boot jobbie, I'd rather have it all new for peace of mind

Your in the REME and you take it to a civilian garage if it was me it would be in the work shop PDQ

You're absolutely right and, had I had the time, facilities and possible manpower, I would have

However I'm at a training Battalion, so no luxury of an LAD or Wksp, the Battalion are all on summer stand down and I wanted the job done ASAP. Would have happily done it myself, but I wanted it done as concurrent activity while I'm at work, I live in the mess so no facilities at all there for me and I could afford the £60 labour the guy wanted

All in all a happy motorhomer again. Now I can pack up and head off again tomorrow

 

[dave newell]

So when was the cambelt last changed?

D.

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[Scout]

So when was the cambelt last changed?

D.

dave see post #15

 

[PP Bear]

So when was the cambelt last changed?

D.

I had the belt and water pump changed 2 years, 11K miles ago Dave

dave see post #15

Thank you

 

[dave newell]

I had the belt and water pump changed 2 years, 11K miles ago Dave



Thank you

My apologies I missed post #15.

D.

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