A class - great interior space - crap under bonnet space

[Deanobeano]

Just back inside after changing my oil and filter of my Frankia on a Merc chassis.

Oil and filter change...can't take long can it? I've done dozens on my cars over the years.

But have never done one on a Motorhome and certainly not on an A class derivative.

So, here I type, arms scarred, temper inflamed and patience exhausted.

let me (light heartily) speak of my woes.

Non A class owners can read with smug satisfaction...

Dave Newell, you have my utmost respect for working on these models (designed by Stevie Wonder et Al) on a daily basis.

1. A class bonnet clearance is virtually non existent. Why do they bother with a letter box sized access hatch to the engine bay? You need arms like Mr Tickle and a neck like Tooms from the X files (look him up!) to be able to access the engine bay. Infact, you might as well be Stevie Wonder for the visual access the bonnet hatch affords.

2. Oil filter removal. Its a cartridge type and the housing states tighten to 25NM. I think the last person to change it added a '0' or perhaps '00' to this figure. It nearly broke my 76mm socket to get it to move. This, I should add, is after removing the air intake pipe and partially disconnecting the air box to get to the bloody thing!

3. Sump plug - OK this was easy. Great access and a breeze compared to the above.

4. Filling with oil. Frankia themselves, state that access is crap and give you a bendy piece of steel pipe to use. I managed to use a longish hose and funnel to fill. But without these, you are limited to a cup full at a time (to clear the access to the filler).

The fuel filter will probably be due next year. @dave newell lvs I will be coming to you for this I think!

Rant over.

 

[pappajohn]

You chose to buy an A class..... No sympathy



Must admit, I do wonder why they don't fit the biggest possible hatch, if it fits well it wouldn't look out of place.

 

[Larby]

Well done on completing Test number 1
Test number 2 will be to change the water pump and cam-belt
You will be allowed 3.5 hours, ready, steady, GO...........

 

[kelpie]

When I was cosidering my first van four years ago , a friend advised against a Hymer . " Great vans " he said but absolutely terrible to work on under the bonnet.
Still might end up with an older one.
John

 

[PhilG]

I will take the pain all day over having a cabbed van that is just wasted space.

Water pump is 5 hours.

Key is to let someone who knows what they are doing with it , do it.

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[andy63]

Ive given you a funny , because i was chuckling , but i do sympathies...
Even on an normal van there is usually some aspect of work on engines these days that fill you with fear especially as they age and fastners rust...
But id agree and wonder why routine service jobs cant be made as easily accessible as possible...
Andy.

 

[Deanobeano]

Well done on completing Test number 1
Test number 2 will be to change the water pump and cam-belt
You will be allowed 3.5 hours, ready, steady, GO...........

Its got a Chain! (back of the net...)
I've got Radweld or eggs if I'm out and about for the other.

 

[Larby]

My 2 sons have a garage. They asked what I wanted for Christmas, I said change the cam-belt on the MH. Although I'm capable of doing it myself I said I will pay for the parts but I will want to sit in a chair watching them do it

 

[Mikey RV]

The guy that looks after my A class says it’s not to bad a job, and my reply to him was that’s why I bring it to you.

 

[PhilG]

My 2 sons have a garage. They asked what I wanted for Christmas, I said change the cam-belt on the MH. Although I'm capable of doing it myself I said I will pay for the parts but I will want to sit in a chair watching them do it

You are an evil genius.

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[PhilG]

Ive given you a funny , because i was chuckling , but i do sympathies...
Even on an normal van there is usually some aspect of work on engines these days that fill you with fear especially as they age and fastners rust...
But id agree and wonder why routine service jobs cant be made as easily accessible as possible...
Andy.

If you have ever driven a Commer, you will know why. Engine under a cover between the seats, not noisy at all LOL.

Its why liked my 7.5 tonner with a tilt cab, you can get at everything.

 

[peterc10]

You just need to be a trained gynaecologist.

Not all A classes are as bad as that ..... with my Hymer I can pour oil straight in from the bottle. Trouble is it has to be a 1 litre one. But there again that is all I do myself. Everything else gets sorted by the application of a credit card to the problem.

 

[PhilG]

You just need to be a trained gynaecologist.

Not all A classes are as bad as that ..... with my Hymer I can pour oil straight in from the bottle. Trouble is it has to be a 1 litre one. But there again that is all I do myself. Everything else gets sorted by the application of a credit card to the problem.

In my case , it was a credit card that caused the problem.

 

[dave newell]

"The fuel filter will probably be due next year. @dave newell lvs I will be coming to you for this I think!"

What is the motorhome? I ask becaue I recently had to give up on servicing a Rapido A class on Merc chassis as I simply couldn't get into the engine space at all. Post a photo of the engine bay with bonnet open please.

D.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Its got a Chain! (back of the net...)
I've got Radweld or eggs if I'm out and about for the other.

Mine certainly has.....

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[KUSKUS]

I recently serviced my Rapido A class , what a nightmare even the air filter took ages.
I was going to change the fuel filter but couldn't find it, I think its under the air filter somewhere.
Had to change the rubber gaiters on the front shock absorbers , passenger side a doddle , drivers side its under the throttle body and with no drivers door its not a easy job. ended up with huge bruise on my back.

 

[andy63]

If you have ever driven a Commer, you will know why. Engine under a cover between the seats, not noisy at all LOL.

Its why liked my 7.5 tonner with a tilt cab, you can get at everything.

Lol..ive driven my share of that type of vehicle..
Commers , old bedfords , aec's that had the engine cover in the cab... all old fire engines in the days before they became a specialist vehicle... at times it was difficult to use the radio in the cab and often felt like the engine was going to join you in the cab while you put it through its paces on the way to a job.
Andy.

 

[7735]

Well done on completing Test number 1
Test number 2 will be to change the water pump and cam-belt
You will be allowed 3.5 hours, ready, steady, GO...........

No cam belt on a merc it has a timing chain, not like a fiat.

Spongy

 

[funflair]

Is it just a Merc thing, access on our IVECO chassis A class is OK

Martin

 

[Mikey RV]

No cam belt on a merc it has a timing chain, not like a fiat.

Spongy

My fiat has a timing chain.

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[mitzimad]

Lol..ive driven my share of that type of vehicle..
Commers , old bedfords , aec's that had the engine cover in the cab... all old fire engines in the days before they became a specialist vehicle... at times it was difficult to use the radio in the cab and often felt like the engine was going to join you in the cab while you put it through its paces on the way to a job.
Andy.

on the plus side ive crimped off broken aec injector pipes without leaving the cab and once drove a van home with broken throttle linkage one hand on the carb

 

[Larrynwin]

Built that way to discourage DIY ers and give the costly servicing to dealers.

 

[Ditcha]

No cam belt on a merc it has a timing chain, not like a fiat.

Spongy

My fiat has a chain

 

[Larrynwin]

My fiat has a chain

So has my bike

 

[andy63]

on the plus side ive crimped off broken aec injector pipes without leaving the cab and once drove a van home with broken throttle linkage one hand on the carb

Ha ha..youve got me thinking.. cant remember the vehicle but the lift pump went and we recovered it back to the station by feeding it with a can of diesel and a pipe suspended above the engine...
The bedfords were petrol... and they used to get thrashed..
The mechanic took the rocker cover off one that sounded a bit sick on return to station and there were springs and collets lying around in the cover... not actually sure how ir still ran
Andy.

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[cliffanger]

I love my A class - wouldn’t have anything else - have no idea what goes on under the bonnet though ....

 

[jongood]

Just back inside after changing my oil and filter of my Frankia on a Merc chassis.

Oil and filter change...can't take long can it? I've done dozens on my cars over the years.

But have never done one on a Motorhome and certainly not on an A class derivative.

So, here I type, arms scarred, temper inflamed and patience exhausted.

let me (light heartily) speak of my woes.

Non A class owners can read with smug satisfaction...

Dave Newell, you have my utmost respect for working on these models (designed by Stevie Wonder et Al) on a daily basis.

1. A class bonnet clearance is virtually non existent. Why do they bother with a letter box sized access hatch to the engine bay? You need arms like Mr Tickle and a neck like Tooms from the X files (look him up!) to be able to access the engine bay. Infact, you might as well be Stevie Wonder for the visual access the bonnet hatch affords.

2. Oil filter removal. Its a cartridge type and the housing states tighten to 25NM. I think the last person to change it added a '0' or perhaps '00' to this figure. It nearly broke my 76mm socket to get it to move. This, I should add, is after removing the air intake pipe and partially disconnecting the air box to get to the bloody thing!

3. Sump plug - OK this was easy. Great access and a breeze compared to the above.

4. Filling with oil. Frankia themselves, state that access is crap and give you a bendy piece of steel pipe to use. I managed to use a longish hose and funnel to fill. But without these, you are limited to a cup full at a time (to clear the access to the filler).

The fuel filter will probably be due next year. @dave newell lvs I will be coming to you for this I think!

Rant over.

You do need to bear in mind that this varies from model to model. There is reasonable access to our NB Arto, The Fiat engine is fitted transverse so not too bad to get to most items.

However I'm also in the camp that would prefer to pay somebody else to do the oily stuff these days, even cars are hard to do without a 4 poster and the diagnostic stuff these days.

This is my car engine bay, access is fine but where would you start

 

[funflair]

Ha ha..youve got me thinking.. cant remember the vehicle but the lift pump went and we recovered it back to the station by feeding it with a can of diesel and a pipe suspended above the engine...
The bedfords were petrol... and they used to get thrashed..
The mechanic took the rocker cover off one that sounded a bit sick on return to station and there were springs and collets lying around in the cover... not actually sure how ir still ran
Andy.

Badly

Martin

 

[funflair]

You do need to bear in mind that this varies from model to model. There is reasonable access to our NB Arto, The Fiat engine is fitted transverse so not too bad to get to most items.

However I'm also in the camp that would prefer to pay somebody else to do the oily stuff these days, even cars are hard to do without a 4 poster and the diagnostic stuff these days.

This is my car engine bay, access is fine but where would you start
View attachment 271614

I know somebody who could squeeze that into your Arto Jon.

Martin

 

[SpeedyDux]

The small job that I dread is replacing a rear bulb. The human hand was never designed for this. Not helped by converters at all.

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