Fiat (all sevel?) AC pipe melt - recall info - PROACTIVE FIX AVAILABLE

[activecampers]

I posted my failed AC pipe in the fiat section, but posting this in tech as it may apply other makes

Summary: Lower AC pipe on ducatos can touch the O2 sensor and melt the rubber section of the pipe and cause pipe to fail. On mine, MY20 160ps 2.3 Ducato part is £170 and 3hrs to fix + regass I assume.

I ADVISE EVERYONE TO CHECK THEIRS - AND IF SIMILAR - SEE IF THE CLIP IS PRESENT - if so/not - please post year/model

There was a recall in 2018 #6172 - that covers an intercooler issue AND the AC pipe - which is fixed by a cheap clip that pulls the pipes together. Squeezing mine together where the clip goes and the pipe DOES move 5cm away from the o2 sensor. In other words, the 2018 recall for a fix does not apply to a 2020 van but equally the fix was not applied from factory.

I called fiat, explained my issue and complaint, and they were about to pass me to "good will" team until I could not answer which fiat pro garage diagnosed the issue. The fact its a obvious melt in the pipe and a squeeze where the non existent clip should be moves the pipe is irrelevant. So in order to go to "good will" I will have to take van to fiat, book in and pay for a diagnostic fee (£150??) just to go to "good will" and potentially be told to sod off off or given a plastic clip! Seems a gamble to me.

The clip is £2.23!!!! (cheaper than £5-600!) - Part number (from recall) is 7719199

Suggest all sevel owners check their vans and buy/install a clip if its not there already.

Source here: https://lab-aftersales.fiat.com/elearn_testreda/250003211.pdf

Fuming with Fiat!

Ps - if anyone has changed the lower AC pipe (https://coastalmotorhomes.co.uk/fit...con-hose-pipe-2-3jtd-oe-14-on-1393951080.html) on these vans please let me know how DIYable it is? Headlight out or much more than that? 3hr quote to fix suggests its not trivial (but that 3hrs may include aircon test/regass etc)

 

[activecampers]

Wow - severe lack of response on this - did no one check and potentially save £700 of heartache?!

 

[Ratfink]

Thanks for the reminder, I looked at mine and the pipes run tight against the bulkhead, a long way from the O2 sensor.

 

[activecampers]

Thanks for the reminder, I looked at mine and the pipes run tight against the bulkhead, a long way from the O2 sensor.

Do you have a clip close to the valves that holds the pipes together? herei is mine "as is" and the second pic pinched where the clip should be (and clearly moving pipe away from the exhaust o2 sensor that you can see)

 

[activecampers]

FYI - just DIY'd the fix

Its a pig of a job. 4.5hrs start to finish, garage quoted 3hrs which is probably fair but too expensive! (3x 135 +160 parts + 90 regas + vat = £700 ish )

• Remove NS headlight (slide gray plastic to the side, it then pulls off)
• Remove OS headlight
• Remove front grill
• Remove coolant cover
• Remove bonnet seal
• Remove rubber smoke thing in corner;
• Disconnect scuttle drainpipe from offside and centre (separate centre)
• Remove screen wash filler
• Remove screen wash holder bracket
• Remove screen wash pump electrical connector (squeeze side metal clips hard)
• Remove power steering fluid tank & coolant fluid tank holding screws
• Release tanks from bracket
• Remove the fluids bracket (one bolt under screen wash, so move that out of the way)
• Release all AC pipe clips
• Remove AC pipe nut from top and bolt from bottom
• Remember the convoluted AC pipe run
• Remove pipe
• Install pipe
  • Pay attention to offside bottom rear and the routing around the scuttle drain pipe at wheel arch (IIRC AC pipe goes behind)
  • Pay attention to pipe routing around the powersteering pipes
  • Lube the orings with correct ac oil
  • 8-10NM for the nuts
  • Added extra clip referenced in 2018 recall but the new pipe is v clear of sensor

Rest is reassemble backwards

You do not need to remove wipers, scuttle, or air ducting which the official way says to (maybe LHD variant?)

Not tested yet but this is fresh ish

Just to arrange regass at a local place now (£35+vat)
Pipe £150 (genuine, coastal motorhomes, ebay)
Clip £2 - local fiat garage

Old pipe....
(melted on o2 sensor back of engine as pipe "dropped" as the clip above wasn't present

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[activecampers]

System tested, no leaks, held vacuum, and regassed successfully

Phew.

As the new pipe had a new pressure sensor I've removed the old pressure sensor as a spare. Unlike the Transit I had, just to confirm to all, the pressure sensor does NOT have a self seal valve. Any sensor removal WILL dump the AC gas out. So would suggest any sensor change should be done at a friendly AC place where you can remove the gas, change the sensor then re gas.

 

[bobandjanie]

Just seen this thread, Thanks ours is a 2017 but still checked all OK. Bob.

 

[SVMC15]

FYI - just DIY'd the fix

Its a pig of a job. 4.5hrs start to finish, garage quoted 3hrs which is probably fair but too expensive! (3x 135 +160 parts + 90 regas + vat = £700 ish

You should have done your cambelt at the same time You have done most of the work to get access to it!

 

[activecampers]

You should have done your cambelt at the same time You have done most of the work to get access to it!

Cambelt was done in May - but at a fiat Pro specialist That job is a bit beyond me!

 

[whisky walker]

I posted my failed AC pipe in the fiat section, but posting this in tech as it may apply other makes

Summary: Lower AC pipe on ducatos can touch the O2 sensor and melt the rubber section of the pipe and cause pipe to fail. On mine, MY20 160ps 2.3 Ducato part is £170 and 3hrs to fix + regass I assume.

I ADVISE EVERYONE TO CHECK THEIRS - AND IF SIMILAR - SEE IF THE CLIP IS PRESENT - if so/not - please post year/model

There was a recall in 2018 #6172 - that covers an intercooler issue AND the AC pipe - which is fixed by a cheap clip that pulls the pipes together. Squeezing mine together where the clip goes and the pipe DOES move 5cm away from the o2 sensor. In other words, the 2018 recall for a fix does not apply to a 2020 van but equally the fix was not applied from factory.

I called fiat, explained my issue and complaint, and they were about to pass me to "good will" team until I could not answer which fiat pro garage diagnosed the issue. The fact its a obvious melt in the pipe and a squeeze where the non existent clip should be moves the pipe is irrelevant. So in order to go to "good will" I will have to take van to fiat, book in and pay for a diagnostic fee (£150??) just to go to "good will" and potentially be told to sod off off or given a plastic clip! Seems a gamble to me.

The clip is £2.23!!!! (cheaper than £5-600!) - Part number (from recall) is 7719199

Suggest all sevel owners check their vans and buy/install a clip if its not there already.

Source here: https://lab-aftersales.fiat.com/elearn_testreda/250003211.pdf

Fuming with Fiat!

Ps - if anyone has changed the lower AC pipe (https://coastalmotorhomes.co.uk/fit...con-hose-pipe-2-3jtd-oe-14-on-1393951080.html) on these vans please let me know how DIYable it is? Headlight out or much more than that? 3hr quote to fix suggests its not trivial (but that 3hrs may include aircon test/regass etc)

Thanks for the info, mine is a 2021 so I need to check it. How is the best way? just wiggle the pipe?

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[activecampers]

Thanks for the info, mine is a 2021 so I need to check it. How is the best way? just wiggle the pipe?

look at the photos above and look at the back of the engine bay. The lowest should follow the highest and there could be a clip I'm pointing to. If its dropped like the first pic, then it needs addressing. The clip pointed at is listed in the first post, about £2. I cut off the "cone" fixing and just used it to clip bottom to top

I'm not the first to have exactly this issue.

I'm not sure if it was like it from new, or the pipe dropped over time or was knocked/moved after its cambelt service it had just before last trip - (but we did 7-8000 miles in the 2 months after, and it failed at the end of that trip). No pics/evidence before knowing it was an issue

 

[whisky walker]

look at the photos above and look at the back of the engine bay. The lowest should follow the highest and there could be a clip I'm pointing to. If its dropped like the first pic, then it needs addressing. The clip pointed at is listed in the first post, about £2. I cut off the "cone" fixing and just used it to clip bottom to top

Brilliant, will check tomoz.

Thanks

 

[PeterCarole29]

look at the photos above and look at the back of the engine bay. The lowest should follow the highest and there could be a clip I'm pointing to. If its dropped like the first pic, then it needs addressing. The clip pointed at is listed in the first post, about £2. I cut off the "cone" fixing and just used it to clip bottom to top

I'm not the first to have exactly this issue.

I'm not sure if it was like it from new, or the pipe dropped over time or was knocked/moved after its cambelt service it had just before last trip - (but we did 7-8000 miles in the 2 months after, and it failed at the end of that trip). No pics/evidence before knowing it was an issue

Thanks for all the info i shall check our 2021

 

[whisky walker]

Thanks for all the info i shall check our 2021

Me too lol another worry to think about

 

[whisky walker]

look at the photos above and look at the back of the engine bay. The lowest should follow the highest and there could be a clip I'm pointing to. If its dropped like the first pic, then it needs addressing. The clip pointed at is listed in the first post, about £2. I cut off the "cone" fixing and just used it to clip bottom to top

I'm not the first to have exactly this issue.

I'm not sure if it was like it from new, or the pipe dropped over time or was knocked/moved after its cambelt service it had just before last trip - (but we did 7-8000 miles in the 2 months after, and it failed at the end of that trip). No pics/evidence before knowing it was an issue

Well managed to check the hoses today and thankfully all good, well away from the sensor and against the bulkhead. But thanks for the help and info, another less thing to worry about.

Cheers

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