Mechanical Servicing for Ubiquitous Fiat Ducato Engine?

MartMaeve

MartMaeve

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Just starting out..
Hello funsters,

I have been finding it quite challenging to find a local garage able to accommodate my Hymer Classic 644 with 2.8 Fiat Ducato lump, so that I can get the cambelt changed. My local garage can only fit vehicles up to 2.6m in height (mine is 2.9) so I can't use them (which is a shame as I've used them for everything else for 30 years!!)

Has anyone got any ideas about how to get the mechanical parts serviced? Many NCC approved centres appear to specialise in the habitation side of things, but not the mechanical :(

Martin
 
I'm in Blackburn, Lancashire. I've emailed a group called Walton Summit who seem to do commercial vehicles and aren't too far away, but nobody else seems to have a clue ! I don't wish to pay main dealer prices for labour, as this seems unreasonable when my local garage rates are less than a third of what a dealer would charge (even excluding VAT!)

M
 
If you said where you are we might be able to help.
if you are on the south coast, Lancing Commercial are very good & cheap.
 
MartMaeve said:
I'm in Blackburn, Lancashire. I've emailed a group called Walton Summit who seem to do commercial vehicles and aren't too far away, but nobody else seems to have a clue ! I don't wish to pay main dealer prices for labour, as this seems unreasonable when my local garage rates are less than a third of what a dealer would charge (even excluding VAT!)

M
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Ok so you are in the NW so can't help much as we are in Norfolk where there are various options.

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Flook said:
I hear there are many holes in Blackburn Lanashire::bigsmile:
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Aye, but as long as none of them are in my wallet, due to an unfortunate and untimely failure of a cambelt, I can cope ;)

M
 
icantremember said:
Ok so you are in the NW so can't help much as we are in Norfolk where there are various options.
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What do you normally do for mechanical aspects (e.g MOT, engine issues etc)?

Regards

Martin
 
If height is a problem find a commercial garage with a pit.

Your local coach/transport companies should know some as their vehicles do not get lifted.
 
Commercial vehicle garages are probably your best bet. Or, you could try Googling for Class 7 MOT test centres - you don't need Class 7, but that is the class for the larger & heavier vans, anyone that can do them is more likely to have a door & lift that can accommodate your van.

Having said that, I have a choice of either Dave Newell (who specialises in motorhomes) or another ordinary garage near him who can take my van, which is bigger than yours. Dave is in Telford so not that convenient for you unfortunately.

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Take a trip to Dave Newells in Telford, I don't use any body else, there is a campsite over the road and a pub a few hundred yards away that allows overnighting I am told. We had our cambelt done there on our PVC, cruise control fitted, serviced, it is a fairly modern PVC but I am sure that he can accommodate larger vehicles.

We got a free ticket to Blists Hill village as well, worth the trip down to Telford.
 
matamoros said:
Take a trip to Dave Newells in Telford, I don't use any body else, there is a campsite over the road and a pub a few hundred yards away that allows overnighting I am told. We had our cambelt done there on our PVC, cruise control fitted, serviced, it is a fairly modern PVC but I am sure that he can accommodate larger vehicles.
Yes we can accommodate all sizes of vehicles and I've done loads of 2.8 ducato timing belts. Height, width, length and even weight are not a problem.

D.
We got a free ticket to Blists Hill village as well, worth the trip down to Telford.
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Taylors garage, Clifton, Preston. 01772 682789

Had cambelt change on a Hymer b614 (04 reg) approx 5 years ago...about 230 pounds.
Hope that helps.

Allen

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We have booked in with you Dave for August, any of those tickets going, that museum looks a good attraction.
 
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We take ours to Deanfield MOT test centre in Clitheroe 01200 429980. Usually they offer a courtesy car or a lift into Clitheroe for the afternoon.

They did our cambelt and MOT last year and always happy with the work done.

It feels to us that if you use them regularly you do get some kind of loyalty bonus and relationship.
 
If you wanted to do all the Ironbridge Gorge museums (of which Blists Hill is one) you'll need at least 2 days, preferably 3. They're very good. Plus nearby we have Shrewsbury and Much Wenlock, lovely towns both worth a visit, plus Ludlow is about an hour south, another lovely old town to spend time in.

Don't bother visiting Telford town centre unless you've a love of modern bland shopping centres, mind you many folks seem to. Can't quite figure that one out - haven't they worked out that t'interweb was made so men can avoid shopping?? :whistle:
 
Feltwell said:
If you wanted to do all the Ironbridge Gorge museums (of which Blists Hill is one) you'll need at least 2 days, preferably 3. They're very good. Plus nearby we have Shrewsbury and Much Wenlock, lovely towns both worth a visit, plus Ludlow is about an hour south, another lovely old town to spend time in.

Don't bother visiting Telford town centre unless you've a love of modern bland shopping centres, mind you many folks seem to. Can't quite figure that one out - haven't they worked out that t'interweb was made so men can avoid shopping?? :whistle:
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I would whole heartedly agree about Telford shopping centre, however the new Southwater development and town park itself is a much nicer place and the town park is a lovely place to wander for a few hours on a summers day.

D.

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I had loads of problems recently with my local garage. It was a long drawn out mess. ABS pump went. They had it for 7 weeks and did 7 hours diagnostic work on it. Eventually took it out of there and took it to Walton Summit. They were superb , diagnosed the problem in and hour, ordered the exact part but it had to be sourced from Italy. took 3 days delivery. Got the van back after a week and two of those days were bank holidays. If you are just getting basic service work done then use local garage, but if you're unfortunate to need proper diagnostic work then local garage won't have the gear so use Walton Summit.
 
Great stuff all of the above - many thanks for your contributions. I'm going to give the Preston and Clitheroe options a ring, and see where it goes from there..

Will post once I've sorted a solution.

Cheers!


Martin
 
Our van also suffered from the 'misfire & limp home' problem associated with the injector connections. Walton Summit knew of this problem, and quoted approx 800 pounds for new harness etc...Taylors also knew the problem and stated "that'll be 16 pound / injector"...got all four done just in case.

Allen
 
we had the cam belt and major service carried out at Walton Summit truck centre near Preston.

Nice people to deal with and always a good job well done
 
walburga said:
Our van also suffered from the 'misfire & limp home' problem associated with the injector connections. Walton Summit knew of this problem, and quoted approx 800 pounds for new harness etc...Taylors also knew the problem and stated "that'll be 16 pound / injector"...got all four done just in case.

Allen
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Are you saying that Taylors gave a cheaper or more realistic quote than Walton Summit.

There was a positive post about Walton Summit just after your post and I've seen others.
But if you pay top dollar that's what you expect.

Both are close to us so more information welcome............Martin do let us know your views of Clitheroe service and prices.

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webby1 said:
Are you saying that Taylors gave a cheaper or more realistic quote than Walton Summit.

There was a positive post about Walton Summit just after your post and I've seen others.
But if you pay top dollar that's what you expect.

Both are close to us so more information welcome............Martin do let us know your views of Clitheroe service and prices.
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Yes...Taylors total price was 64 pounds, that's considerably less than Walton Summit's quote of 800 pounds...I got the impression that WS didn't really know about this well known Fiat injector problem.

Allen
 
She's going in to Taylors of Clifton next week for the cambelt - £261.18 inc labour (3 hrs).

Good price! :)
 
Keith Petty in Keighley, West Yorks.
They service and MOT motorhomes of all sizes and weights, makes/models.
Not too far away from you wrong side over t'hill
I've used Calder Valley motorhomes garage near Dewsbury and never had any issues - plus he gives you a courtesy car.
 
MartMaeve said:
She's going in to Taylors of Clifton next week for the cambelt - £261.18 inc labour (3 hrs).

Good price! :)
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Wow...that's gone up! As I said several posts ago, it was only £230 (ish) 5 or 6 years ago!!! Sounds a bargain, proper garage as well...they used to do a lot of Hymers when Madisons (later Hymer UK) were across the road from them.

Allen

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