Mouse attack...is this causing my running problems?

[Glas Robin]

Took the motorbaguette out for a quick shakedown run after the winter prior to a jaunt to North Britain at month-end, and to test the new air assist suspension I fitted.

It’s a 2018 Ducato X290 with about 6k on the clock.

300 yards up the road and it threw an engine warning light which showed code P0236 on the reader when I got back. Mr Google advised it was something to do with the supercharger boost sensor range/performance. A bit of research on how turbo/super charged engines work and lotsof advice including on here to check various vacuum hoses before replacing the sensor itself.

Not really knowing what I was looking for, I popped the bonnet. This site suggested starting at the Dytech B460 and looking for any damage to hoses traced from here.

Here is a good unit. Note the yellow cap.

And here’s mine. Spot the difference.

I suspect that mouse damage might be the problem?

Whole new unit, or some adhesive gunk in the hole and carry on?

Thanks.

 

[Bluemanc100]

I’d be trying to seal it and re-test

 

[Glas Robin]

That’s my inclination too. But if someone said “nooooo, if a bit of araldite breaks off and gets sucked through the turbo it’s terminal” I might think otherwise...

 

[Figaro]

Stick a cork on it

PS I have absolutley no knowledge of superchargers so your probably best ignoring my advice

 

[Glas Robin]

Going to try this instead of a cork...

UniBond Repair Power Epoxy Plastic - 25 ml Amazon product ASIN B003UGKTHK

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

If it was mouse it's a very tidy mouse.
I would expect more hose remaining on the stub and a jagged/toothmarked end to the hose.

 

[Glas Robin]

If it was mouse it's a very tidy mouse.
I would expect more hose remaining on the stub and a jagged/toothmarked end to the hose.

There’s no hose on this, just the yellow blanking plastic which the mouse appears to have chewed the end off.

 

[pappajohn]

There’s no hose on this, just the yellow blanking plastic which the mouse appears to have chewed the end off.

Yes, I just realised after looking again.
Easy repair.... A length of rubber hose and something to bung up the end. If you can't remove the remains just use a hose that fits over the lot.

 

[dalspa]

Is it just a blanking cap? If so, I would l look around the house or garage and see if I could find something the right size and fit over, rather than seal the hole. It looks to me that the yellow cap could be pulled off so that a hose could be fitted to replace it. Perhaps fit another piece of hose, but with a plug in the free end. Not knowing the size but, perhaps, the cap off a Bic pen would fit over the end that you have.

 

[Ridgeway]

You need a very good seal on this as it's actually under quite high pressure, it's actually a vacuum pipe.

The pic you posted is actually of my unit when i had nearly all of the vacuum tubes chewed up by Pine Martins

Personally i'd get some replacement thick wall tubing that fits well on the hose barb and then blank it off, avoid sealants and silicones as over time they will fail, just find something a few mm larger to make an internal friction fit. Plan B buy the Fiat part as it can only be coppers (OK a few quid)

PS: be careful when removing what's left of that rubber cap as that hose barb looked to me to quite brittle and exactly the sort of thing i'd normally brake !!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[seoul traveller]

Just fixed the same problem with mice chewing the blanking cap of the "Dytech" vacuum tank (Fiat part 51758382). Mine physically looked identical to the damage in the photo above, but with error code P2563. Sadly Fiat will only sell the complete unit (I was quoted £93.64 Inc vat), which also gives you the problem of successfully removing and replacing the two hoses.

I found that a Schrader dust cap fits and seals perfectly over the remains of the cream/yellow blanking cap; the dust cap thread gripping on the soft elastomer.

Given that a relatively cursory google search brought up other occurrences of this problem (the soft elastomer of the cap must be attractive and accessible for mice), I'd propose a reasonable preventative measure would be to fit a Schrader dust cap to protect any, even intact, blanking cap.

See photo

Thanks to everyone above (& elsewhere) for posting and helping me to fix this problem.