Steering on Fiat Ducato

[Pausim]

I asked Adams Morey if there were any preventative measures I could take to stop this potential problem, they said not really. It did not appear that they were overwhelmed with cases. Perhaps someone else could also seek their expert advice to see if there is something we could do, Simon was not available at the time I spoke to them.

 

[yorkiebar]

The issue is a concern. I've not inspected the steering rack wiring on our van but do we believe that there is effectively zero waterproofing on all Ducatos with the leccy steering ? Or is this a Covid-era issue of corners being cut / parts unavailable and so some vans may be more susceptible to failure ?

 

[ontheroadagain]

I see that Lanoguard make a waterproof electrical spray. I wonder if spraying the outside of the connectors with this would help keep the water out.

Lanoguard Moto Electrics Spray

Superior Motorbike Grease better than anything you've tried before. Very versatile, long lasting, heavy-duty chain lubricant, electrolysis and corrosion prevention and anti seize.

www.lanoguard.co.uk

 

[seasideBill]

It is a bit strange however that most of the reported problems appear on motorhome fun. An internet search doesn’t reveal many other reports elsewhere.

Hard to say what % are affected by power steering faults, but you’ll find some on the Adria Twin FB pages.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

If anyone does do this it would be great if they could take some photos and post a step by step guide. We have just put a deposit down on a 2024 Adria Twin and I am quite concerned about this problem. It is a bit strange however that most of the reported problems appear on motorhome fun. An internet search doesn’t reveal many other reports elsewhere.

It’s on a few Facebook groups
Fiat Ducato Motorhome Owners UK
Carthago Owners UK
Carthago Uk

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[seasideBill]

The problem such as it is seems to take different forms. Some lose power assistance completely and need recovery, some go into limp mode, some just get a warning but no problem with the power steering. In some cases (like me) it’s intermittent and associated with other warnings e.g. air bag and electronic handbrake, but fault clears quickly and drives ok. Sometimes fault code is stored, sometimes not so Fiat can’t diagnose problem. Seems to me on modern vehicles that if you ignore vague warning lights they often go away never to return.
I wouldn’t worry too much about it, I don’t think it’s common. There are other things that are more likely to need attention on the Adria Twin like tap and water pump faults, grey water dump mechanism, rusting oven, flyscreen jumping off its track, solar panels not connected, back of cubby holes falling off, and worst of all auto transmission faults. Quite shoddy really for a £80k van, but there you go. Still like my Twin tho’.

 

[ontheroadagain]

I wouldn’t worry too much about it, I don’t think it’s common. There are other things that are more likely to need attention on the Adria Twin like tap and water pump faults, grey water dump mechanism, rusting oven, flyscreen jumping off its track, solar panels not connected, back of cubby holes falling off, and worst of all auto transmission faults. Quite shoddy really for a £80k van, but there you go. Still like my Twin tho’.

We have just bought an Adria Twin.
Your post doesn't exactly fill me full of confidence lol.

 

[seasideBill]

We have just bought an Adria Twin.
Your post doesn't exactly fill me full of confidence lol.

Fear not, overall it’s a great van but Adria need to up their quality assurance. It’s not as good as my previous Weinsberg (Knaus) van. I think they might have fixed some common problems like grey water drain on the 2025 model, but definitely carry some spares in case of leaks in taps and pipe connections, spare water pump too. All those components are supplied by other manufacturers so can’t blame Adria. By now they should have fitted a modification to prevent flyscreen problem and at handover check the solar panel is connected to the controller. Many dealers don’t check or make mention of the fact that Adria ship with them disconnected (no idea why). Some owners have reported missing insulation. Mine is 12months old now so maybe all this stuff is sorted? As for the Fiat base model, you pay your money and take your chance, but at least it’s under warranty, Definitely worth extending the warranty but you have to act within 14 days of registration. I think the single most important thing you can do to protect the electrics is to check the scuttle drains very regularly, particularly if parking under pine trees. The combination of resin and needles make a very effective plug!

 

[Barriesimpson]

Seems like I'm very late to the party here, but for what it's worth I'll throw in my 2 bobs worth. We protect all electrical connections on the jet skis using a wad of Vaseline (yes, Vaseline) and we are talking jet skis that spend all their life in salt water (also known as the Atlantic Ocean). It is as simple as disconnecting the connector, slapping in a wad of Vaseline and reconnecting - job done. We do this a couple of times a year and never have electrical connection problems, and these are jet skis that can easily do over 500 hours a year, each, and quite often get turned over into the water. Try it, you will be amazed.

 

[Moose29]

I think the single most important thing you can do to protect the electrics is to check the scuttle drains very regularly, particularly if parking under pine trees. The combination of resin and needles make a very effective plug!

I agree with this. Testing it after cleaning the drains I noticed a leak in one of the joins of the foam/rubber gutter. The gutter comes apart easily and I've cleaned the joint but it still leaks so I'm planning on sealing the joint.

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[Landy Andy]

Seems like I'm very late to the party here, but for what it's worth I'll throw in my 2 bobs worth. We protect all electrical connections on the jet skis using a wad of Vaseline (yes, Vaseline) and we are talking jet skis that spend all their life in salt water (also known as the Atlantic Ocean). It is as simple as disconnecting the connector, slapping in a wad of Vaseline and reconnecting - job done. We do this a couple of times a year and never have electrical connection problems, and these are jet skis that can easily do over 500 hours a year, each, and quite often get turned over into the water. Try it, you will be amazed.

But they aren’t running CANBUS I would assume??

 

[Barriesimpson]

But they aren’t running CANBUS I would assume??

Sort of, not quite as complicated as cars, but similar. It wouldn't make a difference if we are talking of insulation against water ingress, which I understand is the problem. Or is that not the problem?

 

[Landy Andy]

Sort of, not quite as complicated as cars, but similar. It wouldn't make a difference if we are talking of insulation against water ingress, which I understand is the problem. Or is that not the problem?

Because the canbus is transferring data, not just voltage, and the Vaseline being an insulator, it can alter the received data, causing issues, so needs to be used with care.

 

[Barriesimpson]

Because the canbus is transferring data, not just voltage, and the Vaseline being an insulator, it can alter the received data, causing issues, so needs to be used with care.

No, Vaseline is perfectly good in low voltage cables too. The jet skis use low power - 5v and data too without a problem. We also use it on the boats as well and have been for many years.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Because the canbus is transferring data, not just voltage, and the Vaseline being an insulator, it can alter the received data, causing issues, so needs to be used with care.

Bang on, would normally use a dialectical paste for this type of system

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[Chief]

Last week the power steering failed on our Vantage Neo, based on a September 2022 Fiat Ducato auto. Fortunately for us we were in a car park on the north Antrim coast and there was no accident or injury.

The vehicle was recovered to Fiat Professional garage Donnelly of Mallusk in Belfast. They diagnosed failure of the electronic steering due to corrosion. They have been unable to source the main steering part required and it’s at back order with Fiat. We have a Fiat Customer Service reference and they’ve been pretty good at updating us, but still no part.

Anyway, we hired a car and booked a week’s accommodation. In the absence of the part we’ve come home to the north west using a one way car hire and will return to Belfast to collect the van when repaired.

Has anyone had Fiat parts on back order and if so approximately how long have they taken? Anyone else lost their steering?

Hi Kingmid so glad you got your van sorted, having very similar issues with power steering also failing and battery voltage problems to, it’s been in same garage as yours several times now and have power steering looming replaced due to water ingress however since I got it back the steering pulls to one side which is very annoying. They are convinced it’s the wheel alignment but this has been done and checked 4 times now by them. Having read your post I am convinced it’s the rack but they said they can’t see anything wrong with it but they have taken the Motorhome out and agree that it does indeed pull to one side. My van is June 2024 Fiat ducato based Autotrail. Any help would be very much appreciated. Brgs.

 

[Chief]

Nervous about our 2023 Ducato now! We took out the 5 yr warranty, which gives some reassurance, but if the van is off the road for months on end then that doesn't really help !

Me too I am thinking off selling my motorhome I bought it new last year however I expect ill lose about 10k. Brgs

 

[Chief]

View attachment 986470View attachment 986470 Fiat Ducato undertray on EBAY for £66 + postage from Poland

 

[Jezza3553]

We finally got our van (1 year old, 5,000 miles) back yesterday, four and a half months after the power steering failed - it took 2 months to get and fit a new wiring loom, then when that didn't work another 2 months for Fiat to supply a new steering column. I'm now trying to wring some compensation out of them!