The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

Yeah mine is the 2.0 HDi, it requires either 5w30 or 5w40, depending on the site you look at, ideally in the C2/C3 spec, but you can also A3/A4.  As long as its mid saps, fully synthetic.  I'm not worried about the DPF getting clogged at present as it will be changed in the next week or two, but doing a 1-3 weeks oil change and flush could be useful as I suspect an oil change hasn't been done on this van for a while (judging by all the other issues i'm finding).

Anyway i have 10L of Fully Synthetic 5w30 A5 spec oil, perfect for Fiats and Fords (and Land Rovers).

I haven't found one yet.  I've been getting my stuff from ebay for years and contrary to popular belief none of the parts ever failed.  In fact most of the time they are just as good as the stuff you get from factors, but a hell of a lot cheaper.  i'm afraid your choices are limited at present anyway due to the shortage of parts worldwide.  i asked a local garage if it could find me a fuel pump for a mk7 transit van (new) and they couldn't after calling all the places they normally use.  That was 3 weeks back.  Yesterday they were saying French/Spanish/Italian car parts were like gold dust at the minute.  My dad needs something for his Ducato and they've been searching for a few days.

As for actual part numbers, you need a service manual for the van.  The official one should have complete diagrams of every part including every part number / serial number.  Sometimes if you go to certain pattern part sites you can find the breakdown diagrams with the numbers on them.

One thing I have noticed on ebay, especially for Peugeot parts, there are a few places in Germany that have surplus.

As much as you maybe hate ebay, you might have to use it to find things.  My sister won't use it and she was quoted £500 for a part for her boiler by a gas engineer.  i looked up the same part at Bosch and on ebay and it was a £80 part.  Fitting took 10 mins.  I had a similar part go on a boiler when i lived down South.  The quote for fixing it was £300, I did it myself and got a mate who was an engineer to check it, total cost £55.  You might hate the place, but it is one of the biggest places for vehicle parts in the world.  Either way i wish you luck.

Whatever you do, get under the van and get a picture of the part you need.  Then whichever place you buy from send them the reg of your van and the picture so they can confirm it is the correct part.

Can't be any worse than driving up the A1 the other day trying to overtake an HGV up a hill, without the turbo functioning.  I managed 63MPH.  Didn't realise the van was essentially in limp mode at the time, anyway that's Tuesdays problem.  I think its the pipe running from the manifold to the turbo.  If it isnt then i will be investing in Diagbox/Lexia and trying to work out what has gone kaput (presumably the turbo).  I have found one for a reasonable price with a 12 month warranty, assuming it fits, not that i'm sure I could fit it.  I'm guessing i would be looking at a big bill to get it done at a garage.  If the quote was high enough i would probably try and do it myself.  Worst case I suppose I could do the legwork of removing everything and then use a mobile mechanic to handle the rest. 

That video is very informative.  I could probably do most of that, but don't have an engine crane/winch.  The thing that would scare me the most is actually making a new loom.  Everything else is undoing things, taking lots of pictures and watching youtube videos.  I do like the idea of having an old school diesel engine, much like my first car which was an E Reg 1.6D Fiesta.  It was a good runner and as long as you dropped the oil every 6 months and replaced the filters it never missed a beat.

Why do the give advisories for grease on brake pipes.  On metal pipes you get corrosion, so grease is a buffer to stop that happening.

Well I picked it up yesterday and drove it back home.  It took a few hours, mainly due to rush hour in Southern Essex, but I got home at 10ish.

So  things I know need sorting:

1.  Turbo / Boost pipe is probably split.  Whenever the turbo kicks in while accelerating, smoke pours out of the exhaust.  When the turbo is not running, no smoke is produced, ie, when I keep the RPMs low.  Had a problem like this on a mondeo a couple of months back and discovered a large split on the boost pipe.  it might be the same on this van.
2.  Bonnet catch is non-existant.
3.  Some rust needs dealing with.
4. Steering has a noise when turning the steering.  i think maybe the strut mount bearings or possibly the lower ball joints or track rod ends.
5.  Timing belt needs a change.
6.  Need a new aerial for the radio.
7.  Need to do some internal rust painting.
8.  need to remove the bulkhead.
9.  Odometer doesnt function but everything else does (speedo, fuel, temp, warning lights, etc).  i can get this figure from the ECU so its not a big deal per se.
10.  Gearbox is pretty worn and clutch has a really high biting point.
11. Drivers side keyhole spins around endlessly.  Common fault as i remember and needs a new clip to hold the lock in place.

Aside from that the fuel economy is staggeringly good.  I went from Harwich area to Sheffield on just over a quarter of a tank of fuel. Up the M11/A1 to Worksop and cut through on the A57.  All driven at roughly 50-60.

A mechanic I use said they bought Lucas and now they make Lucas starter motors, even though Lucas hasnt made starter motors since 2001.  The only thing to use ECP for is filters and lubricants.  Actual car parts, not a chance and especially nothing that is core to the van, like driveshafts, timing belts, etc.

The same mechanic says all the ebay parts are made of chocolate, but i've been fitting them to my cars and bikes for years and not had any issues.  Just do your research thoroughly before getting them.

I actually did do the reg into carparts4less (which looks a lot like EuroCarParts under a different name).  It gave me 3 different parts, presumably because that year came in both the 1.9D and 2.0HDi engine variants (and maybe a petrol too).  From the vehicle report i did for it, its the 110BHP model.  But I will wait until I get it home and then start working it out from there.  Then get a decent timing belt kit and find out how much it will cost for a local mechanic to fit it.  But that's my first upgrade.

Not really in comparison to the Transit with its 400w primary solar array and 20w secondary (that trickle charged the VB).  As long as I can generate through winter I'll be happy, even if it isn't at the same level.  Its just having enough power to run everything.  On 400w I could run a small computer, fridge, heater, lighting, etc.  I do want to move up to a LiFePO4 battery or LTO battery somewhere down the line, probably no more than 100ah, but its a massive pain to do that upgrade and you need so much extra stuff (BMS, B2B, BatteryProtect, decent Victron charger), so its not high on the agenda.

I will probably be partially living in this van for a couple of nights every week, so it needs to be pretty squared away.