The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

Yes, thanks Casper. I realised what you were referring to, and asked them to have a look.

Thanks again for your replies. I think I'll be putting on a new shaft before resorting to jubilee clips.

To the garage today, again.

Dropped van off early this morning. Bloke on reception said they would take shaft off, strip, degrease, inspect, reassemble and regrease. Then fit yet another (number 7!!!!!! ) new boot - another OEM Fiat item. Then take it for extended test drive, stopping off in a car park for some circular, full-lock action.

Picked it up in afternoon and they said they had done eveything they said and no problems. So far.

As ever, very grateful for everyone's help and advice on this one. Watch this space!

Thanks to both of you for your replies and some ideas of what may be causing it. Obviously something unusual is happening. Will poss suggest some further investigations with garage.

If a clip is installed that's fitted normally, the boot just pulls out of it. When I fitted boot no 3 myself, I made sure that there wasn't any grease on the lip of the boot that fits over joint or any grease on the outside of joint where boot fits onto. Then I crimped the clip on with the correct tool super tight. In this case, the boot obviously couldn't pull out from clip, so it tore right through around it's circumference in no time. So whether the clip is normal or extra tightness it makes no odds. All leads to what you are saying - the shaft may be pulling on the joint because something is worn.

Taking the van back to the gearbox specialists that fitted the last boot. Their work has always been faultless in the past and they have a good reputation. This makes me think that it's highly unlikely they have fitted the clip wrongly twice on the latest new boot - an OEM genuine Fiat part.

Watch this space!   

I'm guessing a 16V would have twin cams? But I don't know about these things.

Same here, in Dortmund in Nov 2021. Never heard a thing from Gerrys.

Yes, if just the speedo I would be thinking it's at fault. But as three different things went at once plus a bit of engine hesitancy that started same time - duff sensor or wiring fault seems most likely.

How did you remedy yours, Ken?

Thanks for your reply, Roopid. Good that you think it is a simple fault. Does sound like the sensor as all info for speed and mileage must come from it. Will check wiring to sensor and also get some contact cleaner on the plug and socket. Bit of Googling and couple of people reckon it's a mare to get to on top of diff housing, needing a ramp. Don't know if true.

One other thing I noticed is a bit of very subtle hesitancy and jerking in low gears/speeds - bit like fuel starvation. This started same time as speedo quit. Poss the sensor also sends info to ECU to help with fueling, etc to engine. Would make sense as the ECU is poss not getting this info any more.

Convert to right hand drive? After seeing the work you put in on your videos John, I know you're serious.   

Would make a great mini camper. Strangely I'm not seeing so many MK2 later models, it's like they hung on to their MK1s and didn't bother downgrading. No offence to MK2 owners.     

Thanks for your reply, Alvy. So you're recommending gas. Would be interested to know what the original shocks would have been. Oil or gas?

Main choices seem to be Monroe oil and Sachs gas. Much the same price. Don't know what the advantages of either is. Unfortunately, not come across any old OEMs yet.

What have others fitted on their vans, and what were your experiences?

EDIT>>>   Reading up on the subject, an article stated that with oil shocks, the shaft will stay in if you push it into the body, but gas shocks will come back out. Does this sound right? Going by my shock, the shaft does come back out on it's own - so more than likely, they're gas shocks.

https://www.coolairvw.co.uk/guides/robs … ers-guide/