steering column oil leak ?

[Tom and Phyllida]

Has anyone else had a problem I Discovered in my Exsis ? an oil leak at the base of the steering column inside the vehicle and on the floor covering ? I suspect it may be some form of back pressure from the steering box, but before investigating further would be grateful for guidance from others who might have had the same problem

 

Tom

[Barry & Maggie]

I’m sorry, Tom.  This is a new one on me.  Anyone else have any ideas on this?

Keep us posted as to how this works out, please?  As all our Exsis’ get older, we will all be getting problems like this eventually, I suppose.

Good luck and fingers crossed that it’s straightforward for you.

Barry

[Fred & Gill]

Hello Tom, as the Exsis Guru ( Barry ) says – we have not heard of this problem.

The Exsis is based on the old Ducato X244 base vehicle 2002-2006 , before the X250.

The Exsis cab front is bolted directly onto the original base vehicle and all the other components are therefore standard  including complete cab (under bed) and doors – you probably know and realise all that.

The reason that I mention it is because therefore it is a base vehicle issue and a good place to search for  advice is the Ducato Forums.

In my case I would take it to my local garage.

Fred

Ducato forums

[Barry & Maggie]

Thanks Fred.

Here’s a good start for you, Tom…

https://tinyurl.com/yxekccfo

[Tom and Phyllida]

We checked thoroughly today during the Mot and discovered that the leak is actually from the clutch master cylinder ( sited just above the clutch pedal)- we suspect dry seals as the Exsis has stood for some time in recent years.

New master cylinder ordered and will be fitted next Tuesday – will post comments on work involved next week .

Whilst writing , our Exsis is a 2006 with about 43,000 miles . I have read other postings regarding over reading of the speedo and confirm mine is over reading by about 20%  ie when the speedo reads 50mph, I am doing about 40mph. Does that mean that the actual mileage is about 34,400 ( 2,600 miles per year )? If so , is this an especially low mileage vehicle or do other Exsis owners have similarly low mileage outfits ?

 

 

Tom

[Barry & Maggie]

Thanks for that information, Tom.  I think the master cylinder repair would be the cheaper and easier repair of the two!

I believe you’re right that some speedos do read optimistic, so I assume the mileage is optimistic too.

Many motorhomes have remarkably low mileages – it’s not unusual.  As you’ve found, this is a bit of a two-edged sword.  Non-use can actually cause big problems.  For instance, I seem to remember Renault ‘vans back in the ’70s suffered from brake discs that seized or rusted-up when unused for any period of time.

Many owners don’t use their motorhomes over winter, for instance, and only occasionally during the rest of the year, hence some extremely low mileages.

However… A motorhome lived-in on, say, a Spanish site for six or seven months of the year, doing zero miles can nevertheless end up an absolute wreck as far as the habitation is concerned!

“All that glisters is not gold…”

Barry

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by Barry & Maggie.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by Barry & Maggie.

[Tom and Phyllida]

Dear Barry ,

You seem to have a very negative way of responding to posts from other members which I don’t find especially endearing.

I have found from over 25 years of restoring classic and vintage vehicles that replacing seals in brake and clutch cylinders can be fought with problems often causing more expense and time than is proportionate. It is my view that in this case,  replacement is the most time and cost effective approach to my problem.

I raised the comment about mileage for others to consider their own vehicles and the mileages thereon – not to receive your rebuke  regarding the irrelevance of such matters .

I will cease to make further comment on your forum to avoid such negative reactions in the future.

 

Happy with our Exsis in spite of your rebukes

 

 

Tom

[Barry & Maggie]

Dear Tom,

I am really and genuinely sorry that you have read something in what I wrote that was never intended.  I would never dream of “rebuking” a member and I always try to be very careful about what I write, even if I occasionally disagree.

I was actually agreeing with you, that a replacement master cylinder is far easier and cheaper than sorting out a power steering problem!  I’m really sorry that you read my words differently to how I intended.  My fault.

I progress this site solely to help owners, to share information, to be a ‘library: for the future and to foster friendship.  I would be foolish to start upsetting people!  So I will pay more attention to what and how I write in the future, so that there can be no misinterpretation.

Our membership is diverse, from experienced people like yourself, to those who have just started motorhoming, and to those for whom English is not their first language.  So my replies are always with all these considerations in mind.

I really am sorry that my innocent reply has come across to you as in any way negative – that was not my intention, and I hope that you will reread my post and reconsider your decision in the light of what I’ve said – we’re a very small community and we all have something to contribute.

With my best wishes to you both, Tom & Phyllida.

Barry

[Fred & Gill]

If you are still reading this Forum Tom – and for the benefit of more recent owners……

There was a thread on the old forum with such information with regard to the speedo ‘overreading’.

I am not sure if it is referred to in the ‘Little Exsis Book’ though, as I did not find it in a quick scan just now.

I had mine fixed under a Free Service Recall at a Fiat Professional dealer in October 2009. The Dokumentation page in the service manual has “carried out Recall 5149 (replacement of instrument panel and update software). Work carried out at 14791 miles to correct wrong vehicle speed being displayed” . It is dealer stamped.

The implication of this recall and replacement instrument panel was that the speedo at that  point read ZERO. I remember some comments at the time, that was the reason that they would not have the service recall done.

I have placed a note in my service book that 13312 miles has to added to current speedo reading as a result of this ( I deducted 10% off the mileage as that was the figure being talked  about at that time and what the service agent though, but could not confirm).  There were some folks who thought that it was only the speedo  reading was incorrect and not the mileage – I just don’t know. The 10% Speedo reading also tied up with an experiment we did with the car & van at the same time and seemed to be rectified when we re-ran the experiment after the Service Recall).

It also explained why when cruising quietly at 60pmh I always seemed to be being ‘tailgated’ by lorries who were allegedly limited to 56mph. Problem solved!

By the way, my speedo reading at the service & MOT  last year was 35451 – but you know that is wrong!

I do hope that you can continue contributing to the Forum – not all ‘motorhomers’ come with practical technical or mechanical experience and you may well have background knowledge that can be helpful to other Exsis owners.

We have always been a friendly and helpful group and unlike some Forums tend to stick with relevant information and help and have never had suffered from inconsiderate postings or insults

Fred

[Tom and Phyllida]

Dear Barry,

Sorry if you were upset by my last post . Your response accepted – I have just picked up my dummy from the side of the pram …….

Fred – I am back and still sorting issues on my glorious Exsis . I was pleased to see that the owner of the other Exsis who is sorting his freshwater drain has a vehicle of a similar age to mine – and in the same colour !! I am building myself up to tackling my seized drain issue next week and the correspondence  between the two of you – especially the photographs which Barry kindly added have been extremely helpful in building my confidence.

My main worry is to ensure that I do not damage the bottom of the tank when trying to remove the old drain . I am however lucky (?) that when I purchased my motorhome it included a replacement drain mechanism (in plastic)  and I will see what I find when I have removed the old mechanism before deciding whether to use it or not .

It is interesting that whilst contemplating the job, I telephoned no fewer than 5 supposed Hymer suppliers/workshops for guidance on the problem , but none of them had encountered the issue before and none seemed keen to take on the task !!!

 

I also read the previous postings which is where I got the information on over reading of the speedo. I suspect that the original owner of my Exsis was not aware of the possibility of a recall and blissfuly thought that everything was well . I feel that at almost  13 years since the original date of registration  that Fiat would be unlikely to honour a recall – but I might just call into my ‘local’ Fiat garage in Inverness when I am passing and ask the question ( a mere 250 mile round trip from home !!!

I have already got used to ‘recalculating’ the speedo reading to make a best assessment of my actual speed – on a positive note, I suspect that I am unlikely to break the legal limits if I stick to what the speedo is saying !!!

 

Tom and Phyllida

[nozzi]

Hello all.

I have had a similar leak in the same location, not in the Exsis but in another vehicle. That was the clutch master cylinder, which got replaced.

Although it should really be another thread, My speedo reads on the optimistic side. I checked it against the satnav.  I have found that on our smart motorways a speedo 57 equates to actual 50. I Tend to use the tomtom to be on the safe side.

I thought it was just mine!

Noz

[Fred & Gill]

Thank you Tom.

Your conclusion to mentally recalibrate your speed reading is probably the best option now.

As Nozzi( contributed above) said , the sat nav/phone(if you use them) GPS reading is accurate and we checked it out at the time and you will get speed warnings, but depending on your eyesight may not be the safest way unless you can readily pick that figure out.

I am sure that I read on the ‘Out and About Live’ Forum a couple of years ago that on a reply on a  thread not related to our specific part that Fiat have stopped supplying original spares for our era of base vehicles, but not to worry as pattern parts and used spares are readily available. On other threads regarding the myriad of problems with more recent X250/X290  instrument clusters there are companies that specialise in repairs to them, when Fiat get difficult. So there are options, but I will leave that info search until we have a specific requirement.

Regarding the water tank…Well done to you and Marley (hardy souls) for tackling these  difficult jobs  at this time of year . The Exsis is a unique rarity and within the limited range of Hymer agents, there are probably few that have experience going back to our era. The seized drain valve definitely is/has been a common problem and many members will benefit from the valuable contribution from Marley and hopefully from you Tom, especially now that he has got into the mysterious lower part of the valve.

I am still getting over my debilitating bout of ‘Flu & severe chest infection’ so am unable to go out and explore under the van at the moment.

Fred

[Daz]

Hi everyone the speedo reading fast I believe is because hymer use 15″ wheels on the exiss
but on the standard fiat they use 16″ wheels, which makes the wheels spin faster causing the speedo to read fast.

Darren

[marley]

Hi all,

just a thought on speedo mileage, on my vehicle, it has the original  speedo, as fitted, because my vehicle is a lefthand drive, and imported from Bremen, the speedo reads in klm per hr, similarly the mileage is in alms. perhaps this is the answer.

Pete

[Barry & Maggie]

I think Darren’s answer is the most plausible.  One look at my Exsis rear wheels and it’s clear that a larger wheel wouldn’t fit!  This assumes that it was Hymer and not Fiat who  fitted the smaller (alloy) wheels.

Barry

[Tom and Phyllida]

Fluid leak was from the clutch master cylinder – now replaced and no more leak . I was a little surprised to find that the original master cylinder was of a plastic material – the replacement is metal . It could therefore have been either the seals or the cylinder itself which was leaking .

New master cylinder was about £100 and fitting about an hour. Even though that feels a bit expensive for a master cylinder, now that I know the original was plastic, it makes me feel a little safer for long term ownership.

Hope that helps others

Tom

[Barry & Maggie]

Thank you, Tom.

Replacing the whole cylinder is invariably a better option than replacing seals, even though the seal kits (if available) are a fraction of the price.  It’s many years since I last replaced master cylinder seals and in fact, I believe replacing seals in BRAKE master cylinders is not allowed (for obvious reasons) – an error in a clutch cylinder repair has none of the safety considerations that a faulty repair of a BRAKE cylinder would have!

Interesting, the change of material in the cylinder, from plastic to metal, eh?  I wonder what prompted Fiat to do that?

Thanks for the update, Tom.

Barry

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