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Thanks for that, Fred.
I don’t think we’ve ever properly established whether the clear coating on the metallic Exsis’ is “gel coat” or “clear lacquer”. Perhaps one of you lucky owners with a metallic Exsis could stop by a specialist some time and get an expert opinion?
Thanks, Tango. Glad you had a good, albeit hot, summer – I think we all did this year, didn’t we?
Apart from the usual service items (you’ve already indicated oils, fluids and tyres) the BIG thing to keep an eye on is the engine timing belt. If this breaks it can destroy an engine. Also it is NOT just dependent upon mileage… it is also time sensitive too. It’s a combination of both, mileage or date, whichever is soonest, so I’d recommend you look at that first. It’s always a good idea at this time of year to go round the various door seals and wiping them with a thin coating of silicon grease. This stops them freezing and sticking, preventing the necessity to purchase an (expensive!) replacement. I highly recommend products like Rain-X for the windscreen, which really proves their worth in winter driving conditions.
There’s nothing specific mechanically on the Exsis, over and above any other similar commercial vehicle, except maybe the windscreen wipers. Ensure that the joints are lubricated, not ‘binding’ and are not coming loose. These were a Hymer-workaround for a problem where the windscreens weren’t being legally wiped.
As far as keeping the pipework ice-free when conducting wintersports, the Exsis was actually made for this sort of activity. All the water, fresh-, waste-tanks and pipes are inboard, which means that provided you pay attention to ‘normal levels of warmth’ within the Exsis, then nothing should freeze.
Good luck.
Barry
Yes, Fred – wotta memory!
I had my windscreen replaced by Autoglass Special Vehicles Division (or similar name).
It took a week or so to arrive (screen and new rubber) and I mentioned to the Autoglass guys about the leak problems some of you were having. They were confident there would be no leaks and, true to their word, there have been none.
Fitting the original windscreen with a new rubber is problematic because of how brittle “old” glass becomes. This is why it’s always offered at the customer’s risk. My last but one motorhome had rust round the scuttle, below the screen and I had a local windscreen guy take the windscreen out one day, then replace it (with a new rubber) a couple of days later, when I’d dealt with the rust and resprayed. It all went well.
A new rubber, purpose made for the Exsis, will be available from Hymer (see ”Contacts” for ‘phone numbers). I don’t think our screens should present too much of a problem, certainly not taking it out, which is just cutting the rubber. Plenty of a continuous bead of mastic on both grooves of the rubber should ensure that it’s watertight.
Good luck, Milo.
Great info, thanks Maldwyn.
You really can tailor these ‘C’Line sockets to your individual requirements.
My observations are that for frequently plugged/unplugged devices, or devices needed in the rear AND at the front, you are best using the cigar lighter plug/socket. More-or-less permanently connected devices (like the TV) are better connected to the DIN-style socket, with the appropriate DIN plug of course! The reason is that cigar-lighter based sockets can allow the plug to vibrate loose, causing overheating cz whereas the DIN socket is a firm clip.
I hadn’t realised that ‘C’Line USB sockets were available, so I have used cigar lighter USB plugs, and I also have a DIN to cigar lighter extension lead for versatility.
It is also possible to add extra sockets to what is already fitted by Hymer. The ‘C’Line range has a range of “frames” – single, double, treble, quadruple to which you can fit the sockets of your choice. If you look in The Little Exsis Book, where I described moving my heating controls closer to the bed, you can see the ‘C’Line socket changes in action.
Thanks again, Maldwyn, for letting us know about the USB sockets, and also the easy availability of these bulbs. I’ve done mine the other way round to you… I’ve swapped the downstairs reading lights but not the gloomy ‘upstairs’ ones!
Barry
This makes a change to the normal bonnet catch problems… a broken cable!
Good advice, Nexus. First time I’ve heard of a bonnet catch actually breaking, so maybe it is just adjustment, Impractical?
Good luck, and keep us informed?
Barry
Seems a bit excessive to me, Peter. But it does depend on what else is being done, to be fair.
You’re right that it is ESSENTIAL to have the timing belt changed and NOT just on a mileage-covered basis either – time between changes is important too, irrespective of mileage covered, a point missed by many people when motorhomes can do such little mileages sometimes.
Have you considered having an “awayday” to somewhere with a garage that can give a competitive quote? If the job’s done in a day, go into town while you’re waiting for it, then maybe have an overnight somewhere nice nearby?
But £1,200 does seem a lot. What does everyone else here think?
Barry
If you’re not mechanically/electrically minded, Wend, ensure you have a competent ‘friend’ with you to check out those aspects when you go to view one.
The Exsis is a remarkably well-built motorhome. The Fiat Ducato base is reasonably robust, good engines and not too many problems to check for (apart from the usual, rust, damage, etc., although most of these can be simply repaired). The Hymer body is again, very well built, certainly compared with most other motorhomes and is possibly the best-constructed in it’s class – quality of fittings, assembly, equipment, etc. So buying one is a reasonably painless decision!
Area of dampness at the bottom of the windscreen (on the inside) is a minor problem – answers on this site how to deal with that. A sticking electric step is a perennial grumble, normally sorted with an extensive bout of jet-washing; the basin in the washroom can have small cracks round the plughole and the backplate to the basin can sometimes be in poor condition and/or discoloured, details of remedies are again available on this site. But apart from that, I’m struggling to think of anything major that should trouble you.
Motorhomes generally are such complicated devices with all sorts of delicate items that can go wrong, that whatever make/model you buy, the potential problems will be more or less the same.
I have written before about “purchasing an Exsis” and irrespective, I’d advise you to download Tom’s “The Little Exsis Book”, read through it and concentrate on those articles that deal with your interests.
Good luck in your Exsis hunt and keep in touch.
Barry
Thanks, Alan. Yes, these Wingamms (several different but still similar models) have always been near contenders. Near, but not quite!
One good thing is that they’ve been available on different chassis’. The one that appealed to me was on the VW Synchro 4×4 base vehicle.
Barry
This seems to be a more common problem than at first thought?
I dont know how these sensors work (the old thermostats used to use wax?) but I suspect maybe a bi-metal strip? Perhaps a couple of taps with the handle of a screwdriver on the body of the sensor might free-up whatever’s stuck and produce a good result? Judiciously done, it shouldn’t do any harm and it’s worth a try. When the engine’s cold, turn on the ignition, tap the sensor body then see if the gauge drops.
Barry
That sounds very much like either a stuck gauge or a stuck temperature sensor, with my bet again on the sensor sender unit, Gezza. What made it “unstick” I suppose we’ll never know. The problem with a “stuck” gauge/sensor isn’t so much that it’s broken until you get round to repairing it, but that you then won’t be warned of any overheating before it’s been repaired!
Thanks, Fred. That’s great that you’ve finally sorted that problem – it must’ve been infuriating for you.
And that’s really good info about the hidden position of that fuse. Fuses… I have a love/hate relationship with them, as I’ve related before. I still have the apparently perfect (perfect-looking) 30amp fuse that caused me so much problems.
Anyway, many thanks for that update – it’s logged here now, for the benefit of those owners in the future.
Barry
