I bought a 1985 1.6D Autosleeper about a month ago, and have just taken it for its first outing, went up to Yorkshire from Essex no problem but on the way home I got about 30mins down the road when ‘BANG!’ Steam visible at the back…exited to the hard shoulder where I could then get out and see the trail of water in my path.
I had looked but couldn’t see anything immediately obvious, so called the RAC. Once the RAC man started putting more water into the system it came out like a waterfall from a blown rubber pipe connecting to the engine. He cut off the torn bit and reattached…. Simple Problem fixed?
Got a bit further -15mins or so down to a services where I wanted to get a cup of tea, but came back to the van to find her sitting in a pool of water/antifreeze that I had just paid £5 to fill up with!
- I checked it again and the same pipe had blown again…
Called RAC again, Another Hour or so later, the pipe was reattached but the new RAC guy had found the cause of it blowing in the first place was that the system was overly pressurized (After complaining that the first RAC Man should of checked that). The pipes were rock solid (And cold) after he had blasted it for a long time… He explained that it meant that it was not flowing though properly and the potential blockage cause was the thermostat. He removed the thermostat (My heating had never blown hot when I bought it and my engine temperature gauge had never worked(The light works though - this came on after the 'Bang') so he said that the thermostat could be doing all these things and if it wasn't opening properly then that could be causing it)
So hoping that had fixed it, as the pipes did then warm up when he blasted it and they stayed ‘squidgy’ not rock solid. He filled it with water again and I set off – minus a thermostat in the system (Apparently not a problem as such just not ideal as it meant the system was overly cooling?) Would need to get fixed when I got home…
The RAC Man was following me to ensure it was fixed but within 3 mins, I had a Turkish bath van (Steam bubbling everywhere, out of vents, out of seams all at the back – Everywhere!
RAC Man gave up –it was about 11.30pm now. He said I could have a head gasket problem but he couldn’t understand how as the oil looks fine (Not the horrible mayonnaise you get when the head is gone)
So it has been low-loaded to Harrogate until they bring it down to me - so making plans with what to do with her once I get her back!
I have googled the technical advice section and think that the fact my blowers weren't working is a big problem with this? Have I done serious damage? What order of things should I check to eliminate the various problems? radiator? Head gasket??
Thankyou for any help/advice you can give me - I am really sorry for such a long post!
Emma
