Club 80-90 Forums

Hi there

I have a 1984 T25 Holdsworth conversion camper. The roof is a high elevating one with hard side panels that drop down and push up and you lock them together with a little bolt. Unfortunately in the winter, I went outside and one of the gas struts was sticking out the back corner of the van having ripped through the wood and plastic. It looked like someone had ripped it out with a crow bar (still does as haven't managed to fix it yet!). My local mechanic said the wood on the roof was rotten and that's the reason the strut pushed through it. No one seems to be able to fix it. Last advice I got was to find a carpenter to replace all the wood but haven't found a carpenter who is happy taking the roof to pieces and doing this. Have looked into getting a new roof, like a high top but the quotes I've been getting have been around the £2000 mark...would much rather find a way to fix the roof I have. I live in Bristol. Does anybody know anyone in my area who could fix my roof??

My other problem is with (I assume) the electrics. My van is an automatic. Last year it had a problem where when you turned on the ignition nothing happened, didn't even turn over, just silence. Sometimes it would work and then sometimes not. My local garage fitted a new starter motor and two new batteries (van and leisure) and had an auto electrician look at it, and he said he couldn't find anything wrong with it. For a while it worked fine but it has recently started doing exactly the same thing again. It has also started stalling when I brake at junctions and then sometimes not starting! This happened to me yesterday on a busy motorway roundabout with two kids and a dog in the back!! I was stuck their for five minutes trying to start it. Nothing and then suddenly it went fine! What is wrong with it?? Is this an intermittent electrical fault? Or my other idea is that it's got something to do with the automatic gearbox, cos if the gear stick is in Drive then it won't turn over, only if it's in Neutral...do you think maybe it's slipping and doesn't realise it's in Neutral and that's why it won't start? I mentioned this to a couple of mechanics but because I'm obviously a grily who knows nothing about this kind of thing they just patronised me. Am now thinking maybe the bloody thing didn't even need a new startermotor or batteries and the hundreds of pounds I've already spent was for nothing as it hasn't fixed the problem.

Really sorry about this long long message...am at my wits end...I need to find someone in my local area to sort this problem out. I don't mind paying properly to do that but am so sick of being patronised and basically told to go away by oily mechanics who just laugh at me and my old van!

Any help on either of these two problems hugely appreciated.

I can't answer your questions as I don't live near Bristol and know very little about the vehicle side of the electronics but from my experience the people who can answer vehicle questions tend to hang around more in the "technical" forum than the campers one. If you don't get any sensible answers by this time tomorrow I would suggest you post your problem there instead.

I did have problems at one stage with mine refusing to do anything some of the time and it turned out to be a bad earth connection. It was the one under the gearbox that earthed the engine to the chassis. I don't think this is your problem as it sounds like you get nothing, I did get a weak starter, but it is still worth a check (checking costs nothing).

Thanks!

I'll give it till tomorrow and then try the other forum. Will look into bad earth tip too.

I may be able to help

0115 965 33 99 or 07971 306 150

Dave

lubylulu wrote: Or my other idea is that it's got something to do with the automatic gearbox, cos if the gear stick is in Drive then it won't turn over, only if it's in Neutral...do you think maybe it's slipping and doesn't realise it's in Neutral and that's why it won't start? I mentioned this to a couple of mechanics but because I'm obviously a grily who knows nothing about this kind of thing they just patronised me.

Don't know the intimate workings of the VW auto box, more familiar with old Jaguar ones but, there is possibly an inhibitor switch that stops the starter working in Drive, if the cable is not adjusted properly the box, or gear selector, may be in Neutral but the inhibitor is activated thinking it is in Drive.

Hope that wasn't patronising girly

Mike.

try Mad ?? workshops in bristol, Mr Cowley recommends em, I'll find the link in a minute

http://www.mad-workshop.com/


hope this helps

Thanks everyone! That's all really helpful...and not at all patronising!!

Hi

Had the same prob with roof. Can't get the plastic surround and its likely roof timber rotten.

You can get a high top for £450 ish pus fitting . Try timber Technicians, cub Members, or Yorkshire conversions to get an idea. Saves money if you line it yourself, not tooooo difficult.

Had a look at the websites for Timber technicians and yorkshire conversions. They both looked good and much cheaper than I've been quoted by some but they are a hell of a long way away from Bristol. Anyone know of any similar companies or individuals closer to me??

Thanks for all the advice all.

The van is going in to a new reccomended garage next week to try and sort the electrical fault. Latest thinking is that it's either some switch thing gone faulty behind the ignition and you get to by taking the steering wheel off (have been told this is a common fault in T25's) Or it's connected somehow to the inhibitor in the auto gear box. Trouble is until it goes wrong no one can be sure what it is and it only goes wrong some of the time. At the moment it seems to be fine again.

Am thinking of risking it and going camping this weekend with kids and dog. Can't quite decide. What do people think?

Collection and delivery or meet half way can be arranged as part of our service.

timber technician's offer a top class service, tho I do "know" them personnally, I recommend them whole heartedly..

Okay...am very interested...will contact them.

Hi,
Not exactly close to your location, but I thought it was worth posting these details. It's so rare to find good motorhome craftsmen or women!

Just outside Evesham (Worcestershire, M5 J9) there's a chap who might be able to help with this or other problems. He's ex-Autosleepers with about 30 years experience and now works for himself on all types of motorhomes, so could help you with that roof problem in particular.
I have a copy of a mag article where he restores a solid sided pop-up roof by replacing timers etc.

He's Neville and runs Oaktree Services, at
Unit 4
New Barn Workshops
Shinehill Lane
South Littleton
Evesham
Worcs
WR11 8TR

Phone 01386 832777