Diary of an Ordinary Van

[Vee4]

First service!

A cry that may be heard from Wimbledon this week, but in this case it was the cry of the Ordinary Van reminding me to book it in. It's been an 'interesting' journey, more eventful than I predicted:

viewtopic.php?p=456579#p456579

The service is booked for next week so I thought I'd have a look round in case any items need bringing to the attention of the service department, apart from the rust stains described above. There is still fresh oil on the bottom of the transmission housing, and although the driveshaft seal still looks a bit moist, I don't think it's coming from there:


viewtopic.php?p=558198#p558198

At the time the oil seal was changed, the oil drain pipe from the turbo was also changed, so I crawled underneath for a look. There was a drop of oil collecting on the underside of the air inlet hose to the turbo (arrowed), and in the picture it looks smeared because I ran my finger across it to check that it was oil. Since there is nothing above the turbo:


Library photo (mine)

I would say that the only way the oil could be there is if it is collecting inside the hose and seeping out, although of course the hose should be airtight. There was also a small amount of oil on the clip on the hose to the intercooler (under the tail of the arrow):



For those not familiar, this picture was taken from below, looking up the back of the engine, the drain pipe is the one in the foreground, with the bellows section.

[ake]

The routine check has to be requested and payed for by you at service time (at least once a year) and any damage they identify (accident/bash/scrape) must be repaired for warranty to stand, the warranty covers corrosion from the inside out, but not corrosion caused bent stonechips scratches etc

[Vee4]

The routine check has to be requested and paid for by you at service time (at least once a year).

Thanks for clarifying that. The sales staff at the dealership were vague about it when I asked and the Ford literature just spells out the penalties, without a clear explanation of how to comply with its conditions. I'll call and make a specific request that it is carried out along with the normal service, as well as reporting the oil leak.

[ake]

The routine check has to be requested and paid for by you at service time (at least once a year).

Thanks for clarifying that. The sales staff at the dealership were vague about it when I asked and the Ford literature just spells out the penalties, without a clear explanation of how to comply with its conditions. I'll call and make a specific request that it is carried out along with the normal service, as well as reporting the oil leak.

I'm sure there is a section in the service book for them to stamp to say its been done

[MrMPuk]

I'm sure there is a section in the service book for them to stamp to say its been done

Yes there is.

[Vee4]

I'm sure there is a section in the service book for them to stamp to say its been done

Yes there is.

Here is a sample:

[ake]

I'm sure there is a section in the service book for them to stamp to say its been done

Yes there is.

Here is a sample:

Thought I seen it

[Vee4]

Time Travel - 45 Years in transit

The Summer 2010 edition of Backbone features a 'drive off' between the 1965 Transit HYM 783C from Ford's Heritage Collection and a Transit Sapphire 115 T280. The '65 looks immaculate in yellow GEC livery. How could you possibly choose? You'd just have to take them all:







Thanks (again) to http://www.transitvanclub.co.uk for the Mk1 picture.
More details of the Sapphire can be found here: http://www.ford.co.uk/Commercialvehicle ... itSapphire
Where did that third one come from?

The series is known as Sapphire because that is the precious stone associated with a 45th anniversary. It's a nice blue colour too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_anniversary

This reminds me that I was planning an Ordinary Van retrospective, showing its progenitors. I recall that madmark asked for more pictures of the old vans. One of these days ...

[Altransit]

This reminds me that I was planning an Ordinary Van retrospective, showing its progenitors.

Well now you've said it .......................... come on, we can't wait

[trigger]

That mk1 looks the dogs danglies

[Vee4]

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

Let's hope so. The Ordinary Van is in for service, and the backup transport system is in operation until further notice:



It fits in the back of the OV so it's handy for the return journey from the dealership.

The 'Body and Paint Check' has been requested, with the brown stains on the underside to be taken into consideration:




In addition, the oil leak from the turbo which is a warranty issue:

[Vee4]

Debriefing - noun, interrogation after a completed mission, etc. 1940s.

In order, as above: viewtopic.php?p=589228#p589228

(1) Routine service:

According to the standard 'tick box' form. Fresh oil, but no fuel filter as the form says to check the 'filter minder'.


Library photo (mine)

(2) Body and Paint Check

Another 'tick box' form, but there is no tick box for the underside! The corrosion on the underside was acknowledged, but my dealer does not have a body shop, so side-stepped the issue by saying I should take it to a different dealership where there is a body shop. I will follow up on this issue.

(3) Oil leak on turbo

When collecting the Ordinary Van, I enquired about this. There was a note on the job sheet saying "no leak found". I went to the OV and performed the 'mother-in-law test': in this case, not running my fingers along the top of the bookcase to check for dust, but running my fingers along the bottom of the air inlet hose. After I returned to the service counter with two oily fingers raised in a Churchillian gesture, the OV was taken back to the workshop for a closer look. It turned out that the hose clip was loose, allowing the oil that had collected in the hose to leak out. I am assured that it is normal for a small amount of oil to be found inside the hose, drawn from the rocker cover vent. I'll check again in a few days time.

[ake]

My local dealer has the same war cry regarding bodywork, "You have to take it to the approved bodyshop" Which is on the other side of town

[Vee4]

My local dealer has the same war cry regarding bodywork, "You have to take it to the approved bodyshop" Which is on the other side of town

I will, at least, make the phone call to the other dealer. I did buy a Fiat Panda from their used car department about 15 years ago, so I'm sure they'll remember me.

[Vee4]

This reminds me that I was planning an Ordinary Van retrospective, showing its progenitors.

Well now you've said it .......................... come on, we can't wait

I have found the images, mostly scanned from old photographs. I'm thinking of doing it as a weekly series - as they say, "Always leave 'em wanting more ..." or otherwise, "Always leave 'em laughing ..."