[dazmond]

Just pick one up from scrap yard dazmond. Should only cost £30 to have fitted. It is only 2 nuts but Loads of messing about with the belt

Starter motor was prob ok an this was ya prob

no matty the starter motor was knackered mate.got a new one fitted 3 weeks ago.im not messing about at a scrapyard!its booked in the garage for 9am tomorrow morning.

[dazmond]

It's threads like this which is the reason I'll only be using vans that are less than 3 years old, 0 van related downtime.

ive very rarely had any downtime due to van problems danny.not lost any days due to alternator or the starter motor.the odd day off here and there doesnt affect my schedule if its needs to go in the garage for a day.

[Arnold Palmer]

I try not to use anything newer than 2007. That's when car companies started bolting all sorts of unnecessary crap to engines.

[Mist A Bit]

I always have older vans with minimal trouble, they're easy to work on so save a fortune on garage costs. Had 98 Toyota hiace for 3 years and now got a 03 iveco which despite mixed reviews is turning out to be  the best van I've had, simple strong, powerfull , I gross out at 3.5tonnes and the suspension don't even  drop, true hard-core van

[dannymack]

For me I'd never buy an old van especially with mileage ? Once it gets to around the 120,000 wear and tear kicks in, lots of parts fail and then all needs replacing no thanks not for me as I need a reliable van everyday.

[Johnny B]

For me I'd never buy an old van especially with mileage ? Once it gets to around the 120,000 wear and tear kicks in, lots of parts fail and then all needs replacing no thanks not for me as I need a reliable van everyday.

It's always a gamble with secondhand vans. I had a mk2 Fiesta van a few years ago, it cost me £130 and had a year's MOT. It was a cracking little van, and we only parted company 18 months later when it was stolen, and written off by my insurers when recovered, even though it was intact.

I now have a Mk4 1.8D, costing just under a grand four and a half years ago. I had a few issues with it early on, but these were soon sorted, and together with its excellent bodywork, is now a great little motor.

John

[jonboywalton75]

My mate has just bought a bipper 2010, 27000 moles on the clock,  looks mint
over Xmas his power steering has failed,  so a warranty job, (hopefully,  depending on the dealer)

You just never know

[Arnold Palmer]

For me I'd never buy an old van especially with mileage ? Once it gets to around the 120,000 wear and tear kicks in, lots of parts fail and then all needs replacing no thanks not for me as I need a reliable van everyday.

Haha. 120k is new.

If it breaks just fix it. It's not exactly difficult, grease monkeys can do it.

[dazmond]

danny does a lot of miles though i think  but would you buy a brand new van if you were just using the van for work and doing about 2500-3000 miles a year?

my vans done just over 100,000 so if i kept it for 4 years id only put 12,000-15,000 miles on the clock.

alternator,starter motor,battery,cambelt,4 new tyres all replaced since i got the van in april.im gonna get some new windscreen wipers and a couple of little interior bulbs for it today.

brand new alternator cost me £180-00 (including fitting)

starter motor was £120-00(including fitting)

yuasa battery £120-00

cambelt £150-00 (including fitting)

4 new tyres £240-00(£60 each)

so £810-00 ive spent on it 9 months.van cost me £2,400 so just over £3200 altogether.

[richard groves]

It's threads like this which is the reason I'll only be using vans that are less than 3 years old, 0 van related downtime.

Even new vans can have problems. I was thinking of replacing my 9 year old dispatch in the New Year, but from what I hear talking to a few people, the old vans are more reliable than the new. I therefore decided to stick with it, has not let me down so far (inviting trouble now).

+1
My expert hdi is 10+ years old, owned it 7
Both alternator and starter motor had failed at different times in last couple of years
Both cost me about £30 for recons with minimum downtime, a morning on each.
Ok so about 6 weeks ago the clutch started to slip, 1 day off the road £580 inc new dual mass flywheel.
Previous to that I'd started to save for a newer truck and shopping around but will be keeping it now 

[mufcglen]

For me I'd never buy an old van especially with mileage ? Once it gets to around the 120,000 wear and tear kicks in, lots of parts fail and then all needs replacing no thanks not for me as I need a reliable van everyday.

Haha. 120k is new.

If it breaks just fix it. It's not exactly difficult, grease monkeys can do it.

lol you say that but some people are just very incompetent,in my years of being a mechanic ive seen people who couldnt open the bonnet or change a wheel

[dannymack]

Daz your spot in with me I was gonna repost and mention I do loads of miles so need to have new vans, I can see what yourself and others are saying, I Spose if I was only working around town then maybe would go for a van of around 3 to 5 years old maybe slightly Oder depending on condition.

I know with new vans as well they do go wrong but you do have warranty and on this transit I got a ford recovery.  I gotta point out with some warranty they don't cover quite a few things so you gotta read the small print and ask questions before you buy regarding warranties.
My van is only 2 years old in March I've had a new window screen as heater in it failed, my sensors at back stopped working had them done free but still hassle.
My fan belt was squeezing asked local garage to tighten it but these are different you need to change belt and other belt to get to it also had to change fuel filter as it kept saying it was blocked on the van computer had to pay out as not under warranty cost me £170. But would still stick with new vans due to loads of mileage I do, furthest I go is Leicester takes around 2 and half hours away as I'm in Essex. I lease hire which is good for me as I get a vat receipt each month as I'm vat registered I claim that back and lose the rest in tax.

[Window Lickers]

My van is only 2 years old in March I've had a new window screen as heater in it failed

Is this on a transit custom?

[CLEANCARE WC]

just had a new gear box & clutch on my 56 Dispatch... £1400 

[dazmond]

just had a new gear box & clutch on my 56 Dispatch... £1400 

ouch!!!!

[dannymack]

Sorry for late response window licker, yes m8 it's the transit custom trend.

[Clever Forum Name]

Sorry for late response window licker, yes m8 it's the transit custom trend.

Heated screens are a common issue on the new customs.

Becarful on the squealing alt belt bud as that's a give away water could be wetting the area. Most customs leak water onto that area when it rains. Good old ford design eh!

I love my custom. Having had a new van and another on order. I would only stick to new vans now. Or at least a year old. My van is my office. I don't want to go to work in a smelly knackered van.

A mate of mine has just bought a new van. 12 years old. Nearly chocked when I saw it. No sense in buying a 12 year old van. The mileage is irrelevant (90k) everything else is 12 years old. He said the ride is Spongey and the van has play in the steering. Wonder why