[Closed] VW Transporter design/engineering/DIY tinkering

T4s are better and easier in my opinion.

Traffics n that breed are shit

Vito's are also on my list if anyone has one of them and tinkers it themselves.

However I don't know if all modern vehicle's/vans suffer from it - speed of manufacture over ease of repair.

Had my T5 for a few years now. Done full suspension change, wheel bearing, abs sensors, suspension bushes, a CV joint, water pump and cam belt, new sump (don't ask!), Dpf sensor and probably a few other things. Nothing was terribly complex. Some jobs were only possible with correct special tools (borrowed).

I've a T5. Never had a problem when replacing the driveshafts, the aircon cogs/belts, the rear discs and pads, oil changes, general servicing, etc.... Well, not a problem other than paying my mechanic to fix it.

Edit.... Mechanic moans about the fact there's so little room to get your hands into the engine bay given it's a 2.5 lump and there is very little free space under the bonnet.

It's noticeable how thought through our Volvo is for service compared to any other car. I doubt any van will be similar to the Ovlov.

Modern cars and vans all seem the same from a pain in the arse to fix, complex parts and not designed for service.

Some jobs were only possible with correct special tools

That's how you know it was a VW. That is not specific to their t5s. I curse working on most models as even what I consider to be normally quite simple jobs on other cars are made to need special tools that often don't cope well with corrosion. Tri square I'm looking at you

Oh and then theirs their love of mixingmettalirgies across the periodic table so you end up with welded in bolts.

At least when your dealing with a Suzuki it's all rusted up fully .....but it's all steel and you can get rough with it.

^thanks, have just googled XZN triple square fasteners. They look like a really good candidate to rust and round out. But they'll save 5seconds assembly time per van opposed to a hex head😖

That's VW off the list.

You'll find something from pretty much every van manufacturer that will take them all off the list.

And those moaning about space to work, try aircraft engines! Changing out a cracked fuel manifold under cowls at 3am, when the combustor is still pinging due to the heat, and every pipe you're squeezing your arms in between is the same. 🤣

I know a guy at GE Nantgarw who is about 8 stone soaking wet, and as such is the man to squeeze into the exhaust of the GE90 to change out LPT balance weight clips. Wraps his arms in rags (cos it's hotter than the sun) breathes out, and someone pushes him in. Then breathes out and they pull him out when he's done! 🙈

Without mentioning what I have... I'd look at vans made by truck manufacturers..... People who are judged on hours on the road rather than what mods are availible..... Mpg not a strong point and you won't get it under the height barriers at the office but they are made to be repaired quicker..... The parts ain't cheap mind.

know a guy at GE Nantgarw who is about 8 stone soaking wet, and as such is the man to squeeze into the exhaust of the GE90 to change out LPT balance weight clips. Wraps his arms in rags (cos it’s hotter than the sun) breathes out, and someone pushes him in. Then breathes out and they pull him out when he’s done! 🙈

As an asside I'd love to see the SOP & RA for that job . I assume it starts like most complex operations in a Haynes manual....."simply"

Na, supposed to wait 90 minutes for the engine arse end to cool, but he's a very 'can do' type.

Mechanic moans about the fact there’s so little room to get your hands into the engine bay given it’s a 2.5 lump and there is very little free space under the bonnet.

I had one until recently and things were a bit tight but everything came apart to give access. The alternator was the biggest ball ache to get to.
I got very quick at changing the turbo after some issues, I think I did it 3 or 4 times.

Get a Hiace instead.
More reliable and you don't have to pay 'VW scene tax'

I don't think I've ever seen a cab-forward design that I'd catagorise as 'easy to work on'.

My Leyland DAF200 is very easy to work on as it's old fashioned

[strong]trail_rat[/strong] wrote:

Without mentioning what I have… I’d look at vans made by truck manufacturers…

Have you tried working on the fuel pump on an Iveco? Best bet is to cut a hole in the foot well to gain access 🙂

Have you tried working on the fuel pump on an Iveco? Best bet is to cut a hole in the foot well to gain access 🙂

I have so im confused by your statement - if it rings true my engines in backwards.

Fuel pumps on the f1a and f1c are at the front too.

Rear timing chain on the f1c is a pig

Old 307 / 207 Merc van?
Will be slow but if you're ok with keeping the body work going should keep on running.

[strong]trail_rat[/strong] wrote:

I have so im confused by your statement – if it rings true my engines in backwards.

Ah, so they changed the design on the newer models then 🙂 Mine was the previous model

I had the misfortune of working on a near new t6 that had lost its clutch tonight

I was actually impressed but at the same point saddened that it was clearly so easy as it happens so often
Clutch and brake share a reservoir

Clutch is fed off the top half of said reservoir. If fluid is even slightly low and you park on a hill.... Bam.no clutch pedal.

How ever shift into 4th gear to uncover the slave cylinder put your hand down into the gear box and the bleed nipple is operable by hand.

So we had him going again pretty quick.

But Jesus Christ there's no need for that as a design. Google says it's a common enough issue.

I suspect the previous comments about vans made by truck manufacturers is quite accurate.
Our iveco daily was pretty easy to work on with no shortage of space in the engine bay or underneath it.
Downsides were it drove like a truck, and was Italian, at least that meant parts were cheap.

Bloke I worked with had a few pointy 90s Camaros: to get the front two spark plugs out (V8) you had to drop the nose off the car. He’d get his 8yo nephew to change the plugs as he could get his hands in.
I thought that was funny until the other week, had to drop the front off my T5 to get a glow plug extractor in. And spent all morning today dismantling my ZZR to get to the spark plugs...

Plugs are fairly long life in a lot of cars, maybe every 100,000 miles? I dont think its unreasonable for a job which will be done once in a cars life to be a bit of a pita.

The gt86 needs the engine dropped to get to the plugs

My Volvo is having a mid life makeover @190k miles prompted by a leaking steering rack
Subframe dropped, rack out and refurb, refurbish ARB bar, new wishbones/CV joints/springs/top mounts etc - basically a new front end whilst its all In bits.

Its easy to work on with mostly space to get in and the upmost quality of components and fasteners. Stuff that hasn't been off in 16years undoes like it's new - no snapped bolts or extension bars needed.
Really well designed - it's trying to find this in the van world. Not bothered about size ie medium or full size van just as long as it's not a Transhit or VW!
Hyundai I800 is one I keep forgetting about but could tick some of the boxes

I'm doing a refresh on my T4 at the moment and I'm impressed with the design and quality of the entire front end, tbh. It's pushing 25 years old now and the only reason I'm having to pull it apart is perished rubbers and CV boots that are close to (but haven't properly started) splitting. Had to do the head gasket a couple of years ago and that wasn't too frustrating, either. The only real annoyance I have with it is the shitty oil filter placement.
T5s on the other hand... cleverly designed for ease of assembly. Not so pleasant to disassemble.