Boxer instrument cluster fault
Hi C & CC,
My Dad and I just bought a 2012 Bailey Approach 745 SE with 6200 miles on the clock and have a few questions about it. Its been serviced each year and has had the habitation check done each year. The last service and checks were done a year ago. The
MH has not been used very much…probably half the cause of these problems.
I will split my question into separate posts.
There is a instrument cluster fault on the dashboard which we found when the cruise control is engaged. The "airbag light" and the “water in fuel filter” lights come on dimly. I’ve found out its a known issue with the Ducato/Boxer
van. The van is 2012 so is out of warranty I’m told.
I’m wondering what success others have had getting a replacement instrument cluster out with warranty as its a known issue. You think they would recall to remedy. hmmm maybe not.
Also, can’t it just be an earthing fault or cold or dry solder joints on the cluster PCB?
Has anyone fixed this issue themselves?
Thanks in advance
vintageb3
Comments
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Perhaps I should have put "trawl"! My excuse is I was tyred after a long dive on the M5.
Anyway, our van has a "3 year warranty" from the dealer so that's my first stop I think. I'm certainly not fiddling with anything on a three year old van, yet.
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From the FIAT Forum
....
Hi Everyone, i would like to introduce myself first of all, not only am i a proud owner of a 2014 FIAT DUCATO AUTO TRAIL FRONTIER Motorhome but i am am also the director of Cartronix. We are Specialists in repairing instrument clusters on motorhomes as well as other vehicles.
Two of our biggest customers in the uk are Motor home dealers. The Faults that have been described on these forums are extremely common and we see them every day.
Dimly lit LED warning lights and draining of the battery are the most common faults as well as the gauges sticking.
The LEDs Fail for 2 reasons, jump starting flat batteries and Cheap unreliable components.
Solution: We Replace all the LEDs with Superior European Quality ones and give a lifetime warranty.
The Gauges often fail when they dry out inside and seize up when the vehicles have been left over the winter months.
Solution: We Replace the Motors with upgraded European Motors which have a protective coating inside and again give a lifetime warranty.
We have a solution for all problems and charge a fixed rate of £150 inc vat to repair these instrument cluster faults.
We have a next working day Postal service if you would like to remove and send us your instrument cluster to us for repair or failing that if you fancy a trip to our workshop in Hampshire we can remove repair and refit your instrument cluster while you wait. Our telephone number is 02392 265986.
Hope to save you all some money and stress.
Happy Motoring.
Richard.........
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From the FIAT Forum
....
Hi Everyone, i would like to introduce myself first of all, not only am i a proud owner of a 2014 FIAT DUCATO AUTO TRAIL FRONTIER Motorhome but i am am also the director of Cartronix. We are Specialists in repairing instrument clusters on motorhomes as well as other vehicles.
Two of our biggest customers in the uk are Motor home dealers. The Faults that have been described on these forums are extremely common and we see them every day.
Dimly lit LED warning lights and draining of the battery are the most common faults as well as the gauges sticking.
The LEDs Fail for 2 reasons, jump starting flat batteries and Cheap unreliable components.
Solution: We Replace all the LEDs with Superior European Quality ones and give a lifetime warranty.
The Gauges often fail when they dry out inside and seize up when the vehicles have been left over the winter months.
Solution: We Replace the Motors with upgraded European Motors which have a protective coating inside and again give a lifetime warranty.
We have a solution for all problems and charge a fixed rate of £150 inc vat to repair these instrument cluster faults.
We have a next working day Postal service if you would like to remove and send us your instrument cluster to us for repair or failing that if you fancy a trip to our workshop in Hampshire we can remove repair and refit your instrument cluster while you wait. Our telephone number is 02392 265986.
Hope to save you all some money and stress.
Happy Motoring.
Richard.........
Hi Q4,
I saw that on that forum. Thanks.
I'm a tech, so pulling the cluster doesn't phaze me and the vehicle warranty has run out anyway. What this company are doing is replacing LED's and motors...componants that don't work. All my LED's are working and motors. Its very likely that its a bad ground or poor soldering from the factory. I would like to to float the PCB (redo the soldering) at least and see if I could resolve the issue. I have an auto electrician friend as well...so I would rather pay him than a dealer for help. He's damn good and evey dealer in my area uses him, so he will know of the issuie.
Thanks
vintageb3
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I have a 2016 Peugeot Autosleeper and the problem developed on my way home with a brand new van!
After the local Peugeot dealer initially saying they have never heard of the problem they had the vehicle in and on the third visit fitted a new dash cluster.
All is well now.
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I have just been on to my local Peugeot dealer and they will look at it for £99! I think not. Contacting Peugeot to see what HO say.
I contacted Peugeot the other day.
They told me that I needed to take it to a dealer for diagnosis and as I’m out of warranty it would cost the dealers chargeable rate. I was advised to shop about to get the best rate. Then it was up to the dealer to take it up internally with Peugeot
who would decide whether they would help in anyway with the repair, i.e. Not at all, contribute, or cover the costs. The diagnosis cost would still be mine however.If you get a different response, please let me know.
Hope this helps.
vintageb3
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More or less the same response vintageb3. Plus the three year 'warranty' from Lowdhams is worth as much as the cost, nothing. According to MB&G it's a known Peugeot problem so no cover. Why I thought an insurance company would honour their publicity escapes
me at the moment. Peugeot C/S say the same as the local dealer, pay us £99, we will 'diagnose' the problem and if is our fault we will contribute to the repair/replacement. I am having no luck finding a local garage to do the job. I could
maybe have it repaired but I would have to remove the dash and take it to them and then re-fit it.Looks like Peugeot win/win.......
Rock and a hard place comes to mind.
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More or less the same response vintageb3. Plus the three year 'warranty' from Lowdhams is worth as much as the cost, nothing. According to MB&G it's a known Peugeot problem so no cover. Why I thought an insurance company would honour their publicity escapes
me at the moment. Peugeot C/S say the same as the local dealer, pay us £99, we will 'diagnose' the problem and if is our fault we will contribute to the repair/replacement. I am having no luck finding a local garage to do the job. I could
maybe have it repaired but I would have to remove the dash and take it to them and then re-fit it.Looks like Peugeot win/win.......
Rock and a hard place comes to mind.
I read on forums that after a replacement cluster has been fitted the fault is resolved. I see the fault occur with vans of different ages and even with a brand new 2016 van being driven from the dealership. I also read that the fault can return to
those who have had the cluster replaced. I have to ask myself what’s the common factor here? I’m going to wage its bad soldering and quality control. I don’t think its component failure. Of course I could be wrong.With my job, I have to repair items of all ages,..sometimes 60-70 years old. Those items were manufactured with 60/40 lead/tin solder. On the whole the solder stands up over time. But I have found dry joints from the date of manufacture on 50-70 year
old gear.Newer items that have been manufactured with lead free solder to appease new regulations, are failing left right and centre in all electronics….TV’s, radio’s washing machines…you name it. I’ve pulled PCB’s and found more dry/cold joints in newer items
than ever seen in the old gear. The new solder is terrible to work with!When I get time, I hope to pull the instrument cluster and float the PCB (run over all the soldering work) with 60/40 solder. It can do no harm and may remove the issue. It may just be a bad ground somewhere. I’m sure I have had a similar issue an
a BMW I once had…and i fixed that.Lets keep in mind that no one fixes anything these days, it’s a throw away culture and dealerships make more money from simply fitting new parts and billing on, than employing someone in-house or a third party to diagnose and fix these problems.
Only last week, I watched a colleague throw away two simply battery testers. They were £15 each when bought new. I went and picked them out of the bin and fixed them (about 5 minutes each). Next time he passed me I asked him if he wanted to buy a
battery tester?
I got to keep one
vintageb3
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This is a common problem appearing in many forums. I have a 2015 Bailey 745 on the Peugeot Boxer cab. Right from the start I have had an intermittent dash warning light problem with cruise control. When I engage cruise control various dash warning lights
are illuniated either fully or dimly. These are usually the 'water in diesel' light, worn brake pad light, central locking fault warning light as well as others.I took my MH to a Peugeot main dealer, they said it was a common fault and ordered a new dash panel, which was replaced on Tuesday in 50 minutes. (The time consuming part is recalibrating everything apparently) My old mileage was carried over to the new
dash display. In fact I am pleased with the service. (Not the original fault though) The dealer was doing 3 new dash panels that day although the receptionist was quick to point out the other two were not on Boxers.It is a common fault and will be fixed under warranty.
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That's OK if the vehicle is still in warranty which mine isn't.
Or mine.
I will haul the cluster when i get a chance and see if I can remedy the issue. I may do a step by step to help others.
When faced with what I feel is a common known issue fault whether or not in warranty, I feel a recall should be activated by vehicle manufactures.
But hey…we know why they don’t….money...
best
vintageb3
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Hi Guys,
Today I investigated a wee bit:
4 Torx screws (2 for the dash lid, 2 for the instrument cluster) removes the cluster. There’s only one multi connector to the cluster.
3 minutes and you are ready to pull the connector.
I stopped short of pulling the connector until I get advice from my auto electrician mate on whether there are any issues with pulling this connector.
If I get anywhere with this, I will report back.
vintageb3
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Hi Guys
I've not forgotton about this cluster fault...been busy with work and will get a look at this at some point and report back. Trying to get time to finish mods to the van before we head for France mid September. Solar system to fit and finish a media install
and reverse camera system.vintageb3
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I know it's been a feew months since the last post but I have just had my dash problem sorted out. The insurers covering the warranty would only pay for a repair, not a replacement so I had to take the van back to the dealer 45 miles away. Got a neighbour
to fetch and return me. The dash was sent to Plymouth? to be repaired. Only took a week but I could have had a local dealer replace the thing a lot easier. Problem gone away but I don't know what was done. Or which repairer it was sent to. Looked up reoairers
in Plymouth and found a psecialist who would do it for £150 and 'while you wait' if prebooked.0
