Pilote P746C 2019
We are the very proud owners of a new Pilote P46C but have two 'irritations' about which we are seeking help.
1) The Pilote Experience tablet fails to show the correct battery charge level. We have two solar panels and two leisure batteries and have ensured that these are accurately reflected in the settings, but the reading steadfastly refuses to show >85% charge and we know this is not right. Anybody else experienced this?
2) We have a Fiat Ducato automatic gearbox; this does not have a park setting. If we need to use levelling blocks, there seems no way we can then make use of the driver's swivel chair as it is impeded by the handbrake. Are we missing something or is this a design fault?
Thank you.
Comments
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1. not sure about the calibration of the 'tablet' (app?) just ensure that the mains charger and solar controller are set to the correct charging profile for your battery type....gel/lead acid/ AGM etc...
2. standard ducato seats can be swivelled with the handbrake fully engaged (I've done it on all four of our vans) but it might mean a little back and forth sliding as you spin the chair. one you've grasped and mastered this, it becomes automatic and straightforward.
good luck with your new van
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We have same issue with the handbrake, to fully swivel it round like BB says you have to go back and forward a bit but also release the handbrake if you want to turn fully180 degrees. For the comfromatic gearbox you must never leave it in Neutral but always in gear when turning the engine off, this will then hold the van in gear and you can safely release the handbrake even on blocks to move the chair round then re-apply for safety once done. If you turn engine off whilst in Neutral you will get a beeping and a warning on the dashboard.
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Thanks for the advice on the 'swivelling', I shall try that out this weekend. I think the tablet app has flawed software/firmware.
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a couple of other points....remember to re cab seats
ease the steering wheel and push it forward into the dash to give more room to swivel....
also, I've seen hand brake modes documented where a small 'spacer' is inserted to push the handbrake a tad further away from the driver to give a little more room to the seat squab....apparently, no impact on handbrake use.
i must say, I just did mine earlier when arriving on site and it took me less than 15 seconds to spin them both....
just to add, I see you have the P model (low profile) whereas.Michael and I have A classes which give more width to the cab area.
i just read an article where a van (Chausson) was on a Transit base and the cab doors had to be opened to enable the seats to be swivelled....
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There are handbrake levers available for many base vehicles which lie flat after the brake is applied. We had one on our Merc Sprinter. Google collapsible handbrake levers for info.
The Fiat automatic is an automated manual gearbox and cannot have a park position. Leaving it in gear is no substitute for the handbrake in my opinion.
PS. The Highway Code states in Rule 239 that the hand/parking brake must always be applied when a vehicle is parked.
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If your Pilote is built on the standard camper chassis then be very careful if its registered at 3.5T.
The P746C has a payload (before any EU allowances) of 550kg for the basic model and 490kg for the Sensation trim but this only includes 20 litres of water, 90% fuel and one gas bottle.
This does not include the weight of the driver; the three other passengers; the oven, the 150BHP upgrade (15kg), the comformatic box (17kg), awning, tv and aerial, solar panel, water, radio, personal gear, any factory options etc etc so with two people you'll be on the maximum axle weights before you know it.
Great quality vans but this should not be sold as a 4-berth van due to its payload restrictions, even if registered at 3,650 or 3,850kg unless it is built on the maxi chassis @ 4.4T.
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Agree about engaging handbrake but its OK to hold it on the gear whilst swivelling the seat, but re-apply afterwards.
I do wonder if in the new version of the Ducato coming out next year if they will have an electronic handbrake like cars, would be a real boon in the MH.
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Fair enough👍🏻
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agree, we should all be aware of the weight of our vans and weighing them, in a known state, is recommended.
just a point, the MIRO (mass in running order) would normally include the weight of the driver....but any long van (7.5m or so and over) will be difficult to manage at 3.5t....
however, upgrading to 3650/3850 or even purchasing on the heavy chassis will require C1 license.....
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It seems beyond extraordinary that Fiat are still fitting lever type handbrakes rather than an electronic button. It's yet another reason for us to choose the new Sprinter as our base vehicle. It has a proper auto box and no old fashioned handbrake to wrench my ageing shoulder.
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Hi BB, the Legal Notice is highlighted on the last page of the 52-page 2019 Pilote catalogue; as below:
LEGAL NOTICE:
Official seating classification and Mass in Running Order are calculated as accurately as possible in compliance with European legislation. These take into account
basic and standard equipment with a tolerance of +/- 5%. Mass In Running Order figures include freshwater tanks with a capacity of 20 litres and diesel tanks
90% full, one gas bottle 90% full, but do not include the weight of the driver or other occupants.0 -
Disappointing rather than extraordinary as these base vehicles are really just a white van. Of course if you want to blinker yourself and go Merc route that is your prerogative but as probably 90% of MH makers choose Fiat there must be a reason and of course the extra savings can be used for some little extras
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The reason is cost but you get what you pay for.
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We would prefer a good quality transmission to extras. Extras add weight. Yes, Fiat offer an auto of sorts but is in in fact an electronically controlled manual gearbox. Rolls Royce and Bentley gave up manual transmission in the early 1950's. I can't understand why the rest of the industry has held on to outdated technology. Electrification will bring the clutch to an end.
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PD, I’ve yet to meet an auto you can’t do that with. American boxes might behave differently but you can certainly select manual mode with TC, DC, CVT…
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Ayf, thanks for that.....I did say 'would normally include' the weight of the driver but this is worrying...
a few years ago, included MIRO items were well known in the industry and then later it became acceptable for converters to include (exclude...) what they liked, as long as it was listed somewhere....
this gave carte Blanche to the industry who promptly decided that (for most vans) this would include NO water (rather than the 90% previously....and vans miraculously got (say) an extra 90kg payload....
if we are now saying that the nominal 75kg of the driver is excluded then (even with 20kg included) we now have an extra 'apparent' 145kg of payload which is not usable in the real world...
the worrying thing for me is that salesman won't be highlighting these shortcomings (not that they are forthcoming now) and many a buyer might now be sold an unusable van....
i like pilote vans but that is sneaky and not what the industry should be doing...
poor show.
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the new Ducato is being converted now for 2020 season vans and, amongst other things, includes a new 9-speed torque converter gearbox.
i don't know what the handbrake will be like, the exterior of the van itself is very, very much an evolution not a revolution....
incidently, the fly-off handbrake in the Merc was always central between the front seats (may have moved on new model?....) but was totally impractical for swivelling seats without it...
the Ducato handbrake is a bit of a stretch for some (extenders available) but is better placed, out of the way...
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