Cold Air Problems
We recently bought a brand new
Peugeot Elddis Autoquest Evolution 155 - Fantastic. Fixed bed no more putting settees together. We went to the Lake District at end of October. Now the motorhome has we wee step up inside to the sitting area. When we parked up we noticed an incredible draught coming from under this step. We couldn't think where it was coming from. It seemed to be coming from everywhere around and under the seating area. It was absolutely freezing to the extent we couldn't sit in the seating area as it was so cold. We actually had to wear Jackets with the heating on. The only heater is at the foot of the bed and it blows straight into the cold air so it is not heating the seating area at all. The warmest place in the van is actually the toilet. We went out again in November this time it was even worse. We had to block up all floor gaps,etc. It was so so cold. The draught is so strong it you cannot light a lighter if you hold it to the source. When we got home to some warmth we looked under the van and there is a huge vent that goes right up through the floor Just a vent - a hole that's it. Has anyone else experienced this and what can be done. We have been told that because its an 18 Model we have to wait to see if anyone else complains before Elddis will look into it... Any ideas on how to stay warm if we go out in the winter and what we can do to get this rectified this is only our second Motorhome and we only went out in summer with the other one which was an Elddis 115. Many Thanks for any help you can give me
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Not exactly sure of this model but I think the 4KW heating runs on gas and/or electric which should be ducted throughout. In one of our vans we had a similar issue. After investigation it was issues with the ducting becoming unattached and 'leakages' elsewhere from the heating unit itself right through to vents. This meant the system was barely warm at the end of the runs and inefficient. Using duct tape I managed to solve this and the van became and stayed warmer throughout. We also found using gas to warm up the fabric of the van on arrival at site and then switching to electricity helped. We also carried a fan heater which helped at times when temperatures were very cold but only used it on rare occasions.
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The Elddis 115 I used to own had factory installed vents in the floor under the seats, in the rear lower cupboards etc.
Presumably they are to provide adequate ventilation. I deemed they provided more ventilation than I needed, especially in winter, so blocked some up.
Five minute job with some bits of old cut up towel & duct tape. Obviously you will need some ventilation in the van and don't block the ones by any gas equipment obviously. I never had condensation or damp issues.
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It’s a new motorhome and the heating is not fit for purpose. Surely that has to be a warranty claim and the dealer needs to sort it out, not Elddis.
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Hi Bigel, we have a 155 too but a 2015 model. I must say we've never had this problem with it though. Our heating is also just vented out at the rear of the van, the pipes don't leave the area under the bed! You can't use the room divider when the heating is on as the hottest vent at the end of the bed is then blocked by the divider. I'm sure designers don't go camping in their own products.
They must have put a new vent in the floor for your model for some reason. The boss always says she's cold anyway so I can't go by her thermostat, but we've never been freezing and we've used the van many times over the winter months. We've found it to be a great van in general. I hope you can sort this problem out soon as it'll be a pity for you not to enjoy your new purchase, to say the least! Good luck
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i agree with Hitch, unless you are absolutely convinced that the dealer has the gumption to fix this, reject the van now.
your post suggests there are no heating vents forward of the wardrobe, if this is true then the install wont be able to bring heat to where you want it, we have five in the lounge alone!
ive read other posts on another forum where (supposedly premium) vans just dont route any hot air vents beyond the habitation door as the heater is on the same side as the door and the designers couldnt find a way to bypass the door....so didnt bother!
even my old Bolero (same layout as your Elddis) managed to route the heating pipe under the floor and back into the van to heat the front lounge area....not wholly satisfactory, but better than nothing.
tell the dealer you need the heating revised to include at least two vents upfront, all draughts resolved, and the opportunity for you to test to your satisfaction.
if they cant/wont do this, get your money back and buy a van with a decent heating system....you obviously want to tour in colder weather. a van that is cold will drive you nuts, as it obviously is doing now.
as it stands, this van is not fit for purpose, its the dealers job (not Elddis') to fix it....if they want to involve Elddis thats up to them, but your contract is with the dealer......do not be fobbed off....fixed or money back, in a timely (agreed) manner.
good luck.
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Looking at Elddis' own sales information for this vehicle it states "Space-saving Whale heating- runs on gas and/or electric with quiet night-time setting - ducted heating throughout, including bathrooms." Now I guess it is all down to what they mean for you to understand by that word 'throughout'! In my book it means that those ducts run from one end to the other or everywhere. Any thoughts?
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Hi we bought a new Elddis 255 last year and it's gone back in several times with heating problems.weve got the Alde system and I'm not convinced it's that good. I know the vents you refer to. I've got underneath and blocked them up.I know I shouldn't but it was just like a gale blowing through the van.its better now but the cab is cold when travelling . With the cab heating up high it warms a bit but if we go over 60 the cab becomes cold. I think the van is over vented.I would be interested to hear if others are having these problems and what others think of this Alde heating.
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Alde heating 'should' be providing you with a system that works just like home....a wet system with radiators.....and some other extras which can't be had with blown air heating....
the main advantage is that the hot water from the boiler to even the furthest corners of the van shouldn't cool at all, providing a consistent heat all over the van....blown air heating can struggle with vents a long way from the boiler as air can cool much more quickly than the fluid in the ALDE system...
however, the system needs to be installed correctly, with radiators and 'vents' throughout the van....if a whole section of the van is devoid of these, you will still get colder spots.....
another issue is that the fluid takes far longer to heat up than in air systems, which can have a van warm in quick time....
if you're not happy that it's working sufficiently well, get hold of the dealer and test/correct as necessary...
good luck
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We pick up a new 155 in a weeks time, is there an update on your problem with the cold air coming through?
Im wondering if this is a problem with your particular van as there is no other coments I can find on the subject.
The van achieves grade 3 insulation level so the heating must be upto the job with the blowers blowing forward from under the fixed bed. We will find out for ourselves!
It would be good to get an update though as it may help others
Kevin
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Kev, as part of the handover, get the dealer to fire up the heating (try it on gas and on the electric settings) and you'll get a good idea as to what this system can (or can't) do.....don't rely on a tick in a PDI sheet..
if you're in any doubt as to its efficiency you can tell the dealer you're retaining part of the payment until it's how you want it ....
should sharpen the focus.....
a flaw in any heating system will drive you nuts and have you chasing a dealer who has your cash and a workshop full of 'warranty work'....
definitely worth getting this sorted earlier rather than later....dealers rely on having us become all 'starry eyed' when collecting a new van, but have a list of things to check including the heating on all power sources.
good luck..
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The trouble is you won't really know until next winter by the time you go away in your new van. We've got some friends we go away a lot with and they're just waiting for delivery of the same van as us ,the Elddis 255, so we will be checking their heating and draughty cab and have already told the dealer we may be back. All in all I think our van is over vented and it's an Elddis problem.
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are you checking their van as yours is draughty and the heating iffy, or because you are familiar with the van?...it isn't clear from your wording..
if the former, doesn't it beg the obvious question?...
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Some fiat based cbs seem still to have the van mentality and have floor vents to aid air circulation and drying for van drivers.
fiat sell vent closers or plugs that can be inserted into the floor.
if you search the MMM mhome forum the is quite a lengthy thread, info and part numbers.
Not a fiat, I grant you but still a modified delivery van ;-))
rgds
edit, check the door pockets as some have vent holes in the rear of the pocket into the cab door.
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Hi kev sorry you must mean me.security is so tight getting back into these chats I couldn't get back in..what I'm saying is when I go over 60 or so the cab gets cold and draughty.our friends will be taking delivery of their Eldiss 255 end of May and I will see if theirs is draughty as ours.i have the fiat version of this van for work and it's great. I'll keep you posted.
Russ
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It was the original poster that has alroblem but not posted since. We have now picked up our 155 and found it is a bit drafty under the front seating where there is an air vent under. Not. An issue for us. The heating works fine with the heating ducts coming out from under the fixed bed towards the front of the van got quite warm the other night and had to turn it down!
Very good handover from Westcountry motorhomes explaining how everything works. Only had 1 problem which was the habitation door flynet suround was not clipped in and one side was hanging out, phoned westcounty the morning after taking delivery and as we were staying local to check out everything they said pop it inand they would deal with it. When we arrived they were waiting for us popped 2 new clips into place and we were on our way within 5 mins. The guy said he had a problem when he did the pdi but thought he had fixed it.
well chuffed with the build quality of the van ( only 1 night) for the price its fantastic value.
The only thing left to do now on my list is get it weighed to check what payload I actually do have not what the paperwork says!!
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Another two penny worth from me, or even less value !
Newbie Mhomers are unaware of the cold in the cab area of non A class (Aclass = plastic cabs with large windscreens) due to the amount of glass and metal up front.
The cab metalwork is poorly insulated, worse than any car. So heat transfer from the outside door skins to the inner skins generally have no thermal barriers. Single glazed glass has its own problems.
Cab curtains can help, and exterior or interior silver screens do help and cut down condensation.
Due to the complexity of getting ducting, pipes etc, generally into a premanufactured cab is difficult, costly and not on offer. Most heating stops at the cab / habitation demarcation line. Hoping that turning up the heating might whoosh some hot air into the cab.
As I have written previously Fiats , possibly other makes, leave a multitude of vents in doors, under seats etc so that van man does not fall asleep when driving, or can dry out naturally!
A class mhomes are built by the converter and generally have habitation heating taken up into the cab area. A classes may have there faults, but heating is not usually one of them.
Happy homing
rgds
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Hi,
I know I am coming into this thread late, but I have recently bought a 2018 Autoquest 155 model, and we went away for the first time in some rather wet and breezy conditions, and we also experienced a very cold seating area, and indeed traced it to the strong draught coming from under the seating area and the small step up. This was, as stated in some other posts, because of 3 large hole in the floor, covered with a mesh screen. I am not sure exactly as to why they are there, obviously they are intentional, but I am going to tape over them, and to ensure some ventilation, I always leave the ceiling windows cracked open at least.
I am going to feed this back to Elldis as they need to be aware.
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Be aware that, in the event of a gas leak, you need downwards ventilation to let the gas escape as LPG is heavier than air. That may be the reason you have the vents.
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Carbon monoxide can mix with the air in a van and it's vital that air vents are kept open to improve airflow in a confined space. You could put fridge vents on in the winter, which will help the fridge function better at a lower temperature and lessen draughts from that area.
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I’m not intending to nit pick, Brue, but don’t want MP to be confused. I think you mean fridge vent covers.
Certainly a fair old draught can come in around the fridge on some models.
Edit: I’ve just remembered that some fridges vent their gas exhaust via those very same vents so obviously covers shouldn’t be fitted in those circumsrances.
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I think manufacturing standards specify a minimum requirement for the amount of fixed ventilation. As well as the potential safety implications of taping up fixed ventilation any warranty for damp maybe invalidated as you’ll increase the potential for condensation. Also, the batteries are located alongside the area you describe - maybe something to do with dispersing off gassing?
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We are nearly 4 years in with our 2018 autoquest bought new April 2018.
the van keeps warm unless it’s really cold outside. We use an oiled filled radiator between the cab seats when out in the winter and on ehu which helps greatly. I still don’t know why these vents are there or so large. They are in a sealed area other than 2 cutouts in the step up to the seating area, the closest gas is under the drivers side hab seating with a dedicated gas drop out hole next to it. I sit in my friends burstnur van in the winter and it’s toasty warm step back into mine and although not really cold it’s not toasty!. It’s a shame really as the vans construction and build quality has been great apart from the heating. It needs to have heating outlets at the front of the van not just from under the fixed bed which is only 2m in from the rear wall of the 7m van
ours is being traded in come March and getting a different brand with Alde heating which we have had in previous caravans and is fantastic
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Ive stated many times that some converters see heating systems as an afterthought, some take time and care to design them into the overall van layout.
the difference is like stepping from an Elddis into a Bürstner😉
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