Appalling design
Having just bought our first motorhome, a 65 Plate Bessacarr, based on a Fiat Ducato chassis, I find it difficult to believe that Fiat would would have fitted such a difficult to read speedometer.
In daylight, it is extremely difficult to read, and with sunglasses on, nigh on impossible.
It is set set well back into the panel, with an overhanging cowl, shading it from the ambient light, which, if you are tall, or have the seat set high, anything around the top of the dial (60mph), cannot be seen, without dipping your head.
An absolutely appalling design, and potentially a driving hazard.
Is it just me, or is it something others have noticed ?. A quick Google search answered that, as I found found numerous complaints about the problem, and that Fiat do not have answer for it. They do apparently have a software mod, that switches on the night time back lighting, when the ignition is switched on, but from what I read, in daylight, its about as much use as a 'chocolate fireguard'.
Owners have had to install LED lighting, or similar, to front illuminate the speedo for use in daylight. How poor is that!!.
Fiat should hang their head in shame, and if we take to motor homing, and move onto another motor home the Fiat ducato will not be on my 'shopping list'.
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Nothing about Fiat surprises me. You should have been around in the days of their clutch judder!
The same speedo problem existed in the Peugeot and Citroen equivalents but I can’t say I’ve noticed the problem in our 2017 Peugeot.
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Yes, it's not good, I now rely on my sat nav to tell me my road speed. It also lets me know the speed restriction on the road I'm travelling on and 'shouts' at me if I'm going too fast. Not fool proof but better than the vehicle provided display in several ways.
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Dave, my comment will not help I know, but, if potential purchasers were to test drive vehicles, these problems would be noticed, and, no purchase made. Perhaps Fiat would then do something about it.
As an aside, my Postman was also complaining about his Fiat post van at his depot they say FIAT stands for Fix
It
Again
Tomorrow.
Sorry,
Ken
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Yes, I heard about the clutch judder, was something to do with reversing up hill?
The vehicle does have a built in Tom Tom Sat Nav, but I haven't used it yet, so I don't know if it provides a vehicle speed reading.
We pay tens of thousands of pounds for these motorhome, so to find one fitted with a piddly little speedo, that's positioned so it is difficult to read, beggars belief.
I guess I am going have to fit some kind of LED front lighting myself. Not impressed.
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On the Autosleeper coachbuilt (Peugeot) motorhomes the seats are raised which contributes to the problem. Speedo needle seems to wobble around as well. As above, I use my Garmin which seems to be more accurate, more visible and gives accurate speed limits throughout Europe.
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Ken, I did test drive the vehicle before purchase, and did mention the small, recessed speedo to the sales person.
However, my attention was focused on how the vehicle performed, how many habitation area rattles might be present, and how the vehicle handled.
The speedo issue seemed a minor concern at the time, but now having driven it around a bit, I can see what an inconvenience it is.
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No problem Ken, I didn't see your comment as a criticism, and it probably has some validity, in some cases.
Btw, we caravanned for 20 years, towing with a variety of vehicles, and before that, had goodness knows how many cars, but until we got this Fiat, I had never met such a ridulous, and difficult to read Speedo (lol)
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I've fitted one of the tiny lights used on personal head lights -- the sort fitted on elastic straps, designed for humans to wear !!
Fixed the base plate down with 'Blu Tak' -- works wonders !
If the ambient light is such that the speedo becomes un-readable just turn the light on to its low setting and all is fine. Sounds a bit 'Blue Peter-ish' I know but it works ok for me, and with rechargeable batteries it's cheap enough. Just make sure you don't block out any warning lights tho' !!
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You think it was designed? I thought ‘thrown together’ a more apt expression. 😀
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Another negative for Fiat. As the vehicle is not 3 years old until the end of October, I thought for what it's worth, I would get the software update, that relates to turning on the dash backlighting on, for daylight use, done while still under warranty.
To my disappointment, I discover that unlike most other manufacturers, who provide a 3 year warranty, Fiat only have enough confidence in their vehicle, to warranty it for 2 years.
In this case not a big problem, as from what I read, the update provides little improvement.
Although I have a 3 year warranty on the vehicle from Marquis, the poor visibility of the Speedo, is not a fault condition, but a design issue .
So, it's now down to enginuity, and d.i.y.
P.S. I did come across one suggested solution, which is to stick some sticky backed mirror faced vinyl on the underside of the cowl, to reflect light onto the Speedo. A quick try with a piece of cooking foil, should give an indication of how effective, or not, it would be.
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http://uk.farnell.com/automotive-windscreen-heads-up-displays? loads more on google.
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I’ve no idea about law, LL, but MH base vehicles which are commercial vehicles have much less by way of warranty than cars.
It’s my understanding that Fiat and Peugeot vans, for instance, have a standard 1yr warranty but it’s extended to 2yrs in the UK. That is why MHs converted abroad often only have 1yr and a buyer in this country needs to check and get it extended to 2yrs if necessary.
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We had a problem whilst towing in Spain with our V.W Caravelle and had to pay for the repair and claim it back from V.W Uk as our vehicle is over the two years warranty that is given in Spain even though it was under the three year U.K warranty and it was fixed at a Spanish V.W dealership! Thank goodness for plastic money! We have received the money in full from V.W since.It would seem 2year warranty is fairy normal in Spain.
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I agree the binnacle is set at the wrong angle....not such an issue for shorter drivers....it's just a tad too low for me but with the lights in its far better...ill have the backlight mod done at service time.
i generally have a Satnav (Tomtom) in front of me to help with speeds...
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I too prefer to use my Garmin 6" sat nav which is mounted on the dash and much closer to my line of sight than the speedo anyway, so your eyes are averted from the road less, and for less time than looking at the speedo.........
It's fairly up to date so apart from telling me my speed, it tells me the actual speed limit as well, warns me if I go over it, warns of fixed speed cameras, mobile camera sites, and lets me see the forthcoming road layout, bends, junctions etc.....
It makes a simple speedometer virtually redundant anyway......
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We had the mod done and it does make quite a bit of difference so suggest you get it done and then see and make your own mind up.
It is still hard to read for me as I am 6'5" tall and the colour scheme is not conducive to easy reading either. We have a Tom Tom sat nav I always have on as it tells me my speed but also tells me the speed limit for the road I am on and alerts me if I stray over the limit too.
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I really dont know what this moan and groan is about, im on my fourth Ducato base MH and they are well put together. Cant see a problem with the display.
BTB
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In ours - no seat swivel, the seat is a fair way back and no problem.
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Agreed and said bulkhead ruled out certain models for us due to the impaired seat movement.
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