Re: JonR6's build thread (Death of a van?)
I honestly don't know how to write this, im gutted right now despite the fact what happened is now several days ago.
Each year along with some friends I organise a charity trip we call Rogue Run. A lot of the time I spend my winters working on the van with this specific trip in mind. This year the route went through Verbier (Switzerland), San Remo (Italy), Valance (France) and Le Mans (France).
Anyway, as usual the van was fully serviced etc before we left. It ran fine for most of the first two days performing faultlessly as it always does. Then just outside of Savona in Italy... the engine started sounding really rough and we were only half an hour from our campsite. I thought about trying to limp it there and have our mechanic friend check it out that evening. It was so bad I quickly changed my mind and told our friends in the two cars in front of us that I needed to come off at the next services (1500 meters away). As soon as I said it, the engine blew up. An unholy bang and blue smoke out the back of the van and we just coasted to the side of the road.
As I was in a dangerous place the Italian roadside assistance quickly came and got us and took us back the their yard. The driver didn't speak English but he took a look at the engine and gave it the rest in peace sign....
Anyway, to cut a long story a bit shorter, I got our mechanic friend to come and check it out at the yard, he took a look and something has happened to cause the crank to bend and break and It looks like it has taken the whole of the bottom end out with it. So, here is the mileage of my van when she went terminal...
and this is where she currently rests in Italy...
So... I am now back in England with a van that is stuck in Italy with no engine. I am having to argue with the RAC as at the moment they are trying to get out of repatriating my vehicle as they are trying to claim the value of transport exceeds the value of the van. Obviously I am telling them they will bring it back as thats the cover I have paid for. THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT I WILL LOSE.
So, right now I'm looking at three options and have no idea what to do....
1) Get her back home, repair and rebuild. Put a 2.5 or a 1.9tdi lump in and up the power. Having said that, I need it to be LEZ compliant.
2) Get her back home, find another T4 and use mine as a donor vehicle. Then sell it to someone who can start over.
3) Get her back home, make the BIG financial jump and buy a T5, and again use mine as a donor vehicle for bed, stereo etc.
As I said, im gutted right now and don't know what to do. I will be picking peoples brains on the forum over the next few weeks and months to see whats best. Either way, I will keep you updated on here and let you know what RAC say about getting my van back.... they have already mentioned scrapping it which I found disgusting.
