What will pack up next ?

[chrisl]

My 17 plate van has just hit 204k miles and the alternator packed up while I was out in the sticks of Oxfordshire in the snow this week.
I turned the headlights off and carried on for another 30 miles,
got to a Bp filling station and filled up thinking , this is good, the  computor is telling me porkies, only for the van not to restart when I came back - how naive !
Luckily I had a friend who works local to where I was and he had a shiny new Lucas alternator ready to fit when I arrived at his place. ( RAC came out and charged my battery so they could follow me to his garage)

My question is, On my last 2 vans both alternators gave up around 200k, have others managed to eke more mileage out of theirs and what is the next item that is going to fail?

[Peter Palmer]

Clutch? Our 15 plate Dispatch is coming up to 155K and I'm amazed that everything is still original and still working as it should do. I do regular services on it and changed the cam belt at 120K myself.

I don't think a replacement clutch at that sort of mileage is out of the question at all. On the other hand my 8 year old washer dryer has just packed up and it only got used twice a week maximum, I find that pretty poor workmanship.

[polar]

At your mileage anything could give up its just wear and tear - preventative maintenance inspections are always a good idea.

[geoff]

204 k miles ...... next to fail ..... Aprils fools day surely ..... Lol !!!!

[chrisl]

204 k miles ...... next to fail ..... Aprils fools day surely ..... Lol  !!!!

Not sure what you mean Geoff, forgive my lack of humour ...

I got rid of my last vans at 
136k - nothing failed . 
236k- battery &alternator. 
This present 17 plate has 204k on it and I’m running it into the ground. Obviously it may need a clutch as has been suggested but I’m wondering what else gives up at higher mileages.
Steering pump motor ? 
Adblue , pat fluid and particulate filters all looked after by Mark Lightfoot when I’m passing his workshop .

I know I’m one of the higher mileage users here so I’m hoping others have experience of over 236k miles vans .
Oh I also have a new shape 1.5d van which is behaving itself so far.. with 29k on it , I really wanted another 1.6hdi but there were only 6.1’s available.

[geoff]

As Homer would say " DOH "

I'm tempted to change my own M59 because the engine oil and tyres need changing and I'm worried what will fail next.

[chrisl]

Maybe you should change it Geoff.... I only drive Berlingo’s because they are a tool for the job and thankfully I have another car and a motorbike for leisure.
I’m guessing you don’t cover many miles anyway, so you don’t have any interest in what I’m getting at anyway.
Stay happy mate.

[polar]

204 k miles ...... next to fail ..... Aprils fools day surely ..... Lol  !!!!

Not sure what you mean Geoff, forgive my lack of humour ...

I got rid of my last vans at 
136k - nothing failed . 
236k- battery &alternator. 
This present 17 plate has 204k on it and I’m running it into the ground. Obviously it may need a clutch as has been suggested but I’m wondering what else gives up at higher mileages.
Steering pump motor ? 
Adblue , pat fluid and particulate filters all looked after by Mark Lightfoot when I’m passing his workshop .

I know I’m one of the higher mileage users here so I’m hoping others have experience of over 236k miles vans .
Oh I also have a new shape 1.5d van which is behaving itself so far.. with 29k on it , I really wanted another 1.6hdi but there were only 6.1’s available.


If its look after by Mark then Mark is the man to ask what money you need to put away for a rainy day. When he services it he will be able to give you more idea than anyone on here can guess. 

The type of use a vehicle gets the type of driver the servicing all affects the longevity of parts - i know of some vans that the rear axle was shot well before your mileage - thats the thing you see there are too many variables so anybody other then the guy working on your vehicle are just taking a wild guess.    

[chrisl]

I agree Polar, Mark sees the van when the dpf / pat needs attention, I do the rest myself every 15k/6wks.
There are other high milers on the forum and I was really aiming my question at them.
Thanks for your sensible post, others have replied like leg-ends which is kinda strange?

[B-Boy]

At 400,000k you could be looking at:
First, alternator, starter motor & electric radiator cooling fan.
450,000k the aircon compressor will noticeably not cool very well anymore.

Lower ball joints go at around 250,000 as well as the clutch but more so the thrust bearing squeals (has a plastic housing).
By this time, 250k, the heater blower should've have needed a change but also a heavier gauge wire in a more direct route connected at the right point (fused) still allowing the multiplex commands of the fan speed.

Headlights really start to haze over after 7 years but you can buy after market replacements which are really good.

Gearbox has "lifelong" oil but I had it changed at 300k. No issues with gearbox.

Change timing belt every 120k & also the water pump while in there every time. Serpentine belt as well.

Mine's at 491,000k & I think I've had 4 batteries. I give them hell though!

Keep all the rail sliders & door openers well lubricated. The front doors give a loud clunk when fully opened if you don't. If yours does now, lubricate & it will slowly quieten back down.

Paint work is pretty good & responds well to a cut back (mild) then a finish polish over the top.
The black plastic bumpers will start to grey after 7 years but easy fixed after scrubbing with a brush & letting dry completely, then carefully applying "Wipe New" as per the instructions.

Very easy vehicle to live with & will give a lot of miles for not a lot of issues.

Probably the main thing to keep an eye on is the electric cooling fan for the radiator (as mentioned above). If it stops working, the engine temp sitting in traffic goes through the roof & so does your heart rate. Difficult to know it's failed already! Easy to replace it though.