LDV Pilot van - UK miles per gallon calculator

http://www.mdocuk.co.uk/mpg_calculator.htm

LDV Pilot van - logbook - Rust treatment

The MOT document which came with the van mentioned a bit of rust on the front left but I hadn't been able to spot it til I started to treat the rusty areas of the van's body. It's located by the driver's door on the round of the wheel and it looks like it'll need that chemical I used to change rust into metal on the outside areas (mainly around the gutter and the worse being above the windscreen and doors edges) plus a fair quantity of resin to get it back as it was and stop the damage for good. There is also a worrying amount of humidity under the cabin's floor mat which I presume is the result of rust damages and cracks in dried joints. There's a good post on this forum about water leaks (but you'll need to join the forum to read it. Here's the link This, from the same forum, speaks about water leaking through the windscreen rubber joints. Common bug.

LDV Pilot - logbook

Apparently having a speed restricter on the engine makes it last longer.

LDV PIlot - logbook

The left rear bumper need to be fixed to the body.
The left rear light needs to be fixed to its support.

LDV Pilot Van - logbook

I offered to help carry a friend's giant puppets for a Latin American festival with the van last sunday. All went well until on the way back, my (only) key got stuck in the side door's lock. I managed to get it out but the lock is not functioning with the key anymore. I need to open it from the inside.
Not a big deal. It's more worrying that I only have one key for this van.

LDV Pilot Break down number 1- logbook

About a week ago, there was a heavy load in the back and the alternator belt and water pump belt snapped as I was driving.
The engine kept running and pulling the van so I could drive to a parking place.
Luckily it wasn't the timing belt but without those belts the cam/timing belt could get damages too.
With friends' help the belts were replaced. I was sold the wrong alternator belt but although it is too short it did the job (It doesn't fit the diagram and misses going around one of the tensioner but the tension is good). I'm not totally sure the water pump belt is the correct one either but it works.

I still have to find the right alternator belt, replace it with the right tension and I need to check the timing belt before any long distance trip.

LDV Pilot disel 1.9 DW8 engine manual

Link to forum

and to downloadable manual in a zip file

LDV Pilot DW8 and XUD9 engines

Peugeot DW8 engine
Lots of technical infos

Peugeot forum

Berlingo (DW8 engine) forum

Zip file for DW8 digital manual

Forum talk
"I have heard several times that the DW8 engine (1868cc) looks identical to the XUD9 engine (1905cc). They differ in the intake manifolds, that is one way to tell them apart.

Peugeot did not make a turbo version of the DW8, but it is availabel on the XUD9.
I am guessing that IF IF IF the intake manifold of a XUD9 diesel engine would fit on a DW8 engine block, then you would have the option to add a turbo as well."

LDV Pilot Alternator belt diagram

From the LDV sherpa forums

Stuff to read about

http://totalldvsherpa.19.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=6
http://totalldvsherpa.19.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=26 on kingpin
http://totalldvsherpa.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=4633 is it stolen?
http://totalldvsherpa.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=937 insurance database
http://totalldvsherpa.19.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=6 Help for Pilot
http://www.ldv-sherpa.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=7 web links
http://totalldvsherpa.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1007 motorhome/self built insurance

Is your LDV Pilot van noisy?

Someone was complaining online about how noisy these vans were. Well unless you are used to drive brand new, 'contemporary', sound insulated cars or vans and you first time drive a van from the 'repairable' era (meaning no electronics under the hood), noise is not a major issue on LDV Pilot vans.
They seem to be much quieter than others. It also depends if the inside is still carpeted and how empty is the whole interior supposedly.
Is your van noisy to drive?

LDV Pilot van Parts - What does it look like? - Post 1

Power steering pump, Starter motor, Water pump...

More to come.

If you are wondering what they do, check out this site which explains how engines work.

Power steering pump for LDV pilot van

Starter motor for LDV pilot van

 

Starter motor for LDV pilot van

Starter motor for LDV pilot van

Water pump for LDV pilot van

LDV Pilot engine drawing

Timing belt on LDV Pilot vans and other belts

Along with a blown head gasket or an engine block seizure, a broken timing belt sounds like worries and costly repairs. So to avoid this to happen, unless your vehicle has a camchain (which you never need replaceing), make sure to check and replace your cambelt/timing belt in due time.

Unless your car is a vintage model, the engine most likely has a serpentine belt drive.
On many engines, a serpentine belt powers several accessories such as the air conditioner compressor, water and power steering pumps, fan, and even the booster for the braking system.
It's definitely worth having the serpentine drive belt system checked periodically.  If it fails, the engine will overheat, and worse, the car won't run.
The situation could leave you stranded on a highway or busy metropolitan street waiting for a costly tow to a local repair shop.
Listen for signs of impending belt failure.  A squealing noise when the car accelerates means the belt is slipping and is not efficiently turning the drive accessories.  The belt tensioner also could be worn and in need of immediate replacement.
Look for excessive cracks in the belt’s V-ribs, and chunks that have broken off the ribs.
However, visual appearance is not a reliable indicator of the expected service life of a belt.  It is recommended to replace the serpentine belt every four years.

how to fix squealing that is coming from the serpentine belt

"A serpentine belt, also known as a multi-vee, poly-v, or multi-rib belt, is a single, continuous belt used to drive multiple peripheral devices in an automotive engine, such as an alternator, power steering pump, water pump, air conditioning compressor, air pump, etc."

"Definition: A type of flat rubber drive belt that is used to turn multiple accessories on the front of an engine. It is called a serpentine belt because of the way it snakes around the various pulleys. Many vehicles now have a single serpentine drive belt because it eliminates the need for several separate V-belts. A spring-loaded pulley maintains tension on the serpentine belt. This does away with the need to retension the belt when it is replaced. Serpentine belts generally last 25% to 50% longer than conventional V-belts."

How to change a serpentine belt article.

V-belt

Types of belts

LDV Pilot van timing-belt

Kingpins on LDV Pilot van

Don't forget to look after the kingpins on your LDV Pilot van.
They need regular greasing.

A thread on replacing kinpins from the Total -ldv-sherpa forum

(exert: "I bought a pair of new king pin kits off of Ebay for £47.80 delivered - don't try to do them on the van it's not worth wasting your time - Remove the front axle - an easy job, think of it like a meccano set!! this was the procedure I used.

Jack the van under the centre of the front axle
Support the body on both sides using the chassis rail under the doors and lower the weight of the van onto the supports. - Leave the jack in place for now.
Remove both front road wheels
Remove both front caliper to hub bolts and tie the calipers up out of the way - dont let them 'dangle' on their hydralic pipes.
Undo the hubnuts and remove the discs and bearings.
Disconnect the steering joints on the hubs - 2 on the drivers side and one on the Passenger.
Withdraw the steering bar that connects the two wheels together.
Remove the U Bolts which hold the axle to the springs (2 each side)
Lower the Jack and the axle will drop with it.

Now you have the axle off you can either find a friendly engineering firm or garage that has a press or as I did invest in a press that I had always promised myself (SHOP PRESS 20 TON NEW £141.99 inc delivery)

Or just buy an exchange 'off the shelf' reconditoned unit

The only 'minor' difficulty is setting the shims when reassembling - but I can advise on that if you need it. ")

Conversion of a LDV Pilot van into a camper

A blog on converting a LDV Pilot van

Very nice example

sundownpilot.blogspot

http://www.ldvcamper.com

http://camperconversion.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.convertyourvan.co.uk

http://www.campervanlife.com/building/planing-camper-van-conversion

An interesting different option

http://totalldvsherpa.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1951

Engine as it was

"With fuirther investigation I read today that THERE IS some differences between the 2001 and prior years to the LDV pilot 2002. Apparently LDV put DW8's in the last few Pilots made instead of the XUD9A, and you can tell the difference because the oil filter is on the back of the engine on the Pilot's XUD, and on a DW8 it's between the manifolds on the top of the engine. A friend of mine beleives that LDV probably did this because of the shift to EURO III emissions standards, but would have had to have fitted any 2002 LDV pilots with an EGR valve and probably would comply to the LEZ regulations also. " source

Description

• Red
• 6 seats
• 2003
• MOT til february 2013
• Taxed til

to be continued...

on camping and motorhome

Life in a caravan blog

Parking your motorhome in the UK

motorhomingwild forum

Camping and electricity

Options to power your appliances

Read about the power of inverters

Here is a pdf file about inverters

Converting a van into a camper

Choosing a base vehicle for conversion article

http://www.campervanconversion.co.uk/my-ldv-campervan-project

http://www.campervanconversion.co.uk/communities

vans comparisons

An interesting list of vans.
Read here.

Basic car maintenance every driver should know

If you don't know much about cars but drive one every or almost every day,
I'd recommend and encourage you to watch that video.
That mechanic has (a high pitch voice that can be annoying) a good point.

Test drive and Checklist - Buying (and selling)

Here is a compiled checklist for the used car buyer.
These are more like notes than a practical checklist but you could make one up for yourself from the notes and take it with you as you go see a vehicle.

USED CAR BUYER CHECKLIST

Questions to a private seller:

1. How many miles on the odometer?
2. Why are you selling?
3. How would you describe the condition of the car?
4. Who was the previous owner?
5. What kind of oil do you use in the car?
6. Where was this vehicle bought from?
7. What are you willing to sell the car for?
8. How long a test drive can I take?
9. Are you willing to let me get this inspected independently?
10. What's the last used car you sold?
11. Any accidents?
12. Do you have the log book?

CHECKLIST

• Oil leak where van is parked? (= possible clutch problem)
• Check oil + fuel measure on dashboard
• Exhaust (Must be in good condition, properly and securely attached)
• Brakes (Feel clutch whe parked and during test-driving)
• Tyres (3mm minimum thread + Should be evenly worn. If not = worn steering/suspension components/frame damage/road shock)
• Steering wheel, steer fully in both ways and feel ( + must be correctly aligned)
• Handbrake (must be fully operational)
• Cambelt (when was it replaced? Standard for: V-belt= every 4 years/36000kms; Serpentine-belt=50000kms) - note there can be 2 to 3 belts on certain engines (Timing belt/cambelt, alternator belt, fan belt. waterpump belt)

• Kingpins (must have been greased regularly on LDV Pilot vans!)

LIGHTS, SWITCHES,etc:

• Seatbelts
• Horn
• Mirrors
• Lights
• Hazard (must be bright)
• Headlights (must be bright)
• Rearlights (must be bright)
• Indicators (must be bright)
• Test all switches of dashboard
• Heater
• Wipers

BODY WORK:

• Dents
• Scratches
• Chips (windscreen)
• Outside panels in line + fully sealed
• Try locks + keys for rust issues (inside/out)
• Doors check + edges + hinges
• Check for rust everywhere
• Suspensions (push down on each wheel > it should bounce once only and feel sturdy)

UNDER HOOD:

Open Hood with engine running and listen for knocks, ticks, hisses (anything too obvious is not a good sign)

• Hoses, Belts > must have no cracks
• Radiator hoses > must not be soft
• On engine block, any dark brown oil stain = leak in gasket (costly)
• Check break fluid+ reservoir > must have no leak
• Check timing belt (if possible by eye/else ask about when it was replaced)
• Remove oil filter cap, if foam residue inside = leaking head gasket (costly)
• Check coolant condition in overflow, if filthy brown coolant = leaking head gasket (costly)
• Brake fluid, if dark = old + if low = brakes could be worn out
• Air filter check > paper filter, make sure there is no oil in it
• Check air intake on engine side of filter for oil > can be a sign of worn piston rings (=lots of miles + abuse)
• Open radiator cap > must hane no oil in antifreeze

WHILE PARKED with engine running,

Turn the steering wheel fully in both direction

• A squealing noise = slipping power steering pump drive belt = can be fixed by adjustment/overheating by friction may habe damaged the belated may need replacing.

• A growling noise = low power steering fluid = check/inspect reservoir/ likely caused by leaking power steering system > could be simply a hose or clamp/easily accessible seal OR a damaged steering rack = expensive

TEST DRIVE

• Accelerate/Brake/Ride/Corner/Park/Steer + sound& feel odd vibrations
• Does the vehicle pull to one side?
• Try the reverse gear

• Are there Jack and Tools?

• Ask for a BILL OF SALE: Party A (name/address/phone) sold this vehicle (details) to party B (name/address/phone)

Meanwhile watch this video

opinions on LDV

read here

Insurance tips - compare

compare cheap car insurance

cheap van insurance

17 ways to save on van insurance

A handy tool when choosing your insurance

Videos

watch them here

Driving in UK

Speed limits

UK road signs

Lez compliance

"interesting info on LDV Pilot LEZ compliance


While I patiently wait for a Bosch donor for my 2002 Pilot I made a few calls today -

The folks at the London Emissions helpline CONFIRMED that although there may be no difference between the 2002 model and earlier models of the LDV pilot, ONLY the 2002 model will be considered compliant. As such, I should feel free to run into central London without fear of fines"

read more
and more

How do engines work?

The Workings Of A Car Explained

List of car parts

Buying a vehicle

http://www.thevanwebsite.co.uk/used-vans-buying-tips.asp

http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Used-Car-from-a-Private-Party

http://www.wikihow.com/Check-out-a-Used-Car-Before-Buying-It

"Buyer's mindset", watch the video:

Petrol or Diesel?

"What is the difference between a Petrol and Diesel Engine?In petrol engines fuel is mixed with air and then forced into the
cylinders where the fuel-air mix is compressed by the pistons and
ignited by spark plugs. In a diesel engine the air is compressed
before the fuel is added to it. When air is compressed it heats up.
This means that when the fuel is added to the compressed air it is
very hot and the fuel-air mix ignites automatically. So there are no
spark plugs in a diesel engine as pressure is used to ignite the
fuel-air mix."

The Workings Of A Car Explained

"The process by which a car works is a lot simpler than you may think. When a driver turns a key in the ignition:

• The car battery powers up sending
• Power to the starter motor, which
• Turns the crankshaft, which
• Gets the pistons moving
• With the pistons moving the engine fires up and ticks over
• A fan draws air into the engine via an air filter
• The air filter removes dirt and grit from the air
• The cleaned air is drawn into a chamber where fuel (petrol or diesel) is added
• This fuel-air mix (a vaporised gas) is stored in the chamber
• The driver presses the accelerator pedal
• The throttle valve is opened
• The gas-air mix passes through an intake manifold and is distributed, through intake valves, into the cylinders. The camshaft controls the opening and closing of the valves.
• The distributor makes the spark plugs spark, which ignites the fuel-air mix. The resulting explosion forces a piston to move down which in turn causes the crankshaft to rotate."

Regulations for vans in London

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/default.aspx

LDV vans forums

http://www.ldv-sherpa.co.uk/

http://totalldvsherpa.19.forumer.com/

http://www.hydragas.co.uk/sherpa/index.html

http://www.ukstreetvans.org.uk/index.php?f=37

New owner (4th)

Got the van on the 9th of august 2012 off an interesting car dealer from Mauritius in London UK.

It's a 2003 ex-Royal Mail red van.
It had 2 short-term owners (a DJ and a car dealer) after doing its time with the posties.

Ford banana engine 1900 cc in good running state:

• valve or rocket cover gasket is worn but oil is not leaking badly
• need checking of the cambelt (V-belt or serpentine belt?) as I hear a squeaky noise when the engine is running (should have been done when buying)
• fitted with a speed-limiter so the clutch needs to be pushed far in

Body is in good general condition

• rear bumper left side is going off (repairable or cheaply replaceable) as the rear left light is (cheaply replaceable) - this could mean that there had been a shock on the van but it doesn't look bad.

Had this been tempered with? Hard to tell. An advert on the web mentioned 60 000.... (??)

gaffotaped left rear light and notice the rear bumper has a different colour than the right one (sign of 'repair' = shock/accident)

Doors are generally well used

Interesting exhaust pipe which will need looking into...

the side sliding door works well but the lock doesn't always give the key back willingly

Not the actual engine on this van (which is very clean and looks almost new) but a DW8b euro 3 peugeot engine .