There comes a point when you have to say enough is enough, and whilst I appreciate Bella is a channel favourite, I think that your suggestion of a direct replacement would be the best way to go. Keep hold of Bella if you can it could make a good parts car depending upon compatability - so many repairs / replacements mean you should have a ready supply for quite some time
I'll play devil's advocate and back up the 2.0 HDI lump. They're fine, really. Very similar to an XUD, just slightly more complex (but slightly more efficient as a result). Just look at Pass The Picasso (could you borrow that again for a while?) Issue with Bella is (and I know I'll get pelters for this) it's just not a very good example. Was always a bit of a rough one from the start, but then it was cheap, wasn't it? Does seem to be cursed though!
It's always hard to turn a rough one into a nice one - I think to be honest you'd be better off finding a nicer low mileage Berlingo, and salvaging any new/recent parts off Bella -given you live surrounded by projects your family transport ideally really shouldn't be a project in itself that you're constantly having to worry about ❤
There's a good chance a s/h hub will have a good bearing in it and, if not, the bearing isn't expensive and I'm sure Tim could press it in for you in a trice. Actually, you may be able to retrieve the the new bearing from your old hub by making a careful cut with an angle grinder (not quite all the way through) and then splitting it with a cold chisel (as the old hub is scrap anyway, this will release the bearing without exerting any stress on it).
Even the M59 models are about 20 years old, will be hard to find one that's not been abused. I've had the 1.6 petrol and 2.0 Hdi in the past and I think you might struggle with the petrol when it comes to towing Bob, it would probably do it, but wouldn't be pleasant, with the torque been at the top end. I think my petrol only did about 28mpg on local runs if I remember right. Hard decisions ahead, best of luck.
I think it would be a mistake to scrap Bella. It’s only a day’s work to replace a whole strut if you had a replacement. You’ve already done all the common failure points of the early Berlingo, rear beam, springs etc. and it is in pretty good condition. I haven’t seen a very serious attempt to cure that misfire. The injectors haven’t even been out or the EGR valve cleaned properly. If you fixed that cracked hub, she could go on for many thousands of miles.
For someone as capable as you, kitting out that unit with some proper tools would help you no end, something as simple as a 10T bearing press pays for itself after 2 uses and would be handy with Bella and others, it’s a lovely size unit it just needs a proper workshop area setting up with a workbench, press, bench grinder etc, keep an eye on marketplace and get them second hand to save money
A bearing press is a perfect example of something worth finding a sponsor for the channel! Just look for some brand/model that preferably don't have negative reviews, or if there are no reviews that similarly looking items don't have negative reviews. Would be bad to end up with a crappy tool as part of a sponsorship.
Not enough free funds from patreons, merch, youtube, car shows, advertising, sponsorship, donations, buy us a coffee to afford any tools yet - unless we have a tool sponsorship??
@@havingalook. The thing is that this is the type of tool that you can't recoup buying if you only would use it every second year or so, but would be a great sponsorship.
Ian, you are overthinking, just call wreckers , they will have a hub and probably with a decent bearing. Don't go all out getting rid for the sake of a simple inner hub. The Pajero, just jam the bar in, it will break the pulley bolt. Putting it in is easy, just as tight as you can get it. They are designed to tighten themselves as you drive it, that's why they are so tight. I used to do it all the time, worse one I had was a mitsubishi veranda, jammed the bar and off she came, so just get your battery charged mate, you can do it.
TWC and Ellie are Hub Nut and have to stay as has been said before. What I would do if I owned your fleet: Sell Bella and the Pajero along with the Corsa as you plan to. Fix the Charade as you said. Put Bob in storage outside. Use the gained space inside to store Betty to give you time to decide what to do with her. She is so much part of the channel that this must be a very tough decision for you. (I hope you can somehow keep her). Split the daily driving between the fixed Charade and Desmond. Whatever you decide I truly hope that it all works out well for you and Miss Hub Nut.
The biggest waste of space and money is the camper and it also needs fixing. It also demands something that can tow it making it even more of a hassle, but Brits have some weird caravan fetish (like their soap opera fetish) so Bob never gets mentioned. 😆
If the roof structure of the garage is sturdy enoguh, consider just using a few hand cranked vinschs and pulleys and whatnot to just hang it in the ceiling. Or just tip it over to save space, if it's structurally stable enough to do so.
I should think properly tarped it could really winter outside. I am in west coast Canada (rain coast) and lots of people store their tent caravans quite well that way outdoors.
Good vid Ian! Sorry to hear about Gryph 😞. Re Bella, I think it’s time for her to be moved aside. I remember you tested the DW8 engined Pug variant and loved it. You should track one of those down, they are a bombproof engine and, no, not fast, but who cares with the way the roads are now
Great to see them all together again! Seeing the Pajero again reminds me quite how rare they really are, although one has popped up in a local village which is nice to see! If say the engine had popped on Bella then maybe I'd say it's time, but for the sake of a hub, I imagine a good used one should be an okay find (as others suggested, I think it may be shared)
Hello Hubnut! Regarding the hub on Bella, they are very widely shared, most M59 models used the same one, as did the xsara picasso, xsara, partner 1 and 2, late 306 as well. Part number 3646 54. Also an old school friend of mine worked at Moduron Madog Citroen and most likely was there when bella left the forecourt.
I know the angst of an old car getting unreliable, but wanting to keep it going. The local garage told me they could keep my 18 year old Fabia going almost indefinitely 4 years back if my pockets were deep enough, but in the end, they weren't. My patience with regular parts failures had a limit when it seemed that I was spending a few hundred pounds every few months fixing stuff. The Berlingo seems ideal for many of your needs, so yes, to find another one would be a good idea. When you were wondering about buying Bella even though she was quite old, I think I remarked then that if you liked it, then you could always get a better one later. Replacement seems like a win-win to me as regards spare parts, tyres, accessories and the mechanical knowledge you have acquired.
Indeed - people always told me how utterly reliable the Phase 1 Toyota Yaris is, but I learned the hard way that if they're neglected/abused they become an expensive bag of nails. Didn't even make it to 150k.
@@HowardLeVert and the Mazda 3. 1st generation. The problem was this is it spent a couple of years rarely used (was my sister's, she upgraded, dad kept it for a bit but didn't go anywhere, I then bought it and in that time it went from reliable to loads of problems. It made it to 12 years and 120k but too much had corroded (power steering system, wheel bearings, can't remember the rest but fixing it was triple the cars value). The car did go back on the road for a year looking at MOT history but that was it.
To be fair on Bella the Berlingo was built as a cheap alternative to an MPV. Citroen probably wasnt expecting them to last over 20 years and 200k miles. These were built to a price i guess.
Thanks for the update Ian. Maybe strip Bella of the new parts, tyres, rear suspension, and scrap her once you’ve found a new one. I’m a huge fan of the 90bhp 8v 2.0 HDI, only problem I had in 200,000 was a seized turbo - my fault as I was trying to save diesel and drove it too slowly. Been running a 1.6HDI for the last 6 years, it’s been ok touch wood. And so economical Chemmy needs the little love to get it going safely for Miss Hubnut.
My 53 plate 2.0Hdi M59 Berlingo had over 180,000 miles on it in 12 years at the time and still went like a train. Only ever had a broken spring and a new alternator.
If you do end up going down the route of another berlingo, I'd be looking at the M59 model with the TU5 1.6 petrol engine. It'll be worse on fuel but at least theres a lot less to go wrong and still goes well enough with 110hp. They do hold their value though. As far as the 1.6hdi is concerned, they are alright if looked after with regular oil changes and theres also a revised banjo bolt that goes into the turbo feed. It has a larger removable filter in it that is less likely to block up and starve the turbo. Injector seals can also be an issue.
Why would anyone want a gutless naturally aspirated petrol for towing a caravan, I couldn’t think of anything worse plus it would cost a fortune in fuel because you’d be constantly ringing its neck to make any progress. The 1.6 HDI 90bhp is a no brainer, plenty of low down torque and run on the smell of diesel. Buy an example that’s been looked after and keep it serviced with correct grade oil and it’ll never go wrong. I’ve owned numerous 1.6 HDI 16V which were excellent engines.
Hit the nail on the head. 1.6 Hdi's can be good, seen them in many a fiesta zetec s with few dramas. It would be a better choice over the 1.9 dw8 which can hardly tow itself let alone a caravan. The 1.6tu5jp4 ive not seen many of though, once in a van and maybe 3 times as a multispace
@@paultasker7788 Admittedly it wasn’t until right after I’d posted my original comment that it occurred to me that it would be towing bob fairly regularly, in which case Ian would be better off with another HDi. There’s the 1.9D but I reckon it’ll tow worse than 1.6 petrol. They did a 1.8 petrol in the early ones but from memory it has both less power and torque than the 1.6. To be fair I think the 1.6 would cope, it’s not gutless like the above poster said, but the HDi engines will tow a lot better whilst using less fuel. It’s just a matter of finding a diesel one that hasn’t been run into the ground.
Many of my current nightmares are about owning a small fleet of cars and not being able to decide on which one to give the most love and care. It wakes me up and it's like Dante's Hell ...
I love you saying about going for a drive, I recently was diagnosed with a life changing heath condition and currently in the process of becoming homeless and my car is my escape from it my Audi A3 has picked me up from such dark sad places and hopefully one day soon will have a new home to park at but I couldn't live without her 💙
ita a tricky decision with Bella as you say you've spent a lot on her and it is difficult to decide when enough is enough. My good ladies 54 plate Pug 307 has just failed its MOT but luckily its just a bottom ball joint and an ABS light so a new joint and a set of ABS sensors are waiting for me to fit them this weekend! Less than £100 in parts so not too bad on a 20 year old pug wirth 143k miles on (petrol 1.6). Last year it needed major rear brakes surgery that cost £600 as I just didnt want to be crawing around on the driveway in January plus needed the car fixed quick. We have a reasonable fleet at home of 5 cars and a motorbike so I feel your pain of something always needs fixing and progressing! Good luck with progress and I hope you can get a s hand strut for Bella so you can at least get her moving again without too much cost. You may be lucky and the part could be shared with another in the PSA fleet. As always thanks for the video update. Keep smiling 🙂
The Berlingo with 180k in rural Wales has had a hard life. My wife has a minivan with a similar mileage that was mostly motorway. It's almost like new to drive and sailed through it's MOT last week.
It would be sad without a Berlingo in the fleet and glad that you're considering an M59. Ive got one (And the air con still works, essential with so much glass and a dog on board) mine is also an hdi. It's a good engine but awful to work on as you know as the turbo and assorted bits are hidden behind the back of the engine against the bulkhead. I think Bella was not the best example when you bought it. I personally wouldn't reject a 1600 diesel, it's like all 'newer' engines in that a good service history is essential and the engine is so much easier to work on. James got any spare M59's? Could be time for Bella to visit the scrap yard with a one way ticket.
I just saw a YT short posted by FayeHadley on how to stop the engine rotating to undo the crank pulley bolt - if the pulley has tapped holes for attaching a puller, you can get a tool with a tubular part that bolts to the pulley and an arm that sticks out past the OD of the pulley that braces the whole thing against a solid bit of engine to stop it all rotating
Complete front knuckle with bearing are £82 on ebay new. That break is probably due to being snapped when it was over tightened, prob with windy gun. The rust means its been like it a long time and you find the shape of the broken bit will wedge against the strut and it actully holds well, im not saying its safe but i would not expect you to notice any thing was wrong. If the mechanic changed the bearing insitute or by removing the whole strut then I doubt they would notice anything. But i would take the knuckle off and use a press, and if that was the case then why did they not notice the break or perhaps crack? I have used flicking the starter with an old breaker bar on the crank nut loads of times, vw lt really tight normally. Re tightening the bolt is much easier as you clean the rust off and the old loctite off. And if your worried a couple of drops of loctite solves any concerns.
The original 8 valve HdI with a waste gate turbo was a very durable engine (in my long lamented Synergie which sadly went off to the scrappy at 22). My favourite! I've had issues with my later 16 valve one and its variable geometry turbo - largely to do with the turbo actuator control system.
Many thanks for keeping us updated Ian. I think Elle has proven not only to be just a great car but a real family friend. She'll stay with you when you need her for that impromptu drive. Not good news on Bella, it's been a rough year for her but time moves on. Thanks for sharing.
cars have a habit of going wrong after they've been worked on, sometimes through disturbance and sometimes by accident. the old adage of 'go back to the last thing you worked on' to find a fault always remain relevant.
Financially Bella is a write off, the biggest problem is the engine, if you repair or replace it , the cost will be more than she is worth .Best to find a suitable replacement and transfer all the good bits from Bella to the new one ( don't forget the tow hitch ) I don't know if Bella would have much or any residual value but with a bit of luck you can get a decent price for her.
The Berlingo has served you all well, but it seems like it's becoming more of a liability than anything else, so it may be time to let it go. Not sure what your plans are for the Mitsu, but it'd be nice to see that up and running. Another Berlingo or similar van that's newer with lower mileage and fewer issues may serve you well.
As a Berlingo fan, ive been dreading the day when Hubnut throws in the towel. Therefore this is great news that you are considering another one. Absolutely definitely, Bella can donate and live on. I can’t help you with engine choice because I would go 2.0hdi, but with half the miles. Bella Can donate her rear axle, and everything else you have replaced and repaired. Even her tow bar if necessary (in face look for a Berlingo without one for obvious reasons).
Yeah, it might be time for Bella to go, she seems to be pretty much a nightmare to deal with now. On AutoTrader there is a silver 2003 M59 Forte with 127k miles for sale with the 1.9D engine for £670 in Taunton (granted the MOT has expired 10 days ago), but if it doesn't have to be a diesel one, there is a red 2004 Desire with 125k for £1400 with the 1.6 petrol in Northolt, which has MOT until the end of the year.
Agree with so many other comments on here, but here's my thoughts anyway. This is quite a fleet and many are channel icons, hence potentially losing them has an extra dimension. Bella illustrates a problem that more and more of us face - when a necessary vehicle is banging on the threshold of disposal, WHAT to replace it with whilst avoiding known issues with more modern alternatives? I dread the point when my 2014 diesel Fiesta has to be replaced - it's been a moneypit already and now I just pray every day because I can't face the thought of modern gizmo madness - but hopefully it still has years left in it. A twenty-two-year-old car is already at the point where I'd be resigned to imminent replacement, but it's the sunk cost conundrum - you spend the most just before a car fails terminally, but don't realize this until after it fails. If it were me, I'd get that engine seen-to, sort out the latest (Hub) problem and keep going with Bella. When she's operational. she does her assigned job. Any replacement would come with its own issues and then we'd hear the immortal words - "if only I'd kept Bella, we'd be having none of this..." Betty is a titan and an icon - so rare on our roads that it's almost a civic duty to keep her going. You knew what you were getting from the outset - comfort, effortless cruising and thirst. No disrespect to Matt Furious with his ex-US-cop car, but they are ten-a-penny by comparison (and even thirstier). The little Pajero seems like a project going nowhere - reminds me of the Sana and the Oltcit(s) in that respect. It may be cute, but if you need to trim the fleet, that would be my first target. Also, do you need the Charade AND the Kenari - unless they are already earmarked for particular individual drivers...? (On the other hand, two small cars is not a bad thing). Good luck to Little Miss Hubnut with her driving lessons - and kudos to you for the patience in tutoring!
The Kenari is your best purchase in recent memory, and Bella is the biggest money pit since the Camry! If it was bought to be sensible, reliable and economical, its failure on the latter two means it fails all round. But if it all went smoothly you'd have nowt to make videos about! I'd get rid if it's preventing the catch improve release nature of the work you want to do.
There is a tool that looks like an "L" and a pivot point in the angle and an 1/2 drive for sockets. Its good when you cant fit an impact gun. You simply wack the tool with a beefy sledge hammer. You get a lot of force on the bolt. I have used it a lot on cars with the pully tight to the radiator. Example Laser Tools 4590
The channel needs a Berlingo/Partner (in my humble opinion, that is). I had a petrol Partner 1.6 16V for a while and 2.0HDI Berlingo's for many years and I prefer the HDI. Didn't like the 1.6 16V very much, but that same engine in my 206s was and still is fine. So your Bella and my Partner issues might have been bad luck. Thing is: can you tell at time of purchase?
I know I say this ad nauseam but if you replace the Berlingo and something else you don't need with a Caddy / Caddy Life from around 2011 onwards then you will be laughing. I know it will need work too but I think it will be a good trade as they are more contemporary and will serve you better. They really are excellent.
I think another Berlingo is a great shout. Make a good one out of the two. I don' think the 1.6hdi is a total loss as an engine choice. Anyway good luck!
2.0 hdi 90 is probably the sweet spot, I like the 1.6 hdi to drive but yeah added issues for sure. I dont think hdi 90s ever got a dual mass flywheel for example.
Been thinking, maybe you are quite Right Ian, maybe get hold of James to see if he still has that silver m59 modutop available… The 1.6 is not a bad engine and the belt is actually very easy to do… Power wise… I think a 1.6 may struggle to pull Bob unfortunately… Belamé without a trailer absolutely does not like hills nor my fiesta that has the 1.6 8 valve…. They absolutely hate hill climbs and loose a of steam… Now that we have a tent box for Belamé will be interesting with the extra drag… Once on the motorway she pulls well especially after the diesel additive treatment. If you do decide to keep her going, I highly suggest you fit a one way inline valve on the fuel line just before the filter housing… The injector pump has a shaft and small seal and over time this seal lets air in letting fuel back feed back to the tank hence the hard starting… I’ve heard of quite a lot of 2.0hdi engines with this problem and yours has the same symptoms…. It would be sad to see Bella scrapped but at the end of the day she’s very tired and costing you a fortune almost every month.. Go with what your instinct tell you may be the best thing…
A puff of smoke after coming off the overrun is usually a sign of worn valve stems or guides, some engines were designed to do that but they were high performance engines like Jag XK done to prevent wear.
What is happening is that on over run with the throttle butterfly closed, the engine is being driven by the mass of the vehicle, oil is drawn into the cylinders through the valve seals. Once the throttle is open again the dynamics within the engine change , hence the short puff of smoke. Most likely it is valve stem oil seals having gone hard. Get yourself a seal conditioning additive, which softens the rubber, I have used it and it has worked. A good friend of mine puts a small amount of thinners in the oil. He swears by it, but I am not so sure as it seems a bit risky to me..
Not sure if discontinued Japanese cars with known rust issues are the best choice. And all of your cars except the Fairmont and the 2cv are not easy to service.
Yes, let Bella go to greener pastures and take the best bits to a better one. In my experience 1.6HDi isn't as bad as the talk goes, but it needs to be well maintained (oil changes!) to survive.
Totally agree. I’m lucky in that I have to reverse into a drive so don’t stop the engine until it’s idled for a bit. Only have 84,000 in it, owned since 36,000
@ My C4 had almost 250000km on the clock when I sold it, no issues with the engine except alternator went around 240k. Not bad for a car I paid 300€ for!
Time to get hold of some simple 1970s machinery i reckon , stuff you can work on yourself without too much trouble , something Rimmers can supply affordable spares for etc ?
I think your thinking is spot on regarding Bella - although she has given you some fun with Bob, the outlay to get that fun is not commensurate with the amount of fun you've managed to achieve. At least she has been a proof of concept that the Berlingo is the right model... maybe just one in better nick.
I think I'd keep the Ford, Perodua, Invacar and move on the rest. Good idea on a replacement Berlingo/Partner...are the petrol ones too gutless? They did a factory LPG one in case you do pass the relevant stations .
The biggest waste of space and money is the camper, it also demands something that can tow it making it even more of a hassle, but Brits have some weird caravan fetish (like their soap opera fetish) so that never gets mentioned. 😆
Reference the Pajero, I used a bar and starter motor to undo, a chance you take is snapping the bolt. I locked the engine up with a huge screwdriver in the flywheel teeth, to tighten the crank bolt. I think there's an access panel underneath.
After driving my little AX GT a little bit, that 1.4 TU3 engine is a little peach. I know Berlingo's came with the 1.4 TU engine up to about 2008 so maybe consider one of those, and harvest parts off Bella to keep it going/refreshed.
Hello Ian, i had a 1.4 petrol berlingo it clocked the miles and was economical as well, this may be an option as the berlingo is the perfect family run around
If possible see if you can find a lower mile Berlingo that is crash damaged as a parts donor. Although it would be good to find out why your existing engine isn't running great, worst case you can just swap the engine. If you do that I recommend that you swap the harness, engine computer and probably gauge cluster and whatnot too. You probably need to swap the ignition lock too if it has electronic theft protection as part of the key. As it would be a parts care, you could probably use a right hand drive car and although there would be toll fees and whatnot, that opens up buying it from anywhere in Europe if the price is right. Don't know about the UK, but in Sweden the toll is way lower and afaik also paper work is way easier if you import a car as scrap rather than with the intention of making it road legal. But also: If you plan on giving up on it, I think you could make a few interesting videos if you would just let viewers in your area, that seem to have some sort of skills, have a go at diagnosing it. Even if it's hard to judge what is a good or bad idea for someone not educated in electronics and whatnot, you can hardly make the car worse by hooking up a bunch of measurement instruments to various signals to determine if/what doesn't make sense. Just finding some correlation or lack of correlation would likely be key to finding the issue(s). P.S. if you give up on the Belingo, maybe consider a "boring bur reliable" car? I'm biased but I would check out a late 90's Volvo V70/S70 (or possibly 850, but check if they have an OBD2 connector - the older ones have a "flash code" diagnostic port that on one hand saves you getting a scanner but on the other hand is too slow to actually read any meaningful live data). One of those Volvos would likely consume more fuel than the Berlingo but less than Betty, and as for crash protection when going on family trips Volvo are known to be among the top notch.
The bottom bolt issue that's happed to me. It's splaying the hub clincher many times. On and off. The joint can be a pig to remove. Widening the hub carrier to make it easier then retightining is reason. Try find a Visa Van.
@HubNut Oops a little snug what about a Kangoo. Gordon Murry loves them. Brilliant in the snow even more so if you can find the 4x4 version. They never gave much bother at the council. The odd electronic but nothing serious.
Motor therapy is something I am more then well aware of. Good for straightening out ones head when it needs an adjustment. If Bella is costing you more than she makes, and it doesn't look like it's gonna stop, time for a change. Get the best Berlingo you can find and run with it! IMHO.
Wow, good reminder how important it is to get the car checked asap if steering, or any other important control seems to be wrong. One thing crossed in my mind, have seen some channels, where they hit the knuckle with hammer in disassembly phase when replacing or removing lower ball joint, to release the ball joint from the knuckle. I guess the danger is if the hammer hits accidentally wrong place, it might end up like this, a fractured and finally broken knuckle? Maybe it's better to use proper balljoint removal tool than hit it with a hammer.
I love Bella, she made me like Berlingoes even more and I've always defended her, but I understand your frustration. I had a Volvo S60 that was a peach but I got to a point where it just didn't make sense for a variety of reasons so I had to let it go. But if you're replacing it for another Berlingo, that's great! 2.0Hdi's are great as long as they don't have Delphi injectors, if memory serves me correctly. Either that or get one with a petrol 1.4 or 1.8, they were the last good engines before PSA/Stellantis came up with the cursed Puretech rubbish.
I still like the idea of a "van conversion" car. The Berlingo is so utilitarian it makes Swiss Army knives seem showy and ostentatious. As Ian demonstrated, you can even convert one to a campervan for a few bob! As cheap as chips, but getting rare. A shame that nothing like this is available to buy new now. Fight back comrades, buy a Berlingo!✊
maybe a peugeot partner, same but different. facelift model for the redesigned front end. if having two person trips on mind and maybe hauling car parts, i'd look at the van version. different emission standards kept some engines longer in production than the passenger car featured. vans make a better base for a camper if thinking of isolation and use of space. and they usually go for less than the passenger cars.
If you buy a newer, better Berlingo… will there be new Berlingo mugs available in your store? 😊 I hope you will find a nice guy who takes care for Bella. See you soon »»» Martin 🚗💨🇫🇷
The new bearing can be removed and transferred to the new hub if carefully pushed out. Although carefully and HubNut not usually seen in the same sentence.
My 2d-worth: the problem seems to me to be that so many cars have problems at the same time. If Bella had been unwell on her own it wdn't have been such a big deal, I think. At least, I hope so. Sleep on any decision for a few days. You need a car to tow Bob economically, as well as family transport. Good luck with the decision.
Could you consider getting a much newer replacement for Bella (Berlingo/Partner/Combo Life) as reliable family transport not part of the fleet as such then just concentrate on the HubNut old car fleet (perhaps rationalised, get rid of Corsa, Pajero, maybe even Betty) just for enjoyment and for the content?
You could change Bella, but I'm not convinced. Better the devil you know? If you keep fixing it then you'll have a solid dependable van again. Unless the rot is an issue. Rhen again someone mentioned a Kangoo and I quite like those, the front seat can fold flat for more luggage capability. I have a 1.6 hdi in an Expert at 215k miles and its ok, a bit ropey to be honest but reliable. The 1.6 dci in our qashqai is many times better at the same mileage, so if I were to change vans I'd look at an nv200. I managed to undo a very tight crank pulley bolt by firmly clamping my large molegrips onto it, sideways on. Didn't expect success but it worked.
I agree with your comments re the XUD via the HDi. In my experience the 1.9 litre XUD turbo diesel was a far better engine than the 2.0 HDi. I had two of the former and one of the latter. The HDi was the least reliable.
I was hoping you could keep the Corsa a little longer and do a bit more with it. Seems to me that cars that are less troublesome are the ones you let go of more easily. Do you find the more troublesome critters to be more endearing?
@danielrussell446 they look to be decent ruggid cars. I'm buying a mk3 galaxy soon. I'm pretty sure that the 2.0 tdci is the PSA 2.0 HDi, so a pretty good engine.
Thinking backwards: could you find a lower mileage, damaged or rusty Berlingo and swap the whole front end (engine/box, suspension, steering and brakes) into Bella? She's a solid shell with near new rear suspension so surely she's worth keeping?
In the past 6 months My 2007 saab 9-3 diesel nearly 2 hundred thousand miles on it mot due next month just had to replace the timing belt kit as the pump locked up stalled the engine and burnt my starter motor out replaced the clutch egr valve fuel pump 2 new wings I just do it to keep it on the road
Hi Hubnut. You asked for opinions on the Berlingo. Sorry to say, mine is that your life needs an absence of Berlingos. I'd have gotten rid of it after the rear suspension collapsed and you told us that they're all prone to it! Get another one and you'll have the same repertoire of problems all over again. There was no mention of Betty this time, though you expressed doubts previously. I vote for keeping her, as A. You need a car that no-one else has, and B. You need some waft in your life. Just use it for where it's strengths lie - towing or long motorway runs. It'll still be thirsty of course, but you could afford that by not constantly repairing Berlingos. Cheers.
@@HubNut I was thinking that too. The amount Bella is costing you in repairs would pay for lots of fuel in Betty. Especially when used for long trips which she seems much more economical on than local runs.
Maybe a later Berlingo and have Bella as a parts car? Maybe it sounds heartless, but with a newer/lower mileage example on the fleet you will be able to recoup some of the good work you did on Bella for the new one. It's easy to give advice on someone else's car fleet. But here i am trying to work out what to do with my own car fleet!!
Get another and use as a parts car maybe?. Could even do an engine teardown. That being said if it is just one thing that needs fixing would it be worth giving her one last shot? Perhaps sum up what you have invested in her and see if it outweighs the cost of another? Or at least the cost of a low mileage FSH car?
If you keep it French, how does a Renault Kangoo compare with a Berlingo? Or perhaps something JDM, dare I suggest? They seem to be very fond of these Bella-type vehicles. Although I understand Kitch wants to move his S-Max on...
5:00 I am not going to say that I told you so, but I did. Some cars for some reason are a complete money pit. Had the same issue with my Suzuki Ignis, which I loved. But it was taking money like it wanted to be fed with it! You gotta let it go.
Why would you want another Berlingo ?. If it's an MPV you're after try finding a diesel Roomster. Wife has a 3 cylinder 1.4 tdi. Been very reliable, very very economical and a very practical car. It's not a powerhouse but very torquey. You can try and find a 1.9 tdi Pd.
Wonder if you sold Bella, could you get something like a Logan MCV or Jogger, i know you don't like finance (me neither), but something realible and possibly with warranty just as a family car and one that does not need to feature on the channel. Otherwise a newer Berlingo and Bella and the mini camper kit can live on in a newer Berlingo.
Ever considered Ian may just have a reliable regular car that you don't see on the channel? Ever heard him mention he's had to send the kids to school in a taxi? The fleet is for income. YT is about selling stories.
There comes a point when you have to say enough is enough, and whilst I appreciate Bella is a channel favourite, I think that your suggestion of a direct replacement would be the best way to go. Keep hold of Bella if you can it could make a good parts car depending upon compatability - so many repairs / replacements mean you should have a ready supply for quite some time
Agree with John
He could also sell off parts to other Belingo owners
Well said John my thoughts exactly
I agree
"Sunk cost fallacy" writ large.
Kitchs unwavering compassion is very admirable, he's some guy
He is a great RUclipsr. Never has his begging bowl out, or trying to peddle merch, humble and legit guy
Buying a better, *not* knackered Berlingo has been the solution all along ;)
Is there such a thing?
Could But searching would take time@@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt
@@AnyoneSeenMikeHuntif taken care of yes. My grandads had his since new and no issues
@@NicksPokeStop Wow, no issues makes it the most unicorn car on the planet. Just brake pads and oil in twenty years is truly amazing!
@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt pretty much just that. Usual stuff like tires but it's trooped on well.
I'll play devil's advocate and back up the 2.0 HDI lump. They're fine, really. Very similar to an XUD, just slightly more complex (but slightly more efficient as a result). Just look at Pass The Picasso (could you borrow that again for a while?)
Issue with Bella is (and I know I'll get pelters for this) it's just not a very good example. Was always a bit of a rough one from the start, but then it was cheap, wasn't it?
Does seem to be cursed though!
Yeah, she'd had a life before us that's for sure. A hard one.
It's always hard to turn a rough one into a nice one - I think to be honest you'd be better off finding a nicer low mileage Berlingo, and salvaging any new/recent parts off Bella -given you live surrounded by projects your family transport ideally really shouldn't be a project in itself that you're constantly having to worry about ❤
There's a good chance a s/h hub will have a good bearing in it and, if not, the bearing isn't expensive and I'm sure Tim could press it in for you in a trice.
Actually, you may be able to retrieve the the new bearing from your old hub by making a careful cut with an angle grinder (not quite all the way through) and then splitting it with a cold chisel (as the old hub is scrap anyway, this will release the bearing without exerting any stress on it).
Yes I would have thought that idea would work :-)
The bearing isn’t very expensive though.
Even the M59 models are about 20 years old, will be hard to find one that's not been abused. I've had the 1.6 petrol and 2.0 Hdi in the past and I think you might struggle with the petrol when it comes to towing Bob, it would probably do it, but wouldn't be pleasant, with the torque been at the top end. I think my petrol only did about 28mpg on local runs if I remember right. Hard decisions ahead, best of luck.
I think it would be a mistake to scrap Bella. It’s only a day’s work to replace a whole strut if you had a replacement. You’ve already done all the common failure points of the early Berlingo, rear beam, springs etc. and it is in pretty good condition. I haven’t seen a very serious attempt to cure that misfire. The injectors haven’t even been out or the EGR valve cleaned properly. If you fixed that cracked hub, she could go on for many thousands of miles.
pretty good condition since when
For someone as capable as you, kitting out that unit with some proper tools would help you no end, something as simple as a 10T bearing press pays for itself after 2 uses and would be handy with Bella and others, it’s a lovely size unit it just needs a proper workshop area setting up with a workbench, press, bench grinder etc, keep an eye on marketplace and get them second hand to save money
Maybe we just cannot see those tools buried under huge piles of stuff.
A bearing press is a perfect example of something worth finding a sponsor for the channel! Just look for some brand/model that preferably don't have negative reviews, or if there are no reviews that similarly looking items don't have negative reviews. Would be bad to end up with a crappy tool as part of a sponsorship.
Not enough free funds from patreons, merch, youtube, car shows, advertising, sponsorship, donations, buy us a coffee to afford any tools yet - unless we have a tool sponsorship??
@@havingalook. The thing is that this is the type of tool that you can't recoup buying if you only would use it every second year or so, but would be a great sponsorship.
Ian, you are overthinking, just call wreckers , they will have a hub and probably with a decent bearing. Don't go all out getting rid for the sake of a simple inner hub.
The Pajero, just jam the bar in, it will break the pulley bolt. Putting it in is easy, just as tight as you can get it. They are designed to tighten themselves as you drive it, that's why they are so tight. I used to do it all the time, worse one I had was a mitsubishi veranda, jammed the bar and off she came, so just get your battery charged mate, you can do it.
TWC and Ellie are Hub Nut and have to stay as has been said before.
What I would do if I owned your fleet:
Sell Bella and the Pajero along with the Corsa as you plan to.
Fix the Charade as you said.
Put Bob in storage outside.
Use the gained space inside to store Betty to give you time to decide what to do with her. She is so much part of the channel that this must be a very tough decision for you. (I hope you can somehow keep her).
Split the daily driving between the fixed Charade and Desmond.
Whatever you decide I truly hope that it all works out well for you and Miss Hub Nut.
The biggest waste of space and money is the camper and it also needs fixing. It also demands something that can tow it making it even more of a hassle, but Brits have some weird caravan fetish (like their soap opera fetish) so Bob never gets mentioned. 😆
@@AnyoneSeenMikeHuntagree its seems to be a huge waste of space and she needs to moved all the time
If the roof structure of the garage is sturdy enoguh, consider just using a few hand cranked vinschs and pulleys and whatnot to just hang it in the ceiling. Or just tip it over to save space, if it's structurally stable enough to do so.
I should think properly tarped it could really winter outside. I am in west coast Canada (rain coast) and lots of people store their tent caravans quite well that way outdoors.
@@briandawkins984 I should think a properly made caravan is purpose built for the outdoors so it should in theory be just fine left as is.
Good vid Ian! Sorry to hear about Gryph 😞. Re Bella, I think it’s time for her to be moved aside. I remember you tested the DW8 engined Pug variant and loved it. You should track one of those down, they are a bombproof engine and, no, not fast, but who cares with the way the roads are now
Great to see them all together again! Seeing the Pajero again reminds me quite how rare they really are, although one has popped up in a local village which is nice to see! If say the engine had popped on Bella then maybe I'd say it's time, but for the sake of a hub, I imagine a good used one should be an okay find (as others suggested, I think it may be shared)
Hello Hubnut! Regarding the hub on Bella, they are very widely shared, most M59 models used the same one, as did the xsara picasso, xsara, partner 1 and 2, late 306 as well. Part number 3646 54.
Also an old school friend of mine worked at Moduron Madog Citroen and most likely was there when bella left the forecourt.
Oh and to add, Autodoc have brand new ones for £45 bare.
Ta.
I know the angst of an old car getting unreliable, but wanting to keep it going. The local garage told me they could keep my 18 year old Fabia going almost indefinitely 4 years back if my pockets were deep enough, but in the end, they weren't. My patience with regular parts failures had a limit when it seemed that I was spending a few hundred pounds every few months fixing stuff.
The Berlingo seems ideal for many of your needs, so yes, to find another one would be a good idea. When you were wondering about buying Bella even though she was quite old, I think I remarked then that if you liked it, then you could always get a better one later. Replacement seems like a win-win to me as regards spare parts, tyres, accessories and the mechanical knowledge you have acquired.
Time for a new family steed. Think of the possibilities AND the sheer excitement of the collection caper! Fun with trains and buses abound!
My M59 2.0 HDI Berlingo has now done + 200k miles, engine runs perfectly, I love it!
Yours was not treated very well in the past.
Indeed - people always told me how utterly reliable the Phase 1 Toyota Yaris is, but I learned the hard way that if they're neglected/abused they become an expensive bag of nails. Didn't even make it to 150k.
@@HowardLeVert and the Mazda 3. 1st generation. The problem was this is it spent a couple of years rarely used (was my sister's, she upgraded, dad kept it for a bit but didn't go anywhere, I then bought it and in that time it went from reliable to loads of problems. It made it to 12 years and 120k but too much had corroded (power steering system, wheel bearings, can't remember the rest but fixing it was triple the cars value). The car did go back on the road for a year looking at MOT history but that was it.
To be fair on Bella the Berlingo was built as a cheap alternative to an MPV. Citroen probably wasnt expecting them to last over 20 years and 200k miles. These were built to a price i guess.
Thanks for the update Ian.
Maybe strip Bella of the new parts, tyres, rear suspension, and scrap her once you’ve found a new one.
I’m a huge fan of the 90bhp 8v 2.0 HDI, only problem I had in 200,000 was a seized turbo - my fault as I was trying to save diesel and drove it too slowly.
Been running a 1.6HDI for the last 6 years, it’s been ok touch wood. And so economical
Chemmy needs the little love to get it going safely for Miss Hubnut.
My 53 plate 2.0Hdi M59 Berlingo had over 180,000 miles on it in 12 years at the time and still went like a train. Only ever had a broken spring and a new alternator.
Had? What happened to it?
If you do end up going down the route of another berlingo, I'd be looking at the M59 model with the TU5 1.6 petrol engine. It'll be worse on fuel but at least theres a lot less to go wrong and still goes well enough with 110hp. They do hold their value though.
As far as the 1.6hdi is concerned, they are alright if looked after with regular oil changes and theres also a revised banjo bolt that goes into the turbo feed. It has a larger removable filter in it that is less likely to block up and starve the turbo. Injector seals can also be an issue.
Why would anyone want a gutless naturally aspirated petrol for towing a caravan, I couldn’t think of anything worse plus it would cost a fortune in fuel because you’d be constantly ringing its neck to make any progress. The 1.6 HDI 90bhp is a no brainer, plenty of low down torque and run on the smell of diesel. Buy an example that’s been looked after and keep it serviced with correct grade oil and it’ll never go wrong. I’ve owned numerous 1.6 HDI 16V which were excellent engines.
Hit the nail on the head. 1.6 Hdi's can be good, seen them in many a fiesta zetec s with few dramas. It would be a better choice over the 1.9 dw8 which can hardly tow itself let alone a caravan. The 1.6tu5jp4 ive not seen many of though, once in a van and maybe 3 times as a multispace
@@ficerion6478 that wouldn't be a good tow car though. Not sure what bob weighs but I fear it'll struggle. Did they never do a 2.0 petrol?
@@paultasker7788 Admittedly it wasn’t until right after I’d posted my original comment that it occurred to me that it would be towing bob fairly regularly, in which case Ian would be better off with another HDi. There’s the 1.9D but I reckon it’ll tow worse than 1.6 petrol.
They did a 1.8 petrol in the early ones but from memory it has both less power and torque than the 1.6. To be fair I think the 1.6 would cope, it’s not gutless like the above poster said, but the HDi engines will tow a lot better whilst using less fuel. It’s just a matter of finding a diesel one that hasn’t been run into the ground.
@@ficerion6478 I had a 1.6 focus. Similar power. Nippy quick but with 4 people and luggage I reckon Elly could keep up behind!
RIP Gryph. I remember his comments. Always had something interesting and positive to say. Nice bloke by all accounts.
Many of my current nightmares are about owning a small fleet of cars and not being able to decide on which one to give the most love and care. It wakes me up and it's like Dante's Hell ...
Rather touched to hear how Miss H sits in Chemmy, I totally get it. 2025 could be her year!
I can so relate to you "just going for a drive" and Miss Hubnut "just sitting in her car".
Cars are so much more than the sum of their parts.
I love you saying about going for a drive, I recently was diagnosed with a life changing heath condition and currently in the process of becoming homeless and my car is my escape from it my Audi A3 has picked me up from such dark sad places and hopefully one day soon will have a new home to park at but I couldn't live without her 💙
All the best.
Hi Ian I had a Peugeot partner in 2010 on motability and that was a good vehicle. Thanks again for great video take care and hubnut family
ita a tricky decision with Bella as you say you've spent a lot on her and it is difficult to decide when enough is enough. My good ladies 54 plate Pug 307 has just failed its MOT but luckily its just a bottom ball joint and an ABS light so a new joint and a set of ABS sensors are waiting for me to fit them this weekend! Less than £100 in parts so not too bad on a 20 year old pug wirth 143k miles on (petrol 1.6). Last year it needed major rear brakes surgery that cost £600 as I just didnt want to be crawing around on the driveway in January plus needed the car fixed quick. We have a reasonable fleet at home of 5 cars and a motorbike so I feel your pain of something always needs fixing and progressing! Good luck with progress and I hope you can get a s hand strut for Bella so you can at least get her moving again without too much cost. You may be lucky and the part could be shared with another in the PSA fleet. As always thanks for the video update. Keep smiling 🙂
Sounds like it’s time to get a reliable replacement for Bella so you can focus on getting the others going / gone.
Hi Ian yes I’d get a later low mileage Berlingo and keep Bella for spares
She then lives on in parts.
@mickdavenport5628 Also has a basically new rear axel 300 pounds with shocks drums etc.
@grumpy2.0 Most of its parts are knackered.
Out of one frying pan into another frying pan.
Just press the bearing out and put it in another hub, mileage and reliability is irrelevant, whoever tightened that pinch bolt done the damage
The Berlingo with 180k in rural Wales has had a hard life. My wife has a minivan with a similar mileage that was mostly motorway. It's almost like new to drive and sailed through it's MOT last week.
It would be sad without a Berlingo in the fleet and glad that you're considering an M59. Ive got one (And the air con still works, essential with so much glass and a dog on board) mine is also an hdi. It's a good engine but awful to work on as you know as the turbo and assorted bits are hidden behind the back of the engine against the bulkhead. I think Bella was not the best example when you bought it. I personally wouldn't reject a 1600 diesel, it's like all 'newer' engines in that a good service history is essential and the engine is so much easier to work on. James got any spare M59's? Could be time for Bella to visit the scrap yard with a one way ticket.
U could get another non running one and use it as spares or a parts bin or get one break it down and get parts
I just saw a YT short posted by FayeHadley on how to stop the engine rotating to undo the crank pulley bolt - if the pulley has tapped holes for attaching a puller, you can get a tool with a tubular part that bolts to the pulley and an arm that sticks out past the OD of the pulley that braces the whole thing against a solid bit of engine to stop it all rotating
ruclips.net/user/shortsuiYFkavITac
Complete front knuckle with bearing are £82 on ebay new. That break is probably due to being snapped when it was over tightened, prob with windy gun. The rust means its been like it a long time and you find the shape of the broken bit will wedge against the strut and it actully holds well, im not saying its safe but i would not expect you to notice any thing was wrong. If the mechanic changed the bearing insitute or by removing the whole strut then I doubt they would notice anything. But i would take the knuckle off and use a press, and if that was the case then why did they not notice the break or perhaps crack? I have used flicking the starter with an old breaker bar on the crank nut loads of times, vw lt really tight normally. Re tightening the bolt is much easier as you clean the rust off and the old loctite off. And if your worried a couple of drops of loctite solves any concerns.
That drive out has kept me going all my life it’s great way to clear your head 👍👍
The original 8 valve HdI with a waste gate turbo was a very durable engine (in my long lamented Synergie which sadly went off to the scrappy at 22). My favourite! I've had issues with my later 16 valve one and its variable geometry turbo - largely to do with the turbo actuator control system.
Many thanks for keeping us updated Ian. I think Elle has proven not only to be just a great car but a real family friend. She'll stay with you when you need her for that impromptu drive. Not good news on Bella, it's been a rough year for her but time moves on. Thanks for sharing.
cars have a habit of going wrong after they've been worked on, sometimes through disturbance and sometimes by accident. the old adage of 'go back to the last thing you worked on' to find a fault always remain relevant.
Financially Bella is a write off, the biggest problem is the engine, if you repair or replace it , the cost will be more than she is worth .Best to find a suitable replacement and transfer all the good bits from Bella to the new one ( don't forget the tow hitch ) I don't know if Bella would have much or any residual value but with a bit of luck you can get a decent price for her.
The Berlingo has served you all well, but it seems like it's becoming more of a liability than anything else, so it may be time to let it go. Not sure what your plans are for the Mitsu, but it'd be nice to see that up and running. Another Berlingo or similar van that's newer with lower mileage and fewer issues may serve you well.
The knuckles seem fairly easy to source new at a reasonable price; there's a fair few come up on Google search and ebay, and they come with a bearing.
As a Berlingo fan, ive been dreading the day when Hubnut throws in the towel. Therefore this is great news that you are considering another one.
Absolutely definitely, Bella can donate and live on. I can’t help you with engine choice because I would go 2.0hdi, but with half the miles.
Bella Can donate her rear axle, and everything else you have replaced and repaired. Even her tow bar if necessary (in face look for a Berlingo without one for obvious reasons).
Yeah, it might be time for Bella to go, she seems to be pretty much a nightmare to deal with now. On AutoTrader there is a silver 2003 M59 Forte with 127k miles for sale with the 1.9D engine for £670 in Taunton (granted the MOT has expired 10 days ago), but if it doesn't have to be a diesel one, there is a red 2004 Desire with 125k for £1400 with the 1.6 petrol in Northolt, which has MOT until the end of the year.
Out of one frying pan and into another frying pan.
Agree with so many other comments on here, but here's my thoughts anyway. This is quite a fleet and many are channel icons, hence potentially losing them has an extra dimension.
Bella illustrates a problem that more and more of us face - when a necessary vehicle is banging on the threshold of disposal, WHAT to replace it with whilst avoiding known issues with more modern alternatives? I dread the point when my 2014 diesel Fiesta has to be replaced - it's been a moneypit already and now I just pray every day because I can't face the thought of modern gizmo madness - but hopefully it still has years left in it.
A twenty-two-year-old car is already at the point where I'd be resigned to imminent replacement, but it's the sunk cost conundrum - you spend the most just before a car fails terminally, but don't realize this until after it fails. If it were me, I'd get that engine seen-to, sort out the latest (Hub) problem and keep going with Bella. When she's operational. she does her assigned job. Any replacement would come with its own issues and then we'd hear the immortal words - "if only I'd kept Bella, we'd be having none of this..."
Betty is a titan and an icon - so rare on our roads that it's almost a civic duty to keep her going. You knew what you were getting from the outset - comfort, effortless cruising and thirst. No disrespect to Matt Furious with his ex-US-cop car, but they are ten-a-penny by comparison (and even thirstier).
The little Pajero seems like a project going nowhere - reminds me of the Sana and the Oltcit(s) in that respect. It may be cute, but if you need to trim the fleet, that would be my first target.
Also, do you need the Charade AND the Kenari - unless they are already earmarked for particular individual drivers...? (On the other hand, two small cars is not a bad thing).
Good luck to Little Miss Hubnut with her driving lessons - and kudos to you for the patience in tutoring!
Oh no poor bella!!!! Hope youll get something sorted cant wait for chemmy to come out!
The Kenari is your best purchase in recent memory, and Bella is the biggest money pit since the Camry! If it was bought to be sensible, reliable and economical, its failure on the latter two means it fails all round. But if it all went smoothly you'd have nowt to make videos about! I'd get rid if it's preventing the catch improve release nature of the work you want to do.
Bella has probably generated more YT income than what it has cost so you're absolutely right about story content making videos.
There is a tool that looks like an "L" and a pivot point in the angle and an 1/2 drive for sockets. Its good when you cant fit an impact gun. You simply wack the tool with a beefy sledge hammer. You get a lot of force on the bolt. I have used it a lot on cars with the pully tight to the radiator. Example Laser Tools 4590
The channel needs a Berlingo/Partner (in my humble opinion, that is). I had a petrol Partner 1.6 16V for a while and 2.0HDI Berlingo's for many years and I prefer the HDI. Didn't like the 1.6 16V very much, but that same engine in my 206s was and still is fine. So your Bella and my Partner issues might have been bad luck. Thing is: can you tell at time of purchase?
I know I say this ad nauseam but if you replace the Berlingo and something else you don't need with a Caddy / Caddy Life from around 2011 onwards then you will be laughing. I know it will need work too but I think it will be a good trade as they are more contemporary and will serve you better. They really are excellent.
I think another Berlingo is a great shout. Make a good one out of the two. I don' think the 1.6hdi is a total loss as an engine choice. Anyway good luck!
I had an m59 for 7 years on an 08 and it never missed a beat and i was doing some miles in it time to change!!
2.0 hdi 90 is probably the sweet spot, I like the 1.6 hdi to drive but yeah added issues for sure. I dont think hdi 90s ever got a dual mass flywheel for example.
Been thinking, maybe you are quite Right Ian, maybe get hold of James to see if he still has that silver m59 modutop available…
The 1.6 is not a bad engine and the belt is actually very easy to do…
Power wise… I think a 1.6 may struggle to pull Bob unfortunately…
Belamé without a trailer absolutely does not like hills nor my fiesta that has the 1.6 8 valve…. They absolutely hate hill climbs and loose a of steam…
Now that we have a tent box for Belamé will be interesting with the extra drag…
Once on the motorway she pulls well especially after the diesel additive treatment.
If you do decide to keep her going, I highly suggest you fit a one way inline valve on the fuel line just before the filter housing…
The injector pump has a shaft and small seal and over time this seal lets air in letting fuel back feed back to the tank hence the hard starting… I’ve heard of quite a lot of 2.0hdi engines with this problem and yours has the same symptoms….
It would be sad to see Bella scrapped but at the end of the day she’s very tired and costing you a fortune almost every month..
Go with what your instinct tell you may be the best thing…
A puff of smoke after coming off the overrun is usually a sign of worn valve stems or guides, some engines were designed to do that but they were high performance engines like Jag XK done to prevent wear.
What is happening is that on over run with the throttle butterfly closed, the engine is being driven by the mass of the vehicle, oil is drawn into the cylinders through the valve seals. Once the throttle is open again the dynamics within the engine change , hence the short puff of smoke.
Most likely it is valve stem oil seals having gone hard. Get yourself a seal conditioning additive, which softens the rubber, I have used it and it has worked.
A good friend of mine puts a small amount of thinners in the oil. He swears by it, but I am not so sure as it seems a bit risky to me..
Not sure if discontinued Japanese cars with known rust issues are the best choice. And all of your cars except the Fairmont and the 2cv are not easy to service.
Yes, let Bella go to greener pastures and take the best bits to a better one. In my experience 1.6HDi isn't as bad as the talk goes, but it needs to be well maintained (oil changes!) to survive.
Totally agree.
I’m lucky in that I have to reverse into a drive so don’t stop the engine until it’s idled for a bit.
Only have 84,000 in it, owned since 36,000
@ My C4 had almost 250000km on the clock when I sold it, no issues with the engine except alternator went around 240k. Not bad for a car I paid 300€ for!
Time to get hold of some simple 1970s machinery i reckon , stuff you can work on yourself without too much trouble , something Rimmers can supply affordable spares for etc ?
If you are looking for a new Berlingo then a call should be put in to James Walshe
I think your thinking is spot on regarding Bella - although she has given you some fun with Bob, the outlay to get that fun is not commensurate with the amount of fun you've managed to achieve. At least she has been a proof of concept that the Berlingo is the right model... maybe just one in better nick.
@@fulwell1 the amount you've spent on Bella would have bought a lot of fuel for Betty
I think I'd keep the Ford, Perodua, Invacar and move on the rest. Good idea on a replacement Berlingo/Partner...are the petrol ones too gutless? They did a factory LPG one in case you do pass the relevant stations .
The biggest waste of space and money is the camper, it also demands something that can tow it making it even more of a hassle, but Brits have some weird caravan fetish (like their soap opera fetish) so that never gets mentioned. 😆
Second hand hub and bearing..just throw it in and hope I always maintain you get through all the issues.with any car if they are minor.
I know you are concerned with Betty's MPG, but she is usefully reliable - very strong car...!!
Reference the Pajero, I used a bar and starter motor to undo, a chance you take is snapping the bolt. I locked the engine up with a huge screwdriver in the flywheel teeth, to tighten the crank bolt. I think there's an access panel underneath.
After driving my little AX GT a little bit, that 1.4 TU3 engine is a little peach. I know Berlingo's came with the 1.4 TU engine up to about 2008 so maybe consider one of those, and harvest parts off Bella to keep it going/refreshed.
1.4 would be sheer misery around here! Too many hills.
Hello Ian, i had a 1.4 petrol berlingo it clocked the miles and was economical as well, this may be an option as the berlingo is the perfect family run around
I think a 1.4 would be pretty miserable on Welsh hills, or towing sadly.
HAD a Berlingo. Now gone for reasons.
If possible see if you can find a lower mile Berlingo that is crash damaged as a parts donor. Although it would be good to find out why your existing engine isn't running great, worst case you can just swap the engine. If you do that I recommend that you swap the harness, engine computer and probably gauge cluster and whatnot too. You probably need to swap the ignition lock too if it has electronic theft protection as part of the key.
As it would be a parts care, you could probably use a right hand drive car and although there would be toll fees and whatnot, that opens up buying it from anywhere in Europe if the price is right. Don't know about the UK, but in Sweden the toll is way lower and afaik also paper work is way easier if you import a car as scrap rather than with the intention of making it road legal.
But also: If you plan on giving up on it, I think you could make a few interesting videos if you would just let viewers in your area, that seem to have some sort of skills, have a go at diagnosing it. Even if it's hard to judge what is a good or bad idea for someone not educated in electronics and whatnot, you can hardly make the car worse by hooking up a bunch of measurement instruments to various signals to determine if/what doesn't make sense. Just finding some correlation or lack of correlation would likely be key to finding the issue(s).
P.S. if you give up on the Belingo, maybe consider a "boring bur reliable" car? I'm biased but I would check out a late 90's Volvo V70/S70 (or possibly 850, but check if they have an OBD2 connector - the older ones have a "flash code" diagnostic port that on one hand saves you getting a scanner but on the other hand is too slow to actually read any meaningful live data). One of those Volvos would likely consume more fuel than the Berlingo but less than Betty, and as for crash protection when going on family trips Volvo are known to be among the top notch.
The bottom bolt issue that's happed to me. It's splaying the hub clincher many times. On and off. The joint can be a pig to remove. Widening the hub carrier to make it easier then retightining is reason.
Try find a Visa Van.
Not sure a Visa van is the family car we're seeking...
@HubNut Oops a little snug what about a Kangoo. Gordon Murry loves them. Brilliant in the snow even more so if you can find the 4x4 version. They never gave much bother at the council. The odd electronic but nothing serious.
C15s are extremely rare in the UK now except for the Romahome camper versions.
How about buying a Dacia similar to the one you tested some time ago? I think it's a good choice even if it has to be financed.
Motor therapy is something I am more then well aware of. Good for straightening out ones head when it needs an adjustment.
If Bella is costing you more than she makes, and it doesn't look like it's gonna stop, time for a change. Get the best Berlingo you can find and run with it! IMHO.
The 1.6 16v hdi newer replacement went back to an 8v cam in 2012 pretty cool I do like a single cam.
Wow, good reminder how important it is to get the car checked asap if steering, or any other important control seems to be wrong.
One thing crossed in my mind, have seen some channels, where they hit the knuckle with hammer in disassembly phase when replacing or removing lower ball joint, to release the ball joint from the knuckle. I guess the danger is if the hammer hits accidentally wrong place, it might end up like this, a fractured and finally broken knuckle? Maybe it's better to use proper balljoint removal tool than hit it with a hammer.
There’s a nice Berlingo multi space in Mathewsons sale this month it’s the 1600 HDi tho, also a interesting Peugeot Partner camper conversion 👍
I love Bella, she made me like Berlingoes even more and I've always defended her, but I understand your frustration. I had a Volvo S60 that was a peach but I got to a point where it just didn't make sense for a variety of reasons so I had to let it go. But if you're replacing it for another Berlingo, that's great! 2.0Hdi's are great as long as they don't have Delphi injectors, if memory serves me correctly. Either that or get one with a petrol 1.4 or 1.8, they were the last good engines before PSA/Stellantis came up with the cursed Puretech rubbish.
I still like the idea of a "van conversion" car. The Berlingo is so utilitarian it makes Swiss Army knives seem showy and ostentatious. As Ian demonstrated, you can even convert one to a campervan for a few bob!
As cheap as chips, but getting rare. A shame that nothing like this is available to buy new now.
Fight back comrades, buy a Berlingo!✊
maybe a peugeot partner, same but different. facelift model for the redesigned front end. if having two person trips on mind and maybe hauling car parts, i'd look at the van version. different emission standards kept some engines longer in production than the passenger car featured. vans make a better base for a camper if thinking of isolation and use of space. and they usually go for less than the passenger cars.
If you buy a newer, better Berlingo… will there be new Berlingo mugs available in your store? 😊 I hope you will find a nice guy who takes care for Bella. See you soon »»» Martin
🚗💨🇫🇷
Just get Bella fixed , the parts aren't expensive. You've come this far so don't give up on Bella yet, better the devil you know 👍
Tend to agree. There's a few nearside 2002/2003 Berlingo hubs currently on ebay for around £40.
The new bearing can be removed and transferred to the new hub if carefully pushed out. Although carefully and HubNut not usually seen in the same sentence.
My 2d-worth: the problem seems to me to be that so many cars have problems at the same time. If Bella had been unwell on her own it wdn't have been such a big deal, I think. At least, I hope so. Sleep on any decision for a few days. You need a car to tow Bob economically, as well as family transport. Good luck with the decision.
Could you consider getting a much newer replacement for Bella (Berlingo/Partner/Combo Life) as reliable family transport not part of the fleet as such then just concentrate on the HubNut old car fleet (perhaps rationalised, get rid of Corsa, Pajero, maybe even Betty) just for enjoyment and for the content?
You could change Bella, but I'm not convinced. Better the devil you know? If you keep fixing it then you'll have a solid dependable van again. Unless the rot is an issue. Rhen again someone mentioned a Kangoo and I quite like those, the front seat can fold flat for more luggage capability. I have a 1.6 hdi in an Expert at 215k miles and its ok, a bit ropey to be honest but reliable. The 1.6 dci in our qashqai is many times better at the same mileage, so if I were to change vans I'd look at an nv200.
I managed to undo a very tight crank pulley bolt by firmly clamping my large molegrips onto it, sideways on. Didn't expect success but it worked.
I agree with your comments re the XUD via the HDi. In my experience the 1.9 litre XUD turbo diesel was a far better engine than the 2.0 HDi. I had two of the former and one of the latter. The HDi was the least reliable.
Surely a Dacia Duster would be ambrosia for the channel? An early one needing a wee bit of work might be reasonably priced too.
I was hoping you could keep the Corsa a little longer and do a bit more with it. Seems to me that cars that are less troublesome are the ones you let go of more easily. Do you find the more troublesome critters to be more endearing?
It isn't our car. It ended up with us just to sell. The weather has been so consistently awful that we've not really taken it out anywhere.
Try contacting one of the big breakers online and get a full suspension leg for it.
Stick with a car you know mend hub , am in a similar position , just running 2 of my car's at the moment , are you planning to be at NEC in March
Thanks. We won't have a stand but should be floating about on one of the days.
Availability of parts and cash aside, get one project done at a time. Rinse, repeat, move on. Focus and move forward. Best of luck.
Starting with which one?
@@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt Bella
@@MrButtonpresser I sort of meant which one except the Berlingo as Ian just said it's dead and will be gone soon.
The Ford Galaxy mk3 could be a perfect replacement for the Berlingo, if you were to replace it.
@@Alex_Fella good shout or a earlier SMax
@danielrussell446 they look to be decent ruggid cars. I'm buying a mk3 galaxy soon. I'm pretty sure that the 2.0 tdci is the PSA 2.0 HDi, so a pretty good engine.
I think the mk2 would be more hubnut
And where is the ongoing story content in that? No stories of woe means no channel income.
Thinking backwards: could you find a lower mileage, damaged or rusty Berlingo and swap the whole front end (engine/box, suspension, steering and brakes) into Bella? She's a solid shell with near new rear suspension so surely she's worth keeping?
Actually, the rear cross member is quite crispy...
In the past 6 months My 2007 saab 9-3 diesel nearly 2 hundred thousand miles on it mot due next month just had to replace the timing belt kit as the pump locked up stalled the engine and burnt my starter motor out replaced the clutch egr valve fuel pump 2 new wings I just do it to keep it on the road
I like the idea of a lower milage Berlingo and keeping Bella for spares.
What spares, it's knackered. If he bought a good one he wouldn't need a spares car.
Hi Hubnut. You asked for opinions on the Berlingo. Sorry to say, mine is that your life needs an absence of Berlingos. I'd have gotten rid of it after the rear suspension collapsed and you told us that they're all prone to it! Get another one and you'll have the same repertoire of problems all over again. There was no mention of Betty this time, though you expressed doubts previously. I vote for keeping her, as A. You need a car that no-one else has, and B. You need some waft in your life. Just use it for where it's strengths lie - towing or long motorway runs. It'll still be thirsty of course, but you could afford that by not constantly repairing Berlingos. Cheers.
Betty has a whole video to herself this week. Thinking paying for fuel may be better than repairs...
@@HubNut I was thinking that too. The amount Bella is costing you in repairs would pay for lots of fuel in Betty. Especially when used for long trips which she seems much more economical on than local runs.
Maybe a later Berlingo and have Bella as a parts car? Maybe it sounds heartless, but with a newer/lower mileage example on the fleet you will be able to recoup some of the good work you did on Bella for the new one.
It's easy to give advice on someone else's car fleet. But here i am trying to work out what to do with my own car fleet!!
If this Berlingo had any good parts it wouldn't be knackered.
Get another and use as a parts car maybe?. Could even do an engine teardown. That being said if it is just one thing that needs fixing would it be worth giving her one last shot? Perhaps sum up what you have invested in her and see if it outweighs the cost of another? Or at least the cost of a low mileage FSH car?
If you keep it French, how does a Renault Kangoo compare with a Berlingo? Or perhaps something JDM, dare I suggest? They seem to be very fond of these Bella-type vehicles. Although I understand Kitch wants to move his S-Max on...
Well, if you really are struggling, you could not (carefully) push the existing bearing out and use it in the new hub? Not best practice but.......
I guess a Peugeot 306 station wagon, or even Citroen ZX, with the XUD engine would not be an option. Fix Bella with used bits - hub assembly only £40?
5:00 I am not going to say that I told you so, but I did. Some cars for some reason are a complete money pit. Had the same issue with my Suzuki Ignis, which I loved. But it was taking money like it wanted to be fed with it! You gotta let it go.
Definitely time for Bella to go after you take off the parts you need.
And due to the high running costs maybe time to pass the ford on
What about the camper. No ford = no towing.
Why would you want another Berlingo ?. If it's an MPV you're after try finding a diesel Roomster. Wife has a 3 cylinder 1.4 tdi. Been very reliable, very very economical and a very practical car. It's not a powerhouse but very torquey. You can try and find a 1.9 tdi Pd.
@@ivanvisanich that 1.9pd has a very good reputation. The later 2.0tdi pd not so much!
Wonder if you sold Bella, could you get something like a Logan MCV or Jogger, i know you don't like finance (me neither), but something realible and possibly with warranty just as a family car and one that does not need to feature on the channel.
Otherwise a newer Berlingo and Bella and the mini camper kit can live on in a newer Berlingo.
Ever considered Ian may just have a reliable regular car that you don't see on the channel?
Ever heard him mention he's had to send the kids to school in a taxi?
The fleet is for income. YT is about selling stories.
I don't have a modern. We genuinely are using the Kenari as default daily. The kids go to school on the bus.