coswurv

iTrader: (8)

Im looking for another van, 03-04 year lwb, has anyone got one or got any info on what to look for, common problems etc, cheers.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

Where do you want me to start

coswurv

iTrader: (8)

Well ive heard about seized injectors in the heads, power steering pump failures but not much else ?

rsfido_1989

Gearbox problems too

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

There fookin awful to work on and imo i think there awful to drive.

coswurv

iTrader: (8)

What box gives the problems is it the 5 speed or 6 ?

dojj

iTrader: (3)

Just about sums it up lol

cossiestu

Had one 4 years, it had pas pump, gearbox, 4 rear calipers, rear door handle broke,dash electrics kept fucking up, anti roll bar bushes...

coswurv

iTrader: (8)

So what your all saying is don't bother

cossiestu

Errrm..... Lol

ginner

iTrader: (1)

There wank mate

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

Mate bought a brand new Vivaro. Had if for three months and it spent more time in the garage than out. He ended up getting his cash back and bought a VW instead.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

We run around 180 of them in our fleet and, so far, in the last few months we've had alternators radiators power steering pumps thermostats the side door handles on 4 vans a dash owed cluster on a van with 3000 miles on the clock radios hazard light switches central locking on 3 vans clutch pedal 2 seats have collapsed

And that's just off the op of my head for the 10 vans I look after

coswurv

iTrader: (8)

transit van it is then

Steve the Plumber

iTrader: (11)

I've got an 07 Trafic, had it from new, now done 113k,it's only had 3 aircon rads, new drivers seat, new radio and a Maf sensor,

It's serviced at every 18k, driven hard, it tows well, still on original clutch!! great plumbers hack,

Goes through front discs and pads quiet quickly though! (Probably has something to do with my driving) lol

Will probably get another!!

James Porter

iTrader: (1)

The early ones are shit if not looked after but personally think the new ones are good vans.

Same as most things if its looked after.

I had a 1.9 on an 06 reg only problem was injectors at 100k now I've got a 58 reg Trafic sport & I've had 60,000 trouble free miles.... (Touch wood!!!)

I've got a mate with new shape transporter & he has had 2 gearboxes in 3 years!

I look after mine & it looks after me.

trigger-

Had a couple of Vivaros as council vans and had no problems with them

scottyrs

iTrader: (1)

08 vivaro crew cab 121k no problems atall I drive sprinters and transits at work and think this is better IMO

Roosie

iTrader: (8)

I have 2006 Vivaro and touch wood never had a problem with it as long as you change gearbox oil and engine oil often it will be fine.

IanC

I've got a 53 one in work with 222k on it apart from services it's had a pas pump and gearbox still drives aswell as the day we got it comfyer than the transit we have got too

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

i think they do drive well but bloody hell they've got issues

gearboxes
slave cylinders
maf's
wiring loom problems
dash problems
turbo problems
injectors which get stuck in head

these are the main issue's ive seen, i'd must rather have a sprinter or VW or even a transit

P4ULT

For what it's worth I had a 2007 Primastar I had it 2 years and never had any major issues. I found it quite a nice van and it went well.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

i'm getting a brand new one tomorrow

not looking forward to it after driving my transit for the past few years

they are uncomfortable to drive, the mirrors are terrible for their blind spots, the dash layout is horrible, there is virtually no storage space, only one power point, and that is in such a flimsy spot that several of them have been pulled out, the location of the hazard light switch seems to have been remembered after someone said "there's no hazard light switch" and someone else has said "there's no where else we can put it, lets stick it there where no one can see it", the steering wheel controls for the stereo are too close to the wheel so your hands always knock them when you are turning, that absolutly shit way that you have to change the time ont he clock, the fact that the instrument cluster will only show you one item, mileage or trip or time of messages, the cheapness of the feel of materials, the flimsy way it's all put together, the adjustment on the seat, need i go on

trigger-

Vivaros don't rust like Transits do

cossiestu

They just fuck up royally, before they get chance to rust!

shalon

would have a transit anyday over one

cossiestu

If I was buying it myself, (i work for Sky, so its a company van) id go for a Transit, or, my current van, a VW Transporter. Just found the old Vivaro too "plastiky" inside and nowhere as nice to drive as the VW...

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

We have a few trannys at work and apart from rust they have been really reliable.We have had a few trannys where the selector bolt snaps and goes into the box and ends up been thrown through the gearbox casing.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

after a day in my "brand new" vivaro, all i can say is that the seats are really uncomfortable, after 2 hours i was starting to feel it in my legs and lower back, yet i spent 15 hours in the transit on monday and 12 hours in it on teusday and got out feeling like a spring chicken

the vivaro's also seemed to suffer terrible in crosswinds, nowhere near as stable as the transits

the door openings are also much smaller, i've bashed my head on the door frames more than a few times already

that said, it's got electric mirrors and windows so i suppose i can't complain

DazC

iTrader: (1)

From a workshop repair point of view, they are utter utter turd! They'll keep any garage in business through a recession...

Might not be to bad for an owner operator who may look after it a bit better and drive a little more gently but by the fuck can they fall apart around you!

The siezed injector issue can cost mega money to fix. We have a tool for dragging them out of the head. The tool just snapped the injector in half dragging it out and the other half stayed in the head! Head = scrap...

dojj

iTrader: (3)

i will second that about treating it with kid gloves

as soon as you start to put some hardships on them, they fall apart like anything

if you are using it to do some gentle town driving then fine, but for anything else, i'd recommend spending money on something else

once the egr issues were resolved with the transits they've never had any other problems that have caused them to be garaged for more than a normal service

Mike@8BallTuning

Have you tried drilling out the remaining injector when they snap in the head?

We have a specialist who removes the injectors with ease, and if they break, he can still get them out. Hes been 100% on every job weve supplied him, and only charges Ł70 per injector.

But yes, before we found this specialist, we were forever replacing engines on the vivaros.

packman

Bag of shit all of them .... i mate has just got ride of his mint 08 transit for a lwb Vivaro 18k
needs a clutch and duel mass already ....

injectors
gearboxes
turbos ect ect

Dont do it !

DazC

iTrader: (1)

Fortunately we don't get as many of these pieces of shit through the door as we used to so we don't have the same requirement for the tool as we did last year. The tool has never failed to drag injectors out on any other vehicle though. Glow plugs are another story!

dojj

iTrader: (3)

and just as you thought i wasn't going to say anything, the sound of laughter echos around my office as another one has broken down, this time the aux belt tensioner has siezed and it's off to vauxhall we go

coswurv

iTrader: (8)

so looks like I should listen to the advice and get another transit, only down side with transits is there normally battered in the 2nd hand market where as the vivaros etc ive seen for sale still look tidy, but then I spose they don't have chance to get battered being broken down all the time !!

cossiestu

If your hearts really set on a Vivaro, do a search on Google for a dealers that sell ex Sky vans, I know they're regularly serviced, plus, as they are wrapped from new, the paintwork should be in good nick!