The campsite owner at Camping Sardegna in Porto Pino, Sardinia, asked us to move the motorhome back two metres. No problem! Since we were travelling such a short distance, we didn't bother to close the windows... but we should have.
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ShareMotorhome window cracked
On the outside of our campsite there was a street lamp that we hadn't noticed. Boom! The window cracked right through and was left hanging in pieces ... For now, we have glued and taped. In the future, we need to find somewhere where we can get a new window... Suggestions are gratefully received!
All sorts of things that need fixing
There are a few things that need to be fixed on our motorhome now! Yesterday a handle on one of the cabinet doors cracked, a hob does not work (becomes a high flame instead of small blue flames), it is not possible to regulate the cold on the fridge & freezer, we have to change the oil and oil filter, and the engine light is sometimes on.
Maybe it's not surprising that things break when you've had your motorhome for seven years and use it every day. Some things we have to fix while travelling and other things we have to take care of when we get back home.
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Johanna in Skåne says:
Oh no! In fact, I thought of the streetlight when I saw the picture from the other day. Thought it was clever to park so close. Hope it can be fixed smoothly.
17 July 2015 - 15:40
Alexandra says:
Damn, what bad luck! Luckily it could be repaired temporarily at least! The fact that the engine light is on and that you have to change the oil and oil filter are perhaps related? Although you may already know why it lights up? 🙂 In our car, the engine light also lights up sometimes, when it has started to light up very often, it has been time to change the oil and when we have changed it, the engine light has also stopped lighting up from time to time. How hot is it down there right now? On Monday morning we're rolling towards Italy 😀.
17 July 2015 - 16:09
Monica says:
Wow! Judging the distance backwards is not always easy. We have had a broken but in itself easily replaced higher rear light plus a light impact on a sign without damage. Changing a window abroad is of course not easy during the holidays, but you have a lot of experience and know from experience how to proceed? Contact with the Adriatic representative on the Italian mainland? I don't quite remember your further travel plans, but we ourselves would probably have fixed and checked both warning lights and oil plus filter change before continuing outside perhaps a little more uncivilised areas if possible.
So far we are lucky but you never know. The days we drive many miles on bumpy roads and it shakes and rattles, we are still surprised at how durable the cars are! We have super glue and duct tape and have had to patch fridge handles and tangled roller blinds. Plus has a hell of an internet reception despite purchased French sim cards. Poor mobile phone coverage also when we are in the middle of the countryside. So the driver has to do! Good luck! We ourselves continue towards the central Brittany coast, we have just 22 degrees against again 40 at home!
17 July 2015 - 16:12
BP says:
Ooooops! It's never fun when these stupid poles come at you at 30 km/h;-) I know. It happened to me last winter in Spain...
Osis, of course. But the Freedom is a Fiat, so you are at least in the right country to hopefully get a new windscreen. Now I don't know much about the "guts" of cars, but I would probably fix the oil and oil filter first. The window pane is really just a "cosmetic" detail. Not fun with the hob either - gas has always been my nightmare...
The temperature in the fridge/freezer is just as important. Because you don't want to drink warm beer...
I wish you all the luck in the world to find a workshop that can help you. Should also be much cheaper to repair Freedom at home than in Sweden.
17 July 2015 - 16:28
admin says:
Johanna in Skåne, well done for thinking about it beforehand... we didn't! 🙁
Alexandra, we suspect the engine light is actually something else, but we'll start with the oil and oil filter anyway! We have around 34 degrees - hot, hot (and rising)! Welcome to Italy! 🙂
Monica, the problem was probably that we drove with the windows open - we don't usually do that so they were sticking out of the car... We will try to change the oil and filter as soon as possible. No one can find out why the engine light is on - even though they have analysed several workshops. Maybe we can find an Adria representative on the mainland? Otherwise, Slovenia is the way to go... Or maybe Germany? Internet is not easy, I agree! We have prepaid cards here in Sardinia too, but we don't have coverage all the time either...
BP, that was a stupid post - I agree!!! The chassis is FIAT but the body is Adria (comes from Slovenia)... But you are probably right, oil and oil filter we will try to fix soon. The window will have to wait. We simply do not use the hob (we have two more) but it is a bit strange. The fridge is cold, but sometimes we want to increase or decrease the cold, and then it doesn't work... but we'll have to live with that for a while 😉.
17 July 2015 - 17:24
Monica says:
I ask my very knowledgeable engine man what the "engine light" might be. He says, and of course Peter knows this, that there are a number of warning lights. Could be oil pressure, gearbox, overheating but also electronic faults. Several workshops have looked at this, it indicates more on the electronics than anything else. But it is nervous to drive around with shining warning lights and the error must actually be identified so that you do not end up in real trouble in Långtbortistan. His advice is to visit a Fiat workshop on the Italian mainland. This is the car's engine home country so you should get good help there. You also had some trouble with the clutch that was fixed temporarily, maybe it's best to look into it? After all, Freedom has had to work a lot???
17 July 2015 - 18:32
admin says:
Monica, how nice of you to ask and write again! Yes, we have actually checked at several workshops but no one finds the fault even though they use their "analysis equipment". A reader wrote on FB that it could be the throttle, so it's a theory. Yes, it feels good to be in FIAT's homeland! As soon as we find a workshop, we will start with the oil and oil filter. Then we will see if we can solve the engine light...
17 July 2015 - 18:57
Ditte says:
Sad, but so easy to happen... And yes, there is wear and tear if you use the car daily.
Good that you were able to temporarily fix the window.
Unfortunately, I don't have any tips to offer, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you'll get help with the most urgent matters that won't ruin you.
17 July 2015 - 20:18
Mr Steve says:
Unfortunately, I cannot offer any good solutions, but with your positive attitude towards everything that is happening, you will probably solve these problems as well. You have my concern and compassion, good luck!
17 July 2015 - 20:18
Alexandra says:
By the way, regarding the engine light, when we initially took it to the workshop when it went off every now and then, we got the "diagnosis" that it is like an error code that hangs itself ... so really there is nothing wrong, but only the computer in the car that is malfunctioning. Maybe that's the case with yours too if the workshops haven't found anything wrong?
17 July 2015 - 20:32
Matts Torebring says:
Something has to happen, sometime, when you are travelling so much, far away and often, our friends told us. In all our travels over 16 years, we have had a small scratch on a bumper ten years ago, due to an iron post inside a bush in Italy.
But at home on the garage driveway, the car skidded on a stone post in icy conditions. Another time, a dry branch stuck out in the hedge when I got too close and it made a hole in the bodywork.
You who drive in all the labyrinths and serpentine roads, something must happen at some point. Take comfort that it wasn't worse. Hope it works out for you
17 July 2015 - 20:57
admin says:
Ditte, it's easy to do and it happens in an instant! We have made temporary repairs, but I don't think the window can withstand rain... But of course, somehow it works out!
Steve, thank you very much! Yes, somehow it works out!
Alexandra, thank you for writing again! Yes, that could be the case. Unfortunately, it goes into some kind of reserve mode and loses horsepower when that happens, so it gets worse to drive... But we're not sure that it's anything very serious, really.
Matts, yes, something should happen at some point, it's not so strange really! I also recognise what you write about "home". We have driven on lots of winding and dramatic roads, but then we are so careful! Instead, it happened when we stood at the campsite and had to back up two metres...
17 July 2015 - 22:37
Monica says:
The engine man in the house comments on the "throttle" comment by saying that it is an older expression for a carburettor problem. When you now write that the car loses power, it sounds like that's where you need to troubleshoot. You have our e-mail address, write there and B will answer based on knowledge and experience. However, his advice is not to go out on longer journeys before you have had this fixed.
18 July 2015 - 0:16
admin says:
Monica, thank you for your reply! I will email you!
18 July 2015 - 7:07
Ama de casa says:
DUMB post! But it wasn't that bad anyway - with tape you can fix most things 🙂 .
(Although it was a bit clumsy... 😉 )
18 July 2015 - 10:07
Maggan and Ingemar says:
Problems are there to be solved 🙂
Change oil etc. where you are or on the mainland ..... much cheaper than at home. We do all such service abroad plus change tyres. If you can save a few kronor, you are happy to do it.
As for the engine lamp, our lamp also started to light up again. We had about a quarter of a tank left, picked up the small bottle of medicine against the microorganisms and added a splash and after a couple of miles the lamp went out. 🙂
As for the stove, there may be "crap" in the small holes that the gas comes in, maybe a clean up is needed. Sorry about the window.
Keep up the good work! 🙂
18 July 2015 - 10:34
ActiveDays-Camilla says:
No, what a bummer! But it will surely be solved, but I usually get really annoyed by that... In addition, the poor husband can usually get out for it if it is he who has been at the wheel... ;(
18 July 2015 - 10:50
Ninni and Henka and the Knasen motorhome says:
Oh dear, how it can go! Hope you get it fixed.
18 July 2015 - 10:55
Role o Carina says:
Sad when that happens but easily done unfortunately!
But I'm sure you'll sort it out 🙂
Have a good time anyway...
18 July 2015 - 13:26
Deciree says:
Sure, you make mistakes a little at a time...but it's terribly sad when it happens. I usually say:...as long as nobody gets hurt, there is no problem...everything is dead. A car can be repaired...but not a person. Take care of yourselves. Hugs
18 July 2015 - 14:16
admin says:
Ama de casa, ok a bit clumsy! (Typical when you're doing such a small simple move and are a bit relaxed...)
Maggan and Ingemar, yes that agent against microorganisms is also of interest! We will see what we find. It is 35 degrees and we are very lazy, but we thought we would try to look for a workshop etc. in Cagliari! You may be right about the stove too, do you know how to clean it?
Camilla, we were probably both inattentive - careless because we imagined it was such a simple little move...
Ninny and Henka, sometimes it happens...
Rolle and Carina, yes it went fast, but sooner or later we will get it fixed!
Deciree, you are so right! As long as nothing worse happens, you can be happy! These are things that can be repaired!
18 July 2015 - 15:25
Frankie & Co says:
Ihh - and cursed too! Hope the window crash works helpfully - the engine light is worrying so it would be nice if you get it solved somehow.
We are back in the homeland from today and after a few attempts at fully booked campsites we find a free place in Kungshamn where we are now standing high on the mountain night in 18 m/s gusts and 24C ?
Good luck and go for it!
18 July 2015 - 20:15
solan says:
We had a similar problem with the window on our old motorhome. We were given the following tip: First super glue in the joints, then clear tape over the whole thing. Super glue is the secret, so try it if you haven't already done so. Hope for good roll in the future and that your ears are not too hot! In the sun, that is...
18 July 2015 - 21:33
Renate's travels says:
Oh, what a shame! It is also so typical how accidents rarely come alone, yes... Hope everything is possible to fix relatively quickly and easily, and that it is not too serious.
19 July 2015 - 11:37
admin says:
Frankie and Co, we will try to look for a workshop tomorrow when it is Monday. But it's hard to do anything at all really when it's 36 degrees and the air is still... Oh, so it's so full!? It's probably getting more and more full here too...
Solan, thanks for the tips! We have started gluing with super glue but probably have to buy more! Then it was duct tape that we had with us ... will see if we can fix it even better with time because it will probably take a while before we manage to change the window. And it's hot!!! Type 36 degrees and stagnant air... phew!
Renates Reiser, that's right! And a few accidents are to be expected. You have to be happy as long as it's nothing serious!
19 July 2015 - 17:22