Mitsubishi Express Problems

If it's as simple as the AdBlue sensor not telling the computer that more AdBlue has been added to the tank, then yes, it would seem like a pretty simple fix. But it may not be that simple. If there's a blockage in the tank or the line that takes the AdBlue to the car's exhaust (where it's injected into the exhaust to reduce harmful tailpipe emissions) then the car may still 'think' that there's no AdBlue on board.

There could also be more to restarting an engine that has shut itself down than simply adding more AdBlue, too. Perhaps there's a specific restarting procedure that has to be followed, perhaps involving resetting the computer manually. One would imagine, however, that a dealership that sells the cars new would be aware of this.

Plenty of people have successfully converted vans and small busses into campervans. The reason some are more successful than others is often down to the previous life the vehicle has lived and what sort of preventative maintenance it has been treated to.

A vehicle that has been serviced properly and used carefully is likely to be a good thing even with a few years and plenty of kilometres on board. But one that has been used and abused and neglected in terms of maintenance is not a vehicle you want to be buying second-hand, regardless of make or model.

So make sure the vehicle has a complete service history and try to find out a bit about what it was used for. Does it have a big tow-bar fitted? If so, it's probably towed some heavy loads and that places stresses on every part of the vehicle. Is there any sign-writing on the vehicle (or shadows on the paint where corporate logos once were)? If so, the vehicle has almost certainly been used commercially and may or may not have been driven sympathetically by the company apprentice.

Treat it like an archaeology project, and you'll be amazed what you can learn. Meantime, a privately owned Express van with full service history is the one you want, but be prepared to pay more for such a thing.

While the basic mechanical package of the Express was reasonably well-sorted, any reliability issues for any commercial vehicle 13 years on will almost certainly be down to how the van has been used and how it's been maintained.

Check the service history. If there is none, be very wary. Also, try to find out what industry the vehicle has worked in until now. Some tasks are far more likely to shorten a vehicle's lifespan than others.

Also, have a close look at what the vehicle is trying to tell you. Is the driver's seat damaged on the bolsters where a driver has made thousands of deliveries? If so, you might be looking at a vehicle that has spent all its life in urban running. Does the vehicle have a tow-bar fitted, suggesting it might have lugged heavy loads around. Don't ignore the vital sings, either; is the oil clean? Are there any mechanical noises? It's amazing what close observation can reveal.

Rather than concentrate on a particular brand, the best advice is to find a vehicle with a full service history and signs that it has lived an easy life. Too often, commercial vehicles like vans are bought by their first owner and used and abused. They’re nearly always purchased with a job in mind, and that job can often wreck them or at least shorten their lives.

Sometimes, the down-time associated with proper servicing means that maintenance is skipped, other times the sheer weight of the cargo being carried puts a lot of strain on mechanical components. A van that has been used by, say, a pool chemical company might have been exposed to highly corrosive chemicals every day of its life and could be hiding lots of rust. Even a florist’s van might have every nook and cranny filled with potting mix, waiting to become damp and start the rusting process.

Another good idea is to buy a van that has already been converted to a camper. This conversion is not an inexpensive process, so letting the previous owner spend the money is a terrific concept. Keep an eye on the classifieds for a van that has done a tour of duty with a grey nomad or van-lifer, and is now up for sale as the owner moves on to something new.

It's all bad news I'm afraid. With a private seller you have no comeback.

All you can do is to ask the seller to refund your money, or maybe cover the cost of the repairs. If he wasn't aware that the RWC was out of date he might be honest enough to help you out.

You could also consider taking him to VCAT, the Victorian small claims tribunal on the basis that he misrepresented the vehicle to you.

Get it up to speed to get into top gear, and then operate the button. You should see or hear the revs rise, or fall when the button is pressed again and the overdrive gear re-engaged.

IT IS impossible to say how long it will be before the bearings give up the ghost. I would be asking why you have a bearing problem so soon after the engine was reconditioned; take it back to whoever did the job and get them to fix it.

THE MB100 was built by SsangYong when Mercedes-Benz was getting up close and personal with the South Korean carmaker. It had a Benz badge, but it wasn't of the same quality as a real Benz. I wouldn't like to split the Vito and Transporter. They're both very good vans. If you can stretch your budget a little, you could buy a new Mitsubishi Express and save any heartaches that can sometimes come with a used vehicle. And if you can get away with a smaller van, try a VW Caddy.