Water ingress to engine compartment on Fiat X250 based motorhomes - the saga continues

Following the, apparently successful, modifications carried out by Fiat to prevent or reduce the ingress of water to the engine bay on the X250 model we have now heard of a case of engine damage which may be attributable to the modification.

It appears that, when a motorhome is used in cold and snowy conditions, water from snow melting on the windscreen can freeze in the drainage tubes from the scuttle. This prevents additional water draining away, the water consequently runs over the engine and, in very cold conditions, freezes. In some cases there can be sufficient build up of ice to cause the auxiliary drive belt to slip and destroy itself when the engine is started. In extreme cases ice can form within the cambelt housing and, in the particular instance brought to our attention where the motorhome was being used for a skiing holiday, cause the cambelt to 'jump' teeth, resulting in serious engine damage.

The problem can be prevented by using a suitably extended external screen cover to ensure that the water from melting snow does not find its way into the engine bay.

[last edited 24/1/10]