What did you do to your kombi today ?

[Oldman]

Thanks Liz !
Sharing info. like this is invaluable for our members.....
Quite often folks will wonder about this sort of stuff but not know where to start.
By posting your personal experience and recommendations, you've helped folks out....and that's what our community is about, 

[Mordred]

I can recommend the Victron gear as being extremely good.  In the same level as RedArc and with the price of lithium battery systems well worth the extra money to protect your investment.

Their systems are well designed and well supported, but with that quality you are best to shop around.  Best prices I have found locally are Every Battery which are a Victron factory supplier. The nice thing I have found is they have bluetooth connectivity to many of their gear so with the app I can sit in my chair next to the kombi and check where the battery and solar charging is at.

Really good.

Adrian

[Oldman]

Fixed my sliding door....well, rather the "hold open" latching mechanism.
At the Nationals recently, Grantus was showing me his T3 slider and how it stayed firmly latched open. 
A lift of the handle releases the door latch keeper and it can then be closed. It's a real benefit if you are parked on a hill and need to get stuff out of the cargo area.
I was asked if it was the same on Bays but I wasn't sure, as mine had never operated like that as long as I've owned it....

It's been bugging me that my door doesn't do the same despite the external door panel, handle recess indicating that there should be a reason to lift the handle up.
My slider stays open if it's on level ground but has never been latched open and only requires the gentlest of tugs to close it..
(..and it closes beautifully. )

So, on with the specs. and thinking cap to see if I could work out what was wrong.
The retaining mechanism (keeper) hook has become worn over the years and wasn't holding the door in the locked open position, rather it was the friction that was sort of, holding it open. 
Closer inspection showed that the nose of the retaining hook had worn to a bevel rather than having a definite shoulder upon which the keeper mechanism can hold on.
After a few backwards and forwards runs of the door I could see where the keeper hook needed to be modified.
I didn't want to replace it unnecessarily and hoped that a bit of lateral thinking would help......
Out with my trusty Dremel and after very carefully grinding a new shoulder in place on the hook and removing a bit of stock further back  to allow it to locate, now it is as it should be. 
Integrity of the mechanism has been maintained and now the door stays firmly latched open when required and with a lift of the handle, the mech. is actuated again, releasing the door to allow it to be closed. I reckon I could park the Tardis on its nose and the slider would stay open now.......
Very satisfying to resolve an issue like this......so I shouted myself a couple of Coopers as a token of gratitude to the Kombi Gods.

[LizC]

I can recommend the Victron gear as being extremely good.  In the same level as RedArc and with the price of lithium battery systems well worth the extra money to protect your investment.

Their systems are well designed and well supported, but with that quality you are best to shop around.  Best prices I have found locally are Every Battery which are a Victron factory supplier. The nice thing I have found is they have bluetooth connectivity to many of their gear so with the app I can sit in my chair next to the kombi and check where the battery and solar charging is at.

Really good.

Adrian

Thanks Adrian, good to know you can recommend it.  Yes it's got bluetooth and really easy to use, plus they were really helpful over the phone.  Liz

[Grantus]

Fixed my sliding door....well, rather the "hold open" latching mechanism.
At the Nationals recently, Grantus was showing me his T3 slider and how it stayed firmly latched open. 
A lift of the handle releases the door latch keeper and it can then be closed. It's a real benefit if you are parked on a hill and need to get stuff out of the cargo area.
I was asked if it was the same on Bays but I wasn't sure, as mine had never operated like that as long as I've owned it....

It's been bugging me that my door doesn't do the same despite the external door panel, handle recess indicating that there should be a reason to lift the handle up.
My slider stays open if it's on level ground but has never been latched open and only requires the gentlest of tugs to close it..
(..and it closes beautifully. )

So, on with the specs. and thinking cap to see if I could work out what was wrong.
The retaining mechanism (keeper) hook has become worn over the years and wasn't holding the door in the locked open position, rather it was the friction that was sort of, holding it open. 
Closer inspection showed that the nose of the retaining hook had worn to a bevel rather than having a definite shoulder upon which the keeper mechanism can hold on.
After a few backwards and forwards runs of the door I could see where the keeper hook needed to be modified.
I didn't want to replace it unnecessarily and hoped that a bit of lateral thinking would help......
Out with my trusty Dremel and after very carefully grinding a new shoulder in place on the hook and removing a bit of stock further back  to allow it to locate, now it is as it should be. 
Integrity of the mechanism has been maintained and now the door stays firmly latched open when required and with a lift of the handle, the mech. is actuated again, releasing the door to allow it to be closed. I reckon I could park the Tardis on its nose and the slider would stay open now.......
Very satisfying to resolve an issue like this......so I shouted myself a couple of Coopers as a token of gratitude to the Kombi Gods.

Great stuff! I only showed you how the T3 door worked, so you could close and lock it after I left, as I didn’t know if the Bay doors operate the same way………

Nice to know it’s not just T3 specific feature, but indeed a carry over design from the T2 Bay. 

[Mr Beckstar]

...  So then I searched for an Australian supplier and found there is an Australian site.  Rang them - they were in Pakenham, and after explaining the issue, they suggested the Victron Energy Blue Smart IP65 charger because it does not need to be installed (the IP22 needed to be fitted, whereas the IP65 has two alligator clips as well as the other clips if you did want to instal it).  The Victron people in Pakenham (Victoria)  were very helpful.  The IP65 is slower as is only 15A rather than 30A but that is fine.

Victron sent it out Express Post with a discount too, on a Friday and I received it Monday.  Cost was just over $200. It can stay on like a trickle charger keeping the battery in condition.

So I have since managed to charge it fully.  Hoping this has solved the problem for now and that it may help others. Now I am wondering if I need a battery monitor too and if so, which type?


Excuse the long message but someone may be interested.  I will let you know of any issues but so far so good!
Liz

I just bought the same charger based on this thread. I've got a 120 AH lithium battery in a battery box for camping and want to keep it charged at home. I've also got two AGM and two standard batteries in the kombis and two motorcycle batteries to keep charged, and this charger can do all those things 

Here's a link to the Every Battery web store:

Victron 12V, 15A, IP65 charger

[Njg02]

Bit the bullet and pulled the dash apart to get to the fan. Got to the fan which was seized, but still won't operate. Getting a mate to check it out tomorrow.
While waiting for that I fitted the shower awning. Found some cheaper brackets than the usual Fiamma brackets. These are sold by Roo Systems for about half the price of the Fiamma. They seem robust and fit fairly well on the gutters. Big test to come when we go up the cape.

[Barry]

WOW…… you have bitten off a big job there. 
As much as I want air cond this is the exact reason I didn’t go down that path

[Barry]

Are you getting power to the fan?

If it’s seized the. A good chance a fuse blew somewhere

[nikmag1]

Took it for a quick drive and looked at ordering some parts.