Rolling Realtor Baseline: The Blue Saloon T1N Sprinter Pre Sale Inspection

[@energyideas]

I like the humble nature of reviewing your own van.

[@Nothing_to_see_here]

Another great inspection video guys. So cool that you applied your inspection to your own van. That is thing is super sweet by the way!

[@FloridaVanMan]

Thank you. It is my third child and some days... my favorite. LOL

[@skiplauderbaugh5058]

I have a 2006 T1N Sprinter - good video showing what to visually inspect in particular to T1N Sprinter issues - Thank you :-)

[@davidkubisa1647]

thanks man, really appreciate your content. Just starting my journey in a 2006 manual transmission 137,000 mile sprinter. Bought it for £1800 4 months ago, too cold to do anything, but insured todayan out an about. Drives reall well and treating body work rust an converting to home over next couple of months. A big thankyou from Yorkshire England, an yes I'd love to buy you a coffee if an when I get he paypal working. Thanks again.

[@FloridaVanMan]

We have better links now, better than BuyMeACoffee (takes $0.70). venmo.com - @FloridaVanMan cash.app/login - $FloridaVanMan www.zellepay.com - Florida VanMan www.paypal.com/paypalme/FloridaVanMan

[@mckennaz]

Could you pretty please do a video on how your center dash DC outlet/USB outlet setup is designed and installed? My cigar lighter just failed. As you have briefly shown here there is much room for improvement.

[@FloridaVanMan]

My dash auxiliaries are powered from the leisure battery in the back so they don't drain the truck battery. All of the factory wires to cigar lighter and 12v plug are just unplugged and a fresh power comes from the back battery.

[@mckennaz]

@@FloridaVanMan Great point on connecting them to the house/leisure bank. Is there any way you can see the voltage of the engine bat.? Did you install a new dash panel/cover or drill into the factory one? At a glance your outlets and displays look like they are placed nice and neat.

[@FloridaVanMan]

@@mckennaz I've drilled into the factory plastic dash so many times, it's heat together with thoughts and prayers. The 12v, USB outlets come with volt meters that match. I have one closer to the driver for engine battery, and closer to the passenger seat for leisure battery. That keeps them straight in my head. I also have a battery meter that displays like a fuel gauge, 0-400ahr with current draw/charge rate. This makes my other leisure meter redundant. A bit of velcro now hides a spot where the newer meter didn't fill the hole made for previous gadgets.

[@MrCanadascott]

What is the best/safest way to clean the engine compartment and engine. Do you have a video on that.

[@FloridaVanMan]

We don't have a video on that yet. I use a pressure washer and start at the bottom because I lay down to see under, before I make the ground too wet. A leaf blower is good for drying, really just removing any puddles. Then I drive to warm and really dry the injector area. Be very careful or just avoid degreasers. One in particular, Purple Power Degreaser will leach through hoses and de-lubricate stuff like your a/c compressor. First time I used Purple Power the a/c sounded like shaking a glass jar full of nails 2 miles after washing. I figure coincidence. Next time I washed engine, probably 2 years later, the a/c did the same and power steering started screaming within 3 miles of washing with Purple Power. Now I use Dawn and water on any soft parts, oven cleaner as needed ONLY on metal, shielding rubber from overspray.

[@fabioalmeida9281]

Hey guys great job on the channel! Quick question for your 200 amps alternator did you had to upgrade the wire? Because I have a 150 amps alternator and I'm thinking of upgrading for a 200 amp and I'm wondering if I have to upgrade the wire as well. Thank you guys 🤙

[@FloridaVanMan]

I ordered my van new with the 200 amp alternator, from factory in 2005. It has the same size wire as all other vans with factory wire to a second battery so I've not needed to upgrade any wire sizes when upgrading alternators. If your second battery was installed later, we should look at what wire they used.

[@bensaylor9380]

Hey if a van fails the cap dance test, what does that mean? Is there a video or video segment where you explain this further? Looking at a van in FL now with no rust and runs ok, no Black Death, but bad cap test.

[@FloridaVanMan]

It could be indication of a lot of things. Send the video to [e-mail] we're always interested in seeing it. When that cap dances wildly, it's usually an indication of crankcase gasses escaping and getting where they're not supposed to. It causes blowby and generally, blowby = lost power. If you're seeing that much blowby, it's probable that the van could have a hole in the piston, a bad head gasket, a bad crankcase breather, or just generally bad compression. Maybe it'll run well for a long time, but do plan for rebuild/replacement at some point on the van. If the cap dance is bad, it's probably not worth its asking price either.

[@martybroussard7015]

We should come look at my van

[@richj8992]

Could you talk about the rear camera in the backup light? I've been looking for a solution for that.

[@FloridaVanMan]

That remains from 2006 when I had a laptop between the front seats. It is just a USB camera pointed at my trailer hitch for hooking up trailers. I also have a lipstick camera on the hood, connected to the radio-deck, but it's junk. When I get time for it we will be installing an 8 camera home security system. Most of them are 12v decks with a power brick adaptor, so it will be easy to adapt to van-use. Just a question of getting the right cameras and mounting them in ways that will withstand travel.

[@richj8992]

@@FloridaVanMan thank you

[@IgnoreSolutions]

I would rather a high miles van that's been driven, taken care of, and regularly used than a low miles van that was parked and sat (presumably for a reason). This is one of the cleanest T1Ns in existence.

[@WingItWithEthan]

Nice van man! I love mine! Just replaced the rear shocks with koni adjustable, replacing struts tomorrow with koni adj as well. I need to skin the windows because the sills are showing rust

[@FloridaVanMan]

Can I come learn how to do that? Rust under the windshields is killing me this week.

[@WingItWithEthan]

@@FloridaVanMan I was actually going to ask if I could come down to meet up and have you look at my sliding door and possibly any other pointers you may have for me. To be honest I’m mostly going to ‘wing it’ with the skinning. I bought some metal sheets that I will cut to the same shape as the the windows, then I planned on using sealed pop rivets to affix it after fixing the rust. On the inside I’d planned to use sealant before I fur out and spray foam. If I knew how to weld decent, or even had access to a welder I’d rather weld them in place.

[@FloridaVanMan]

@@WingItWithEthan We don't have a shop, so weather can kill a day's plan. But come on down when you are ready. I like your idea about rivets and sealant. That diamond plate panel behind my sliding door is my best "body work" and I have big sheet of diamond plate we can play with. Send me an email to discuss this and we will make a plan. [e-mail]

[@WingItWithEthan]

@@FloridaVanMan I am also lacking a shop, which would make all of this so much easier! I’m currently located near Dallas TX, visiting with family. I don’t have to be back to the ranch where I work till April, So sometime between now and then may possibly work. Window skinning, and raptor lining, bodywork/rust mitigation, and possibly spray foam is on my agenda whilst I’m here. Had an unfortunate accident with a grinder and my eye that has set me back a bit. I will definitely reach out to you @ your site Bill!

[@zambotv8150]

Man, I should do a video on the "duchess" the T1N that's my daily driver then you would see just how bad they can get, I stared repairing my sills/rocker panels today, on the passenger side they were eaten through front and back., my yearly test is on the 3rd of December, I really need to get my finger out ma ass

[@FloridaVanMan]

One van that I am working on now is a real Flintstone's car. Yabba-Dabba-Doo... Brake shoes by Nike! It reminds me of the glass bottom boats they had at Silver Springs many years ago.

[@Nothing_to_see_here]

What kind of wax/paint protection are you using?

[@FloridaVanMan]

Turtle wax, and not near often enough! The van was painted almost 2 years ago. Before that I hit it with a white Rustoleum touch-up about every 6 months.

[@zambotv8150]

When did Mercedes stop selling T1N's in the States?

[@syzygysyzygy8332]

2007.

[@FloridaVanMan]

2006 was the last T1N here. Some T1N motorhomes weren't titled until 2007.

[@zambotv8150]

@@FloridaVanMan I am sure 2005 was the last year we seen them in the UK? There are some 2006,s driving around but, I am sure they were just late registered?

[@coffee_uk]

2006

[@martybroussard7015]

Wish he would fix my van

[@davidrolando999]

Hey man you know I love you bro and I would never doubt your mechanical abilities but who does tour interior decorating? I mean I like the G wagon wheels and the stickers all over but those rugs, wall paper, and interiors are a little to girly / grandma for y taste. Seems like someone is in the kitty whooped club... jeje God bless you and yours.

[@FloridaVanMan]

You mistake kitty whooped for Cheap! The carpet squares are used from a local office, 20 cents each. The cloth on the walls is surplus from a going out of business sale, 39 cents per yard, yes YARD, and none of it was expected to stay more that 2 years before replacing. I spent like $12 on all the cloth and less than $20 on the carpet. The bed frames are an old bamboo futon, seat and back, that had been in my garage 3 years or so. The cedar lining on the a/c box was in my brother in-law's garage a couple years. Including the glue & new screws, this remodel cost me less that $150. That can't be beat considering what I could afford at the time.