P38A For todays trick the fuse box burned out - in France. Solved - new fuse box now fitted and working

Bloody car.

So my wife drives to the village for the morning bread run, parks up, buys bread gets back into car. Turns key. Click. Turns key again. Click. Walks 2.5 miles back home. So I walk back this afternoon to inspect (intuition is now saying fuse box must be todays gremlin). Open the bonnet, sniff the fuse box - eek acrid nasty stink. Open the fuse box and the postive cable nut is wiggling around loose. Fiddle sticks I say to myself. To be honest it was probably much worse but this forum has word censorship hahahaha.

Pull out multi tool and remove fusebox. Got it back home and it looks just like this one on this site https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LgFGJqTD.../st9QXw5eJDY/s1600/P38+Fusebox+connection.JPG
Repair isn't that hard, just going to be tedious, but my Level 3 repair kit is at home in Blighty, so it will have to wait until I'm home. I have ordered a replacement from the Bay of E but currently the car is stuck in the village centre car park until I can get it recovered to our house here.

These are just challenges, not problems and if it wasn't for forums and you guys & girls repairs would not be possible.

I do love driving this car so it is an ongoing running resto, Commando Spirit and all that!

It's probably pee'd off it is in France......

I have a spare (suspected and changed out from last Rangie as some of the relays were a bit singed). But I think it can be salvaged and it has all the fuses and relays; just a few need replacing.

Thanks Dan I really appreciate the offer mate. I've bought one already but got one lined up here in France in case it can't be delivered here.

Saint.V8 said:

It's probably pee'd off it is in France......

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Yep more than likely hahahaha. It did enjoy getting lost up a wooded lane in the dark with a trailer. Outstanding vehicle off road. The trailer was heavy and it was a 180 in the woods to get out with a few humps behind the trailer. I got Gripmax AT's fitted for this trip and the P38 shoved that trailer over the humps like they weren't there. The locals must have thought they were having nightmares listening to 2 English voices in the woods at midnight and hearing a big diesel revving up

Saint.V8 said:

It's probably pee'd off it is in France......

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Hey I told you to shut up!
Our bus is quite happy here.

Mukiwa, I don't know where you are in France, but if near Poitiers I have spare and tools, my spare fuse box is from a pre EGR diesel so may not be suitable but I have old but serviceable professional soldering kit and lots of other stuff.

Hi Datatek,

Rochechouart is the location. Have spoken with Wammer's and pre 1999 fuseboxes are different layout and won't work. Ref soldering stuff my problem is getting to places now. The train station isn't far but there are not many trains a day and no idea about buses.
Thank you for your offer and I may yet take you up on it

Update: correct YQ fusebox on the way via family in Winsford then fast as possible to France. Ebay won't let the item be posted to France even though the seller does international selling. I phoned the seller, paid for the item and he posted it within the hour. Top guy

Thanks to those that have offered help and items as well - cheers all & Merry Christmas

You got one?
Excellent news mate

It's in the post - hooray! Checked the RM tracking and apparently it hasn't ever moved - boo! So now it's a waiting game.

Had an offer of a tow back from the village, it's up hill all the way apart from the last 200m downhill to our house.
Apart from the F11 fuse for being towed I'm sure that there is no foot brake only hand brake and only manual steering (which is very hard) so although I'd like to take him up on his offer and have it back in our barn, I don't think it's safe and it would be very, very slow.
Is it flatbed only or can it be done or am I better off waiting?

in France you can only tow with a bar, not a rope but if out in country do not think anyone really would be bothered but could be a problem with insurance if something went wrong, you would need something quiet big to pull it

Ian M in France said:

in France you can only tow with a bar, not a rope but if out in country do not think anyone really would be bothered but could be a problem with insurance if something went wrong, you would need something quiet big to pull it

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Thanks Ian, good to know. I did take out insurance cover for Europe but apparently I didn't select breakdown recovery - which was not an option when I did my insurance... at least it's only 2 miles if I need depannage

Ian M in France said:

in France you can only tow with a bar, not a rope but if out in country do not think anyone really would be bothered but could be a problem with insurance if something went wrong, you would need something quiet big to pull it

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I have towed using a rope and seen it done a few times, as long as it's a short distance on secondary roads the Gendarmes are OK but I do have a French driving licence covering me for heavy towing/small trucks.

Just a thought, if electrics are down completely, i cannot see removing fuse 11 to put the transfer box in neutral for towing is going to do a lot.

That's a good point Wammers, other option take of transfer motor and wind to neutral manually.

brianp38dse said:

That's a good point Wammers, other option take of transfer motor and wind to neutral manually.

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Towing very slowly for a few yards, say winching onto a trailer is no problem. Towing on the road is, because if the transfer box is not in neutral, the gearbox output shaft is driven without any oil pressure or circulation. Result misery. With the old model 35 boxes you could tow no problem because they had front and rear oil pumps. If you freewheeled down a hill and dropped it into drive you could bump start the engine.

wammers said:

Just a thought, if electrics are down completely, i cannot see removing fuse 11 to put the transfer box in neutral for towing is going to do a lot.

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Me too. I realised that last night. I just hope the Royal Mail and French poste synchronise

Could you take off prop shafts

Ian M in France said:

Could you take off prop shafts

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That would give you only minimal front wheel braking and no backup hand brake.