Urgent help needed in France!

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R

richwp

New Member
Posts
86
Location
Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire
Hi gyus,

Almost made it to the campsite in Airvault when the temp guage went through the roof and the rangie started chucking water out from the expanison tank overflow. Radiator top hose was solid.

As we were on the motorway, had no choice but to use the SOS phone - got recovered by a garage in Cuon - they don't speak English, I don't have much French (I was starting a French course tomorrow at the campiste!).

They want 528 Euros to recover us tomorrow morning to the campsite some 120 kilometers away. Even if I get it there, we still have no way of getting it looked at or any knowledge of who to go to locally.

So, we're spending the night in the garage secure parking! I know some of you are based in France. Who should I contact to try to get this sorted?

The worst of it all is that my UK recovery service won't touch it as I forgot to tell them I was using the RR to go to France! :doh:
Help!
 
richwp said:
Hi gyus,

Almost made it to the campsite in Airvault when the temp guage went through the roof and the rangie started chucking water out from the expanison tank overflow. Radiator top hose was solid.

As we were on the motorway, had no choice but to use the SOS phone - got recovered by a garage in Cuon - they don't speak English, I don't have much French (I was starting a French course tomorrow at the campiste!).

They want 528 Euros to recover us tomorrow morning to the campsite some 120 kilometers away. Even if I get it there, we still have no way of getting it looked at or any knowledge of who to go to locally.

So, we're spending the night in the garage secure parking! I know some of you are based in France. Who should I contact to try to get this sorted?

The worst of it all is that my UK recovery service won't touch it as I forgot to tell them I was using the RR to go to France! :doh:
Help!
Click to expand...


**** happens.:doh:
 
Richwp, if your east of Angers, I believe Datatek lives somewhere south west of you, but how far away he lives I've no idea.

You could try pm'ing him, he may be able to point you in the right direction regarding repairs/spares.

hth

zzr
 
Depends just which Airvault, give me an address or a post code. There is bugger all around Poitiers, nearest is Niort.
€500 to recover you from where exactly? I could do it I recon for half that if it helps. You could also ditch the car at my place until you can sort it.
I'm no good on V8's but I have space where you can work.
 
If you are at Cuon north of Saumur and are going to Airvault near Parthenay, I could trailer you down for the cost of the trailer hire and fuel, less than €200. could do it Monday if the trailer is available to hire.
 
Datatek said:
If you are at Cuon north of Saumur and are going to Airvault near Parthenay, I could trailer you down for the cost of the trailer hire and fuel, less than €200. could do it Monday if the trailer is available to hire.
Click to expand...

Thanks Datatek - seems like you've got the right places there :).
We've currently got the caravan in the garage's secure compound (locked in overnight). Not the best place to camp I've been to!

They plan to recover us (plus caravan) to the campsite in Airvault later this am. Once we're there I'll have a week to sort the RR before we're due to drive back. I was hoping to at least find someone who could check the car over for us and get a diagnosis in case it's not the worst case and might be a coolant leak causing an airlock or something?
 
richwp said:
Thanks Datatek - seems like you've got the right places there :).
We've currently got the caravan in the garage's secure compound (locked in overnight). Not the best place to camp I've been to!

They plan to recover us (plus caravan) to the campsite in Airvault later this am. Once we're there I'll have a week to sort the RR before we're due to drive back. I was hoping to at least find someone who could check the car over for us and get a diagnosis in case it's not the worst case and might be a coolant leak causing an airlock or something?
Click to expand...

Ah with a caravan, bad goes to worse, you said camping so I imagined a tent.
You have to hope that it is something simple like a water leak that has allowed it to boil, but given the V8's known fragility it might be a faint hope.
Good luck, shout if you think I can help, but I have no knowledge of the V8 other than I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole. Diesel every time for me:D
I do have RAVE on CD if needed:)
 
Hi guys

Thanks for the replies and the offer of help Datatek. Have only now got wifi sorted at the campsite!

Update: Got recovered to the site this am. Once we'd got the kettle on and had a cuppa, I started to look at the RR to see if there was anything ovious! Firstly no signs of leaking other than through the overflow on the expansion tank. No signs of oil in the water or vice versa.

Then I remebered reading on here about the hose from the top of the radiator to the expansion tank, and decided to check that all was well. No sign of water coming from it in the expansion tank even when reved, so took the end off the rad and tried to blow it through - hard at first, but eventullay managed to blow it through and clear what must have been a blockage or an air lock of some sort.

Re-connected it, topped up the cooland and tried it. It came up to temp as normal, and held its temp for about 15mins on idle. So, decided to take it for a spin (having made arrangements to get a tow back if all went wrong!). Drove for about 10 mins at normal temp.

Could this have been the cause? After the 10 min drive, no drop in fluid level, no sign of leaking and all seems normal?

Thanks again for all your help.;)
 
Good lesson to be learnt if you think about it, get European coverage, you can get it when you insure your car.... just in case, its a dam site cheaper in the end, and you have peace of mind
 
European cover is good but it is well worth checking the small print !! In the worst case you may not come back with your car !! If it is going to cost more to repatriate the car than it is worth then you may find you will be forced into a garage for repairs where you are or you will get paid the Market value of the car minus any costs involved in getting you back .
 
richwp said:
Hi guys

Thanks for the replies and the offer of help Datatek. Have only now got wifi sorted at the campsite!

Update: Got recovered to the site this am. Once we'd got the kettle on and had a cuppa, I started to look at the RR to see if there was anything ovious! Firstly no signs of leaking other than through the overflow on the expansion tank. No signs of oil in the water or vice versa.

Then I remebered reading on here about the hose from the top of the radiator to the expansion tank, and decided to check that all was well. No sign of water coming from it in the expansion tank even when reved, so took the end off the rad and tried to blow it through - hard at first, but eventullay managed to blow it through and clear what must have been a blockage or an air lock of some sort.

Re-connected it, topped up the cooland and tried it. It came up to temp as normal, and held its temp for about 15mins on idle. So, decided to take it for a spin (having made arrangements to get a tow back if all went wrong!). Drove for about 10 mins at normal temp.

Could this have been the cause? After the 10 min drive, no drop in fluid level, no sign of leaking and all seems normal?

Thanks again for all your help.;)
Click to expand...

Just make sure there is no residual air in the system. open the heater to full hot and rapidly squeeze and release the top hose with the engine idling to help purge any air.
Hope all is well for you and that the missus is not looking for a divorce!:eek:
I'm omly about 20 minutes from you if you want to pop in for a cuppa.:D
 
Datatek said:
Just make sure there is no residual air in the system. open the heater to full hot and rapidly squeeze and release the top hose with the engine idling to help purge any air.
Hope all is well for you and that the missus is not looking for a divorce!:eek:
I'm omly about 20 minutes from you if you want to pop in for a cuppa.:D
Click to expand...

Hi Datatek

Thanks for the offer - I've PM'd you.

RIch
 
Update: Having thought I'd fixed it :) we found a drip coming from the front (right of centre as you look at the car) :(. Took it to the local garage who did a pressure test and found that the radiator was leaking from the bottom seam in several places! One new radiator and 700 Euros later and we're back in action :D.

I'm taking the previous rad back to the Uk with me as it's only been in there since November/December last year! Perhaps a trip back to the fitting garage might be in order!

Thanks for all the help and advice - I've also now got european cover in place for the return journey.
 
Check the small print on your European cover. A good friend had 5 star Euro cover with the AA. He broke down on the M6 and was top he wasn't covered as he wasn't in Europe !!!! . Glad you got it sorted and it wasn't to serious.
 
RAC cover worked for me. I had a small break down on the E17 in France. I used a SOS phone on the motorway and called the RAC. I was covered for the towing charge and just had to pay €70 for the mech time and part.

bloody worth the 70 quid RAC charge !!! :D
 
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