Help! Urgently need mechanic in Provence (1 Viewer)

[mpc13]

Hi,
We've found ourselves in a situation in France...on a 4 month tour of Europe and our motorhome broke down in spectacular fashion on the autoroute last week - overheated, smoke, engine cut out. It's still running but sounding like a tractor. It's a 1998 Fiat Ducato 1.9 Turbo diesel engine with around 50,000 miles. We were towed to a local Fiat garage but they aren't interested in repairing the engine (or even diagnosing the problem properly), all they can/want to do is replace the engine with a brand new one. Which would of course solve the problem, only trouble is this would cost 6000 euros... I've spoken to a mechanic in the UK who assures me that it should be fixable.

We are now stranded in Arles (there are worse places to be...) and our breakdown cover is putting us up in a hotel but we are really struggling to find another mechanic nearby who will give us a second opinion. Have looked through the yellow pages and rung all the local garages but they are either not able to fix motorhomes, booked solid, affiliated with a brand other than fiat or off on holiday. Does anyone know of a mechanic in the Arles/Nimes/Avignon area who we could try? We have packed up our lives in the UK and are 1 month into our trip so really need to get it fixed out here rather than coming back to the UK.

thanks in advance!

 

[breeks]

engine

hi you should get a list of breakers yards ect. its a common engine you have and i am sure they would fit one for you. if they have it. it would be 100 times quicker than repairing it if its what i think it is. what a rip off 6 grand for new engine. best of luck.

 

[haganap]

you could PM Frankie,
she's no mechanic but is French, if she was to speak the lingo to a couple of garages/mechanics she may get a better response. Why a new engine? whats the mechanics diagnosis?

I know you dont want too, but something tells me it might be safer to get returned to the uk and get someone independant to look at it at say Dover or somewhere...
good luck and please keep us informed

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[chatter]

you beat me paul, frankies forum name is yodeli she is very helpful to all funsters visiting france and at this moment in time is entertaining a couple of funsters who are visitng her. She is from Toulouse about 200 mile from yourselves so not exactly local but she is french and sometimes that does help.

 

[Terry]

Hi sorry to hear of your misfortune, but if it was me I would get your recovery people to get you back to the uk where at least you speak the lingo :thumb: Or perhaps they may find a friendly garage to help you ? 6,000 e is a very expensive engine.£1500 would easy buy a recon one.
terry
just done a quick search and £1800 gets a supply and fitted recon one
it may be worth buying the French auto trader and buying a full van to get the engine out of - maybe fit a 2.5 or 2.8 engine -- plenty in UK AT for under £1500- starting at 500

 

[barryd]

Im so sorry for you it must be heart breaking. Frankie is a good bet. I know when our bike broke down last summer the biggest issue was the language barrier. Maybe a Funster with some mechanical experience already out there will come to your rescue. Your a long way from home so I understand why you might want to get it sorted there.

I personally would concentrate on finding someone to help who speaks both French and English (Im assuming of course that you are not fluent!)

Best of luck

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[yodeli]

Hi,
We've found ourselves in a situation in France...on a 4 month tour of Europe and our motorhome broke down in spectacular fashion on the autoroute last week - overheated, smoke, engine cut out. It's still running but sounding like a tractor. It's a 1998 Fiat Ducato 1.9 Turbo diesel engine with around 50,000 miles. We were towed to a local Fiat garage but they aren't interested in repairing the engine (or even diagnosing the problem properly), all they can/want to do is replace the engine with a brand new one. Which would of course solve the problem, only trouble is this would cost 6000 euros... I've spoken to a mechanic in the UK who assures me that it should be fixable.

We are now stranded in Arles (there are worse places to be...) and our breakdown cover is putting us up in a hotel but we are really struggling to find another mechanic nearby who will give us a second opinion. Have looked through the yellow pages and rung all the local garages but they are either not able to fix motorhomes, booked solid, affiliated with a brand other than fiat or off on holiday. Does anyone know of a mechanic in the Arles/Nimes/Avignon area who we could try? We have packed up our lives in the UK and are 1 month into our trip so really need to get it fixed out here rather than coming back to the UK.

thanks in advance!

Hi mpc13!!!


Just read your post , it's a bit late today to do anything but do send me the phone number of the garage you've got your motorhome in , and as well the address of it.

Give me as many details as you can about your breakdown (i'm not a mechanic that's for sure but at least Roger (Wildman) will give me the best translation) so i can have a talk with the "garagiste". i'll see what i can do to find a way to help you!
it would be good as well if you could tell me what your insurance is taking in charge if you know it already.
Meanwhile enjoy the area!

Amicalement


Frankie

 

[hilldweller]

Hi mpc13!!!


Just read your post , it's a bit late today to do anything but do send me the phone number of the garage you've got your motorhome in , and as well the address of it.

Give me as many details as you can about your breakdown (i'm not a mechanic that's for sure but at least Roger (Wildman) will give me the best translation) so i can have a talk with the "garagiste". i'll see what i can do to find a way to help you!
it would be good as well if you could tell me what your insurance is taking in charge if you know it already.
Meanwhile enjoy the area!

Amicalement


Frankie

Amazing How can anyone flounce off objecting, "on principle", to contributing £12 to the cost of this place when they see threads like this ? Beats me.

As always, you are a star Frankie.

 

[American Dream]

Hi,
We've found ourselves in a situation in France...on a 4 month tour of Europe and our motorhome broke down in spectacular fashion on the autoroute last week - overheated, smoke, engine cut out. It's still running but sounding like a tractor. It's a 1998 Fiat Ducato 1.9 Turbo diesel engine with around 50,000 miles. We were towed to a local Fiat garage but they aren't interested in repairing the engine (or even diagnosing the problem properly), all they can/want to do is replace the engine with a brand new one. Which would of course solve the problem, only trouble is this would cost 6000 euros... I've spoken to a mechanic in the UK who assures me that it should be fixable.

We are now stranded in Arles (there are worse places to be...) and our breakdown cover is putting us up in a hotel but we are really struggling to find another mechanic nearby who will give us a second opinion. Have looked through the yellow pages and rung all the local garages but they are either not able to fix motorhomes, booked solid, affiliated with a brand other than fiat or off on holiday. Does anyone know of a mechanic in the Arles/Nimes/Avignon area who we could try? We have packed up our lives in the UK and are 1 month into our trip so really need to get it fixed out here rather than coming back to the UK.

thanks in advance!

Wish you all the best Guys for getting it sorted Swiftly.

You say it overheated...I assume this was just prior to it giving up...:Sad:

Sounding like a tractor suggests maybe a piston has let go....Any oil from the bottom or side or the engine?

It Really needs a cylinder compression test.

Any water in the rad...? Might be a head gasket.....Smoke ? White or Black.....White suggests head gasket.....Black suggests possible holed piston or thrown Con Rod/piston...

You really need a compression test to prove and possible check via Engine "endoscope" in the cylinders to take a look prior disassembly. Is the engine oil a whitish colour or fine?

Again Good Luck and I hope you get it sorted soon.:thumb:

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[staging lady]

Quite agree,Brian!
Vous etes incroyable, Frankie! Merci beaucoup.
Lucille

 

[haganap]

Quite agree,Brian!
Vous etes incroyable, Frankie! Merci beaucoup.
Lucille

translated, You are incredible Frankie,than you, (just in case you dont know Frankie

 

[mick noe]

Amazing How can anyone flounce off objecting, "on principle", to contributing £12 to the cost of this place when they see threads like this ? Beats me.

As always, you are a star Frankie.

well said..hilldweller..... thank you frankie you are amazing and hope everything gets sorted mpc13 good luck

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[yodeli]

Hi mpc13


Had a few phone calls and you could very quickly taken in charge with a FIAT or a few others which have a "motorhome aproval"

I need urgently to know what chassis you've got and your registration plate as well with your full name , insurance name and whether your motorhome is still under warranty or not. They opened a file under my name and are waiting for your details to take you in charge and know where you are precisely to toad your motorhome to a proper garage which won't change the engine if not required.


Now i can give you straight away different numbers of motorhome aproval garages


Nîmes automobile:
km delta
phone: 04 66 04 70 70

In Arles
Phone:04 90 18 44 50

In Montfavet (not far from Arles but in the 84 department)
phone: 04 90 13 87 20

In Aix en provence
Phone: 04 42 39 03 90

Now this is FIAT assistance which can take you in charge in your own language ,just wait for the vocal server to ask you if you're english (this is where there's a file under my name GUILAIN françoise)
Phone: 0080034281111 tape number 1 when asked for assistance


Hope that helps and please let me know what 's going on !


Amicalement


Frankie

 

[DBSilverfox]

Just out of interest Frankie, do you also have a cape and a T-shirt with a big "S" on the front?

As has been previously mentioned - possibly the best 12 quid someone ever spent!

David

 

[Geo]

He thought 6000 Euro was expensive
Wait till he gets Frankies Invoiceoh:
Frankie
Two American RVs landing France Sunday
Please arrange Tyres, Service, full resprays, and mechanic on standby:thumb:
Geo

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[yodeli]

Just out of interest Frankie, do you also have a cape and a T-shirt with a big "S" on the front?

As has been previously mentioned - possibly the best 12 quid someone ever spent!

David

hmmmmm not an "S" but a "FFFFF" which is "Frankie French Female Frog Funster"... and very proud to be so


Amicalement


Frankie

 

[dazzer]

:thumb:

Hi mpc13


Had a few phone calls and you could very quickly taken in charge with a FIAT or a few others which have a "motorhome aproval"

I need urgently to know what chassis you've got and your registration plate as well with your full name , insurance name and whether your motorhome is still under warranty or not. They opened a file under my name and are waiting for your details to take you in charge and know where you are precisely to toad your motorhome to a proper garage which won't change the engine if not required.


Now i can give you straight away different numbers of motorhome aproval garages


Nîmes automobile:
km delta
phone: 04 66 04 70 70

In Arles
Phone:04 90 18 44 50

In Montfavet (not far from Arles but in the 84 department)
phone: 04 90 13 87 20

In Aix en provence
Phone: 04 42 39 03 90

Now this is FIAT assistance which can take you in charge in your own language ,just wait for the vocal server to ask you if you're english (this is where there's a file under my name GUILAIN françoise)
Phone: 0080034281111 tape number 1 when asked for assistance


Hope that helps and please let me know what 's going on !


Amicalement


Frankie

WOW!!!!!!

Whoooooo Hoooooo!!!!!:thumb: Lets hear if for Frankie .

What a lovely person :thumb:

 

[yodeli]

He thought 6000 Euro was expensive
Wait till he gets Frankies Invoiceoh:
Frankie
Two American RVs landing France Sunday
Please arrange Tyres, Service, full resprays, and mechanic on standby:thumb:
Geo

Now you could add an "S" just before the FFFFF

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[656]

Well, if this is what Frankies service is like, then look out for a Caioca 656 towing a red and cream smartcar landing at Dunkerque on Saturday morning :thumb:

 

[chatter]

Those of us that know Frankie, Know she will pull out all the stops in order to help if you have problems when in france.
she needs to add another F to her sig for Fantastic
FFFFFF = fantastic frankie french female frog funster

:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

 

[barryd]

And shes got lovely eyes!

I hope you get this sorted. Sounds very positive thanks to our very own French Funster.

We will be watching and keeping everything crossed! On a further positive note. We found last year when the bike broke down and we had to hang around in the Aveyron area of the Midi Pyrenees we suddenly slowed down our rather frantic tour as we had to hang around for over a week for the belt to get shipped from the UK and then fitted in France. We discovered some fantastic places like the Tarn Valley, Lake Paraloup and the Millau area. I hope if you have to wait a while that you can do the same.

Keep positive, I know its hard to but I have a good feeling it will all get sorted now.

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[wivvy's dad]

We discovered some fantastic places like the Tarn Valley, Lake Paraloup and the Millau area. I hope if you have to wait a while that you can do the same.

That is oh so true.
I cannot think of a nicer place in which to be stranded, Arles being my favourite large French town.
You may come away thinking slightly differently, but I hope you get it sorted soon.

 

[yodeli]

bump

..... just in case mpc13 shows up:Blush:



Frankie

 

[JockandRita]

bump

..... just in case mpc13 shows up:Blush:



Frankie

And another bump, although mpc13 has probably gone to bed by now.

Great assistance there Frankie. I think that would be a hard act for the likes of ADAC , AA & RAC etc, to follow. :thumb:

Best regards,

Jock.

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[mpc13]

French mechanical fun

Thanks so much all for your replies, surtout Frankie!! We have made some progress in the last day or so and are being ably assisted by our breakdown service Call Assist UK (and IMA in France)... Although we have been ejected from our hotel room and are now camped out in the lobby with our 6 month old who thinks it all a big adventure!!

We got the original 'diagnosis' from the Fiat dealership in Arles - Lacomare. Since then I have rang around all the independent garages I could find on the web in Arles. Most couldn't take campers due to the height (3.1m). Alain Diesel is a diesel specialist in Arles (and yes I think that's his real name which is ironic....) was helpful but couldn't see us as they are closing for 2 weeks. Found a garage in Nimes (JG Autos) which is about 30km away who has done a compression test and has isolated the problem to the 1st cylinder and is now opening things up for a further diagnosis. But at least not a complete engine replacement at 6000 euros...

The one important thing we've learned is to NOT go to a fiat affiliated garage (a concessionaire). They are only able to replace parts rather than repair. Any other concessionaire garage apart from Fiat wouldn't touch our engine anyway. We were told by Fiat Arles that yes they would 'like' to fit a 2nd hand motor for us but they weren't allowed. And they couldn't open up the engine and repair it as if anything went wrong they would be liable for it. So a brand now motor was the only thing they could offer and it wasn't in their interest to do anything else to help, but they were happy to take 100 euros for their vague diagnosis which they wouldn't even write down on paper in case we hold them to it. I don't know whether this is generalisable to all Fiat affiliated garages in France (we dealt with a very helpful workshop manager in St Malo), but if we broke down again I wouldn't go to a Fiat garage unless my wallet was very deep.

Will keep you posted with the diagnosis from the garage... and thanks Frankie will let you know if we need any help!! (I'm pretty fluent in Francais but je trouve difficile au telephone avec les accents de la region!!)

 

[mpc13]

au positive

And shes got lovely eyes!

I hope you get this sorted. Sounds very positive thanks to our very own French Funster.

We will be watching and keeping everything crossed! On a further positive note. We found last year when the bike broke down and we had to hang around in the Aveyron area of the Midi Pyrenees we suddenly slowed down our rather frantic tour as we had to hang around for over a week for the belt to get shipped from the UK and then fitted in France. We discovered some fantastic places like the Tarn Valley, Lake Paraloup and the Millau area. I hope if you have to wait a while that you can do the same.

Keep positive, I know its hard to but I have a good feeling it will all get sorted now.

thanks barryd, we have decided to treat this as part of our adventure rather than a setback.. the positives have been numerous: we have had 6 nights in a fantastic hotel in Arles (hotel Calandel), which has provided us with airconditioning during a mini heatwave (the baby doesn't appreciate temperatures of 35 degrees!), we've had a good look around here and visited Avignon, we've slowed down. The best part has been interactions with the locals who have proved themselves to be friendly and helpful. We weren't even planning to come here which seems ridiculous as it's such a beautiful place, so once the repairs are all done and dusted (and the uncertainty removed) we'll look back with fond memories! Missing the van though, was very sad visiting her yesterday looking deserted and forlorn at the Fiat depot...

 

[JockandRita]

Hi mpc13,

Sorry to hear about Fiat's lack of professionalism, (nothing new there then), but glad to hear that some investigations/diagnosis and are in hand.
It's good to hear that you and yours appear to be positive about the whole saga. We were stranded twice (07 and 08), so we know exactly what it is like to suffer major mechanical problems outside the UK. Fortunately, on both occasions we were repatriated, as was the MH a few weeks later. Nightmare stuff.

Best regards, and hope that you are back on the road soon,

Jock.

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[yodeli]

Hi mpc13!

Glad to see that things are improving a bit, and quite a shame you couldn't rely on FIAT service!

Have you been across one of the garages i gave you the numbers ?

Pity i couldn't come and have a good talk with the people in charge of your assistance .... at least i would have had the pleasure to tell them with my own words....:Blush:....( well keep in mind i'm french and can't really change my nature now .... far too late i'm afraid) my deepest thoughts:Angry:


Hoping you (and your wallet) will soon forget about all this lack of luck!


You still can rely on me if you need help, i'll always do my best!



Amicalement


Frankie

 

[tofo]

i am sorry to hear of your woes
i suffered a damaged engine in my van last year and it is a worry getting it sorted lucky for me it was only20 miles from home

the thing that intrigues me if a fiat dealer in france cant wont open the engine up
to repair it does that mean they would exchange an engine in a new van if it was a suspect valve

 

[johnp10]

Hi Frankie,

We've never met, but you are obviously a star!
It seems a few people would be in the crap good style without your help.
Get rid of breakdown services.
Get rid of our embassy.
We dont need eiher with you around.

mpc13,
Hope you folks get the beast fixed and enjoy the rest of the trip.

Cheers
John & Pauline.

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