Need Help In France

FunnyFendt

FunnyFendt

Free Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2010
Posts
47
Likes collected
64
Location
BH24 2LG
Funster No
12,214
MH
Rapido 927F, A-class, LHD
Exp
Since 2000
hi funsters. We decided to make a trip to Italy to see the lakes but as soon as we touched French soil the old Rapido decided to play up. No problem driving from Ringwood to Dover but as soon as we came off the ferry we had a thumping noise that transmitted up through the drivers seat and generally shook the van. Thought it was tyre related but can't see any problems there. Seems to be transmission related as noise consistent with road speed and not engine speed. Made it to arques for one night stop but now at arras as it is a weekend and no garages open till Monday. Anyone know of any good garages near Arras, Northern France that could take a look at a 2006 fiat Ducato. Rapido. Would be much appreciated. Only got iffy wifi at the moment. Via bt fon. But seems to be working at the moment. So if any replies. Thanks in advance.
 
The only thing I can think of, is... check your wheel nut`s for tightness..
Hope it`s some thing simple.. (y)
 
Can't help, sorry. Have you tried to find any garages on Google?
 
Thanks old mo. Rapido rules ok. Yes tried that this morning just in case but all ok. Thanks for your help
 
Thanks parknride, yes trying that at the moment, quite interesting what you get when you put in various searches. Cheers

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Strange.......... If it is road speed as opposed to engine speed.... I would have another check on the inside wall`s of the tyres, just in case you have a bulge or maybe caught some iron getting off the ferry and have a split in the wall..
 
If it not engine related (rev up in neutral) then I would think it could be drive shaft related, a check from the gearbox to the wheel nuts and all bits in between should find it.
 
Yep that's what I would have gone for, thought it might have been an illegal immigrant at first trying to get in, but as angie(bubble) said we were going the wrong way. Had a good look round the tyres as we have had a blowout before but all seems to be good. Will try to find a garage on Monday for someone to maybe put it on a rolling road. By the way Arras is a beautiful town, quite glad we stopped here and took the chance to have a look around. Many thanks
 
This is the main dealer phone number for Rapido in france...

Might be worth giving them a call... but doubt they are open till Monday, might be worth a try tomorrow...

ROUTE DE BRETAGNE - CS 20019 - 53101 MAYENNE CEDEX
Tél. : 02 43 30 10 70 - Fax : 02 43 30 10 71
R.C.S LAVAL 302 279 229 00025

.

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try driving along then slight turns to left and right see if it changes, then the same again with you slightly braking at the same time.
If it changes may be wheel bearing, check if the hub is getting hot too.
 
Have you checked the cv boot both inner and outer I once had a very simpler fault once where the cv boot would slide off and throw one of the drive shafts off balance but when I stopped it looked ok wasn't till I fiscally touched it I seen the problem tie wrap zip tie fixt the problem
bill
 
Last edited:
FunnyFendt said:
hi funsters. We decided to make a trip to Italy to see the lakes but as soon as we touched French soil the old Rapido decided to play up. No problem driving from Ringwood to Dover but as soon as we came off the ferry we had a thumping noise that transmitted up through the drivers seat and generally shook the van. Thought it was tyre related but can't see any problems there. Seems to be transmission related as noise consistent with road speed and not engine speed. Made it to arques for one night stop but now at arras as it is a weekend and no garages open till Monday. Anyone know of any good garages near Arras, Northern France that could take a look at a 2006 fiat Ducato. Rapido. Would be much appreciated. Only got iffy wifi at the moment. Via bt fon. But seems to be working at the moment. So if any replies. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Fiat Professional Dealer at Zone Industrielle No 4, Avenue D'Immercourt, 62217 Tilloy Les Mofflaines.
Tel: 03 21 50 70 70
Opening hours Monday 0800-1200 1400-1800
http://fiatprofessional.mopar.eu/fr-fr/DealerPages/3109-77-0020024-000.aspx
Above link with Map.. about 4km from centre of Arras

HTH
 
Many thanks to you all for your help. As we can still drive albeit slowly we are going to make it to a diagnostic garage and see what turns up tomorrow. Sorry for late replies but bt fon not the best here. Raining at Arras but quite warm. Happy holidays everyone
 
very very brave of you............what aboutAA. RAC assistance abroad............all the very best...hope you get it fixed without too much hassle................enjoy your time abroad
 
FunnyFendt said:
Many thanks to you all for your help. As we can still drive albeit slowly we are going to make it to a diagnostic garage and see what turns up tomorrow. Sorry for late replies but bt fon not the best here. Raining at Arras but quite warm. Happy holidays everyone
Click to expand...
Excellent wifi outside the tourist office at the corner of the square

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Pleas check your back wheel's but I am thinking drive shaft related give then a shake could just be wheel balance.
I knocked Balance weight off on a kerb once somehow managed have one of my balance weight's move throwing it out the balance big time
bill
 
Will report back on what the trouble was, just going to walk down to fiat garage , about 30 mins , to get bearings (mine, not the vans) and to see what sort of garage it is. We do have AA European cover but as we haven't exactly broken down we will try to sort out first. You guys are the best and I could hug you all to death. Xxx
 
firstly, don't drive the vehicle until you are going to the garage. knocking and vibration are indicators that something is potentially dangerously broken

could be a bad tyre likely to blow out, a damaged wheel, a collapsed hub bearing, damaged cv joint or buckled drive shaft. none are safe to drive long distance

you mentioned a previous blowout, how old are the tyres? older tyres are much easier to damage by driving over shackles or tie downs on ferries

Having a lot of experience with ferries through my work, damage to vehicles on the car deck is more common than you might expect

only if its safe to do so (firm ground etc), jack up the wheels one at a time and rotate them to see if they are straight. then hold the top and see if when pulled outwards the wheel moves. then run your hands over the inside wall of each tyre to feel for cracks or lumps. beyond that, you will need a garage to diagnose the problem

one thing though, I bet this hurts your wallet more than the cost of having breakdown and recovery insurance. very expensive breaking down in france

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one thing though, I bet this hurts your wallet more than the cost of having breakdown and recovery insurance. very expensive breaking down in france


She does say they have breakdown, I think I would be getting them out myself, then any costs would be looked after.
 
chaser said:
one thing though, I bet this hurts your wallet more than the cost of having breakdown and recovery insurance. very expensive breaking down in france


She does say they have breakdown, I think I would be getting them out myself, then any costs would be looked after.
Click to expand...
my bad, takes me so long to write a long post that I sometimes miss a later post

still agree that calling out the AA is essential though as if you take it on yourself to take the vehicle to a garage they may refuse to repatriate if it can't be fixed locally
 
Yes thanks guys, some sensible ideas and good points there. Will advise AA of our situation and either let them fix or take us to the local garage. Bye for now
 
think that repatriation wont be a problem I broke down right out side a garage on way back from the south of France recovery right to my front door.
 
sounds like wheel bearing problem jack wheel of ground and check for any play in the wheels if all is ok then ckeck drive shaf as it is front wheel drive

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