P38 broken in France. Help!

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Charles Banbury

Charles Banbury

Active Member
Posts
114
Location
Oxfordshire
Good evening. I am posting on behalf of a very old friend. P38 petrol, 4.0, 1996 rare manual.
So. This guy has a place in France where his P38 lives. He has an L322 3.6 in the UK. He has owned the P38 from new and it has a factory optional manual gearbox. With 240k on the clock.
His place is in Chinon in the Loire Valley. Last weekend, he went down to France to bring the P38 back to the UK for its annual MOT. All started well. When driving back from a shopping trip, the car went nuts. The rev counter spiralled out of control and the car started to splutter. Then, came the smoke. He limped home (brave in my opinion!) but, the car continued to run. His neighbour, with more technical knowledge than him had a look and there was ‘glowing’ from the electrics at the side (I don’t know which side.) of the engine. The car remained running but roughly.
That’s all I have. I know it’s not much. So, the question is. Does anyone know of a mechanic in France within trailering distance from Chinon (Loire Valley) who could fix this? He loves this car and, as said, has had it from new. HELP!!
Many thanks,
Charles.
 
There’s a member near poiters who may know of somewhere his name on here is datatec very knowledgeable chap maybe u could private message him
 
Poiters isn’t that far from your freind or u could have a look at the international rescue forum on here to c who’s in that country
 
Try Automarques.fr at Monts-sur-Guesnes. Tel 0549 226835.
Not too far from Chinon, 15 mins south of Loudun in the Vienne.
He has a RRClassic himself and knows the marque, I don't know what diagnostic gear he has but always very busy as he has a good reputation.
He has a breakdown truck so may pick up for your mate.
If there is any problem (language etc) pm me and I will help.
 
Charles Banbury said:
Good evening. I am posting on behalf of a very old friend. P38 petrol, 4.0, 1996 rare manual.
So. This guy has a place in France where his P38 lives. He has an L322 3.6 in the UK. He has owned the P38 from new and it has a factory optional manual gearbox. With 240k on the clock.
His place is in Chinon in the Loire Valley. Last weekend, he went down to France to bring the P38 back to the UK for its annual MOT. All started well. When driving back from a shopping trip, the car went nuts. The rev counter spiralled out of control and the car started to splutter. Then, came the smoke. He limped home (brave in my opinion!) but, the car continued to run. His neighbour, with more technical knowledge than him had a look and there was ‘glowing’ from the electrics at the side (I don’t know which side.) of the engine. The car remained running but roughly.
That’s all I have. I know it’s not much. So, the question is. Does anyone know of a mechanic in France within trailering distance from Chinon (Loire Valley) who could fix this? He loves this car and, as said, has had it from new. HELP!!
Many thanks,
Charles.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear of your friends problem but...does he keep that vehicle permanently in France... If so you can't bring it back for its "annual MoT " it must be matriculated to French reg or left in UK for 6 months in every calander year and road taxed in UK to be legal on any EU highway...
 
Shippers said:
Sorry to hear of your friends problem but...does he keep that vehicle permanently in France... If so you can't bring it back for its "annual MoT " it must be matriculated to French reg or left in UK for 6 months in every calander year and road taxed in UK to be legal on any EU highway...
Click to expand...
Being resident in France it winds me up to see just how many UK reg motors there are over here, mine was matriculated 6 months after getting here. Some of these silly bustards think it's just fine to ignore all the rules, most of which are quite logical.
 
Shippers said:
Sorry to hear of your friends problem but...does he keep that vehicle permanently in France... If so you can't bring it back for its "annual MoT " it must be matriculated to French reg or left in UK for 6 months in every calander year and road taxed in UK to be legal on any EU highway...
Click to expand...

Why keep a RHD car in France... ??? I think I kept my RHD Fiat Uno for 6 months when I first moved here in 87... impractical on every level, car parks, péages, underground garages... over-taking...not to mention some specific parts hard to get over here.. Apart from being illegal isn't his insurance void, don't know any insurance company that will insure you permanently abroad. I did get my French company to insure a Dutch registered Terrano I'd bought, the time it took to get it re-registered in France.

I haven't driven a RHD since 1987.
 
garethdwatkins said:
Why keep a RHD car in France... ??? I think I kept my RHD Fiat Uno for 6 months when I first moved here in 87... impractical on every level, car parks, péages, underground garages... over-taking...not to mention some specific parts hard to get over here.. Apart from being illegal isn't his insurance void, don't know any insurance company that will insure you permanently abroad. I did get my French company to insure a Dutch registered Terrano I'd bought, the time it took to get it re-registered in France.

I haven't driven a RHD since 1987.
Click to expand...

Everything youve said 100% here in algarve as well...if youve applied for matriculation insurance companys provided with paperwork will insure you...its not how long the vehicle has been in a foreign country that matters its how long out of uk its been...a big difference...and im also like froghopper sick of them running round on uk plates illegaly...im also against rhd cars being reg here as they can be sold on to anyone including nationalswas well as lhd reg in uk theres no need for it....rant over lol
 
Charles Banbury said:
Good evening. I am posting on behalf of a very old friend. P38 petrol, 4.0, 1996 rare manual.
So. This guy has a place in France where his P38 lives. He has an L322 3.6 in the UK. He has owned the P38 from new and it has a factory optional manual gearbox. With 240k on the clock.
His place is in Chinon in the Loire Valley. Last weekend, he went down to France to bring the P38 back to the UK for its annual MOT. All started well. When driving back from a shopping trip, the car went nuts. The rev counter spiralled out of control and the car started to splutter. Then, came the smoke. He limped home (brave in my opinion!) but, the car continued to run. His neighbour, with more technical knowledge than him had a look and there was ‘glowing’ from the electrics at the side (I don’t know which side.) of the engine. The car remained running but roughly.
That’s all I have. I know it’s not much. So, the question is. Does anyone know of a mechanic in France within trailering distance from Chinon (Loire Valley) who could fix this? He loves this car and, as said, has had it from new. HELP!!
Many thanks,
Charles.
Click to expand...
So whats going on, has he got himself sorted or what?????
 
Thanks so much everyone for your helpful and very generous advice. I have been away with work so I don’t have an update and sorry for the time it has taken to reply. When I hear from him I will post a result.
With regards.
 
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