Where to get help in Europe?
Discussion
On 16 July I'm off round Europe, hopefully, assuming all goes well with a glass-out respray and some trim work between now and then. I'll have a boot full of essential spares and but if people can advise where some TVR specialist garages (or helpful PHers!) are it might make my life easier should the worst happen. I'll have breakdown cover but it'd be nice if it could be fixed rather than returned home and me left with a dull hire car. Route is as follows, but with some slight deviations for fun roads:
Calais
Bruges
Gottingen
Stuttgart
Lake Como
Nice
Geneva
Reims
Calais
Calais
Bruges
Gottingen
Stuttgart
Lake Como
Nice
Geneva
Reims
Calais
We were thinking Furka & Grimsell passes as per this article http://jalopnik.com/the-worlds-greatest-road-actua... We should be able to get Route 500 in Germany done too. On the way from Nice to Geneva were hoping to get some of Route Napoleon done along with Route de Gentelly and Col de la Bonnette.
NilsP said:
I hope the Tour de France is over by the time you'll be there.
Those buggers WILL NOT get out of the way
Hadn't thought of that, fortunately we only arrive in Nice the day the Tour de France ends.Those buggers WILL NOT get out of the way
aide said:
Hey Will
That looks like fun!
The auto payagé for the French autoroute works brilliantly:
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk
A few spare relays would be definitely worthwhile too.
Have fun!
Aide
I had no idea this existed, definitely getting one as I'll probably be in the car by myself for some of the french motorway, should make life easier.That looks like fun!
The auto payagé for the French autoroute works brilliantly:
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk
A few spare relays would be definitely worthwhile too.
Have fun!
Aide
On the spares front I'm taking:
Coil Packs x2
HT Leads
Oil Pressure Relief Spring
Oil Pressure Switch
Throttle Cable
Crank Sensor
Spare Throttle Pots x2
Lambda Sensors x2
Spark Plugs
Big Fuses
Assorted Blade Fuses
Spare relays, complete set
Wire & assorted connectors
Alternator belt
5L Coolant
4L Oil
Assorted jubilee clips
Jack
Socket set w/ screwdriver & a variety of bits
Roll of spanners
Wire crimp tool
Pliers
Torch
RS-AJP
If I can't make it with that lot is probably gone badly wrong!
Just ordered 1 of these http://www.gitup.com/en/home/12-gitup-git2-pro-act...
Anyone know where the best place to put an external microphone for exhaust noise is? As its a mini-USB connection extending it shouldn't be a problem
As theres only 1.5 petrolheads on the journey we're going to touristy places but managing to squeeze in some decent roads in places, I wasn't planning a tour of Lake Como at 180mph!
Mr Cerbera, I've copied your phone number now if you want to remove it. Thanks!
Anyone know where the best place to put an external microphone for exhaust noise is? As its a mini-USB connection extending it shouldn't be a problem
As theres only 1.5 petrolheads on the journey we're going to touristy places but managing to squeeze in some decent roads in places, I wasn't planning a tour of Lake Como at 180mph!
Mr Cerbera, I've copied your phone number now if you want to remove it. Thanks!
My car has now made it to the first stop in Brugge, thanks to the extreme generosity of NilsP. He drove from Antwerp to our hotel last night with the alternator. My friends drove me back to Dunkirk this morning to fix it and after a jump start it made it here. There seems to be a battery specialist in Bruges so I'll see what they've got for the Cerbera tomorrow jut o be on the safe side.
Change of plans. Going to Dusseldorf as the guy who wanted to go to Gottingen isn't coming anymore (damn fool got engaged and the road trip fund became the wedding fund) and we've been to Gottingen a few years ago. The TVR made it without incident, although the battery voltage seems weak still so a new Optima Yellow Top is on it's way to the hotel, should arrive tomorrow.
The mechanic sent by the RAC only spoke French, however the battery voltage was always 10.something before the alternator change and is now 13.something afterwards. Today's new problem is the outside driver's door switch not working. No continuity through the switch but jumping the connections at the control box opens the door. New switch on the way and I'll check the wiring in between this evening. Off to Freiburg shortly.
Edited by CerbWill on Wednesday 20th July 16:16
Its on about 77k. Drivers door switch has seemed a bit reluctant for a while compared to the passenger side but its a shame its chosen to give up now. Anyway we've made it to Freiburg. Managed 150mph on some autobahn and did 130kph/posted limited on the rest of it and got 24mpg. It also survived the 37 degree heat without issue, including some fairly steep climbs at low speed on Route 500, did need some selective use of the aircon to keep the water temp under control and aide's RS-AJP has been brilliant for monitoring it all. To put the alternator issue in to context I've had the car 2 years and done 11k miles and its the first mechanical failure thats left me stranded, granted I've done the clutch slave twice but I've always got home before, its just unfortunate timing.
Some more miles done. Now in Como having done Susten, Furka, and Grimsel passes without incident. Now to collect the Mrs from the airport. At some point I'll have a look through my dash came videos and see if there's any nice looking bits where I don't show a complete lack of talent or some stills I can extract.
A rather good drive along Route Gentelly and some of Route Napoleon. No further incidents, although the French truly do have a laissez-faire attitude to life and roll along at well below the speed limit, annoying when you've got several hundred km to do.
Now in Geneva.
Now in Geneva.
Edited by CerbWill on Wednesday 27th July 20:00
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