Help ! Lost in France

[jml]

Yep, a little bit too far I’m afraid. Thanks again for offering

[NewcastleFalcon]

3) If only I had my electronic stethoscope then I think I’d be much better able to diagnose things, unfortunately it’s 800 miles away from here.
Please keep your fingers crossed for me guys !

Yes hope you get it sorted and a safe journey home. Our thread Toolbag Tales may help you out in the diagnosis. Get down to "Castorama" and make yourself a "Diagnostic Interface between Vehicle and Ear"

Bon Chance!

Neil

[jml]

Some great reading there and thanks for the pipe (sorry, tool) suggestion.
The trouble is, it only makes the noise when the engine is running and, on a C8, there’s not much space or access down there.
I’ve got an old Triumph Stag and I carry a very comprehensive tool kit in that. I tend to think of the C8 as ‘new’ and so don’t carry any tools - lesson learnt, methinks.
Besides, it’s not new any longer - this is what I saw on the way down here:

[Paul-R]

I think your about 600km away, Hope you get it sorted

600km to the west of Uzès puts you in the Bay of Biscay! Surely closer than that?

[Steve Walsh]

North west, France is a big country, I am Near Nontron 24300

[Paul-R]

LOL, more like 350km then! Still a bit far for jml maybe, although it would be a nice tour to get there.

[Steve Walsh]

Probably on a direct route, Not always the best

[jml]

Opinions folks ?

I suspect that my problem described above is either the alternator clutch pulley or, possibly, the spring loaded tensioner failing.

Purely as a stopgap, until I can get back to the uk, do you guys reckon it might be worth trying to spray some lubricant into the edges of those two items. Possibly a lubricant with PTFE in the hope that might just give some longer protection ?

On the other hand, I suppose there’s a risk that some could get on to the polyvee belt.

Any thoughts ?

Cheers

Julian

[lexi]

To replace the clutch pulley is a bearing change really. Special hex tool for a tenner. You need to get alternator off first. The bearing is about £30. Might be worthwhile getting a quote out there to do it?

[Steve Walsh]

I had a alternator clutch pulley fail during my last trip to the UK a few months ago in a Mazda 6, It destroyed the belt and filled the alternator with shrapnel, I got a new pulley, about 70 quid and new belt. Also had alternator stripped and cleaned out, If thats your prob I would recommend having it done before complete failure. Mine gave no warning before it gave up

[xantia_v6]

I just realised that if you are heading for the UK, you are likely to be going right past us, we are in Beaune, about 3 km from the A6/A26 junction.
If you need help near here, let me know.

[jml]

Wow ! It seems like Citroen owners in France get up early in the morning !
Many thanks for all that advice from all of you and I’m very grateful for your offer monsieur Xantia V6, that’s very good of you, although I’m sure you’ll understand when I say I hope I don’t have to take you up on it !
Cheers
Julian

[Michel]

Beaune is a lovely place, make it a short break there! We always stop there overnight on our way to the South coast each year. It's a bit cold for the freshwater swimming pools this time of year though.

Also handy as there's a Carrefour very close to the autoroute to fill up with diesel at sane prices. We get bread, a rotisserie chicken and other bits and pieces and have a picnic at one of the small rest areas on the way South.

[Paul-R]

...the A6/A26 junction.

A6/A31?

I usually take a western route nowadays (Rouen, Chartres, Orleans, Clermond Ferrand) as it's fast and mostly free autoroute/dual carriageway. It's just so expensive to use the A26/A31/etc to go south. I'd rather use the money saved for an extra night's hotel!

Anyway, back to topic!

[jml]

I like the Rouen/Chartres/Orlean route however, to my surprise, just checking it on Google maps - which I usually find surprisingly accurate - they suggest that it’s about 2 1/4 hours longer to get to the Clermont area !