Zagan Needs a Mechanic, Le Crotoy, Somme
Zagan the motorhome has the man flu. He’s parked up in a calm, sand-floored aire (€6 a night) a few meters over the dunes from the Somme estuary at Le Crotoy (N50.22840, E1.61222), about a mile’s amble from the centre of the town. And he’s developed a squeak. Quite some squeak.
Zagan’s evening resting place at Le Crotoy, Somme Estuary
It’s 5:13pm and I’m already tucking into my stash of Finkbräu Lidl lager. Why? That wee squeal, that’s why. As we drove down the inland coastal roads this morning my shoulder’s tightened and tightened as we approached each rond-point, since Zagan would let out an almighty banshee-wail as we slowed down into each of them. “At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit, Avenoo dezz Etass Youuniss”, the satnav humorously pronounces the place names in broad English. “Ignore her” Ju tells me, applying ‘tiny road’ common sense to route planning. At about the same time an ear-busting SCCRRREEEEECCCCHHH comes from under Zagan’s bonnet and I wince, squinting my eyes, knowing mechanical stuff and toilets are my territory, so I’m going to have to do something about it.
Since getting here I’ve got under the engine, removed the cover protecting the alternator from road-rubbish and prodded at the fanbelt a bit. All looks OK to me, but although I’m male and therefore like to think I have a clue about these things, I don’t. A local fella wandered over as I gathered up my collection of spanners and sockets in a huff. “En panne?” he asked, hands in pockets. “Non, mais il fait du bruit” I hopefully replied, it’s just a bit of noise. He ambled off, agreeing that a mechanic is required. Job for Monday, along with the laundry, Monday’s not looking like a good day…
Anyway, I’m feeling a bit justified in cracking open the ale, as we’ve all walked for 3 or 4 hours today, down the sea-less estuary into Le Crotoy, around the town’s roads and even into a couple of shops. Ju did the honours in Shop #1, stepping up to the ‘go on, you go and speak some French’ challenge as I stood outside pointing at the massive ball of chocolate I fancied. As she opened the door, triumphantly clutching a boxed ball of chocolate and a sliced brown loaf, both of which she actually wanted rather than getting by default, I grabbed a snap of the cheekily-named Divorcé cake – two different cakes joined by cream fashioned to look like a diamond wedding ring! Hah!
The choco-ball-thing turned out to be a couple of meringues with a thick slab of delicious icing in between, all covered with tiny fally-offy squares of chocolate. A shoal of starved piranha couldn’t have dispatched it faster than us.
Le Crotoy pokes out into the Baie de Somme as the river makes its way into the channel. Only when we set off there was no channel, just an enormous expanse of mud under a watery-ink sky. The entire mass of saltwater had been swept off ten miles out beyond the horizon by the pull of the moon or some such devilry. I snapped a couple of photos 3 hours apart hoping to show the dramatic re-entry of the ocean up to the town, but they look almost identical… You’ll have to take my word for it, the sea’s re-appearance was fast, dangerously so going off the umpteen warning signs.
Before
After
Get back to the beach by midday! And no cockle-picking or you risk a €1500 fine, ouch
Out in the town I offered to take a photo of a French couple, who snapped a piccy of us in return. As we fumbled through in French, they fumbled through in English in return. In this fashion we gathered that France play Les All-Blacks tonight but no, they don’t stand a chance and they’d only be watching for the fun of it. Bonne chance anyway folks, allez les Blues. So much for French arrogance.
Merci! And don’t fear the All Blacks!
Shop #2 was a friterie. Or as we know it, a chippie! The lady behind the counter smiled and helpfully did a bit of mime to sort us out with a box of chips for the walk home. We popped ’em one by one into our chip-hungry mouths as we hunted out the laundrette on Avenue Charles de Gaule. Shut. But it’s not self-service anyway. And it’s a mile we’d need to drag the washing sack. And they’d probably charge us more to wash it than if we do it ourselves. And we couldn’t be bothered. Nah, joint decision, we’ll chance it and hunt out a libre-service lavarie on Monday.
A bit of colour on a grey day, from the gate of a B&B in Le Crotoy
Right! That’s 33cl seen off! Another couple of these and I’ll have forgotten all about that damned SCREEEEECCCHHHH!!!
Cheers folks, Jay
Le Crotoy, one of my favourite aires when the sun’s shining, Not so pretty this time of year.
Sounds like your fanbelt needs tightening!!! Let’s hope that’s all it is.
Great to read your updates once more, keep them coming!
If you are not getting solar charge, at this time of year minimal – and not charging up batteries off mains overnight then the alternator will be working hard charging up both engine battery and then topping up your leisure batteries.
High charge load equals mice.
I hope you get Zagan sorted out soon and it’s an easy fix. We’ve put our departure back a few days but will be travelling on Monday going in a similar direction to you, we want to see Honfleur and Mont St Michelle so might catch up with you – I still owe you a beer, even though you may not know why!!
See you soon and bon voyages.
Is there a belt tensioner other than just the pivoting action of the alternator? If there is a separate “jockey wheel pulley” that tensions the belt, the axle that the pulley rides on are prone to partially seizing due to ingress of dust and general engine/road crap.
On the brighter side it could be just that the belt is worn or too loose, and if driving in wet conditions will allow the belt to slip.
On the darker side it could be water pump bearing starting to tighten up prior to seizure, but normally you will notice a slight leak of coolant from the pump seal prior to this.
Best of luck!
Mike aka the East Leake Flyer.
Great to see you back on the road ! Get well soon Zagan !
YOU MAY STILL BE CORRECT IN LOOKING AT THE ALTERNATOR BELT. TO CONFIRM THIS SPRAY THE BELTS AND PULLEY WITH WD 40 ( OR WASHING UP LIQUID )WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. IF THE BELT IS SLIPPING IT WILL DO IT QUIETLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THE TENSION ON THESE BELTS IS CONSIDERABLE WITH ONLY A SLIGHT DEFLECTION WHEN PRESSURE APPLIED WITH AID OF SCREWDRIVER OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. IF NO CHANGE NOTICED CALL THAT MECHANIC. GOOD LUCK DAVE
Is it fan belt or clutch?
Sorry to read this, a few basic questions.
Does the screech happen only on decelerating?
Does this have any connection to braking?
What happens after the roundabout when you accelerate in 1st,2nd and 3rd?
Which side of the MH is the noise from?
When you checked the alternator drive belt tension could you depress it at all and if so by how much? Were you pushing with your finger/hand/two hands etc?
Has the screech happened before, if so how regularly?
Did you have the MH mechanically serviced or at least checked thoroughly before you left the UK? If so were there any issues brought to light.
Did the water temperature alter in any way from ‘normal’?
Deceleration doesn’t usually change the way the drive belts operate, all the pulleys are driven by the crankshaft pulley, the only difference is when a sudden load is applied to a pulley (sharp acceleration or deceleration) the grip of the belt on the pulley(s) can slip for a moment, so if it’s slippage then it could/should happen on both acceleration and deceleration unless you are very gentle with the throttle and clutch.
Deceleration can also affect the parts rotating connecting the wheels through to the clutch.
As said above dry/worn bearing can screech, but “usually” the only changes in sound is in noise level is due to road or engine speeds. Worn bearings making a noise are usually a constant changing in volume only, the noise doesn’t usually come and go.
Your answers will possibly point to something or at least an area on the mechanicals and give you ready made answers for whoever takes a look.
J
Thanks Jamie and everyone else who’s taken the time to reply.
It sounds like it could simply be a slipping belt or worn tensioner. The noise happens mainly on acceleration and stops after a few minutes of driving but has started to come back as we decelerate into junctions and roundabouts. It comes from the alternator side. I can depress the belt with my hand by a few mm, hard to say exactly how much. Spraying the belt with WD40 with the engine running has no effect on the noise.
Nope, as the van had been serviced a few months before we got it we haven’t serviced it ourselves before we left the UK. The belt was squeaking (much less) before we left so I am feeling rather daft at not getting Norman (local hero garage fella at home) to sort it…
Fortunately the Team Zagan Accounting Department has allowed a contingency for mechanics to get their hands dirty on the adventure wagon, so no imminent threat of return to The Office at this stage. We’ll keep you posted.
Thanks again! The sun’s come out a bit this morning; just need to decide whether to hole up here or nip to somewhere free for the night. Tough decision. :-)
Cheers, Jay
Hi Jay,
I have a B584 which used to scream when you accelerated. Turned out to be the flat alternator belt that was screaming. Tried tightening it but it required a new belt. Also after some checking I discovered that there was a bad cell in the starting battery and this was causing the alternator to overcharge this battery all the time and putting stress on the belt. Replaced the battery and all was ok again.
A note of caution when replacing battery into engine compartment.
There is a crash sensor switch at the rear of the battery compartment which isolates the electric fuel pump and I was unfortunate enough to knock this without knowing it and it activated. Had half the fuel system removed before someone on one of the forums told me to try resetting the isolator. one press and the engine started. You learn something every day.
Hope this helps and you get it sorted.
Roger
We had our washing done in saint valery sur somme, right opposite side of the baie. Rue jules brule. Check out website of the village.
It does sound like the alternator drive belt rather than a pulley which is pretty straight forward for a mechanic. As this has happened over a period of time it will have damaged the belt even if it doesn’t look like it, don’t hesitate to have it replaced plus if there is an idler or tensioner pulley to have them checked too.
Your vehicle is just about getting to the point where consumables may need attention, so when you’re back in Nottingham have the timing belt and pulleys changed. They are due anyway from 60,000 miles onwards and you wont have to think of that probably for the remainder of your ownership.
I’d also recommend that you have your mechanic back in Nottingham do a complete oil and filter change including the gearbox oil. On top of this have him check all other wear parts (brakes, tyres, cables etc etc) as you will then have your own trusted opinion of the mechanical condition of your camper. It will be an hour of labour well spent rather than find out your brakes are not great coming down a remote mountain.
Enjoy the coast
J
Sounds like sound advice, thanks Jamie! Cheers, Jay
Oh dear, we know how you feel. That stomach churning moment when a little squeak becomes an OMG what the heck is that. Hoping Zagan just needs a wee TLC from a friendly mechanic and then you can be on your way. Loving the updates, as always.