Sorted! Motor factors in France - near Lyon?

[warninglight]

Hi all.

In a bit of a bind with the newest and most German in the fleet.

45 mins south of Lyon one of the gear shift cables has seized up. Started a few days ago early in our trip and I've been oiling/greasing with good results until today. I suspect the liner has shrivelled up or the cable itself has birdcaged as its solid. Popped it off the gearbox end and the problem is definitely in the 'up-down' cable.

Been dropped at a Dacia dealer for the night bit they can't touch it until Monday.

It's our 2016 VW Crafter camper, euro breakdown are going to try other avenues for us in the morning but I'm hoping someone might give a steer on where I might get a gear shifter cable. It's RHD specific so not expecting it to be in stock, but perhaps next day. The local VW van place weren't answering the phone when I tried, which is currently my main option for the morning. 2E2 321308 is the part.

I know we have some part-time French shiters, who may be able to give some advice? @Saabnut @bangernomics and others I'm sure?

Thanks!

Stephen

[spike60]

I've not needed anything over there for few years but motor factors seemed to be none existent when I needed something,  Main dealers, scrapyards and a limited range in the bigger supermarkets were all I found.   I got 2 Transit propshaft U/J's posted out, bought the needed tools from a supermarket and fixed it in an orchard.  Sorry not to be more helpful, I hope things have improved by now.

[spike60]

Yours does sound like a main dealer part unless they fail regularly.

[warninglight]

That's the impression I've been getting - wasnt sure if I was just not searching with the right words, or there was a regional chain like TMS near me in Cumbria/Dumfries.

Yeah I think main dealer network is the way, chances of a RHD shifter cable being in stock is slim. If I can get one tomorrow I think I have all the tools I need, at a pinch.

 

[Saabnut]

As stated above I am pretty sure it will be dealer only. I know Lemans has an equivalent of Halfords (the name escapes me but I can try and find it if required). The question is would Halfords in the UK stock a LHD one? If not I doubt the reciprocal will be any different.

[spike60]

If the LHD cable is longer but has the same ends as RHD would that be useable if it was available?

[Talbot]

If the cable is absolutely scrap, then one thing you could do is cut it open in various places (carefully cutting away the outer but leaving the inner).  You should be able to see which side of the siezed bit you are and eventually you'll find where it's siezed and might be able to just "relieve" the outer away and allow it to move.  It would not last long-term like that, but if it gets you temporarily moving and able to get home (or have a new cable sent to meet you wherever your destination is) then it's a bonus.  Even if the cable is grinding and scraping... it's not a long-term fix.

Edit:  they are all over ebay, autodoc and the like (IE they have aftermarket backup.)  Could you look on local ebay or leboncoin or something similar and see if there is anyone local with one to purchase?

 

[warninglight]

Thanks saabnut - couple of VW van places within an hour or so, I'll try them first thing.

Alas the LHD one will be shorter, as the cables come through the floor on the left, and then have to go across to the right on the RHD ones.

The Sprinter also uses a different gearbox so has different cables.

[warninglight]

2 minutes ago, Talbot said:

If the cable is absolutely scrap, then one thing you could do is cut it open in various places (carefully cutting away the outer but leaving the inner).  You should be able to see which side of the siezed bit you are and eventually you'll find where it's siezed and might be able to just "relieve" the outer away and allow it to move.  It would not last long-term like that, but if it gets you temporarily moving and able to get home (or have a new cable sent to meet you wherever your destination is) then it's a bonus.  Even if the cable is grinding and scraping... it's not a long-term fix.

 

That's a good shout, might just get lucky finding it.

[Talbot]

I just edited above, but as you'd already seen it... They are all over ebay and autodoc and other 3rd party aftermarket sites.  A google of what is local to you might bring up someone who can sell you something.

 

[spike60]

The Ford dealers in St Lo were thoroughly unhelpful suggesting we go to Paris 200 or so miles away but by contrast an independent bike shop in Le Mans spent ages bodging  a clutch cable for an obsolete Kawasaki and wouldn't take anything for the job. Got the bike 500 miles home too.

[lesapandre]

No Crafters being broken in a 30km radius of Lyon on LeBonCoin - I've just looked.

Of dealerships the most promising sounding is: 'Volkswagen Utilitaires Lyon Sud - Groupe Central Autos - 51 Bd Lucien Sampaix, 69190 Saint-Fons, Lyon +33 4 72 28 96 81

For some old fashioned spannering and  botchery this looks 👌 

Garage Roubi  - 18 Rue des deux Amants, Lyon -  apparently they do used parts +33 4 78 15 90 37

⁦Having FTP'd quite a few times in France I know the feeling - ingenuity and lateral thinking needed.  Good luck yea.

It's 2hrs train into Paris from Lyon from about 30€ each way if you need to collect from a major centre.

[warninglight]

Thanks all!

I'll add them to my list of VW places to call in the morning. Here's hoping! Thanks for checking LBC as well.

Yeah Autodoc and some other very similar looking sites have them, I'm just not sure they can do a next day sort of service, which I'd gladly pay extra for at the moment. When I've used them at home it's been c. 2 weeks to get anything.

 

[lesapandre]

I've used Autodoc in France - it's 5-7 days in my experience. They use commercial couriers.

More of Garage Roubi  - great architecture. They seem to break VW but maybe older stuff.

[bangernomics]

Autodoc but get an address. Usually quick (2-3 days at most). But I am nearish to Rennes which I note is a hub for them.

I am in dept 22 so a bit away from you but if it is looking like a no option I will bring a rope and drag you this way as theres loads of VAG dealers for some reason.

[warninglight]

8 hours ago, bangernomics said:

Autodoc but get an address. Usually quick (2-3 days at most). But I am nearish to Rennes which I note is a hub for them.

I am in dept 22 so a bit away from you but if it is looking like a no option I will bring a rope and drag you this way as theres loads of VAG dealers for some reason.

That's very kind - looks like a 9 hour drive without the rope!

Hoping I can work out a sensible outcome and let the euro cover shift us to wherever we need to be today.

[loserone]

Garage Roubi looks just the sort of place you need. Bet they can get the parts delivered PDQ too.

[warninglight]

I'll give them a try now, the nearer VW places are saying a week to get the part, when I can even get past the recorded messages.

[loserone]

There's always the infamous Garage Bastard

in tours

[warninglight]

Spoke to Roubi, chap was very helpful. They don't sell parts retail and the Crafter is likely too big for their workshop, but he is doing what he can to get a price and availability for me. Thanks for the steer!

[lesapandre]

Hope that works out. I found this generic parts supplier in the area too - located Lyon suburbs.

A very long shot might be to find somebody to make up a cable - some small local engineering outfit. Google might show something up.

Autodoc will deliver to local shops and cafés if you go that route - I've collected stuff in the past.

👍👍

[warninglight]

Thank you! Best chance at the mo is an overnight courier from a UK van centre, if they won't do it direct then @juular and @MrsJuular are very kindly on standby to get one from Glasgow.

Do we have any TPS members on here in the trade who may be able to send to France from the warehouse? Not sure how it works, I can't deal with TPS as I'm not in the trade. 

[DSdriver]

We can all learn from this!

If you're going foreign in a RHD shiter find out what 'fail to proceed' cables are RHD special and stash a spare in the boot.

On the DS tis the clutch cable. Must check on my Saabs.

[richardmorris]

norauto?

Norauto - Entretien auto, pneus & pièces auto en ligne

 

[lesapandre]

2 hours ago, warninglight said:

Thank you! Best chance at the mo is an overnight courier from a UK van centre, if they won't do it direct then @juular and @MrsJuular are very kindly on standby to get one from Glasgow.

Do we have any TPS members on here in the trade who may be able to send to France from the warehouse? Not sure how it works, I can't deal with TPS as I'm not in the trade. 

The cheapest way London-Paris is Flixbus which can be had from about €30 upwards - 8hrs but overnight works best for a connection onwards. 

Using the trains - Paris-Lyon and leaving London on the 11.30pm someone could arrive with the part by early afternoon the following day. An extreme way to do it if you have a friend who fancys joining you on holiday. 👍

[Talbot]

5 hours ago, warninglight said:

Hoping I can work out a sensible outcome and let the euro cover shift us to wherever we need to be today.

bear in mind that if you only need to go a few miles, you could shove the gearbox in 2nd gear at the gearbox and use that from pull-away up to about 40/45kmh.  You'd be no slower than a sans-permis vehicle, so as long as you only drive on slower roads, you could at least get to somewhere to collect/buy/sort a cable.

Far from ideal, but at least you're not stranded.

[Talbot]

Also... if it comes down to if and you really can't get anything else, I am sure I could post you one over from the UK on a next-day courier.

[lesapandre]

Does 'next day courier' work? Never tried it - but it needs customs clearance? Which is a potential delay.

[warninglight]

Possibly, I tried a dealer in my homeland of Ireland, who Liverpool said had stock.

The only RHD cable available to me quickly, but as soon as I mentioned getting it overnight to France it wasn't in stock...

Have a hire car via the breakdown cover now so will try norauto etc. Too.

Thanks all.

 

[beko1987]

A cable in a small light box overnighter to France shouldn't be the end of the world? 

For customs put a fiver and sort the money out when you get back (pay a fiver up front so you have the record of it only costing that) 

I've had vacuums arrive in America within 48h door to door before with nothing special postage used (although ups so they probably flew it almost point to point)