Sometimes, road trips take unexpected turns. This time, our journey along the Mediterranean Coast of France near Agde turned into an unplanned mechanical adventure. What was supposed to be a few days of beachside relaxation quickly turned into a battle to get the van started again.
A Perfect Start… Until It Wasn’t
The day started beautifully. We swam in a river before heading towards the Mediterranean Sea, excited for a few days of sun, sand, and sea air. Against our better judgment, we booked into one of those huge resort-style campsites—not really our thing, but it promised beachfront access, which made it worth a try.
Everything seemed fine until we checked in at reception. Then—nothing.
🚐 The van refused to start.
No overheating, no oil issues, no obvious warning signs. It just wouldn’t turn over. We tried bump-starting, jump-starting, even towing it behind another vehicle—but no luck. Something was seriously wrong.
Troubleshooting on the Beach
This was a first for me. After more than a decade of road trips, I had never needed roadside assistance. But here we were, stuck in the sand, calling in the AXA European breakdown cover to see how well it actually worked.
While waiting for help, I started diagnosing the problem. Could it be the air conditioning compressor? I’d read that a seized compressor could stop an engine from starting—though I didn’t quite understand how. But sure enough, after removing the serpentine belt, I discovered the AC compressor was completely seized.
⛓ New plan:
✔ Remove the compressor
✔ Replace the long belt with a shorter one
✔ Try to start the engine
But when I turned the key—still nothing.
The Real Culprit: A Fried Starter Motor
At this point, I realized that all those failed attempts to start the van had burned out the starter motor. The engine couldn’t turn over because of the seized compressor, and the repeated strain had killed the starter.
Now, I needed a brand new starter motor—at full retail price (€250—ouch). It arrived the next morning, and after a bit of muscle work under the van, it was finally installed.
The moment of truth. Key in the ignition…
🚀 YES! The engine roared back to life!
Lessons Learned & Moving Forward
From Monday night to Thursday morning, we were stuck at the campsite. But honestly, if you have to break down somewhere, a sunny beach in France isn’t the worst place.
Lessons from this adventure:
🔧 Always carry spare belts and basic tools.
🔧 Be mindful of overloading your starter motor if something isn’t turning.
🔧 Van life always has surprises—stay flexible and roll with it!
Now, we’re back on the road—no AC, but with a running engine—heading towards the Pyrenees for the next part of the journey.
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Happy travels!
