FrenchTF

I'd be very grateful for some thoughts and advice on a problem that I have to fix in the next couple of weeks before the bi-annual CT.
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Actually the horn's very intermittent - just suddenly worked every now and again at random and unexpected times and now hasn't worked for a while. No pattern established so far.
The horn itself seems OK and works with a separate 12v supply.

It's an early (November 2002) TF with the Lucas fob. Lots of lurking and Googling is leading me to the Rotary Coupler or perhaps a relay on the BCU (apparently a common fault on later units) but any thoughts would be welcome and if it's one of those which would you suspect most and which is the simplest to fix?

If it's the coupler can it be something like a bad contact or do they just die and need replacing? I think I have been well warned about the airbag but any other hints would be much appreciated

Fixed! The secret is to remove the lock from the handle by releasing the catch which holds it into the handle (push the metal spring clip up, it will only go up as far as it needs to) before trying to remove the handle assembly .The lock comes out complete with the attached rod.
When replacing it’s easier to start to guide the lock back into the handle before pushing the handle assembly completely home. It's a right fiddle as space is really tight! 
No problem removing or replacing the two 8mm holding bolts - 1/4 drive socket with extension (actually further lengthened with a reducer and 3/8 extension). Fill the socket with grease to hold the bolt in place. 
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Thanks David, I'll give that a try. 

I'm in the throes of replacing the driver's side door handle (Came orf in me 'and gov'nor) following the excellent guides here. But there's a hitch. Awkward screws are out, the green clip is disengaged and that rod is free. But the second rod from the key part of the lock down to the actuator, which should just pull out, is actually hooked through at the lower end and has a 'dog-leg' through the key part of the lock which means you'd have to twist the whole assembly through 90° to slide it off. There doesn't seem to be room to wriggle it free. Am I doing something wrong or not wriggling enough?
It's an early TF (November 2002) so is this a hangover from the F system? 
Any help much appreciated. 

(And apologies for a long absence from the Forum. Lack of use brought on by house move,  Covid and a poor summer last year was brought into sharp focus at our bi-annual CT (French Mot) when I discovered  under 2,000 miles in two years. Must try harder) 

Edit in brighter light. Looks as though the nylon grommet and rod might push out the side, towards the door skin? 
 

... and to think I thought my underbonnet looked good. More work needed this end!
Love the spare cover - who and how much please?

Thanks to everyone for their input.
Everything checks out, no unusual noises, pullies running true etc - just the damaged alternator belt.
This time it stopped in a more revealing place - it looks like something has stripped one edge off the belt and there is some damage to one of the internal ribs, the pullies look fine.
I'm working on the 'foreign object' theory, although what and how it could have flicked up is a mystery.
About to order new cambelt kit (due anyway) and alternator belt, should solve the problem.

An update. Partly relieved, mainly confused!

The cambelt looks OK (passes the 'leaves slight mark if you press it with a screwdriver' test), the tension is OK, there is no leak around the water pump and there is no apparent damage to it or the alternator. No bearing play on either so far as you can tell.

But. The alternator belt is slightly damaged along the outer edge (yellow circle in photo) and there are some fibres trapped on the pulley (red circle). No apparent damage to the pulley.

Any opinions would be most welcome.

Also is there any harm in starting the engine with the upper cam cover removed - something might become more obvious?

Ah thanks, alternator bearing sounds a possibility. Will have a good look when it cools down. Temperatures are in the mid to high thirties here at the moment!

But the noise was revs-related at a standstill?

Can anyone throw some light on this please.

Trundling along at just over 2,000rpm on a straight road with hardly any throttle when there is a horrendous clanging from behind me which sounds like something being dragged along the road.

Pulled over straight away, the noise is coming from the engine bay, possibly the RH side, rev related and sounds like a metal to metal clanging.

There was nothing obvious so I decided to limp home. Made a U-turn (to the left here in France) and the noise reduced during the turn and had disappeared by the time I was straight in the other direction.

20 or so miles since, running perfectly, no unusual noises, revs freely and ticks over as normal.

Approx 32,000 miles, about 14,000 since cam belt change (but about 6 years, intend to change soon).

Any comments or clues would be most Welcome.