battery, ecu and lots of cables!!!
Discussion
can anyone show me some pictures, diagrams about the original layout of the battery compartment? i guess the ex-owner of my chimaera got bored of my battery box(i gues there was a fiber box that held the battery inside which was also attached to somewhere??)and took it of so the battery now is lying on the floor also the ecu is hanging free which i find a bit stressing...
any idea appriciated about how to put it into order...
thanks
any idea appriciated about how to put it into order...
thanks
Mark. 
My car has the battery in the boot so I dont have such a big problem, but like you I was pretty uncomfortable about the ECU floating around unsecured (apart from by its cable...). My solution to that, which is minimally invasive, (and since TVR are so fond of velco) was to velcro it to the vertical end panel of the footwell (back of the front wheelarch), where it sits naturally. I dont know if this is possible with the battery loacted there, but just a thought. You could apply the same principal to the other parts of the loom and relays to make things more secure.
Are there no pictures in The Bible - Steve Heath's book? TVR did change the way they laid things out, but the ECU either say on top of the battery, or tucked down the side (the outside - right hand side on a left hand drive car I guess). There is also a 'loom' of wiring which leads to the ECU with various relays, fuses and dead ends on it - this is usually just crammed into the area above the battery.
See Chima - what you have may be as it was intended - even it it looks a real mess!
Send us some photos of you car's layout and explain what you need to know and maybe we can help some more.
Trefor/.
See Chima - what you have may be as it was intended - even it it looks a real mess!
Send us some photos of you car's layout and explain what you need to know and maybe we can help some more.
Trefor/.
Chima - battery still needs to be in a box, bolted to the floor. Some have lids too (mine hasn't) I have a sheet of polythene over the battery and the ECU/spaghetti wiring just curls up and sits on top. There's another short harness with some relays on it which is wedged in after. Along with some other wires etc. A right "pig's ear" of a mess - TADTS!
Here's mine I just nipped outside and photographed it. Sorry it's a bit burred. But compare with my original pic, I think you'll agree they are similar! 
thanks alot for the replies! hmm it seems that even the original is not that well organized ! there should be some difference between the german and the english cars !!! 
ok so i have to invent some box like thing to put the battery inside and fix it to the two holes which are now staying there on my floor without and purpose...
but because of the battery was left there loose and the holes were open, i guess also with the help of water entering from that holes i have some rust problems on my fuses and some of the small boxes are broken...( i really dont have an idea what they are for?! so i dont know if they are functioning or not, for now i taped them to isolate)
so i was thinking to put new ones...
can anyone tell me what they are and how i can replace them
>> Edited by chima on Wednesday 28th July 17:29
ok so i have to invent some box like thing to put the battery inside and fix it to the two holes which are now staying there on my floor without and purpose...
but because of the battery was left there loose and the holes were open, i guess also with the help of water entering from that holes i have some rust problems on my fuses and some of the small boxes are broken...( i really dont have an idea what they are for?! so i dont know if they are functioning or not, for now i taped them to isolate)
so i was thinking to put new ones...
can anyone tell me what they are and how i can replace them
>> Edited by chima on Wednesday 28th July 17:29
Tahiti450 said:
Battery in the boot seems a good idea, did you do this mod or was it done for you. Would be keen to do similar any help,pointers etc etc
Thanks Mark
Chima.
See, they're really messy under there as standard!
I suggest trying to buy a new Chimaera battery box from one of the online delaer sites, it will be easier than trying to make one up. Yes, it does bolt into the holes in the floor.
The two metal relays in your pictures are fuel pump relays. They are both the same part number and only available from Bosch (aftermarket versions of this relay are not switched in the same way and will result in a flat battery), or a TVR dealer of course. So, find a Bosch supplier and quote that number on the top of the relay.
I'm not sure about the plastic relay though ...
See, they're really messy under there as standard!
I suggest trying to buy a new Chimaera battery box from one of the online delaer sites, it will be easier than trying to make one up. Yes, it does bolt into the holes in the floor.
The two metal relays in your pictures are fuel pump relays. They are both the same part number and only available from Bosch (aftermarket versions of this relay are not switched in the same way and will result in a flat battery), or a TVR dealer of course. So, find a Bosch supplier and quote that number on the top of the relay.
I'm not sure about the plastic relay though ...
Hi Markh: Re: the battery in the boot. Bought the car last August and am reliably in formed that this was a factory option, with the purpose of improving leg room in the passenger footwell. I'm certainly happier about having 2 litres of concentrated sulphuric acid well out of the passenger compartment 
The installation in the boot is quite neat , in the centre above the fuel tank (in a box). I wouldnt have thought that this would be a difficult retro fit, would just need the brackets and hardware fro the boot fitment and the new long main cables. Once I,ve figured out how to do it I'll post some pics if you want(any pointers).
>> Edited by tahiti450 on Wednesday 28th July 18:33
The installation in the boot is quite neat , in the centre above the fuel tank (in a box). I wouldnt have thought that this would be a difficult retro fit, would just need the brackets and hardware fro the boot fitment and the new long main cables. Once I,ve figured out how to do it I'll post some pics if you want(any pointers). >> Edited by tahiti450 on Wednesday 28th July 18:33
I had to get an angle grinder to cut the battery box free ... it is a truly daft design. Not suprised somebody decided to leave the battery floating around the footwell. At least you can remove it that way without having to jack the car up and create a firework display. If you haven't got a battery box in the footwell, I'd definitely consider finding a way to house the battery in the boot. It could be more accessible that way and you'd increase the leg room for the passenger quite substantially. Only problems are where do you put the battery? Does it make it harder to stow the roof? Is it dangerous to have it near the petrol tank? Where can you get and how to you route the heavy duty cables you'll need to run back to the battery? Answers on a postcard please...
ah ... one postcard from tahiti already ... thanks!
>> Edited by ATG on Wednesday 28th July 18:36
ah ... one postcard from tahiti already ... thanks!
>> Edited by ATG on Wednesday 28th July 18:36
For ATG et al: Just a PS to previous - Doesnt affect stowing the roof at all; Ive got other cars in which the boot is shared by battery and fuel tank (P6 Rovers and XJS). It seems an excellent place to keep it, cool, clean, dry, improves weight distribution ( - well a bit). No more of a fire risk than any other wiring in the boot really but clearly the main cables need careful routing and protection. If people are interested I'll take pics of the whole set up, cable runs etc. Is mine an unusual option?? 
tahiti - Yes, people are very interested in seeing pics of the installation. There are numerous posts on how to get pics on here - Big Al usually points the way but basically you need to get them hosted (Fotango is used a lot - it's free!) then you need to get a link to the pic (just a click on the Fotango site) and copy the link to your post starting with [pic]then the location, then[/pic]. QED.
Yes, I also think it's a rare car.
So, is your ECU & spaghetti wiring & relays etc, all neatly stored on a shelf under the pass. carpet then?
Yes, I also think it's a rare car.
So, is your ECU & spaghetti wiring & relays etc, all neatly stored on a shelf under the pass. carpet then?
Just a thought on this battery in the boot thing. People mention getting this lump of acid out of the passenger compartment - well quite a few cars have them under the rear seat etc. (Porsche 944 for example) with no problems.
Now, moving the big sparky thing to the boot, and putting it right next to the petrol tank.
Naturally, I see the benefits of more passenge legroom, but just think about which location is 'safer' in an accident.
Now, moving the big sparky thing to the boot, and putting it right next to the petrol tank.
Naturally, I see the benefits of more passenge legroom, but just think about which location is 'safer' in an accident.
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