Newbie Chim Owner, Water Pump Leaking!
Discussion
Evening all,
I have just bought a 4.0 Chim and am extremely excited about owning one of my dream cars as a teenager. Picking the car up next week cannot come soon enough! It's a big jump up for me as i've not had anything like it before (if there is any car that is "like" a TVR...)
There is one problem with the car; the weep hole on the water pump has started, well, weeping. Not a lot but i'd say a drip every 10 seconds once the engine is up to temp. So I understand the seal/seals have gone on and this is a warning signal to save the bearing. I need to drive 110 miles to get it home and was contemplating making sure it is well topped off before setting off, keeping a keen eye on the temp guage and getting recovered if it becomes an issue. Is this madness or should I try and get it repaired before picking up? I'm just not sure how much warning you would get with this before complete failure. It is a private sale.
Any help or advice would be great!
Cheers
I have just bought a 4.0 Chim and am extremely excited about owning one of my dream cars as a teenager. Picking the car up next week cannot come soon enough! It's a big jump up for me as i've not had anything like it before (if there is any car that is "like" a TVR...)
There is one problem with the car; the weep hole on the water pump has started, well, weeping. Not a lot but i'd say a drip every 10 seconds once the engine is up to temp. So I understand the seal/seals have gone on and this is a warning signal to save the bearing. I need to drive 110 miles to get it home and was contemplating making sure it is well topped off before setting off, keeping a keen eye on the temp guage and getting recovered if it becomes an issue. Is this madness or should I try and get it repaired before picking up? I'm just not sure how much warning you would get with this before complete failure. It is a private sale.
Any help or advice would be great!
Cheers
Hi and welcome to Tvr ownership Pete 
The water pump is about £50
It's a very easy repair.
It would be best to get it replaced and the water system bled of air.
My weep hole started leaking on a trackday and I only noticed it when fuelling up on the return home,, got me home ok but the water level was low! 110 miles
If you are to try the drive, top it up and stop a couple of times to check, but you'll have to wait some time for it to cool down, min 20 mins but could take longer!
Allow for a long journey but as its your first Tvr just looking at it will entertain you for hours anyway
I'd avoid driving it to far as when the water level drops below the expansion pot bottom you'll be introducing air into the system.
As its a private sale I'd be tempted to get it straight to a garage and just get it replaced, it has to be done anyway, it's an expensive business blowing up a Tvr engine!
I feel your excitement, good on you,
Pictures, we like pictures,
What year etc.
Replacing the water pump on the Tvr is very easy so I'd just get it done then really enjoy that first drive home.
Welcome to the fold.
Maybe a brain wave coming on,,,
Pete, there must be a friendly Tvr garage near by,, they'll do that job in an hor or so,
If it's a Tvr garage they'll share your joy and most likely give it a good look over for you, give you some sound advice and hopefully you'll have a fine first journey home,, it's a very special moment driving a Chimaera with a massive powerful loud V8'engine rumbling away all around you, forget the stereo just listen and feel warmed, hahah,
A bit of piece of mind might be a good thing on this occasion and any issues pending should be flagged up.
Start as you mean to carry on I say.
Hopefully you'll get a good bill of health, avoid spending to much but if your lucky a quick pump change and you'll be away home safe in the knowledge the engines temps are consistant and that's a key part to the healthy running of the fuel and ignition system on these cars,
You might get the bug straight away and head in the wrong direction home just for the fun of it
Any questions just ask, people on here love Tvr
The water pump is about £50
It's a very easy repair.
It would be best to get it replaced and the water system bled of air.
My weep hole started leaking on a trackday and I only noticed it when fuelling up on the return home,, got me home ok but the water level was low! 110 miles
If you are to try the drive, top it up and stop a couple of times to check, but you'll have to wait some time for it to cool down, min 20 mins but could take longer!
Allow for a long journey but as its your first Tvr just looking at it will entertain you for hours anyway
I'd avoid driving it to far as when the water level drops below the expansion pot bottom you'll be introducing air into the system.
As its a private sale I'd be tempted to get it straight to a garage and just get it replaced, it has to be done anyway, it's an expensive business blowing up a Tvr engine!
I feel your excitement, good on you,
Pictures, we like pictures,
What year etc.
Replacing the water pump on the Tvr is very easy so I'd just get it done then really enjoy that first drive home.
Welcome to the fold.
Maybe a brain wave coming on,,,
Pete, there must be a friendly Tvr garage near by,, they'll do that job in an hor or so,
If it's a Tvr garage they'll share your joy and most likely give it a good look over for you, give you some sound advice and hopefully you'll have a fine first journey home,, it's a very special moment driving a Chimaera with a massive powerful loud V8'engine rumbling away all around you, forget the stereo just listen and feel warmed, hahah,
A bit of piece of mind might be a good thing on this occasion and any issues pending should be flagged up.
Start as you mean to carry on I say.
Hopefully you'll get a good bill of health, avoid spending to much but if your lucky a quick pump change and you'll be away home safe in the knowledge the engines temps are consistant and that's a key part to the healthy running of the fuel and ignition system on these cars,
You might get the bug straight away and head in the wrong direction home just for the fun of it
Any questions just ask, people on here love Tvr
Edited by ClassiChimi on Thursday 30th June 02:34
Edited by ClassiChimi on Thursday 30th June 02:37
Just a note to help. The water tank is the one with the blue cap. It can be quite tight. You do NOT fill it to the top, if you do it will just eject the excess. The fill line is roughly where the seam line is, half way down the tank.
As my learned friend says, you will probably be ok, but a total failure en route on a hot day could cause some damage.
From where are you collecting it? We can then recommend a TVR specialist, and most, if you explain, will do the job while you wait.
PS, changing anything on the front of these engines is easy, even I managed an alternator change in 15 minutes, and I am famous for not speaking Spanner. But getting all the air out of the system is a bit of a dark art, best done by an expert.
As my learned friend says, you will probably be ok, but a total failure en route on a hot day could cause some damage.
From where are you collecting it? We can then recommend a TVR specialist, and most, if you explain, will do the job while you wait.
PS, changing anything on the front of these engines is easy, even I managed an alternator change in 15 minutes, and I am famous for not speaking Spanner. But getting all the air out of the system is a bit of a dark art, best done by an expert.
Edited by QBee on Thursday 30th June 07:51
Seemingly not uncommon Al, lots comes up if you google Range Rover or Land Rover porous blocks! Here's an interesting thread from a few years back (which also sings V8D's praises )
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
As I said before, I sincerely hope the OP doesn't have this problem....
)http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
As I said before, I sincerely hope the OP doesn't have this problem....
Good read that, hmmm, I've got it now, earlier 4.6 seem to be effected more?
As mentioned in that thread a good cooling system is vital to keep the Alley heat within limits.
My pump went, oh my god I've got a porous block!!!!!
Come on Richard the chaps not even got the car yet,
But your entirely right of course, would this pressurising also be shown up with dirty coolant and maybe pushing water out through the expansion bottle breath pipe.
As mentioned in that thread a good cooling system is vital to keep the Alley heat within limits.
My pump went, oh my god I've got a porous block!!!!!
Come on Richard the chaps not even got the car yet,
But your entirely right of course, would this pressurising also be shown up with dirty coolant and maybe pushing water out through the expansion bottle breath pipe.
Pete, you really need to see this car running for a good half hour then let it cool and check the coolant level is still showing water at the bottom of the expansion bottle because if it's drinking water you'll be in trouble quickly let alone if it's pressurising too!
Swollen rad hoses etc may help to diagnose pressure build up, the car should get to about 100 degrees on the gauge and no higher when standing still and fans should kick in and importantly out quickly, usually less than 30 seconds,
If the fans are staying on look for the reason why.
Cooling these engines in such a confined and closed space is almost the most important thing to get good running, over heat at your peril, but if you've got a slight weep from the water pump and it's dripping isn't continuous water then it's probably just the water pump fubbered,
Try grabbing the pulley wheel on the end of the water pump and seeing if you have slight play in the shaft as it enters the pump housing, a mm or so is enough to indicate wear in the pump bearing, a slight noise also sometimes when engines running,
It's easier to detect this subtle movement by relieving the tension off the drive belt as you do it.
Goodluck
Swollen rad hoses etc may help to diagnose pressure build up, the car should get to about 100 degrees on the gauge and no higher when standing still and fans should kick in and importantly out quickly, usually less than 30 seconds,
If the fans are staying on look for the reason why.
Cooling these engines in such a confined and closed space is almost the most important thing to get good running, over heat at your peril, but if you've got a slight weep from the water pump and it's dripping isn't continuous water then it's probably just the water pump fubbered,
Try grabbing the pulley wheel on the end of the water pump and seeing if you have slight play in the shaft as it enters the pump housing, a mm or so is enough to indicate wear in the pump bearing, a slight noise also sometimes when engines running,
It's easier to detect this subtle movement by relieving the tension off the drive belt as you do it.
Goodluck
Edited by ClassiChimi on Thursday 30th June 13:06
Hi guys,
Thanks so much for all of the help and advice. I must say i'm pretty nervous about the whole thing now as I have paid for it in full and 'just' need to pick up. It is a 1998 (I know, white chassis.....) 4.0 in Imperial blue.
It looks to have been really well looked after and is cosmetically beautiful, totally fell in love with it when I saw it. Tonnes of history and receipts and all work carried out by specialists. It had a brand new radiator from a specialist near Kidderminster just 3 weeks ago, I forget which, so I am very hopeful that they would have spotted if the bores were porous / a liner had slipped. I am just hoping to goodness that the car hasn't overheated when the radiator failed and that has, in turn, caused some sort of issue internally with warping from high temperatures.
Excitement has now well and truly turned to terror. I have just about justified the purchase to the other half, so several thousand £s to instantly fork out is not going to go down well at all! And although allowance has been made for bits and bobs, as I expect there to be problems here and there and intend to see it as a classic car, but a major problem before I have picked up the car is not something I want to contemplate!
Thanks again for your help, you helpful people. I will post pictures when I can!
Pete
Thanks so much for all of the help and advice. I must say i'm pretty nervous about the whole thing now as I have paid for it in full and 'just' need to pick up. It is a 1998 (I know, white chassis.....) 4.0 in Imperial blue.
It looks to have been really well looked after and is cosmetically beautiful, totally fell in love with it when I saw it. Tonnes of history and receipts and all work carried out by specialists. It had a brand new radiator from a specialist near Kidderminster just 3 weeks ago, I forget which, so I am very hopeful that they would have spotted if the bores were porous / a liner had slipped. I am just hoping to goodness that the car hasn't overheated when the radiator failed and that has, in turn, caused some sort of issue internally with warping from high temperatures.
Excitement has now well and truly turned to terror. I have just about justified the purchase to the other half, so several thousand £s to instantly fork out is not going to go down well at all! And although allowance has been made for bits and bobs, as I expect there to be problems here and there and intend to see it as a classic car, but a major problem before I have picked up the car is not something I want to contemplate!
Thanks again for your help, you helpful people. I will post pictures when I can!
Pete
I have just called Central TVR to see if I could get some info as it was they who changed the radiator a few weeks ago. Seems it was just something that got picked up on an inspection and it wasn't as though it dropped its coolant and overheated etc. The cooling system was pressure tested and all was found to be normal. This gives me great hope!
Don't panic Pete, this is all part of the amazing experience you are about to enjoy,
Ok, new rad,,, very good,
Almost any mechanic with skills can replace the water pump and it should'nt take long at all.
I've not heard of many Tvr engines that have suffered the porous block effect so relax there too.
As this water pump just has to be replaced anything untoward should show up so talk with the sellor, I'm sure if the sellor knows his car well he'll be confident that once that weep hole stops leaking the car should be good to go.
Reading up so your informed of possible issues on these cars can Frey your nerves more than the actual likelihood of something going wrong, it's just about being well informed so you can avoid problems turning into disasters, these cars are very reliable all things considered.
It's very easy to get emotive when entering the dark world of TVR ownership and panic often sets in,
In this case just look at the facts and assess why the pumps failing first.
I'm sure 99 times out of a 100 the weeping is simply a water pump failure.
Ok, new rad,,, very good,
Almost any mechanic with skills can replace the water pump and it should'nt take long at all.
I've not heard of many Tvr engines that have suffered the porous block effect so relax there too.
As this water pump just has to be replaced anything untoward should show up so talk with the sellor, I'm sure if the sellor knows his car well he'll be confident that once that weep hole stops leaking the car should be good to go.
Reading up so your informed of possible issues on these cars can Frey your nerves more than the actual likelihood of something going wrong, it's just about being well informed so you can avoid problems turning into disasters, these cars are very reliable all things considered.
It's very easy to get emotive when entering the dark world of TVR ownership and panic often sets in,
In this case just look at the facts and assess why the pumps failing first.
I'm sure 99 times out of a 100 the weeping is simply a water pump failure.
Central Tvr,, that's also very good, there's not much about Tvr's they don't know.
That's it then, get the pump changed and drive it regularly as that's going to increase pump life
These cars are built to be driven and that's the best way to find a few gremlins and also to keep everything working reliably.
Goodluck indeed.
That's it then, get the pump changed and drive it regularly as that's going to increase pump life
These cars are built to be driven and that's the best way to find a few gremlins and also to keep everything working reliably.
Goodluck indeed.
Thanks very much for your help. Feel much better now I've spoken to Central. They said they pressure tested the cooling system so that is also extra piece of mind. The seller seems very genuine and I trust him, it's just that too much forum trawling can make you a tad paranoid! Especially when you have handed over the cash already and don't have the car (don't ask!)
Can't wait to get it now and enjoy it. I haven't heard one for a few years. Looked at many on YouTube over the past few weeks so when I heard it fire into life it made me very happy! It sounds like a force of nature with its sleeved exhaust. Bring on the nice weather! (Or even just some dry weather....)
Can't wait to get it now and enjoy it. I haven't heard one for a few years. Looked at many on YouTube over the past few weeks so when I heard it fire into life it made me very happy! It sounds like a force of nature with its sleeved exhaust. Bring on the nice weather! (Or even just some dry weather....)
I wish I could do that but I can't get time off work at the moment and I doubt they work weekends... So it will be an evening trip from the Wirral down to Kidderminster after work next week. The guy I spoke to from Central said it was quite normal for them to sometimes weep so I shall make the journey, keep an eye on it and the temperature gauge and take some water, just in case.
te out of a new owner
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