Lessons from a Cerbera
Discussion
After years of reading these forums and months of travelling the country looking for the right car, I found a 1999 Cerbera 4.5 with a recent engine rebuild, chassis work, paint job and various other bits and pieces. Now, a couple of months in to my intensive Cerbera schooling, I can report back from class with the following:
- Every other car is sh
t.
- The world does actually sometimes spin backwards, despite what Brian Cox might assert.
- My hearing has very rapidly deteriorated to the point of uselessness.
- Every lift spontaneously spawns a new Spanish festival. And much crazed laughter.
- When passing near old people, horses or babies, dip the clutch.
- Tunnels are bi-directional time warps which lengthen any journey by at least half an hour. And add much crazed laughter.
- The stereo is only of use once you need to leave the car.
- The windows are only up meant to go up once you need to leave the car.
- 98+ RON fuel is quite expensive.
- Doorbells are no longer required.
- Be careful who you get to work on the car.
- I need to be paid more.
So far it's pretty much behaved itself apart from:
- A coolant leak from a heater pipe, which I've now replaced. This taught me not to loosen the radiator bleed screw too much, else it'll drop underneath the radiator and cost me about a day.
- A thirst for oil, which accompanied by oil on the aluminium of the vee tells me that the oil sender might need to be changed. I've ordered one.
- A creaking from the rear because two chassis bolts were left a bit loose behind the petrol tank after the outrigger replacement. I've yet to fetch the tank out to tighten them.
So far the mechanics haven't behaved themselves very much however (Penultimate point in my list, above). I obviously can't name garages in particular, but for anyone considering a TVR who might read this, remember the old adage of "You get what you pay for". It does ring true even amongst 'specialists'.
I had a slight hesitation under acceleration at around 2.7k-3k revs which I wanted looking at. Cheaper mechanic did an engine setup (Without advising me) on a cold engine (I asked), did it badly and consequently completely wrecked the way the car ran. He also wanted to sell me new bushes all round at the rear to cure the creaking noise (Which I knew was body bolts), new shock absorbers (They were recent anyway) and a cylinder head bolt suddenly started gushing coolant after I took it there. Funnily enough, it was the only bolt you could get to without dismantling anything.
More expensive mechanic however did an engine setup and helped the rough running problem, at the expense of pops and bangs unfortunately, but at least got it running smoothly again. The cylinder head bolt re-torquing was tested and is still fine. The suspension and bushes were checked and determined to be fine. The creaking was also determined to indeed be the body bolts behind the petrol tank. A second visit back there to try and recover pops and bangs resulted in a new Eprom and a third engine setup.
So far, three engine setups and about £800 in, the car is slightly worse than when I bought it, but running very well. Once I've replaced the oil pressure sender as a matter of course and checked for any other source of the leak, it'll be seeing the mapping and setup genius that is Joolz, hopefully in a few weeks from now.
It hasn't stopped it from ruining the driving experience of anything else though. Every other car is sht 
.
- Every other car is sh
t.- The world does actually sometimes spin backwards, despite what Brian Cox might assert.
- My hearing has very rapidly deteriorated to the point of uselessness.
- Every lift spontaneously spawns a new Spanish festival. And much crazed laughter.
- When passing near old people, horses or babies, dip the clutch.
- Tunnels are bi-directional time warps which lengthen any journey by at least half an hour. And add much crazed laughter.
- The stereo is only of use once you need to leave the car.
- The windows are only up meant to go up once you need to leave the car.
- 98+ RON fuel is quite expensive.
- Doorbells are no longer required.
- Be careful who you get to work on the car.
- I need to be paid more.
So far it's pretty much behaved itself apart from:
- A coolant leak from a heater pipe, which I've now replaced. This taught me not to loosen the radiator bleed screw too much, else it'll drop underneath the radiator and cost me about a day.
- A thirst for oil, which accompanied by oil on the aluminium of the vee tells me that the oil sender might need to be changed. I've ordered one.
- A creaking from the rear because two chassis bolts were left a bit loose behind the petrol tank after the outrigger replacement. I've yet to fetch the tank out to tighten them.
So far the mechanics haven't behaved themselves very much however (Penultimate point in my list, above). I obviously can't name garages in particular, but for anyone considering a TVR who might read this, remember the old adage of "You get what you pay for". It does ring true even amongst 'specialists'.
I had a slight hesitation under acceleration at around 2.7k-3k revs which I wanted looking at. Cheaper mechanic did an engine setup (Without advising me) on a cold engine (I asked), did it badly and consequently completely wrecked the way the car ran. He also wanted to sell me new bushes all round at the rear to cure the creaking noise (Which I knew was body bolts), new shock absorbers (They were recent anyway) and a cylinder head bolt suddenly started gushing coolant after I took it there. Funnily enough, it was the only bolt you could get to without dismantling anything.
More expensive mechanic however did an engine setup and helped the rough running problem, at the expense of pops and bangs unfortunately, but at least got it running smoothly again. The cylinder head bolt re-torquing was tested and is still fine. The suspension and bushes were checked and determined to be fine. The creaking was also determined to indeed be the body bolts behind the petrol tank. A second visit back there to try and recover pops and bangs resulted in a new Eprom and a third engine setup.
So far, three engine setups and about £800 in, the car is slightly worse than when I bought it, but running very well. Once I've replaced the oil pressure sender as a matter of course and checked for any other source of the leak, it'll be seeing the mapping and setup genius that is Joolz, hopefully in a few weeks from now.
It hasn't stopped it from ruining the driving experience of anything else though. Every other car is sh
t .Edited by NuddyRap on Thursday 15th October 13:49
Edited by NuddyRap on Wednesday 21st October 15:29
NuddyRap said:
and a cylinder head bolt suddenly started gushing coolant after I took it there. Funnily enough, it was the only bolt you could get to without dismantling anything.
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The cylinder head bolt re-torquing was tested and is still fine.
Very unpleasant experience indeed, I'm glad it appears to be resolved..
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The cylinder head bolt re-torquing was tested and is still fine.
At least you're planning to take the car to Joolz, that will really help.
NuddyRap said:
Once I've replaced the oil pressure sender as a matter of course and checked for any other source of the leak,
A standard AJP8 doesn't have a sender as such, it has an oil line from the back of the V to the oil pressure guage in the dash. Next to the oil line is the pressure switch, equally awkward to get at, and or replace. I think you will find the procedure in one of the manuals.http://www.thetvrsite.com/cerbera/workshop-manuals
It does indeed seem difficult to get at and there's plenty to remove to get there. I've just ordered a switch so as I can replace it as a matter of course whilst it is all apart.
I've just spotted this video for a 4.2, which is a good starter summary of what I might be in for, although the 4.5 is different of course.
4.2 Oil switch video
I have been wondering if it could be the alternator shaft seal, but finding out will just be part of the fun and games once I start taking things apart!
Having read nothing but praise for Joolz, I'm keen to see what he can do to my car as just a couple of emails from him have already proven to be just as, if not more useful than any trip to a garage.
I've just spotted this video for a 4.2, which is a good starter summary of what I might be in for, although the 4.5 is different of course.
4.2 Oil switch video
I have been wondering if it could be the alternator shaft seal, but finding out will just be part of the fun and games once I start taking things apart!
Having read nothing but praise for Joolz, I'm keen to see what he can do to my car as just a couple of emails from him have already proven to be just as, if not more useful than any trip to a garage.
This write up had me in stiches, I'm in the same boat. I'm just over a month into ownership and 1400 miles in. It's not all been plain sailing but you summed it up perfectly. For me, my Cerb is %100 mechanically sound but bodywork is ropey. I too lost the pops and bangs when adjusting the T-pots but quickly worked out how to get them back. Such a fun car all round.
Lee
Lee
Thanks Lee, glad you appreciated it and it sounds like you have a good car.
With regards to bodywork, don't think too much about it. For me, it wasn't something I went after particularly, I just happened to fall for a car which was immaculate and I very nearly bought one which was far from that. I feel that these machines are meant to be driven by people who consider themselves to be drivers of good ability who know their cars and consequently these are about much more than the bodywork. An Audi A5 by contrast is primarily about the bodywork; it's just about all it has going for it.
With regards to bodywork, don't think too much about it. For me, it wasn't something I went after particularly, I just happened to fall for a car which was immaculate and I very nearly bought one which was far from that. I feel that these machines are meant to be driven by people who consider themselves to be drivers of good ability who know their cars and consequently these are about much more than the bodywork. An Audi A5 by contrast is primarily about the bodywork; it's just about all it has going for it.
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