The rebuild begins......again.
Discussion
As the new owner of Mark's Cerbera, and to keep all things related to the car in one place, I'd like to nick this thread, and add the work that I do to the car here.
As it seems with a lot of Cerberas, I've had some wiper problems, so I decided to try and figure out what the issue was. First, the ribbon cable was obviously attached, as I pressed the button, a clicking noise could be heard as the intermittent wipe came on and off, but the motor didn't move the arms. The motor also was extremely hot. So, I removed the passenger side airbox, intake piping, and then the coolant canister and the supporting frame, which allowed me to open the motor in situ. Once I had opened the motor, I could see that there was no movement at all within the motor and noticed that teeth on the cog and the part that should spin and turn the cog (whatever that's called!), had jammed. The teeth didn't match against the thread and the motor became really hot. So, after removing the motor completely, and taking it to pieces, I managed to get the teeth to match the thread. Plugged it back in and tried again, but nothing moved.
I then took the bottom from the motor, and pulled out the coil and threaded screw thing. I could see that the plastic construction holding the coil and wires in place had broken and was not holding the wires in the correct place. The next step should be to fabricate a similar plate to hold the wires and replace the broken one.
Here's the motor removed from the car:
And the broken motor part:
Then I've noticed the driver's side carpet is getting wet from somewhere but only just in front of the seat, and the power steering fluid is leaking. Got to find out where they come from and fix them ASAP along with replacing the fuel line from the cooler. Maybe I'll also replace the alternator belt whilst the pipes are off. Too warm today, around 30 degrees, so I couldn't be bothered to do too much.
As it seems with a lot of Cerberas, I've had some wiper problems, so I decided to try and figure out what the issue was. First, the ribbon cable was obviously attached, as I pressed the button, a clicking noise could be heard as the intermittent wipe came on and off, but the motor didn't move the arms. The motor also was extremely hot. So, I removed the passenger side airbox, intake piping, and then the coolant canister and the supporting frame, which allowed me to open the motor in situ. Once I had opened the motor, I could see that there was no movement at all within the motor and noticed that teeth on the cog and the part that should spin and turn the cog (whatever that's called!), had jammed. The teeth didn't match against the thread and the motor became really hot. So, after removing the motor completely, and taking it to pieces, I managed to get the teeth to match the thread. Plugged it back in and tried again, but nothing moved.
I then took the bottom from the motor, and pulled out the coil and threaded screw thing. I could see that the plastic construction holding the coil and wires in place had broken and was not holding the wires in the correct place. The next step should be to fabricate a similar plate to hold the wires and replace the broken one.
Here's the motor removed from the car:
And the broken motor part:
Then I've noticed the driver's side carpet is getting wet from somewhere but only just in front of the seat, and the power steering fluid is leaking. Got to find out where they come from and fix them ASAP along with replacing the fuel line from the cooler. Maybe I'll also replace the alternator belt whilst the pipes are off. Too warm today, around 30 degrees, so I couldn't be bothered to do too much.
Yeah, I read that about the Mini motor, but it seems to be significantly modified for TVR use. No idea in what way. I smiled to myself when I saw the name "Lucas" on the park switch.
I guess it rained a couple of days ago, but the carpet seemed quite damp considering. I removed the driver's side carpet and put it in the garage to dry but I couldn't see any place leaking. I'll take a look tomorrow to see if it's wetter than today, it hasn't rained today, so if so, I guess I should be looking for some leaking fluids.
I guess it rained a couple of days ago, but the carpet seemed quite damp considering. I removed the driver's side carpet and put it in the garage to dry but I couldn't see any place leaking. I'll take a look tomorrow to see if it's wetter than today, it hasn't rained today, so if so, I guess I should be looking for some leaking fluids.
Couple of things worth trying re the leak...
I sealed the brake master cylinder with heavy duty masking tape rather than that horrible gunky silkoflex stuff but it could have deteriorated. Also just read the post about door seals and the door seal join and where I put it might not be the right place.
I sealed the brake master cylinder with heavy duty masking tape rather than that horrible gunky silkoflex stuff but it could have deteriorated. Also just read the post about door seals and the door seal join and where I put it might not be the right place.
Thanks guys! 
It absolutely hoyed it down (as I would have said in a previous life - got knows how you spell that) and I noticed that the carpet only gets wet just in front and slightly to the side of the driver's seat. This kind of makes sense as there are holes in a recess for the water to drip out, and then when I stand back up after checking it out, the back of my trousers is also wet from sitting on the door seal?! Odd..
I am contemplating changing the alternator belt now that the airbox and coolant box is off and it shouldn't be such a hard job to remove the fuel rail. And then I can fix the broken piping at the same time.
The power steering is definitely leaking from the pump area, there are at least 2 pipes going into the assembly, could one of these be loose? Or might it be a seal from somewhere?
I tried doing something yesterday, but I had neglected the gardening and had to mow the lawn and drink beer!
It absolutely hoyed it down (as I would have said in a previous life - got knows how you spell that) and I noticed that the carpet only gets wet just in front and slightly to the side of the driver's seat. This kind of makes sense as there are holes in a recess for the water to drip out, and then when I stand back up after checking it out, the back of my trousers is also wet from sitting on the door seal?! Odd.. I am contemplating changing the alternator belt now that the airbox and coolant box is off and it shouldn't be such a hard job to remove the fuel rail. And then I can fix the broken piping at the same time.
The power steering is definitely leaking from the pump area, there are at least 2 pipes going into the assembly, could one of these be loose? Or might it be a seal from somewhere?
I tried doing something yesterday, but I had neglected the gardening and had to mow the lawn and drink beer!
Yep, thanks Mark I did get the alternator belt and my brother found the wax in the old man's garage! Jees, what are they like.. I'll get that someday shipped here.
Well, been an interesting day with the car, the wiper motor was actually jammed in a separate place, apparently there is some kind bearing (non ball) that had jammed itself inside the motor part and that seems to have been the main problem as to why it wouldn't turn correctly. I'll get pictures and/or a better explanation when I get the motor back. So that's off for fixing, so I decided that I should move the car into the garage to stop the carpet from getting wet all the time.
I opened the door and the surround for the rear top roll cage fell off, to which I merely smiled, then had a quick look at the leaks - the carpet is not as wet as the day before as it was really raining a day before that, so I'm pretty sure it's rain getting in. Plus, when I pressed the roll cage surround back into place, the end at the driver's side was a bit damp too. Would a knackered door seal cause this? I noticed that the both the driver's side and rear passenger side is wet and there are 2 holes in the seal.
This is the hole where the rear carpet would be when the seat is in a proper driving position. It's slid right back now. When this is squeezed, loads of water came out the following day - and even some today when it didn't rain.
And the hole on the driver's side:
I'm guessing a new door seal will fix this?
So, I had to put the car back together to move it into the garage. I put the coolant box back, connected the pipes, put the airbox and induction pipes back on and then the big pipe to the air intake, but I didn't screw the airbox into place as I will need to take it off again. All good. I reversed down the drive, which is not easy as the drainpipe's had to be dug up due to an inefficient builder as the tarmac will arrive soon, turned the car around and reversed back up the drive to put the car in the garage backwards, sometimes revving a little to keep it moving on the stones as I slowly passed the other cars there. Once the car was in the garage, I went inside to get some beer to calm my nerves, someone had switched the intake piping around and it was a nightmare to figure out which one went where. As I walked back to the garage, I thought there really was a smell in the air, quite a distinct smell. So I looked at the car and smoke was rising from under the bonnet on the passenger side. I opened the bonnet and something was on fire! I pulled of the airbox and then there was some heat shielding on fire.. WTF? I picked it up and through it on the floor where it cindered and then the rest fell under the car, where I poured water on it - from under the car by flooding, not through the engine bay. I decided I needed more beer at this point. I called the old man who quipped that TVR must mean "Total Vehicle Restoration"... Funny. The car seemed really hot considering I'd only moved it up and down the drive. Is this normal? The coolant levels seem to fluctuate constantly and I did put more in before moving it. I guess not securing the airbox allowed it to rest on the manifold/long silver pipe(?) and the heat shielding from underneath it caught fire. I'm pretty happy I caught it before it caused any damage.
And lastly, does anyone know if there should be anything connected to the fuel pressure regulator? My friend reckons the nipple from the rear of the PS airbox should connect there via a pipe of some kind. And the plug thing in the picture, what is it? Ideas?
I feel like a real TVR owner now. Only had it 2 weeks!
Well, been an interesting day with the car, the wiper motor was actually jammed in a separate place, apparently there is some kind bearing (non ball) that had jammed itself inside the motor part and that seems to have been the main problem as to why it wouldn't turn correctly. I'll get pictures and/or a better explanation when I get the motor back. So that's off for fixing, so I decided that I should move the car into the garage to stop the carpet from getting wet all the time.
I opened the door and the surround for the rear top roll cage fell off, to which I merely smiled, then had a quick look at the leaks - the carpet is not as wet as the day before as it was really raining a day before that, so I'm pretty sure it's rain getting in. Plus, when I pressed the roll cage surround back into place, the end at the driver's side was a bit damp too. Would a knackered door seal cause this? I noticed that the both the driver's side and rear passenger side is wet and there are 2 holes in the seal.
This is the hole where the rear carpet would be when the seat is in a proper driving position. It's slid right back now. When this is squeezed, loads of water came out the following day - and even some today when it didn't rain.
And the hole on the driver's side:
I'm guessing a new door seal will fix this?
So, I had to put the car back together to move it into the garage. I put the coolant box back, connected the pipes, put the airbox and induction pipes back on and then the big pipe to the air intake, but I didn't screw the airbox into place as I will need to take it off again. All good. I reversed down the drive, which is not easy as the drainpipe's had to be dug up due to an inefficient builder as the tarmac will arrive soon, turned the car around and reversed back up the drive to put the car in the garage backwards, sometimes revving a little to keep it moving on the stones as I slowly passed the other cars there. Once the car was in the garage, I went inside to get some beer to calm my nerves, someone had switched the intake piping around and it was a nightmare to figure out which one went where. As I walked back to the garage, I thought there really was a smell in the air, quite a distinct smell. So I looked at the car and smoke was rising from under the bonnet on the passenger side. I opened the bonnet and something was on fire! I pulled of the airbox and then there was some heat shielding on fire.. WTF? I picked it up and through it on the floor where it cindered and then the rest fell under the car, where I poured water on it - from under the car by flooding, not through the engine bay. I decided I needed more beer at this point. I called the old man who quipped that TVR must mean "Total Vehicle Restoration"... Funny. The car seemed really hot considering I'd only moved it up and down the drive. Is this normal? The coolant levels seem to fluctuate constantly and I did put more in before moving it. I guess not securing the airbox allowed it to rest on the manifold/long silver pipe(?) and the heat shielding from underneath it caught fire. I'm pretty happy I caught it before it caused any damage.
And lastly, does anyone know if there should be anything connected to the fuel pressure regulator? My friend reckons the nipple from the rear of the PS airbox should connect there via a pipe of some kind. And the plug thing in the picture, what is it?
Ideas?I feel like a real TVR owner now. Only had it 2 weeks!
A new door seal is definitely needed there! As to the fuel pressure regulator - it is correct as it is - on the AJP engine there should be no vacuum connection to it. It is used as a static regulator so there is no pipe to go on the nipple. In other applications your friend is right and on most engines there would be a pipe there, but not on the Cerbera
Just had another quick look as it's cooled down now and the heat shielding that is stuck to the chassis down by the manifold, below the coolant box seems to have been the problem. Maybe I spilled some coolant on it and it ignited, some people would agree that it's possible. Little bit worried about this now.
Yep its the clutch slave cylinder bleed nipple just bled mine today to get some fresh stuff through and found the nipple seized into the fitting so WD40 heat gun tap with hammer and it came loose, make sure the pipe is cable tied away from the manifolds as your fluid could boil especially if its old. Mine looked like 6 month old camel pee 
Oh those door seal look bad! The trouble with hardly ever driving it in the wet you never realise if there is a leak!
I gave it a coolant flush not long before your bro picked it up. If you have taken the coolant bottle off on the passenger side when you have bled it have you filled the radiator and bled the coolant rails?
Very surprised about the heat shielding! Possibly when the fuel pipe split some fuel soaked into the heat shield and that touched the manifold?? Those manifolds do get VERY hot!
Regards the roll bar cover, that was removed when the interior was retrimmed. I must have not sprayed enough glue on it. This is the stuff you need....
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&...
Glad you found the wax!
I gave it a coolant flush not long before your bro picked it up. If you have taken the coolant bottle off on the passenger side when you have bled it have you filled the radiator and bled the coolant rails?
Very surprised about the heat shielding! Possibly when the fuel pipe split some fuel soaked into the heat shield and that touched the manifold?? Those manifolds do get VERY hot!
Regards the roll bar cover, that was removed when the interior was retrimmed. I must have not sprayed enough glue on it. This is the stuff you need....
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&...
Glad you found the wax!
Edited by markh1 on Tuesday 2nd August 13:12
Glad to have you around Mark, well, all of you!
They're all minor issues and will be fixed with no hassle, it hasn't bothered me at all, I just got called in from the garage as I was removing the old heat shield and going to add some new stuff in preparation for the potential visit to the Hifi & Tuning show in Oulu. Apparently there's this food I have to cook...
Going to order a new door seal today, sort the roof lining out and buy an extinguisher! Remove the fuel rail and try to polish some parts up a bit. The wiper motor is the only thing that worries me, it's a lot to fix it and if I hadn't of been so hard with it when travelling home, it might have survived. There's a lot of information on here, but I guess I need to speak to Adrian about a refurb.
They're all minor issues and will be fixed with no hassle, it hasn't bothered me at all, I just got called in from the garage as I was removing the old heat shield and going to add some new stuff in preparation for the potential visit to the Hifi & Tuning show in Oulu. Apparently there's this food I have to cook...
Going to order a new door seal today, sort the roof lining out and buy an extinguisher! Remove the fuel rail and try to polish some parts up a bit. The wiper motor is the only thing that worries me, it's a lot to fix it and if I hadn't of been so hard with it when travelling home, it might have survived. There's a lot of information on here, but I guess I need to speak to Adrian about a refurb.
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