Griff newbie! Couple of questions
Discussion
Hello all,
I’ve just recently bought a 98 Griff 500 – and have a fixed grin at the moment! I do , however, have a couple of niggles that I need to sort out and hope you can help me with…
1) Heat soak / “cooling” system
I expected heat soak in the car, but even with the roof off, things can be a bit sweaty in this weather! I’ve read the manual about the cooling system, hear that the later griff 500 has an extra cooling fan (for the engine or cabin??) and have messed with the dials but just get hot air in my face! So far it seems the only way to maintain a reasonable temp’ is to have the window open/take the roof off and turn off all the vents/fans. Can someone advise on the best setup for all those dials to maintain cool, or if a more drastic approach is needed such as the mod-wise 2 speed fan, which I think I’ve read makes a good difference to cabin temp?
2) Gear lever sticking.
My car is 5 years old with 20k on the clock. Gear box is pretty heavy as expected, but I’m concerned that when leaving the car in a gear for a while it can feel like it’s stuck/sticky. It needs a bit of a tug sometimes to get it out of gear. Is that normal, or a problem looming?
3) Locking wheel nut cover key
Supposed to be in the boot toolbag (according to manual) but missing from my car. It looks like an allen key grub screw, but my allen keys don’t fit. Main dealer parts department tell me I need to buy a new set of screws + tool, and then dig out the old ones out by force. Any other way around this?
4) Leven alloy stalks
They look nice in the pics – good in practice?
Thanks for any info..
I’ve just recently bought a 98 Griff 500 – and have a fixed grin at the moment! I do , however, have a couple of niggles that I need to sort out and hope you can help me with…
1) Heat soak / “cooling” system
I expected heat soak in the car, but even with the roof off, things can be a bit sweaty in this weather! I’ve read the manual about the cooling system, hear that the later griff 500 has an extra cooling fan (for the engine or cabin??) and have messed with the dials but just get hot air in my face! So far it seems the only way to maintain a reasonable temp’ is to have the window open/take the roof off and turn off all the vents/fans. Can someone advise on the best setup for all those dials to maintain cool, or if a more drastic approach is needed such as the mod-wise 2 speed fan, which I think I’ve read makes a good difference to cabin temp?
2) Gear lever sticking.
My car is 5 years old with 20k on the clock. Gear box is pretty heavy as expected, but I’m concerned that when leaving the car in a gear for a while it can feel like it’s stuck/sticky. It needs a bit of a tug sometimes to get it out of gear. Is that normal, or a problem looming?
3) Locking wheel nut cover key
Supposed to be in the boot toolbag (according to manual) but missing from my car. It looks like an allen key grub screw, but my allen keys don’t fit. Main dealer parts department tell me I need to buy a new set of screws + tool, and then dig out the old ones out by force. Any other way around this?
4) Leven alloy stalks
They look nice in the pics – good in practice?
Thanks for any info..
JonA said:
Hello all,
I’ve just recently bought a 98 Griff 500 – and have a fixed grin at the moment! I do , however, have a couple of niggles that I need to sort out and hope you can help me with…
1) Heat soak / “cooling” system
I expected heat soak in the car, but even with the roof off, things can be a bit sweaty in this weather! I’ve read the manual about the cooling system, hear that the later griff 500 has an extra cooling fan (for the engine or cabin??) and have messed with the dials but just get hot air in my face! So far it seems the only way to maintain a reasonable temp’ is to have the window open/take the roof off and turn off all the vents/fans. Can someone advise on the best setup for all those dials to maintain cool, or if a more drastic approach is needed such as the mod-wise 2 speed fan, which I think I’ve read makes a good difference to cabin temp?
Theres an extra Fan swicth under the console,driver side(3 speed). These blow at cool air in the drivers footwell and the right hand Centre vent.
Unfortunatly these can vary on effectivenesss from car to car.
As for the other Fans mine stays off all year round.
JonA said:
2) Gear lever sticking.
My car is 5 years old with 20k on the clock. Gear box is pretty heavy as expected, but I’m concerned that when leaving the car in a gear for a while it can feel like it’s stuck/sticky. It needs a bit of a tug sometimes to get it out of gear. Is that normal, or a problem looming?
I would say they are a little stick but you shouldnt have to yank it out of gear,have you checked the oil level and clutch fluid level.
Could be a number of other things.
JonA said:
3) Locking wheel nut cover key
Supposed to be in the boot toolbag (according to manual) but missing from my car. It looks like an allen key grub screw, but my allen keys don’t fit. Main dealer parts department tell me I need to buy a new set of screws + tool, and then dig out the old ones out by force. Any other way around this?
I am sure if you find another owner local to you they might be able to lend you a key to get the old one off.Also not 100% but the originals on my 96 were sloted screws so u probable have Leven Tecjh ones, give them a call i am sure they will be able to help.
JonA said:
4) Leven alloy stalks
They look nice in the pics – good in practice?
Thanks for any info..
Dont know i have the Zertec Paddle ones which are Excellent IMO and seem to be alittle more exclusive, also have there Handbrake handle, leven buttons and vents. see pictures in my Profile.
Also, Forgot to say Welcome To Griffith Ownership its
A big
a minute. BB
>> Edited by Ballistic Banana (moderator) on Wednesday 6th August 12:12
Well done Jon, you made the right choice.
1) I think this extra fan depends on when the car was built, mines an early 97 and as far as I’m aware doesn’t have the extra fan or switch. But if you set the normal blower to cold it works, though it takes some time (can be 5 mins) to cool down the water in the heater matrix first (don’t leave it set to Hot). When you switch between hot and cold (I think its top right) can you hear the motor valve working, if not yours may be stuck on hot.
I have a fan override switch fitted and not the two stage mod, this works fine for me.
2) Mine is a bit stiff (can I say that). Just check your levels for now and get it looked at next service.
3) These sound none standard, mine have two parallel shallow blade slots tapered on the out edges (if that makes sense) and doesn’t look anything like an allen key.
4) I have the Leven Stalks fitted, they look great and work perfectly (all Leven products I’ve tried are excellent).
Cheers,
Simon.
1) I think this extra fan depends on when the car was built, mines an early 97 and as far as I’m aware doesn’t have the extra fan or switch. But if you set the normal blower to cold it works, though it takes some time (can be 5 mins) to cool down the water in the heater matrix first (don’t leave it set to Hot). When you switch between hot and cold (I think its top right) can you hear the motor valve working, if not yours may be stuck on hot.
I have a fan override switch fitted and not the two stage mod, this works fine for me.
2) Mine is a bit stiff (can I say that). Just check your levels for now and get it looked at next service.
3) These sound none standard, mine have two parallel shallow blade slots tapered on the out edges (if that makes sense) and doesn’t look anything like an allen key.
4) I have the Leven Stalks fitted, they look great and work perfectly (all Leven products I’ve tried are excellent).
Cheers,
Simon.
TVRinBFG said:
"Theres an extra Fan swicth under the console,driver side(3 speed). These blow at cool air in the drivers footwell and the right hand Centre vent".
I think they stopped doing this extra fan circa early 1996.
Bl**dy typical - they come up with a somewhere near decent idea then go and scrap it! Mine's a '97 500 and doesn't have one
Can't say I've noticed much difference to footwell temp with the 2-stage cooling fitted. Does it really make a difference?
Leven stalks are fine, but the little aluminium heater controls are even better
Oh, and don't look at Ballistic's picture - unless your car is showroom mint, it'll just make you envious
>> Edited by burriana500 on Wednesday 6th August 13:55
JonA said:
2) Gear lever sticking.
My car is 5 years old with 20k on the clock. Gear box is pretty heavy as expected, but I’m concerned that when leaving the car in a gear for a while it can feel like it’s stuck/sticky. It needs a bit of a tug sometimes to get it out of gear. Is that normal, or a problem looming?
Does it do this only after you've been driving for a while? Mine used to do this - although it was only sticky into and out of third, for some reason. I've heard "they all do that, sir", but I think the advice you've been given above is good - get it checked out in case something is wrong.
The advice I was given, IIRC, was to double-declutch, blipping the throttle gently inbetween shifting out of gear and selecting the new one. This stops the sticking and allows you to change gear smoothly. HTH!
rse is calming down a bit afer a month 
burriana500 said:
I think they stopped doing this extra fan circa early 1996.
Bl**dy typical - they come up with a somewhere near decent idea then go and scrap it! Mine's a '97 500 and doesn't have one
The post-96 heater arrangement is far superior to the pre-96 one AFAIK. The cold air inlet and vent ducting are all revised, negating the need for the cold air vent. On the later cars, the drivers dash vent does both hot and cold (what a concept) where as I believe on the earlier ones, the drivers vent is just cold and connected to the extra air vent.
They've probably had a few revisions before and after 1996, Mr. Heath can probably confirm.
Cool - that was quick! Not only have I got lots of good advice here, I've also had a personal email from Levan offering help!
Phoned them up and they're sending me a new key for the wheel nut cover. I ordered the alloy stalks while I was at at. Great service.
This is a great website/community, and yes, I'me sure I've made the right decision buying a Griff.
I just went outside and looked under the dash - DOUGH! What a plonker: there is a button under there; I'll try it a bit later when I go for a spin. Will also try leaving the cool setting on and see if blows cool air after 5 mins.
CHeers
Jon
Phoned them up and they're sending me a new key for the wheel nut cover. I ordered the alloy stalks while I was at at. Great service.
This is a great website/community, and yes, I'me sure I've made the right decision buying a Griff.
I just went outside and looked under the dash - DOUGH! What a plonker: there is a button under there; I'll try it a bit later when I go for a spin. Will also try leaving the cool setting on and see if blows cool air after 5 mins.
CHeers
Jon
Good show, you made the right choice
2) Gear lever sticking.
Mine went through a phase of doing that around the 15,000 mile mark. It's now at 20,000 and works fine!
3) Locking wheel nut cover key
You've got the posh Leven s/s screws. It is an Allen key but obviously metric/imperial/whatever yours isn't, if you see what I mean!
Hate to disappoint but you may find the button under the dash turns the dashboard lighting on and off....
2) Gear lever sticking.
Mine went through a phase of doing that around the 15,000 mile mark. It's now at 20,000 and works fine!
3) Locking wheel nut cover key
You've got the posh Leven s/s screws. It is an Allen key but obviously metric/imperial/whatever yours isn't, if you see what I mean!
Hate to disappoint but you may find the button under the dash turns the dashboard lighting on and off....
simpo one said:
Hate to disappoint but you may find the button under the dash turns the dashboard lighting on and off....
Don't think you'll get betting odds on being wrong there Simpo
The control for this mysterious cold air vent is allegedly under the right hand side of the steering wheel, but hey, who needs this when you have one on the other side the switches the dash lights on and off!!! Wahay... hours of endless fun
simpo one said:
Quite so! Considering all the useful things they could have fitted, the dashlight button is a triumph of pointlessness - evidently specified on the options list as 'meaningless gadget: *'
Take it you're kidding it's an extra? Ok so it's a bit pointless but how flash is it when you get in at night and your passenger is amazed that you can turn the lights off and on the dash dials, well it would be if you could find the switch in the dark.
I found this inadvertently on the way back from buying mine. Must have bashed it with my knee. It was getting dark on the journey home and when I put the lights on - no dash lights. 'Bugger', I thought!
Got home and promptly rang the seller - which is when he told me about the button. Doh!
Got home and promptly rang the seller - which is when he told me about the button. Doh!
Yellow dials? Oh come on Ballistic, you've gone overly yellow mad. Have seen the pics of your car on your website and am very impressed. Love that dashboard, wouldn't mind updating mine in a blue theme but not sure how difficult it would be. My walnut had already gone when I bought my car which I'm not unhappy about but wouldn't mind updating it anyway.
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