Discussion
Well I made it to the stopover without major drama. The closest call was in the queue for ferry check-in when the guy in front decided he wanted to move to another queue and proceeded to reverse and almost hit me, luckily I found the horn button in time but he must've been millimetres away.
I am here:
Some scenery:
I didn't take many photos today and none of the car. It attracts a lot of attention at petrol stations etc and I feel like a cock taking a photo of it
A good drive down which would've been great were it not for a vibration problem. It feels like the wheels have gone square, but it's not the wheels because it comes and goes. I also get wobble under braking sometimes. It is almost certainly the drag link bush or whatever it's called (I don't know what it is but the symptoms match what others have had). Is it part of one of the wishbones? Or it could be a track rod end or other balljoint (hope not as I don't like the idea of one of those failing completely).
The Italians don't seem to bother at all with speed limits. Someone came past me at a good 140mph in a 110kmh stretch.
On to Rome in the morning..
I am here:
Some scenery:
I didn't take many photos today and none of the car. It attracts a lot of attention at petrol stations etc and I feel like a cock taking a photo of it
A good drive down which would've been great were it not for a vibration problem. It feels like the wheels have gone square, but it's not the wheels because it comes and goes. I also get wobble under braking sometimes. It is almost certainly the drag link bush or whatever it's called (I don't know what it is but the symptoms match what others have had
). Is it part of one of the wishbones? Or it could be a track rod end or other balljoint (hope not as I don't like the idea of one of those failing completely).The Italians don't seem to bother at all with speed limits. Someone came past me at a good 140mph in a 110kmh stretch.
On to Rome in the morning..
Edited by FarmyardPants on Friday 23 October 20:31
The Mont Blanc tunnel experience was interesting. Firstly a 20 minute queue to get in, it costs 45 euros (or 55 for a return within a week), you have to drive between 50 and 70kmh and stay 150m from the car in front. So all in all not exactly petrolhead nirvana. I knew all this as I'd done my homework and it was a convenient route. It's also warm in there which is not ideal seeing as you have to drive so slowly and after sitting in a traffic jam beforehand.
When you emerge at the other end you're in Italy (all the signs change language halfway along). The customs guys decided to search the car which took 15 mins but once in Italy there are immediately about ten, mile-long tunnels in a row, which are free and you can apparently go as fast as you like. Actually the tunnels might not be free, can't remember when the toll road started, but I paid 23 euros to get to Turin.
When you emerge at the other end you're in Italy (all the signs change language halfway along). The customs guys decided to search the car which took 15 mins but once in Italy there are immediately about ten, mile-long tunnels in a row, which are free and you can apparently go as fast as you like. Actually the tunnels might not be free, can't remember when the toll road started, but I paid 23 euros to get to Turin.
Mr Cerbera said:
Sounds like a brill trip mate. 
I have had a vibe from the front since I've owned the car. It comes in and out at about 90mph but I can't link it to revs, speed or wheel rotation speeds.
Will be very interested to see if you find out your source.
Gutted that you didn't pop in.(Lux has just opened a new, three-tunnel system and you could be the second Cerb to do it !)
Best o'
Thanks Paul, yes I did go quite close to your gaff (that's what I call Luxemburg I have had a vibe from the front since I've owned the car. It comes in and out at about 90mph but I can't link it to revs, speed or wheel rotation speeds.
Will be very interested to see if you find out your source.
Gutted that you didn't pop in.(Lux has just opened a new, three-tunnel system and you could be the second Cerb to do it !)
Best o'
Edited by Mr Cerbera on Saturday 24th October 08:56
). One of these days...ESDavey said:
What a great trip & a pleasure to read. I took the Griff to Lake Como in June via Lucern. On trips like yours, TVRs are very special. Hope you get a few mountain passes in.
I recommend on the return journey, turn right as you exit the Mnt Blanc tunnel and/or drive the mountains north of Geneva via Gex. Keep us updated please ? Maybe a beer when your back in Surrey
I recommend on the return journey, turn right as you exit the Mnt Blanc tunnel and/or drive the mountains north of Geneva via Gex. Keep us updated please ? Maybe a beer when your back in Surrey
I haven't decided on the route back yet, I've been through Switzerland a few times and agree the roads and scenery are second to none. I will see what google maps has to say about Genoa to Dunkirk and what time I have to get up/leave. Ultimately it depends what time they start serving breakfast! A serious point actually as I don't eat well once on the move.
But I arrived in Rome today about 3pm after a great drive from Turin. I left at 8am, a bit later than planned as I decided to give the car a bit of a clean - mostly bugs and brake dust. The "wobble" was more variable today and for much of the time it was entirely absent and the ride was smooth as silk. Quite uneventful and enjoyable journey with lots of interest from the locals. The hardest part was the last 10 miles: the Rome traffic and road system, with complex junctions and cars and Vespas weaving all around you. A passenger would have been a handy accessory - you need several pairs of eyes.
Hats off to the cerb for eating those miles so effortlessly. For a sports car it's an amazing GT
Might have a pic or two to post later.
First leg of the return trip complete. I am now in Genoa.
This journey was hampered by the headlights failing on an unlit section of autostrada. There were some skids but only in my boxers. They would fail for 2-10s every now and then - really keeps you on your toes! Fuse looked ok but dim/dip control box wires showing signs of overheating. I don't use relays and have a 35w HID kit. Anyway the boot was full which didn't help cooling of said control box, so put some stuff in the cabin and removed the Velcro covering to give it a bit more airflow. Only happened briefly twice more after that, but to be on the safe side I had to follow a truck at 50mph for the last 80 miles 
. Loads of tunnels between Pisa and Genoa, too.
It didn't help that it was lashing with rain and pitch bloody black!
On the plus side, the wipers kept working. Don't think I could've coped without lights or wipers lol
This journey was hampered by the headlights failing on an unlit section of autostrada. There were some skids but only in my boxers
. They would fail for 2-10s every now and then - really keeps you on your toes! Fuse looked ok but dim/dip control box wires showing signs of overheating. I don't use relays and have a 35w HID kit. Anyway the boot was full which didn't help cooling of said control box, so put some stuff in the cabin and removed the Velcro covering to give it a bit more airflow. Only happened briefly twice more after that, but to be on the safe side I had to follow a truck at 50mph for the last 80 miles . Loads of tunnels between Pisa and Genoa, too.It didn't help that it was lashing with rain and pitch bloody black!
On the plus side, the wipers kept working. Don't think I could've coped without lights or wipers lol
When the headlights go out, the dash lights stay on. No pulsing that I noticed. I presume the tail lights and side lights are on, also. Luckily there was plenty of other traffic around when it happened the first time, could've been quite nasty, obviously.
I've not had this problem before despite having the hids fitted for a number of years, although when I put the headlights on the speedo will often go to zero briefly.
When (if) I get home I'll fit relays and clean up the control box connections.
Edit: if you're wondering about the voltage regulation from the alternator, I have noticed a fair amount of variation in voltage shown by the RS-AJP app, perhaps it was high. I was giving it a more revs than usual when it first failed.
I've not had this problem before despite having the hids fitted for a number of years, although when I put the headlights on the speedo will often go to zero briefly.
When (if) I get home I'll fit relays and clean up the control box connections.
Edit: if you're wondering about the voltage regulation from the alternator, I have noticed a fair amount of variation in voltage shown by the RS-AJP app, perhaps it was high. I was giving it a more revs than usual when it first failed.
Edited by FarmyardPants on Tuesday 27th October 22:15
I am currently on the ferry, having left Genoa this morning around 8am. The cerb didn't try to kill me today, the lights were fine. I tried to remove the plug from the dim/dip box to give it cleanup but it seems to have welded itself on. I left the box hanging in the boot to improve cooling a bit more. The dash lights do vary in brightness but I only saw this a couple of times.
I did take the Chamonix/Switzerland route and it was pretty amazing. The pic below says it all!
I did take the Chamonix/Switzerland route and it was pretty amazing
. The pic below says it all!robsco said:
Did you use your main beam for a prolonged period before your lights failed? I tend to lose my headlights for several hours if I use full beam for more than a minute or two.
Nope, didn't use full beam at all, although I had my thumb hovering over the button in case everything went dark again Just to update my thread..
Andy at APM found both top ballpoints seized/shagged and bushes knackered. Apparently poly bushes aren't great for joints that move - ok for diff bush but for wishbones, the oem bushes are better. All that replaced, new front tyres and tracking done, it drives like a new car, the difference is amazing. Although the tyre place put 33psi in
I have wired in relays for the headlights but the cause of the problem appears to have been one of the sidelights in the main beams had the connector hanging off and I think the wires shorted together, which is what caused the dim/dip box to overheat and shut down. That's my fault as I didn't have spade connectors small enough so bodged it. That's unbodged now.
Also fixed the heater blowers which had the ribbon cable hanging off which caused them to come on and off randomly, replaced the AC led, fixed the stereo (fuse to amp was burnt and giving a dodgey connection).
Finally got the car off the axle stands and got in to test out the lights.
Yep, you guessed it: no clutch pedal. Can't seem to bleed it this time. Fluid will go through it with the nipple open but there's no pedal pressure with it closed. The reservoir was empty in spite of my remote reservoir as well, so that needs looking at (maybe raise the height of it a bit).
So either it's full of air or the slave has gone. There's fluid underneath but there always is, I know it leaks.
Will try another bleed
Andy at APM found both top ballpoints seized/shagged and bushes knackered. Apparently poly bushes aren't great for joints that move - ok for diff bush but for wishbones, the oem bushes are better. All that replaced, new front tyres and tracking done, it drives like a new car, the difference is amazing. Although the tyre place put 33psi in
I have wired in relays for the headlights but the cause of the problem appears to have been one of the sidelights in the main beams had the connector hanging off and I think the wires shorted together, which is what caused the dim/dip box to overheat and shut down. That's my fault as I didn't have spade connectors small enough so bodged it. That's unbodged now.
Also fixed the heater blowers which had the ribbon cable hanging off which caused them to come on and off randomly, replaced the AC led, fixed the stereo (fuse to amp was burnt and giving a dodgey connection).
Finally got the car off the axle stands and got in to test out the lights.
Yep, you guessed it: no clutch pedal. Can't seem to bleed it this time. Fluid will go through it with the nipple open but there's no pedal pressure with it closed. The reservoir was empty in spite of my remote reservoir as well, so that needs looking at (maybe raise the height of it a bit).
So either it's full of air or the slave has gone. There's fluid underneath but there always is, I know it leaks.
Will try another bleed
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