Slightly concerned...
Discussion
Driving the S this morning, obviously a warm day. Was running fine, but suddenly became aware that all was not well. Fluctuating idle and also feels a bit lumpy on full and partial throttle. Had a look under the bonnet and all seems well, no obvious pipes off, etc. Anything to look out for? Engine temp is fine, as is oil pressure. It's OK mist of the time, just starts playing up. Still drive able at the mo.
Also, and even more worrying was a smell of burning fibreglass towards the end of my journey - again, engine temp fine and in moving traffic. Had a look around car and all seemed fine. Do they all do this in very warm ambient temperatures? Was OK yesterday in similar weather...
Got to drive round the M25 later in Friday evening rushhour traffic...
Also, and even more worrying was a smell of burning fibreglass towards the end of my journey - again, engine temp fine and in moving traffic. Had a look around car and all seemed fine. Do they all do this in very warm ambient temperatures? Was OK yesterday in similar weather...
Got to drive round the M25 later in Friday evening rushhour traffic...
Sounds like maybe an air leakage in the AFM to Plenum hoses. Similar to diagnosis by other gurus on here.
Not liking the smell of hot fibreglass though. Are you sure its not just general smog or blowback from exhausts due to lack of air movement??
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I get the odd whiff of petrol after sitting in traffic for a while then move off a little "spiritedly" hoping its just a little unburned fuel blowing out the exhausts.
Not liking the smell of hot fibreglass though. Are you sure its not just general smog or blowback from exhausts due to lack of air movement??
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I get the odd whiff of petrol after sitting in traffic for a while then move off a little "spiritedly" hoping its just a little unburned fuel blowing out the exhausts.
Edited by S2Mike on Friday 19th July 14:42
Thanks Mike, I did look round those hoses and they seem fine, they're braided on mine and the jubilee clips are tight. It's not doing it all the time.
I too am worried about the burning smell - no idea if it's from under the bonnet or the exhausts, couldn't tell. Like I say, the car wasn't running that hot.
I too am worried about the burning smell - no idea if it's from under the bonnet or the exhausts, couldn't tell. Like I say, the car wasn't running that hot.

I smell fuel when doing the spirited thing, this is more so since i gave up smoking and can now smell things again!
WRT fibre glass, I would have a damn good look around the exhaust - to body distances, perhaps even get up on the ramps at a local garage somewhere.
Carry an extinguisher until you get rid of it!.
WRT fibre glass, I would have a damn good look around the exhaust - to body distances, perhaps even get up on the ramps at a local garage somewhere.
Carry an extinguisher until you get rid of it!.
Thanks chaps.
I always carry an extinguisher (in the cabin).
I got home in the end, but a fairly fraught journey. I started the car and it smelt of burning within 5 minutes. Had a good poke round the car, no smell under the bonnet or near the exhausts, in fact it seemed to be in the cabin; then it hit me, for it to smell that quickly from cold it's got to be electrical rather than heat related. Turned off all non-essential electrics and the smell seemed to dissipate. Couldn't pin it down precisely, didn't seem to be coming from either footwell/dash, but can't see where else...
Drove home gradually switching things on but although I thought I smelled it faintly a couple of times, it didn't really come back. Weird. Suspects were fan override switch, blower control, radio, and the ciggie lighter extension/phone charger.
So that gives me a nice intermittent problem to sort
The idle is definitely not right, on a trailing throttle or braking up to lights it dips and nearly stalls, but doesn't. On the throttle it seems fine and hard acceleration wasn't a problem. Reminds me of vac/boost leak on turbo cars...
Odd that both problems manifested themselves today but I don't suspect that they're related.
I always carry an extinguisher (in the cabin).
I got home in the end, but a fairly fraught journey. I started the car and it smelt of burning within 5 minutes. Had a good poke round the car, no smell under the bonnet or near the exhausts, in fact it seemed to be in the cabin; then it hit me, for it to smell that quickly from cold it's got to be electrical rather than heat related. Turned off all non-essential electrics and the smell seemed to dissipate. Couldn't pin it down precisely, didn't seem to be coming from either footwell/dash, but can't see where else...
Drove home gradually switching things on but although I thought I smelled it faintly a couple of times, it didn't really come back. Weird. Suspects were fan override switch, blower control, radio, and the ciggie lighter extension/phone charger.
So that gives me a nice intermittent problem to sort

The idle is definitely not right, on a trailing throttle or braking up to lights it dips and nearly stalls, but doesn't. On the throttle it seems fine and hard acceleration wasn't a problem. Reminds me of vac/boost leak on turbo cars...
Odd that both problems manifested themselves today but I don't suspect that they're related.
QBee said:
If it was a Chimaera, it could be the throttle position sensor, or (in the case of my car), the idle control stepper motor starting to fail when hot. Mine idled fine when cold, but I had that trailing throttle issue and then general hot stalling after I decatted it
Is the TPS something that would affect an S?Had a good hunt behind the dash today but nothing look melted or smelt bad. Will have to keep an eye (nose?) out - extinguisher at the ready!
NiceCupOfTea said:
Is the TPS something that would affect an S?
http://www.tvrsseries.com/throttlepot/throttlepot....Funnily enough mine showed exactly the same symptoms yesterday.it had been parked in the sun all day and after about 20miles it started hesitating under acceleration.
Checked today, wiggled wires and generally made sure nothing was loose. Stuck some STP injector cleaner in and set off for an Italian tune - wondering what the problem was.
It had a milder version of the symptoms - hiccoughs really for about 4 miles and then stopped and ran perfectly for the next 10 miles - with me driving in what I believe lawyers would describe as a "spirited manner".
Just read the throttle body article - could be my issue. This forum is brilliant isn't it ! Now I know what to look for and can do soe more fiddling tomorrow !!
Checked today, wiggled wires and generally made sure nothing was loose. Stuck some STP injector cleaner in and set off for an Italian tune - wondering what the problem was.
It had a milder version of the symptoms - hiccoughs really for about 4 miles and then stopped and ran perfectly for the next 10 miles - with me driving in what I believe lawyers would describe as a "spirited manner".
Just read the throttle body article - could be my issue. This forum is brilliant isn't it ! Now I know what to look for and can do soe more fiddling tomorrow !!
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