Chim won't start

[TravelsVeryRapid]

Help needed - Chim has been laid up since December and I have been starting it regularly with no problems. Just returned from holiday and tried to start her for the first time in three weeks last weekend but no luck. The battery is fine (new last year) and it seems as if the fuel pump won't work. Anyone have any ideas please?

Steve.

[Pies]

You certain the battery hasn't lost its charge ?

Is the immobilser ok?

[Slikk]

As before, check that the immobiliser is switched off, or the fuel pump wont operate even though all the dash lights come on etc. Good luck !

[TravelsVeryRapid]

Thanks for your replies. Battery is fully charged and turns over OK. Previously I would have had to press the immobiliser button before it would turn the engine. Could it still be an immobiliser problem stopping the fuel pump working? Will not get a chance to look at it again until the weekend.

Steve.

[Slikk]

Sorry, didnt realise the engine was turning over. Can only suggest the usual fuses / relays route im afraid.. .. ..

[TravelsVeryRapid]

Thanks for your suggestions. I tried to sort the problem this morning but was unsuccessful. Have now asked Brian at Dreadnought to come and collect the car next week and give it a service at the same time, this should solve the problem.
Steve.

[T88CAN]

Stephen
Try going out to the car every 15 mins or so unlock car
de-imobilise and keep waiting for pump to prime up after about 5/10 attempts i recon the beast will fire into life Do NOT keep turning it over with out the pump buzzing good luck Tony

[trefor]

Why not just call the AA/RAC/Green Flag? I assume you know someone who is a member. In the AA/RAC at least I believe the car is covered. You or your buddy happen to be stuck with a broken down TVR in your garage.

They will probably get it going if it is something simple. Cheaper than a low loader to the dealer.

[SMB]

Does the fuel pump prime? On 2 occasions I'd had a fuel pump relay fail after car was standing a few weeks ( lack of use must hurt them), try replacing the 2 silver relays in the tangle of wires next to the battery/ecu. Std relays can be used to prove the point, but get the right ones otherwise the battery will run down. Takes abou t 5 mins to check this and my save you a call out fee.

[TravelsVeryRapid]

Thanks for all your suggestions - much appreciated. Unfortunately I have very little time at the moment, may get a chance this afternoon and I will try your various suggestions. Getting parts quickly is not that easy as we are 26 miles from the nearest town. Once I get the car going, I will post to let you know what the problem was. Thanks again,

Steve.

[TravelsVeryRapid]

I finally took advice from this site and called AA home start who sent someone round, he started by telling me that he hated TVRs and the people who bought them which wasn't a very good start. He did however try his best but could not find the problem. He contacted base and they arranged for a local garage to pick up the car. The first three garages they contacted refused to touch the car as apparently there is nothing on the car to attach a tow rope to in order to get it on the ramps, but the fourth agreed. He also did his best to get it going but could not so we put it on the pickup using reverse gear and the starter motor. Many thanks to the AA and Cotleys in Blairgowrie for their help.

That was yesterday and today Claire from Dreadnought phoned with the good news that she had fixed it - It was a relay problem and it is now running. It is now being serviced and I look forward to getting it back.

Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.

Steve.

[trefor]

For future reference there is a tow hook on the front. You have to get on the floor and look back to the chassis. About the same distance back as the fan/drive belt you will see the tow hook.

I would have expected the AA to find a faulty relay ... maybe it was a tricky one.

T/.

Edited to say - BTW, every AA man I have met has loved TVRS.

>> Edited by trefor on Thursday 26th February 10:51

[TT Tim]

What is it about TVRs, especially the Chimaera and Griffith that is so scarry? There's bugger all on them to go wrong!

I would have reported the twat from the AA if he'd said that to me, he's paid to do his bloody job not inflict his opinion of clients.

There definately seems to be two types of TVR owners...

a) The enthusiast that knows why and how it all works.

b) The driver who does just that... drives a TVR.

Just my 2 penneth, very glad you got your car going m8, what was the bill from the garage for the lift and fix like in the end?

Tim

[TravelsVeryRapid]

When it comes back I will take a look underneath for the tow hook, but hopefully it wont be needed again.

The man from the AA was telling me he had a call out for a TVR in Perth, the car had locked itself before losing all it's electrics. When he finally got into it he found that the battery cable had broken. When I told him it was me he became more friendly for some reason.

I never get wound up about what people say about my car, because it doesn't matter, the vast majority of comments I get are positive but I like the car so I really don't care what others think.

When you categorized TVR owners there is a category C. The enthusiastic owner who has a idea how they work but has got better things to do than getting frustrated in the garage in sub zero temperatures. You may enjoy that but I don't.

It cost me nothing to have the car picked up as it was part of my AA cover. It usually gets a service about April so this year it will be early. Looking forward to getting it back now, hopefully not too soon as it is now snowing and settling fast!

Steve.

[david beer]

Out of interest for all, what relay was it? Could either be fuel pump or ignition.

[SMB]

TravelsVeryRapid said:

- It was a relay problem and it is now running. It is now being serviced and I look forward to getting it back. .

Glad you got it going, it's worth investing in a couple of relays to stick in the boot, thy cost about £11 each for the fuel system and there's 2, they take about 30 seconds to change, and have been the cause of both my no starts in 9 years. First Time AA man found , but only after I told him the fuel pump wasn't priming. Generally speaking the cars are simple to fix, more often than not let down by minor electrical gremlins.

[TT Tim]

TravelsVeryRapid said:

When you categorized TVR owners there is a category C. The enthusiastic owner who has a idea how they work but has got better things to do than getting frustrated in the garage in sub zero temperatures. You may enjoy that but I don't.

Yep, I see that, but what was the point of posting a help thread and for people to reply, stating that it's probabally a relay and then for you to call out the AA to be told by the garage... it's a relay.

Oh and for what it's worth, I don't enjoy playing about with cars especially in these temperatures, but I do hate being charged garage prices for a 5 minute fix.

Still, I guess you'll be carrying a spare relay in future.

Everyone's different, the upside is that your cars now fixed.

Tim

[TravelsVeryRapid]

david beer said:

Out of interest for all, what relay was it? Could either be fuel pump or ignition.

Don,t know yet David, let you know when I get it back, but I think I will take your advice SMB and keep one or two in the boot.
Edited to say it must have been the fuel pump relay as it was that that wasn't working.
Steve.

>> Edited by TravelsVeryRapid on Friday 27th February 08:18