Early Tuscan electrics
Discussion
With any luck (and it'll still take some!), I'll be able to go for a Tuscan sometime next year. I've been here for a while now, getting all the research in and getting a feel for not only what is the best way to go, but what I can also realistically achieve.
Based on this, I think I will have to look at a 2000/1 Tuscan, as the late-2002 or 2003/4 Tuscs which I have been recommended to focus on are going to be out of my price range for a long time to come yet.
As odd as it might seem, I'm not so fussed about engine rebuilds, having had to go through one on one of my current cars. What I am keen to know a bit more about is the early Tuscan electrics, which I have been told can be 'interesting' at times (as opposed to later cars which were better).
So, early Tusc owners.......is this your experience also? Is this perceived electrical dodgyness just down to sensors which can be replaced, or is is something buried in the depths of the loom that'll be a nightmare to fix/keep fixed?
Cheers,
Mark.
Based on this, I think I will have to look at a 2000/1 Tuscan, as the late-2002 or 2003/4 Tuscs which I have been recommended to focus on are going to be out of my price range for a long time to come yet.
As odd as it might seem, I'm not so fussed about engine rebuilds, having had to go through one on one of my current cars. What I am keen to know a bit more about is the early Tuscan electrics, which I have been told can be 'interesting' at times (as opposed to later cars which were better).
So, early Tusc owners.......is this your experience also? Is this perceived electrical dodgyness just down to sensors which can be replaced, or is is something buried in the depths of the loom that'll be a nightmare to fix/keep fixed?
Cheers,
Mark.
I had an August 2002 Tuscan (admittedly slightly newer than the ones you are considering) and had absolutely no electrical problems apart from a boot switch needing adjustment – which is more mechanical than electrical. I think cars that are left standing for long periods and get damp in them are more likely to suffer electrical gremlins, mine was used everyday.
>> Edited by TSS on Thursday 24th November 18:58
>> Edited by TSS on Thursday 24th November 18:58
I had a 2000 Tuscan. In a year I had the following gremlins:
Flashing error message which meant that one of the lambda sensors was dead.
Then again because the other one died. £150
Alternator dead. £500
Drivers side door locking itself with the door open thus when you shut the door it clanged until it was reset.
Usual stuff with the windows not returning to the proper position when shutting the doors and arming the alarm.
New pod screen as the old one got lines across it. £300
Earthing problem with the indicators flashing like a strobe light which took the dash out and about 8 hours of labour £500
To give balance to the report I must add I had no problems with the engine mechanics at all!
Flashing error message which meant that one of the lambda sensors was dead.
Then again because the other one died. £150
Alternator dead. £500
Drivers side door locking itself with the door open thus when you shut the door it clanged until it was reset.
Usual stuff with the windows not returning to the proper position when shutting the doors and arming the alarm.
New pod screen as the old one got lines across it. £300
Earthing problem with the indicators flashing like a strobe light which took the dash out and about 8 hours of labour £500
To give balance to the report I must add I had no problems with the engine mechanics at all!
I agree with the comment about problems arising when the car sits around. My windows sometimes play up if the car has been sitting getting wet for more than a few days. Other than the usual recurring speedo sensor issues, my July 2000 car has been ok. In the last 2.5 years it's had one lambda sensor and a water temp sender. They can eat batteries though.
There's a common problem with the heater electrics on early Tuscans - one of the pins runs too hot, melting the plastic surrounding it, and eventually meaning you lose the heater.
Early dash pods quite often develop lines across them too, making it difficult/impossible to read the display. This is a painful one if it occurs, as the car'll most likely be off the road while they send the pod back to the factory.
My (2000) car never had any other real electrical gremlins, though, save for the two above and the usual spurious diagnostic codes on the dash.
Word of caution: If you couldn't stretch to a 2002-2003 car if you had to, just make sure you can manage to finance a replacement clutch/engine rebuild/etc. if the worst were to happen. Not much worse than owning your dream car, but not being able to drive it...
Early dash pods quite often develop lines across them too, making it difficult/impossible to read the display. This is a painful one if it occurs, as the car'll most likely be off the road while they send the pod back to the factory.
My (2000) car never had any other real electrical gremlins, though, save for the two above and the usual spurious diagnostic codes on the dash.
Word of caution: If you couldn't stretch to a 2002-2003 car if you had to, just make sure you can manage to finance a replacement clutch/engine rebuild/etc. if the worst were to happen. Not much worse than owning your dream car, but not being able to drive it...
A certain, shall we say Quirkiness, is exhibited from time to time.
My "niggles" include a few lines on the pod playing up depending upon the weather, state of the economy, the phase of the moon and the current luck of the England cricket team. Also the trip counter always resets just because I've breathed. I swear it doesn't need a twist of the knob. Occasionally, we'll be doing 170 mph for about a second at a time, but you can forgive it because the needle sweeps the arc out so gracefully and purposefully. Patience is a prerequisite of doodling with the window buttons. The pod was rather annoying when I had a lambda sensor go, because it won't let you reset it and get on with life! The reversing light only works if you select reverse a certain way with the right handshake and in the correct pair of trousers turned up just the right amount. The electric mirrors only move, especially on the nearside, if you stop, salute them and give them your undivided attention while singing Jerusalem. And teh electronic zapper that you need to blast oncoming targets of a slower moving variety on the Queen's Highway is a bit dodgy on mine too.
Electrics?
Faultless, mate!
My "niggles" include a few lines on the pod playing up depending upon the weather, state of the economy, the phase of the moon and the current luck of the England cricket team. Also the trip counter always resets just because I've breathed. I swear it doesn't need a twist of the knob. Occasionally, we'll be doing 170 mph for about a second at a time, but you can forgive it because the needle sweeps the arc out so gracefully and purposefully. Patience is a prerequisite of doodling with the window buttons. The pod was rather annoying when I had a lambda sensor go, because it won't let you reset it and get on with life! The reversing light only works if you select reverse a certain way with the right handshake and in the correct pair of trousers turned up just the right amount. The electric mirrors only move, especially on the nearside, if you stop, salute them and give them your undivided attention while singing Jerusalem. And teh electronic zapper that you need to blast oncoming targets of a slower moving variety on the Queen's Highway is a bit dodgy on mine too.
Electrics?
Faultless, mate!
I have had my 2001 Tusan since May 2004 and so far have had a lambda sensor replaced and a temperature sensor replaced, both a cheap job. As JSG mentioned I am currently experiencing the lines through the pod screen thing and this happened after a week of just sitting around. It now seems to have corrected itself (fingers crossed!) as I have been told that it is a dash out job with the pod going back to the factory for about a month and as my only car I can't afford to be without it for that long. My baby is normally used every day and from what I can gether from the more mechanically minded this tends to minimise problems.
Eve
Eve
Cheers for the replies folks, always good to hear this sort of thing from as many sources as possible.
J_S_G - I hear you with regards to the 'Fix It Fund'. That's not so much of a problem, as I can set aside something around the recommended figures in a one-off hit, thanks to the wonderful world of self-employment and dividends.
What I can't easily do is KEEP taking them out to get the kind of wedge together which is needed to get a 2003/4 model (seeing as both my other cars are worth bugger all in comparison).
EDITED TO SAY - As a number of you have said, using it often seems to help keep a few of the gremlins away, which is what I have also heard/seen a number of times. Believe me, I'd have no intention of letting it sit still for very long!
>> Edited by MarkoTVR on Friday 25th November 16:46
J_S_G - I hear you with regards to the 'Fix It Fund'. That's not so much of a problem, as I can set aside something around the recommended figures in a one-off hit, thanks to the wonderful world of self-employment and dividends.
What I can't easily do is KEEP taking them out to get the kind of wedge together which is needed to get a 2003/4 model (seeing as both my other cars are worth bugger all in comparison). EDITED TO SAY - As a number of you have said, using it often seems to help keep a few of the gremlins away, which is what I have also heard/seen a number of times. Believe me, I'd have no intention of letting it sit still for very long!
>> Edited by MarkoTVR on Friday 25th November 16:46
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