nightmare first tvr experience

[nogster]

Hi all,am very new 2 TVR ownership....i.e.picked the car up yesterday in manchester,
have been considering buying a tuscan for a long time now,and read lots and lots of info on this site,mostly very informative...to cut a very long story short i bought a mk1 2000 tuscan,34k miles,very comprehensive service history,engine re-build at 18k,and £2000 service october 05...approx 900mls ago,the car seemed to good to be true,it really is mint 4 the age,so i set off back home,a journey of about 65/70 miles,the car had been warmed up 4 bout 10 mins and oil level checked etc,spot on...now after about 50 miles of not hard driving ( getting used to the car ) black smoke starts to pour out of the sides,back,front and even inside the car so i obviously pull in to the side of the road
stop the car and investigate,after a min or two i dip the oil again and nothing,not showing a drop on the dipstick,but the full length of the drivers side under the car is covered in oil,even the alloy,under the wheel arch and full length of the exhaust is covered in oil,ended up dare not try and restart the car had to join the AA at a cost of £163 just to get me home,so if anyone out there can give me any kind of idea as to what may have happened i would be extremly grateful,and if anyone knows of any specialist TVR garages in my area that would be great,i live near skipton,north yorks and know of only harrogate horseless carriages,am thinking of expense after breaking the bank buying this car....dont get me wrong i knew running a tuscan would not be cheap but just expected to get a few more miles out of the car before this happend...!!!
any advice gratefully recieved...






9

[Fish]

Sounds like an oil pipe has let go. First try and see if there is any splits or obvious leaks under the bonnet. To leak that much that quick it is likely a pipe failed.

Remove the bonnet, this can be done on your own but I would suggest two of you and have a good poke around.

The car is dry sumped so the oil is stored in a vertical tank at the front of the engine with an alloy cap on. the pipes to and from this could easily be your problem.

[nogster]

just read your replie fish,yeh cheers 4 that,and i know what u mean about the bonnet,its seems to be a bit of a arse to get off,will check the pipes and see if there are any splits or anything come off....cheers..!!

[R TOY]

50miles eh. not to bad. Fingers crossed that it is a pipe. I assume that no sign of oil pr warning, did you notice oil pr before you stopped? I noticed on mine that a pipe was chafing on the oil tank and had made a fair groove, I put some rubber between to prevent further damage but maybe this is your problem? I use HHC for my servicing etc and they seem a good lot, and reasonable pricing. (for a main dealer). Good luck and welcome to TVR land Dave

[VYL8]

That is so dissapointing - I was in the same boat, picked up my Tuscan from the dealer, first weekend took a chick out to impress and the clutch went even before I could even get her drunk - gutted, and she didnt even believe "I think we have broken down love and the heater isnt working, we may need body warmth to keep us alive tonight" - I also got towed home.

>> Edited by VYL8 on Monday 13th March 20:16

[GV]

Dealers......the ruin of TVR ownership

[JimT]

Unlucky mate - you will get used to this...

Try John Waggitt at Sports and Specialist Cars in Boroughbridge on 07710 022112. Much cheaper than HHC and a nice bloke too.

[petros]

If you're close to Manchester ring Ian at Middlewich,01606831244, top bloke and very reasonable rates. Works till after midnight most nights as well.

[the-gofer]

GV said:

Dealers......the ruin of TVR ownership

eh? In my experience of the two tivs I have had, the dealers (HHC as my home dealer, and Gorner's once when visiting friends over that way) have been part of the joy of TVR ownership. Nothing but very professional, excellent service from both of them.

I haven't tried Sports & Specialist for service. I am probably jaded since he didn't seem interested when I went looking for my first car - he just kind of wrote me off as a dreamer.

[nogster]

Cheers for all replies,please dont think am ignorant 4 not getting back 2 anybody sooner,its just that i work away all week and dont often get the opportunity 2 get
on-line,but thx very much 2 all u guys that posted back,will be the first chance a get 2 moz 2 take a look at the car,as need 2 steam clean the engine cos there is so much oil in the engine bay i cant really c if it is a pipe that as split,but thx again 4 all the contacts and info.....cheers..!!..

[ncs]

So sorry to hear of your plight - but I dont know if steam cleaning the engine is such a good idea - I certainly wouldnt do mine.

Nick

[nogster]

well as taken a few weeks,but am getting to the bottom of this horrendous experience,
after less than the hundred miles i did in the car,i have discovered its the timing chain snapped and punched an hole in the block,car is know loking very sad 4 its self...
engine on a pallet ready 2 go 2 tvr power for full rebuild...am also told that the 2 cats have collapsed and need replacing,just wondered if anybody else had a timing chain go....??? and what is the cost gunna be 4 a couple of cats...??
any info gratefully recieved....cheers :wavey

[ntel]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Your engine will be in good hands at Power. I've never known of a timing chain break. As for the cats, don't bother replacing them and get Dom to put in a de-cat chip. There are plenty of da-catted speed sixes out there which still get through the MOT.

[nogster]

Cheers ntel,just been reading about them getting it de-cated...just wasn't sure about the emmisions and that,so presumably gettin this chip done is going to be cheaper than replacing the 2 cats...???

[Wacky Racer]

nogster said:

well as taken a few weeks,but am getting to the bottom of this horrendous experience, after less than the hundred miles i did in the car,i have discovered its the timing chain snapped and punched an hole in the block,car is know looking very sad 4 its self...

Gutted for you, hope your car gets well soon......

The trouble is no matter how well you vet a secondhand car, you can never forsee a timing chain or belt breakage......

[nogster]

Errr yeh know wot u mean,jus dint think would have 2 spend £££'s 70miles after buying it,
knew i should have bought aother 911...!!!

[ntel]

nogster said:

Errr yeh know wot u mean,jus dint think would have 2 spend £££'s 70miles after buying it, knew i should have bought aother 911...!!!

No, no, no, no, no. When that engine is sorted (and believe me, when Dom is finished with it, it will be) the grin will be there everytime you drive it. You will soon forget the bad times.

[gemini]

and then come and play

North Yorks TVR CAR CLUB!!

[s7usk]

hey nogster was this a dealer you got it from , if so kick up a whole heap of s**t with them and pay for nothing.

[nogster]

if only that was the case s7usk...!!! am afraid i bought the car private,
dont get me wrong they r pretty gutted 2 but them feelin gutted aint gunna pay the bills am gunna face soon...:eck:
Also is there anybody out there that knows wot sort of money u talkin bout 4 a de-cat chip...???