Running in & Stuttering
Discussion
After months of bad weather finally got chance to get the new Tuscan out of the garage.
The car has only done 100 miles so I am early days in the running in process. I am keeping the car below the 3000 limit as advised by the dealer, but on the way home tonight the car started to struggle to hold an idle, and seemed to hit a flat spot around the 2k rpm mark.
Is this just as a result of the running in process, as I can't allow the car to clear it's throat, or is there something else going on.
Don't want to trouble the dealer if this is normal.
The car has only done 100 miles so I am early days in the running in process. I am keeping the car below the 3000 limit as advised by the dealer, but on the way home tonight the car started to struggle to hold an idle, and seemed to hit a flat spot around the 2k rpm mark.
Is this just as a result of the running in process, as I can't allow the car to clear it's throat, or is there something else going on.
Don't want to trouble the dealer if this is normal.
I would say most def. not normal - that car was built over 2 years ago - and has been sitting around ever since.
Bound to be a bit of grunge or corrosion on a connection somewhere.
Whether or not it's a serious problem I certainly don't have the knowledge to say, but I would say get it checked!
Bound to be a bit of grunge or corrosion on a connection somewhere.
Whether or not it's a serious problem I certainly don't have the knowledge to say, but I would say get it checked!
It should be idling about 900-950 rpm, often dealers set the idle too low. Idling is also affected by switching on Aircon since the engine doesn't compensate for the additional load (but I doubt your using air con in the current lousy weather!!!). It shouldn't be stuttering at 2000 rpm though...get it back to the dealer ASAP in any case.
Thanks for your replies.
I have driven car into work again today (habit starting to form)
No issues this morning.
Last nigt was like a fuel starvation = loss of power sensation
The idle seemed to be around 500-600 when in traffic, and still relatively cold, but when I got home it struggled to hold the idle when I was putting car in garage.
I'll keep my eye on things, like Mrs C says, it's not been doing much for last two years so bound to run a bit funny at the moment.
I would just like to get to the 1000 mile service before going back to the dealers.
Question for you: How do you look after your roof. Do you clean with soapy water or try to keep detergents away from it. I was just looking down on the car out of my office window, and thought if a Bird was to do what they generally do to clean cars, and hit the roof, it's going to make one hell of a mess!!
I have driven car into work again today (habit starting to form)
No issues this morning.
Last nigt was like a fuel starvation = loss of power sensation
The idle seemed to be around 500-600 when in traffic, and still relatively cold, but when I got home it struggled to hold the idle when I was putting car in garage.
I'll keep my eye on things, like Mrs C says, it's not been doing much for last two years so bound to run a bit funny at the moment.
I would just like to get to the 1000 mile service before going back to the dealers.
Question for you: How do you look after your roof. Do you clean with soapy water or try to keep detergents away from it. I was just looking down on the car out of my office window, and thought if a Bird was to do what they generally do to clean cars, and hit the roof, it's going to make one hell of a mess!!
Normally I just use Car Shampoo, with Bird Poo anywhere on the car , just get it off quickly before the alkali messes up paint or fabric. I used to use AutoGlym Hood stuff on my Chimmy (Shampoo plus waterproofer) Only trouble with the AutoGlym stuff, is , if you don't wash it off throughly, and it rains , you get soap suds blowing off the roof as your driving along. Much to everyone elses amusement 
PS If your idling at 600 rpm, try turning Aircon on, if it keeps going CLICK CLICK CLICK then its idling much too slow. If you go into LOGGING screen and re-set Max Speed (which will say 247 I think)/Max RPM you will get a digital RPM from the ECU whilst idling.
PS If your idling at 600 rpm, try turning Aircon on, if it keeps going CLICK CLICK CLICK then its idling much too slow. If you go into LOGGING screen and re-set Max Speed (which will say 247 I think)/Max RPM you will get a digital RPM from the ECU whilst idling.
Edited by glow worm on Wednesday 26th March 13:10
BISHY said:
Hi Keith,
That's another question I have. What's all the different screens all about. I have found them by accident but have no idea what they all mean.
Explanation would be much appreciated.
Bishy
I'll try, the absence of a Handbook just adds to the joy of ownership... That's another question I have. What's all the different screens all about. I have found them by accident but have no idea what they all mean.
Explanation would be much appreciated.
Bishy
Usually use RIGHT button to move to NEXT and LEFT button to alter
Screens are:-
NORMAL... Graphical / Digital Speed,Oil Temp,Water temp,Fuel,Oil Pressure etc I tend to have as digital (Watch Temps and Oil Pressure)
SETUP... Screen Brightness/Contrast with lights on/off etc (TAKE CARE YOU CAN ALTER TO ZERO BRIGHTNESS SO CAN HARDLY SEE THE SCREEN HENCE YOU CAN'T SEE THE SETUP SCREENS...GO IN DARK GARAGE IF YOU DO MESS UP), Volume of Alarm (I set 100% on both),Green/Amber/Red Gear Shift warning lights, Time
LOGGED... (Typical TVR calls it RECALL when you come out)..Max Min Temps etc., 2nd page has max speed (ignore it) and max RPM.. Can reset to zero with Right button
SERVICE... Gives Faults codes and allows you to clear a fault, subsequent pages of loads of parameter values which mean nothing to me
FACTORY... Factory settings...leave most alone but FLAP ZERO mines 16...refers to the heater flap in passenger footwell,its to motor setting for the closed position, if the cockpit feels heat coming through when heater off, might be worthwhile trying at 20 or 22, to shut the flap tighter. Also UNITS allow you to change to KPH instead on MPH, so if abroad could be handy...obviously does not apply to you dials only the digital speedo.
No doubt someone more knowledgeable than me can add to this, but this is my understanding of the Mk2 Convertible
Edited by glow worm on Wednesday 26th March 16:08
Thanks Keith, you should start our own version of "The Bible"
As for my other gremlin, it re occured again tonight.
I had to stop the car after I had been driving for 5 mins approx to goto the ATM.
Two minutes later car restarted no problem, but by the time I had remembered where the seat belt was, and tried to pull away it wasn't running very well at all.
At the next junction the engine died and I was nearly out and pushing!! It strikes me it must be an engine management sensor, affecting the cold/warm running settings.
Anyway, managed to get going and the next fifteen miles home were fine.
I did try the A/C once the car was running Ok and it did cause the engine to draw breath quite heavily through the Plenum, as though it was labouring under the increased load.
Looks like I will be visiting DG sooner than I had hoped.
As for my other gremlin, it re occured again tonight.
I had to stop the car after I had been driving for 5 mins approx to goto the ATM.
Two minutes later car restarted no problem, but by the time I had remembered where the seat belt was, and tried to pull away it wasn't running very well at all.
At the next junction the engine died and I was nearly out and pushing!! It strikes me it must be an engine management sensor, affecting the cold/warm running settings.
Anyway, managed to get going and the next fifteen miles home were fine.
I did try the A/C once the car was running Ok and it did cause the engine to draw breath quite heavily through the Plenum, as though it was labouring under the increased load.
Looks like I will be visiting DG sooner than I had hoped.
Hi Bishy
I'm in a similar situation to you I am also running in a Tuscan which I bought about three weeks ago from a well known TVR dealer with only 29 miles on the clock. It is a 'standard' 2 with some very nice optional extras like a convertible dash, air con, great colour etc. and really pleased to own the car after promising myself that I would for years. Due to the poor weather I have only managed to add another 180 miles, however the bad news is that the Tuscan is back with the dealer having twice failed to get me home on short journeys. The problem has been that on after stopping the car (once stalled-oops!)it has sometimes struggled to re-start and twice now it has not re-started, on the first occasion I was also locked out of the car. Although for some reason it has always started first time when cold, the problem appears to lie with the battery/electrics, and once the RAC have put the jump leads on and charged it up for 20 minutes it has started again and sounds really good. Obviously driving is not particularly enjoyable if you are not confident of getting home without the aid of the breakdown service. There have also been a couple of minor 'issues' which I won't go into now.
It's disappointing but I'm rather optimistically putting these troubles down to teething problems associated with TVR and the fact that the car has been hanging around somewhere for two years. In some ways it is reassuring to know that you/I are not alone on this. Anyway, hopefully the problem will soon be sorted out, the weather will change, the sun will shine and I'll get to enjoy what I have waited for.
I'm in a similar situation to you I am also running in a Tuscan which I bought about three weeks ago from a well known TVR dealer with only 29 miles on the clock. It is a 'standard' 2 with some very nice optional extras like a convertible dash, air con, great colour etc. and really pleased to own the car after promising myself that I would for years. Due to the poor weather I have only managed to add another 180 miles, however the bad news is that the Tuscan is back with the dealer having twice failed to get me home on short journeys. The problem has been that on after stopping the car (once stalled-oops!)it has sometimes struggled to re-start and twice now it has not re-started, on the first occasion I was also locked out of the car. Although for some reason it has always started first time when cold, the problem appears to lie with the battery/electrics, and once the RAC have put the jump leads on and charged it up for 20 minutes it has started again and sounds really good. Obviously driving is not particularly enjoyable if you are not confident of getting home without the aid of the breakdown service. There have also been a couple of minor 'issues' which I won't go into now.
It's disappointing but I'm rather optimistically putting these troubles down to teething problems associated with TVR and the fact that the car has been hanging around somewhere for two years. In some ways it is reassuring to know that you/I are not alone on this. Anyway, hopefully the problem will soon be sorted out, the weather will change, the sun will shine and I'll get to enjoy what I have waited for.
I don't know how long you have had it or how many miles you have done now but I suspect you have a petrol problem. If you leave fuel sitting around in it to long the petrol will "go off". It's like when your lawn mower won't start after it as been sitting in the shed for 3-4 months over the winter. The fuel degrades. Try topping it up with an optimax or an ultima and taking it on a long run to use up as much of what is left whilst mixing it with the new stuff.
My idle is set at about 700 and apart from the first 30 seconds when it is cold it holds that perfectly.
My idle is set at about 700 and apart from the first 30 seconds when it is cold it holds that perfectly.
my lawn mower petrol is well over a year, maybe even two years old and my lawn mower starts just fine. (I do mean my actual lawn mower not my Tuscan 
) Maybe you mower does not have as much grunt as my Briggs and Straton 3.75bhp
These starting problems are a combination of tuning and electrics. Once sorted they should be fine.
People should be aware these engines go out of tune every 2-3000 miles, and if not re-tuned soon after, problems like bad starting occur.
More s
t weather this weekend, I wonder when I am going to be able to find a dry road and dump the clutch....I'm missing the smell of burning rubber!
) Maybe you mower does not have as much grunt as my Briggs and Straton 3.75bhp These starting problems are a combination of tuning and electrics. Once sorted they should be fine.
People should be aware these engines go out of tune every 2-3000 miles, and if not re-tuned soon after, problems like bad starting occur.
More s
t weather this weekend, I wonder when I am going to be able to find a dry road and dump the clutch....I'm missing the smell of burning rubber!I had thought the same about the fuel. I have put in some frsh fuel, see if it makes any difference.
I've also decided to adapt my driving style to suit the problem.
i.e. wait for the sun to come out, take the roof off, fire up the engine and don't stop driving until the next fuel stop.
(Only problem with this new theory, is I'm stuck at work waiting for the rain to stop, and I've been here for two days, and it's still raining!!)
I've also decided to adapt my driving style to suit the problem.
i.e. wait for the sun to come out, take the roof off, fire up the engine and don't stop driving until the next fuel stop.
(Only problem with this new theory, is I'm stuck at work waiting for the rain to stop, and I've been here for two days, and it's still raining!!)
Much like you when I collected my Tamora it had a misfire which I filed under "pain in the arse" and drove around it as the next service wasn't far off.
One piece of advice you rarely see on here is do not drive the car with a misfire as it can cause the exhaust to soot up get incredibly hot.
On Paul V's car this melted the cats, on mine it set fire to the rubber exhaust "silencer" hangers. You will also be entering the parking on grass issues normally the domain of the Cerbera guys. I personally would get this sorted ASAP and not drive the car in the meantime.
One piece of advice you rarely see on here is do not drive the car with a misfire as it can cause the exhaust to soot up get incredibly hot.
On Paul V's car this melted the cats, on mine it set fire to the rubber exhaust "silencer" hangers. You will also be entering the parking on grass issues normally the domain of the Cerbera guys. I personally would get this sorted ASAP and not drive the car in the meantime.
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