Opening day of ownership, very worried.
Discussion
Hi all, first day of ownership and I have a major panic on!
Got the Cerbera home this afternoon. She sat fine on the driveway for four or five hours, no trace of any leaks. When she was turned round and reversed up the driveway a touch, a few little spots started developing. I checked the oil level, which was right up to the top marker. No problem. Took her out for her first run tonight and the engine was great; oil pressure at 60psi while driving, water temperature at a steady 90 degrees, all was well.
Anyway, I brought her home and placed some cardboard underneath for the drips, and noticed that the underside of the car is absolutely soaked in oil. I've got a couple of photos to post up. Its giving me major worries as it seems to be caked in the stuff. On a more minor note, the alarm was going off while driving and I was completely unable to switch it off. At the same time the hazard lights and indicators keep flashing on their own accord... constantly. Any ideas?
Oh, and last but not least. The driver's window doesn't drop when the door is opened. Oh, one more thing! When you shut the door and start the engine, the car refuses to let the windows drop. Open the driver's door again and close it straight away, and all of a sudden the windows work.
Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.
Got the Cerbera home this afternoon. She sat fine on the driveway for four or five hours, no trace of any leaks. When she was turned round and reversed up the driveway a touch, a few little spots started developing. I checked the oil level, which was right up to the top marker. No problem. Took her out for her first run tonight and the engine was great; oil pressure at 60psi while driving, water temperature at a steady 90 degrees, all was well.
Anyway, I brought her home and placed some cardboard underneath for the drips, and noticed that the underside of the car is absolutely soaked in oil. I've got a couple of photos to post up. Its giving me major worries as it seems to be caked in the stuff. On a more minor note, the alarm was going off while driving and I was completely unable to switch it off. At the same time the hazard lights and indicators keep flashing on their own accord... constantly. Any ideas?
Oh, and last but not least. The driver's window doesn't drop when the door is opened. Oh, one more thing! When you shut the door and start the engine, the car refuses to let the windows drop. Open the driver's door again and close it straight away, and all of a sudden the windows work.
Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.
Edited by robsco on Saturday 25th June 23:01
Hi - is the oil underneath new or old? It looks old. If the car hasn't done much for a couple of years then it's bound to need to work out some issues and to need some cash spending on it. Suggest it goes to a local specialist to check out the oil leak, am sure there will be other things to attend to. As for the electrical issues, do a search on here as there are lots of things that can cause... Wouldn't worry too much.
Be careful making posts like this after such a small period of ownership.
There'll be someone along soon to treat you with disdain and make unsympathetic comments.
Some of them have already done that to me about my minor problems.
So far my minor problems have cost £3000 and counting but such is life.
There'll be someone along soon to treat you with disdain and make unsympathetic comments.
Some of them have already done that to me about my minor problems.
So far my minor problems have cost £3000 and counting but such is life.
Are you sure it was the alarm going off and not the MIL warning buzzer? Even if the MIL light wasn't lit it would be worth connecting a laptop and checking the fault logs in case the MIL led is dead or disconnected.
Usually if the alarm was going off, it would have triggered the immobiliser so the engine wouldn't be running.
Usually if the alarm was going off, it would have triggered the immobiliser so the engine wouldn't be running.
Thanks guys. Gazza, my initial feeling was that its old oil, as its reached that gloopy sort of stage. The only two things that make me think otherwise is the drips of oil from earlier on in the day, and the fact that Selby TVR inspected the car on behalf of the garage selling before I bought it and didn't mention anything of an oil leak. They've waxoyled the chassis too so wouldn't the underside have been cleaned thoroughly beforehand?
The electrical stuff I'm not worried about, I was thinking maybe the alarm fob battery is on its way out or maybe even that I'm not starting the car properly? I've been pressing the fob to unlock the doors, getting in, shutting the door, pressing the fob again until the car beeps and then holding down the starter button. Perhaps I should be using the black immobiliser key?
Will she be safe doing an 80 miles run tomorrow I'm thinking...?
The electrical stuff I'm not worried about, I was thinking maybe the alarm fob battery is on its way out or maybe even that I'm not starting the car properly? I've been pressing the fob to unlock the doors, getting in, shutting the door, pressing the fob again until the car beeps and then holding down the starter button. Perhaps I should be using the black immobiliser key?
Will she be safe doing an 80 miles run tomorrow I'm thinking...?
Edited by robsco on Saturday 25th June 23:49
Tanguero said:
Are you sure it was the alarm going off and not the MIL warning buzzer? Even if the MIL light wasn't lit it would be worth connecting a laptop and checking the fault logs in case the MIL led is dead or disconnected.
Usually if the alarm was going off, it would have triggered the immobiliser so the engine wouldn't be running.
Not sure, I just presumed it would be the alarm siren. It was doing it intermittently, the hazards were flashing almost constantly but with no real pattern to them, just going haywire really. Using the indicators would halt the hazards for a couple of seconds before they'd start off again.Usually if the alarm was going off, it would have triggered the immobiliser so the engine wouldn't be running.
Hi Michael.
I'm based near Goole but I'll be at work until 4.30pm tomorrow in Knaresborough. I'm unsure on whether to take the Cerbera in that far (40 miles each way, ish). I'm not sure whether its the main alarm or not, there's a difference I take it? I kept a very close eye on the dash instruments throughout the journey and nothing looked amiss, but I suppose as previously mentioned, the MIL LED might be faulty or disconnected.
I'm based near Goole but I'll be at work until 4.30pm tomorrow in Knaresborough. I'm unsure on whether to take the Cerbera in that far (40 miles each way, ish). I'm not sure whether its the main alarm or not, there's a difference I take it? I kept a very close eye on the dash instruments throughout the journey and nothing looked amiss, but I suppose as previously mentioned, the MIL LED might be faulty or disconnected.
Skeksisss said:
Be careful making posts like this after such a small period of ownership.
There'll be someone along soon to treat you with disdain and make unsympathetic comments.
Some of them have already done that to me about my minor problems.
So far my minor problems have cost £3000 and counting but such is life.
You did phrase your post in such a way to invite abuse. The Cerb forum is a very friendly and helpful place 99.9% of the time. There'll be someone along soon to treat you with disdain and make unsympathetic comments.
Some of them have already done that to me about my minor problems.
So far my minor problems have cost £3000 and counting but such is life.
£3k to get an unserviced Cerb back to health sounds a bargain to me
I'm popping over otley way early in the morning for a drive into hawes etc. I'm based around skipton so goole just a bit to far. The mil alarm is a not over loud pain in the arse sound from inside the cabin. The main alarm is the usual car alarm. To test the mil light...open the bonnet and take the connector off the black box that sits at the front of the car and joins the air boxes. The connector is on the passenger side. You will hear the mil alarm and see the red light when you start the car.
Thanks Gaz. Battery is new so I would expect to rule that out. Looks like booking her into Selby this week is a good idea and sending the garage the bill. I'll check what the cardboard looks like in the morning; if there's nothing too untoward I'll run her for work. Fingers crossed, what an adrenalin rush these cars are! 
Don't be worried about asking questions as Gazzab says. There are some very smart clever mechanics / racers / owners / and people like me who know only a little but are always willing to help if we can. You wait until some of the lads start talking about oxygen levels and power curves & cylinder pressures at that point I call my indie :-)
C3BER said:
I'm popping over otley way early in the morning for a drive into hawes etc. I'm based around skipton so goole just a bit to far. The mil alarm is a not over loud pain in the arse sound from inside the cabin. The main alarm is the usual car alarm. To test the mil light...open the bonnet and take the connector off the black box that sits at the front of the car and joins the air boxes. The connector is on the passenger side. You will hear the mil alarm and see the red light when you start the car.
Thanks for that. It was a very loud siren that can be heard rather embarrassingly outside the car. Not good when you're driving through a town centre, and the hazards are going at the same time! 
Starting procedure:- If you unlock the car with the fob and get in before the immobilised arms again, all you have to do is push the start button twice ie push once and wait for the fuel pump to pressurise the system then push again to start.
If you are in the car and the immobiliser is armed, push the start button, the ignition lights will come on, then push the key fob button (to disarm the immob) and you will hear the fuel pump & finally press the start button again.
As for the alarm & hazards on the move.....this happened to me last year & I traced the problem to the boot light switch.
Hope this helps you mate & you enjoy your Cerbera as much as I enjoy mine.
Mike
If you are in the car and the immobiliser is armed, push the start button, the ignition lights will come on, then push the key fob button (to disarm the immob) and you will hear the fuel pump & finally press the start button again.
As for the alarm & hazards on the move.....this happened to me last year & I traced the problem to the boot light switch.
Hope this helps you mate & you enjoy your Cerbera as much as I enjoy mine.
Mike
mikethebike1127 said:
Starting procedure:- If you unlock the car with the fob and get in before the immobilised arms again, all you have to do is push the start button twice ie push once and wait for the fuel pump to pressurise the system then push again to start.
If you are in the car and the immobiliser is armed, push the start button, the ignition lights will come on, then push the key fob button (to disarm the immob) and you will hear the fuel pump & finally press the start button again.
As for the alarm & hazards on the move.....this happened to me last year & I traced the problem to the boot light switch.
Hope this helps you mate & you enjoy your Cerbera as much as I enjoy mine.
Mike
yep, that must be it.If you are in the car and the immobiliser is armed, push the start button, the ignition lights will come on, then push the key fob button (to disarm the immob) and you will hear the fuel pump & finally press the start button again.
As for the alarm & hazards on the move.....this happened to me last year & I traced the problem to the boot light switch.
Hope this helps you mate & you enjoy your Cerbera as much as I enjoy mine.
Mike
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