Broken down, need advise please

[sjc1969]

When I try to start the car I get a constant beep noise from the alarm system, and all I get is a click from the solenoid of the starter. I don't hear the fuel pump either.

Here's in sequence:
Press start button
Then press fob, then when I press the start button again I just get this constant beep noise.

Was on the south coast meet, but now stuck in car park

Any suggestions welcome

Steve

[sjc1969]

Also continuos beep after I press the fob key after turning on ignition

[Boatbuoy]

Silver key?

[sjc1969]

Boatbuoy said:

Silver key?

Should I be touching it?

[gruffalo]

Not if you can help it but worth making sure it is actually turned on.

[sjc1969]

I can hear the fuel pump, so maybe battery?

[gruffalo]

Is the immobiliser light on or off when you try and start the car?

[sjc1969]

She's started! Off to catch up the others! Cheers for input, nice to know there is support here
Steve

[scotty_d]

Mine did this on and off for my first year with it turned out to be a dirty wire on the solenoid itself.

[Tanguero]

sjc1969 said:

Also continuos beep after I press the fob key after turning on ignition

You are meant to get a continuous beep when the ignition is on and the immobiliser is off.

[Byker28i]

Dont forget in future the little square key and hole for the immobiliser. I always need to use mine if I park at Quarry at Castle Coombe as the fob doesn't work there. Powerlines?

[Gazzab]

Sounds like hot start issues with starter?

[sjc1969]

Tanguero said:

You are meant to get a continuous beep when the ignition is on and the immobiliser is off.

Yeh muppet here got it wrong.

[sjc1969]

Gazzab said:

Sounds like hot start issues with starter?

This makes sense. After 20 min the car started fine. We then went ont to catch up with the rest at the pub. Stayed there for about 45 min and she started fine then. Stopped at b&q to buy a plug (< 5min) and it did it again only briefly. Looks like I need to stop for 15-20 min at each stopping point lol

[QBee]

On the Chimeara (which is only a Cerbera that hasn't been stretched), the immobiliser is wrongly wired by TVR, so the relay needed for proper starting doesn't work. There is sufficient juice to start when cold, but heat creates electrical resistance. Add to that a poor quality starter cable (remember, best quality jump start cables are really thick, rubbish cheap ones are thin) and you get hot non starting. After 20 mins things have cooled down enough for te car to start.

In a Chim with a failing immobiliser, you get hot non-starting issues. Worth getting your immobiliser checked, and possibly the starter live cable replaced with a better one. My engine is out at the mo, so i am having the starter cables replaced. I already had the immobiliser replaced after I had hot start problems last summer, and immobiliser problems this winter.

Somebody please shout if the same does not apply to the Cerbera

[C3BER]

QBee said:

On the Chimeara (which is only a Cerbera that hasn't been stretched)

Balls!

But the rest is sound

[dean_ratpac]

To be honest this will start happening more and more. The amount of small fixes I did leaving me stranded time after time. It's basically the alarm - get it all changed for a new meta. Best thing I've done in years.

[sjc1969]

Cheers for advice, will be getting this sorted asap. I think it had a new alarm system from TVR Power 3 years back, will have to check.

One thing i did learn, it wasn't much fun in the pouring rain. That was my first and last drive in the wet, from now on she only goes out in the dry. I just felt like i couldn't open her up at all, which defeated taking her out lol.
Steve

[QBee]

Ten of us did a track day in the rain on Saturday. A lot of fun, but an average of three spins per driver. Nice open airfield track, so no damage. But you woudn't risk it on the road.

You read tales on here of guys hitting standing water on a dual carriageway and crashing their TVRs. They do tend to aquaplane rather easily, even without excessive right foot.

[dean_ratpac]

sjc1969 said:

... from now on she only goes out in the dry. I just felt like i couldn't open her up at all, which defeated taking her out...

Oh don't become one of those Cerbera drivers "only in the dry", they're too much fun in the wet...

QBee said:

...You read tales on here of guys hitting standing water on a dual carriageway and crashing their TVRs. They do tend to aquaplane rather easily, even without excessive right foot.

I put a lot of this down to tires and driving... I've had some nightmares on certain makes of rubber, the Goodyears i've got on now seem to be pretty good on standing water even at speed. Keeping steady power on works - its the "lift off and st yourself" that ends up with the back coming round.

Edited by dean_ratpac on Monday 18th March 13:02