Not another starter motor ?
Not another starter motor ?
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Discussion

bob_longman

Original Poster:

15 posts

297 months

Saturday 2nd March 2002
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As my extended warranty is about to expire I am wondering if anyone else has found why some Cerbies eat starter motors. I am on my seventh . I have heard of other Cerberas that have had the same problem but others have none. Surely I can't have had six bad ones in succession.

AndyTather

73 posts

301 months

Monday 4th March 2002
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I'm on my third starter motor in 5 months. I thought it was just me chewing them. First just packed up and the second almost started the car but didn't, but then kept going and going....and... until the battery ran out with smoke everywhere !!! Its difficult to disconnect the battery without your toolkit to hand. Had each replaced under WH warrenty as I think a new one is ~500 quid.

Just wondering whether each of mine has been a new or a reconditioned one.

Is it just the way I fire up ?

dyb

120 posts

312 months

Thursday 7th March 2002
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I had about 3 in the first year, but I've had the same one for the past 3 years, they can't all be bad.

clarky5150

423 posts

297 months

Friday 8th March 2002
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Later ECU chip 20quidish has a starter protect circuit built in. If yours has the older chip this may help

bob_longman

Original Poster:

15 posts

297 months

Monday 11th March 2002
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Thanks for the information so far. Congratulations on finding one that lasts 3 years. I had a "good one" which then tried to go up in smoke but and then died but had no mechanical symptoms, see comment below.

So what does the starter protection do? I can see how it could have protected the one of mine which started going up in smoke. I refrained from further exercising it when I smelled the burning insulation until it was cold and it fully recovered for another couple of months. The others all seem to suffer problems engaging with the flywheel (what flywheel I hear you ask!) Occasional misengagements become more common until eventually they just spin up to speed with a faint grinding noise as though the teeth have stripped.

I am not sure how an ECU can help with this problem but tell me more. I wonder if there is a problem with the alignment of the motor mounting on my engine that stresses the motor unduly ?

dannylt

1,906 posts

313 months

Monday 11th March 2002
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There must be something wrong though... I think the "starter protection circuit" referred to just makes sure the engine is turning over at a decent lick BEFORE starting ignition and fuelling, so that the engine doesn't misfire back into the starter motor, bashing it's teeth off and generally stressing it. I think.

christof

978 posts

313 months

Monday 11th March 2002
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Mine went on Saturday...

First fault on my car after 1 year of pure fun...

Christof

thom

2,745 posts

302 months

Monday 11th March 2002
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quote:

Mine went on Saturday...

First fault on my car after 1 year of pure fun...

Christof



what are you going to do? I wish you you will be able to get it fixed FITN for the 6000 miles service.

>> Edited by thom on Monday 11th March 19:46

christof

978 posts

313 months

Monday 11th March 2002
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Have spoken with Mike from Parts at the factory and he promised to send a new starter , car will be at the german dealership tomorrow and they will try to fix it asap, otherwise a lot of jump starts on my way to the factory...

Christof

thom

2,745 posts

302 months

Monday 11th March 2002
quotequote all
fingers crossed!

PS: alle Entschuldigung, I still haven't taken the time to go a VAG dealer for your business

AndyTather

73 posts

301 months

Monday 11th March 2002
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Does anyone know what version of the ECU chip has this starter protection circuit, so I can check ?

bob_longman

Original Poster:

15 posts

297 months

Tuesday 12th March 2002
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Maybe that explains some of my problems, I certainly have had the occasional early firing when the engine kicks back against the starter. It doesn't seem to have done it in the last year which is maybe why I got 20,000 miles from the last starter. Wow, almost reliable!
Does anyone know how I find out the version of ECU chip or do I just trust the dealer for once ????

clarky5150

423 posts

297 months

Tuesday 12th March 2002
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got one fitted to me car. Car is at HHC for weeks (bugger). Wait will try the reciepts from Joolz after he fitted it.....hang on.....Nope, reciept dont say. I know Joolz got it from TMS so try them or give Joolz a ring. Tell him its the chip as fitted to Shauns car.(It also uses the latest fuel mappings etc so should only make the car run more economically/better.

oliverkelly

116 posts

299 months

Tuesday 12th March 2002
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You can also have starter moters reconditioned. Mine had the 2 out of three times not engaging problem. Cost was £159.

mmertens

397 posts

311 months

Tuesday 12th March 2002
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Oh-oh... Christof's car is a practically new (well 1 year) RR version with <6000 miles, if memory serves me right... So much for "new ECU with starter motor protection". Makes you wonder how many of these well known little niggles actually ARE corrected on newer models by the factory. From feedback from various people on various niggles on various models I get the distinct impression TVR rarely correct minor issues upfront even if they know about them... is it cheaper for them not to fix these things?

Maarten

christof

978 posts

313 months

Tuesday 12th March 2002
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Car is fixed. Thanks a lot to Harald Gehrke's workshop (german dealership).

And to make you guys happy, it was not TVR's fault. Something from the inside of the starter has blocked the starter...

And I'm happy again.

Remember it was the first fault after 1 year and 6000 miles, so I'm veeeery happy with the build quality.

Christof

thom

2,745 posts

302 months

Wednesday 13th March 2002
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Wunderbar Christof!
Ah, that legendary German efficiency...

bob_longman

Original Poster:

15 posts

297 months

Thursday 21st March 2002
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quote:

Makes you wonder how many of these well known little niggles actually ARE corrected on newer models by the factory. From feedback from various people on various niggles on various models I get the distinct impression TVR rarely correct minor issues upfront even if they know about them... is it cheaper for them not to fix these things?

Maarten



I totally agree,, if TVR had one engineer working on fixing these stupid problems they would not be the pain in the a***e that they are. I have fixed the 3 month boot light switch, and the c***p radio aerial myself. It seems that TVR don't want to fix their image. I have driven 200,000 miles in TVR's and the vast majority of my negative feelings have come from simple problems that they never fix. Does anyone from TVR read these messages and try to do anything about the simple annoyances that help to spoil their image? If you are out there, please post a reply

SXS 

2,068 posts

269 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
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Just thought I'd wake this one up....

What happened to all these chaps????

J_S_G

6,177 posts

279 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
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SXS said:
Just thought I'd wake this one up....

What happened to all these chaps????

Ferraris, jap-mobiles, other exotica, etc. by the look of it.

Beginning to think that TVR ownership, and possibly even PH membership itself (based on some conversations I've had with people over the last few months) is a phase of your life that you go through (potentially both hand-in-hand).