New owner with lots of questions...

[j buck]

As a new Cerb owner I hope you brainy lot can help me with a few of the following questions / points:

1/ Where can I get / access detailed maintenance features for a 1997 4.2 Cerbera (such as a Haynes manual)? Personally I am reluctant to give such a car to a spotty youngster in a main dealership on the other side of the country charging me £70/hr for something I can do equally as well myself. I live in Luton / Beds and cannot find anyone local that can help me. Perhaps one of you guys in email land can suggest someone?

2/ How do I remove the hot/cold fan control switches, without digging a chunk out of the wood effect panel? The cold switch is no longer ‘clicking’ when I press it therefore not working the fan, which means no cold air / air con! Not great over the last weekend.

3/ What rear pads would you suggest. The ones I have squeal so much its ridiculous and they rattle on the spilt pins as there is nothing else holding them in. Also the handbrake is useless, I have been told it cab be adjusted on the outside of the disc/drum, is this correct?

4/ The seats and steering wheel are very well worn, who would you suggest to re-trim and roughly what should I expect to pay.

5/ I have very good 17” wheels and tyres. I would like to buy 18” Spyders and sell the others. Where should I buy from?

6/ Has anyone replaced the Cats with small exhaust sections, rather than just straight through pipes? As much as loud is great, too loud is causing some problems with my neighbours!

8/ The fuel gauge has sheared the lens, meaning no plastic holding it together. Where to get another?

9/ Where can I get a detailed analysis of the engines performance. Mainly to find any possible problems before they may occur. Such as a compression / engine management / dyno test?

10/ What should the oil pressure gauge read?

11/ Still thinking…


Thanks for any help.

James.

[FourWheelDrift]

Had a little too much wine to early this evening so I'll answer the ones I can simply without talking rubbish or going on for ever...I'll stop now read below in bold.

j buck said:

5/ I have very good 17” wheels and tyres. I would like to buy 18” Spyders and sell the others. Where should I buy from? Have a look at the classifieds on here first, then try dealers who may get some in, in exchanges. 6/ Has anyone replaced the Cats with small exhaust sections, rather than just straight through pipes? As much as loud is great, too loud is causing some problems with my neighbours! Stuff the neighbours , Sports exhaust and CATS replacement is probably better than no CATs, still lovely noise (IMHO in my case better sound) only fewer decibels. If you still want to keep on speaking terms with your neighbours. 8/ The fuel gauge has sheared the lens, meaning no plastic holding it together. Where to get another? Call dealers from prices, or top service people like Joospeed or TVR Power, they may know where to source one. 10/ What should the oil pressure gauge read? Mine was always happy at 60 (12 o'clock high ) flucuating up when under hard acceleration, but I've heard different 'normal' readings for different cars. Although my 4.2 never had oil problems 11/ Still thinking… I can hear the cogs from here

I'm sure the rest can be filled in by someone sober.

[gazzab]

SEE MY COMMENTS IN CAPS BELOW:

j buck said:

As a new Cerb owner I hope you brainy lot can help me with a few of the following questions / points: 1/ Where can I get / access detailed maintenance features for a 1997 4.2 Cerbera (such as a Haynes manual)? Personally I am reluctant to give such a car to a spotty youngster in a main dealership on the other side of the country charging me £70/hr for something I can do equally as well myself. I live in Luton / Beds and cannot find anyone local that can help me. Perhaps one of you guys in email land can suggest someone? YOU CAN GET HOLD OF THE TVR WORKSHOP MANUAL BUT IT IS APPARENTLY NOT THAT USEFUL. WHY PAY £70PH - FIND AN INDIE EG JOOLZ OR APM AND YOU WILL PAY NEARER £30 PER HOUR. 2/ How do I remove the hot/cold fan control switches, without digging a chunk out of the wood effect panel? The cold switch is no longer ‘clicking’ when I press it therefore not working the fan, which means no cold air / air con! Not great over the last weekend. YOU CAN GET TO IT FROM BEHIND I THINK IE REMOVE THE PANEL WITH ALL THE ELECTRONICS ON - BUT DONT QUOTE ME ! 3/ What rear pads would you suggest. The ones I have squeal so much its ridiculous and they rattle on the spilt pins as there is nothing else holding them in. Also the handbrake is useless, I have been told it cab be adjusted on the outside of the disc/drum, is this correct? DEPENDS ON THE DISCS THAT YOU HAVE FITTED AND IF YOU WANT ROAD OR TRACK USE. LOOK AT TVRGEAR OR TMS WEBSITE ? HANDBRAKES ARE USELESS / DIFFERENT ON CERBS. WHEN IT IS SERVICED GET EM TO CHECK IT OUT. 4/ The seats and steering wheel are very well worn, who would you suggest to re-trim and roughly what should I expect to pay. DEPENDS HOW FAR GONE THE SEATS ARE - YOU CAN STILL CONNOLISATION DONE FOR A FEW QUID THAT WILL MAKE SEATS LOOK LIKE NEW (APM AND ALL DEALERS HAVE CONTACTS). NOT SURE RE STEERING WHEEL - GUESS THIS WOULD NEED RETRIMMING. 5/ I have very good 17” wheels and tyres. I would like to buy 18” Spyders and sell the others. Where should I buy from? FROM THIS WEB SITE OR NEW FROM A DEALER.SHOP AROUND FOR PRICE OF WHEELS AND TRYES THOUGH. YOUR 17s WONT BE WORTH A LOT THOUGH. 6/ Has anyone replaced the Cats with small exhaust sections, rather than just straight through pipes? As much as loud is great, too loud is causing some problems with my neighbours! NO IS THE ANSWER. HAVE YOU ALSO GOT A SPORTS EXHAUST? PUT THE CATS BACK ON IF YOU DONT LIKE THE NOISE!? 8/ The fuel gauge has sheared the lens, meaning no plastic holding it together. Where to get another? I AM SURE YOU CAN FIND OUT WHO MAKES TVRs DIALS AND CONTACT THEM DIRECT. POST TO GENERAL TVR CHAT. THEY ARE PROB A STANDARD SIZE? 9/ Where can I get a detailed analysis of the engines performance. Mainly to find any possible problems before they may occur. Such as a compression / engine management / dyno test? THINK YOU WILL STRUGGLE TO GET ANYTHING BEYOND A DYNO TST FOR BHP AND TORQUE. 10/ What should the oil pressure gauge read? UP TO 80 ON START UP. THEN WHEN FULLY HOT IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 40 AT IDLE AND 60 - 70 ON FOOT DOWN. 11/ Still thinking… TRY SEARCHING.:-) Thanks for any help. James.