Sagaris: ventilation problems

[loulis]

Has anyone else experienced problems with driver over-heating with their Sagaris? I'm finding the "cool" air setting, after 30 mins of driving and especially when sitting in traffic, blows hot air over me. The air-con - at low engine speeds, doesn't bring the air temperature down to outside air temperature, so in traffic i boil and I'm starting to get worried about the summer (if and when it arrives!).

The dealer isn't sure if it's a Sagaris problem or just my problem as they have relatively little Sagaris experience to date so I thought I would ask out there and see what experience other owners have had of my problem. Cheers.

[SpeedYellow]

Will be the same problem you get with a T350, the air intake for the heater pulls in hot air from the exhaust manifold (well in traffic heat is pouring out everywhere around the front end), therefore you get warm air through the vents.... there is no way round it.... sorry....

[loulis]

Ah, shame, no way of by-passing the exhaust manifold with some insulated pipes?

I forgot my other major niggle: fuek gauge. When near empty, one minute I've got 14L of fuel, the next I'm reading 2L and a warning alarm is blaring, next minute I'm on 10L and I'm hunting out a petrol station. Another common problem?

Thanks for the help.

[SpeedYellow]

Assuming it is a tvr.... yeah!!!! lol... very little damping on the measurements so it gets worse as it gets lower and the fuel splashes around.

[chris watton]

I'm not 100% sure if the system is the same in the Tamora (but I would think it is), the cold air, when moving is cold, and stays cold in my car. I know this because when my heater flaps failed, I drove 40 miles to the dealer, and the cold air remained constant! The cabin was bloody freezing, I was hoping the heat of the engine would warm the cabin up enough for it to be comfortable, but no, it was sooooo cold!
If it's very hot weather, however, the cold air does come out quite warm if you're doing anything less than 30!

[sportie]

I have the same issue with the fuel gauge being all over the place.One minute 9ltrs then showing only 3ltrs and the alarm goimg off. Must be a saggy thing......

Mine did get warm inside today and I did have the aircon on. I have seen mentioned a flap adjustment for the heater, but I have been unable to find the settings mentioned in the computer.

I did today remove one of the vents on top of the dash expecting a pipe to be conected to it but found that there wasnt... so it looks as if the top of the dash is used as an air duct which could be adding to the problem.

Have you tried opening the vent under the glove box as we found out today that is connected to the AC, and might help?

[sportie]

LA

There is no need for any wire mesh under the vents at the front as it has an inner wing which will stop most things finding there way out the flaps if they were cut open.

The vents were not cutout due to a cost issue in my mind along with the termally controlled bonnet flaps.
Because if you look under the removeable bonnet the flaps have all the mounting holes for them to be fitted with an opener etc, however they have been fitted with some after thought bolts to keep them in a fixed position.

>> Edited by sportie on Saturday 4th June 22:51

[maddog-uk]

loulis said:

Has anyone else experienced problems with driver over-heating with their Sagaris? I'm finding the "cool" air setting, after 30 mins of driving and especially when sitting in traffic, blows hot air over me. The air-con - at low engine speeds, doesn't bring the air temperature down to outside air temperature, so in traffic i boil and I'm starting to get worried about the summer (if and when it arrives!). The dealer isn't sure if it's a Sagaris problem or just my problem as they have relatively little Sagaris experience to date so I thought I would ask out there and see what experience other owners have had of my problem. Cheers.

Easy to solve. Ditch the Sagaris and buy a red rose Tamora with super sports exhaust. Its as quick, sounds better and you can take the roof off!

In all seriousness, I have found our air conditioning to be first class. We have on occassions had the roof on because we were just too hot and cooked and we found the air con to be positively chiling (35c in france last year!). I really rate the aircon.

[blackmonday]

maddog-uk said:

loulis said: Has anyone else experienced problems with driver over-heating with their Sagaris? I'm finding the "cool" air setting, after 30 mins of driving and especially when sitting in traffic, blows hot air over me. The air-con - at low engine speeds, doesn't bring the air temperature down to outside air temperature, so in traffic i boil and I'm starting to get worried about the summer (if and when it arrives!). The dealer isn't sure if it's a Sagaris problem or just my problem as they have relatively little Sagaris experience to date so I thought I would ask out there and see what experience other owners have had of my problem. Cheers. Easy to solve. Ditch the Sagaris and buy a red rose Tamora with super sports exhaust. Its as quick, sounds better and you can take the roof off! In all seriousness, I have found our air conditioning to be first class. We have on occassions had the roof on because we were just too hot and cooked and we found the air con to be positively chiling (35c in france last year!). I really rate the aircon.

Could be how the vents work? Maybe the Tamora has more vents that pump out the cold air? Or it pulls in the air from a different locations that's not so close to the engine or other hotspots?

[targarama]

Once in a while my aircon seems to ice up after a few hours driving. Usually indicated my a massive pool of water under the car after stopping to refuel/for lunch. This is only after big distances at high velocity (like 250 miles non stop) and usually is fine after 5-10 minutes stopping (engine off). In normal driving, esp. in the UK my aircon works great and never failed to keep me cool.

Maybe the flap settings need changing?

[the pits]

Check the 'hidden' vents down by your knees either side of the central gearbox tunnel thingy. They come closed and can be opened up (just using your finger, it's not a technical thing at all!) to put cold air down around your legs. It does make a difference although I'm one of these people with the 'not so impressive' type of air-conditioning!

[loulis]

The ones by my knees blow the warmest of all the air! I haven't had a poke around behind the dash so may find a solution there.

Dealer says that airbox is all new for the Sagaris. I'm sort of pleased that others have the same issue except for TP, which suggests that the re-routing required for the air-con might somehow be involved. Thanks all for the suggestions, esp. maddog, but think I will stick with the Sagaris for now! Will let you know how I get on.

For those asking about those vents (a different type of ventilation problem...) there is a long thread exploring this subject in detail for you to take a look at: www.petrolheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=179770&f=7&h=0

[yellow peril]

sportie said:

I Have you tried opening the vent under the glove box as we found out today that is connected to the AC, and might help?

Well well......whadya know......

Thanks for that Sportie.....didn't even know there was a vent under the glove dept and just had a check and there it is!!!!

Just come back from Rockingham and after a drive of about 125 miles it was getting a little warm through the vents....but we put the air con on 2 'blips' and it was really cold after a few minutes.....

Not seen any problem with the fuel gauge as yet....but will watch out for that....

Major problem we had over the weekend was grounding out!!!!
We went on a .....'spirited'....run with a group of Tivs on a route that took us down some very bumpy and narrow roads..

Not good news for the track day bullet I'm afraid...well...not at the rate we were going anyway!!!

Found ourselves having to really slow down as the grinding and graunching every time we hit bottom was making us very nervy!!!!

No damage done I'm pleased to say...........car's just fine.....sounded a lot worse than it was.....

Still....we were providing the most amazing 'spark' show for the peeps behind us...

Edited to say that the Sagaris looks great loulis...........

YP



>> Edited by yellow peril on Sunday 5th June 20:06

[targarama]

The Sagaris I test drove grounded out along a road I know quite well (so going reasonably quickly). My T350 doesn't ground out along the same road at the same speed. Must be the extra appendage at the rear.

[stevenleith]

Could that fuel thing be to do with average mpg? i find when i nail it for 10 minutes it'll drop and then i'll drive it standard for a 10 minutes and it'll make its way back up.

I just read the gauge before i start filling up - if it says 14L then i'll aim for 36L fill up, if it says 5L i'll aim for 45L. Generally, its about right, i end up with 50-55L and no gushing!!

[blueyes]

targarama said:

at high velocity (like 250 miles non stop)

Eh? 250 miles on ONE tankful!!!!!

You're not driving it hard enough!