New T350T but intermittent dash warning codes
New T350T but intermittent dash warning codes
Author
Discussion

RicSpeedSix

Original Poster:

254 posts

195 months

Sunday 13th June 2010
quotequote all
Hi all,

Just taken first step into TVR ownership, having purchased a 2004 TVR350T at the weekend. Has already put a big grid on my face, despite taking it very easy at the moment smile

As is to be expected with a TVR, I've also had my first "glitch": I seem to be getting random fault codes intermittently coming up on the LCD dash. I'm pretty sure it's been the full set so far (water, fuel, oil temp, oil pressure, fuel sensor etc), but given the car has just been fully 12k serviced by the TVR dealer I bought it from (Kerridges) and it's running perfectly fine, it's clearly a "dash issue" rather than anything to really worry about. Readings seem to be a bit erratic to on the water and oil.

I seem to recall LCD dash glitches listed as a problem to watch out for on the T350 when I was looking into ownership - can anyone shed any light on this?

I've got a full dealer warranty but it would be good to get the low down; especially if it's something trivial that I can fix without having to take it into the garage.... get the impression that TVR ownership will require getting hands dirty so maybe best to start getting used to it... wink

Targarama

14,784 posts

312 months

Sunday 13th June 2010
quotequote all
If the display is displaying OK then its probably not a problem with that unit itself. Error codes do happen from time to time, but you shouldn't get more than one pop up every few trips out (I can go for dozens of trips and have no fault codes pop up). If you're getting codes from multiple sources all the time I'd suspect something like a connection or an ECU or earthing problem.

Edited to add: Which T350 did you buy? Colour/spec etc.?

Edited by Targarama on Sunday 13th June 21:41

extremekiter

701 posts

239 months

Sunday 13th June 2010
quotequote all
My T350 of 2 years back used to do exactly the same and my Sagaris of now doesnt do it quite as much but when it does i dont panic like i used too. For some reason just now and again my T350 used to flash all the warning codes poss but i posted this like yrself and i had tons back saying it a very common issue when there is no prob with car at all as long as u know that everything is fine. Just a electric glitch i think they all do.

Knowing that its just had it main service at 12k then i wouldnt worry at all. My Sagaris does it now and again too. In fact when it does i hardly pay any attension now as i know religiously my levels and pressures.

Justyn

SP6 Animal

6,015 posts

239 months

Sunday 13th June 2010
quotequote all
I would like to bet this is a loose or corroded earth.
Take a look at the earthing points near the battery.

Mattt

16,664 posts

247 months

Sunday 13th June 2010
quotequote all
I assume this is the grey one with black wheels? Nice car smile

Mr M

1,276 posts

231 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
I get oil sensor warning at least once every trip. I think it can be fair to say that the systems are not particularly reliable ; from my experience so far anyway. I've also had EFI warning once and a ludicrous low fuel warning after going around a roundabout a few times whilst lost when there was plenty. Still love the car though :-)

Edited by Mr M on Monday 14th June 20:30

Skipe

616 posts

224 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
I get water sensor bleeping at me every so often on longer drives but temps and levels are fine. Oil Psi always beeps at low revs and I get EFI now and again too.

Lambda sensor replacement seems to have sorted the EFI and the better sender is on for the oil psi. My water readings were also all over the place when the heating/air con was on so I also had it re-earthed still get the odd beep but it's all fine and can be put up with.

Fuel gauge is a joke! I never let it below 10L personally...

geoffphead

637 posts

230 months

Tuesday 15th June 2010
quotequote all
Just use it lots, everything gets damp and as mentioned above earth faults develop. Get under dash and give it a good spray with WD40 and push all fuses and relays and ecu in sight back in tight.

Enjoy it

Geoff

RicSpeedSix

Original Poster:

254 posts

195 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for the responses.

Booked back into Keridges to get the problem sorted since it's under warranty.

Convinced it must be a dodgy connection or similiar, problem escalated on the way home tonight when I lost all dasboard power, which was a bit disconcerting with the two dials frozen and the LCD display went blank at motorway speeds. Electric windows, indicators (inside only I asssume - but obviously you don't know at this point!), door open buttons, stereo all stopped working as well. I was starting to worry that perhaps the problem had caused a fuse to blow so I pulled over to check and it all just came back to life again - I assume all of these are on the same circuit? 12v cigarette lighter socket was still working during all this as my phone was still charhing ok.

Ssnsor readings are definetly very erratic as well with values bouncing up and down even when it's not reporting any "faults". Air and water temps are always reading high and oil temp/pressure seem to be all over the place - I assume this is all related.


Yes - it's the titanium silver with anthracite wheels smile

SP6 Animal

6,015 posts

239 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
EARTHING ISSUE!!

Mattt

16,664 posts

247 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
I'm sure kerridges will get it sorted. I just bought their blue one, looking forward to picking it up!

LeeT350c

575 posts

210 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
SP6 Animal said:
EARTHING ISSUE!!
Did you say something mate? biggrin

RicSpeedSix

Original Poster:

254 posts

195 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
Mattt - test drove the blue (well your! wink ) car too and was torn between the two but was keen on the targa and being tall the seats in this particular one seem to be a better fit for me. The interior on that blue coupe is gorgeous though, nice car smile

RicSpeedSix

Original Poster:

254 posts

195 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
quotequote all
SP6 Animal said:
EARTHING ISSUE!!
lol - kerridges seem to think so too - do you think this would cause the erratic values issue I mentioned as well or could that be something else.

VARLEYHYD

2,244 posts

236 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
RicSpeedSix said:
do you think this would cause the erratic values issue I mentioned as well or could that be something else.
Sensors are resistive devices, so poor earth/ ground = erratic & higher readings

G

RicSpeedSix

Original Poster:

254 posts

195 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
Well, I went to drive it this morning to work with the plan being to drop it to Keridges but having briefly flashed up the dash, all power seemed to cut again; this time it got itself into a loop continuously locking and unlocking the doors, even with the key not in ignition, locking me inside the car. Had to use the "eject" handle to manually open the doors. Turning the inigtion caused the pumps to start (I assume that's whatever the noise is) and lock/unlock loop to stop but still wouldn't start the engine.

After wasting time pulling out fuses - to no effect - I eventually managed to get it to stop whatever it was intent on doing (these cars certainly have a personality and mind of their own that's to be sure). I figured that as I was already late for work i'd shut the door and sort it out later. Big mistake. Whilst shutting the door it suddenly decided to wind the window up so I was left with both doors shut, drivers with window resting on bodywork frown As this point, it instantly decided to lock itself and pressing the key fob just caused it to start the lock/unlock rapidly cycle leaving me locked outside the car this time.

Thankfully due to clever application of gaffer tape, garden cane and a bent coat hanger and my helpful neighbour, managed to slide in between resultant gap left with wedged open window and pull the emergency door release (again) [I may yet consider setting up an ebay shop to start marketing the resultant "T350" opening device, should other PH'ers be in the same position]. At this point it decided to start continously sounding the alarm just to add insult to injury. After repeated efforts it finally decided to stop trying to lock/unlock continously and stop sounding the alarm, I decided this time to leave the door open.

Keridges offered to send someone down to try and pick it up, subsequently upon their arrival it decided to behave normally again (of course) firing up first time sweetly... mad I now await their verdict.

Please tell me - have I done something to offend it? not been polished enough? wrong flavour premium unleaded? or was it just jealous of my girlfriend who was hitching a lift to the station this morning? confused

Well at least I feel like a real TVR owner now.


Targarama

14,784 posts

312 months

Thursday 17th June 2010
quotequote all
Sorry to hear the car is messing you around like this. This is the first I've heard of such a strange range of behaviour. It definitely sounds like an earthing problem, or something very wrong in the wiring loom. I'm sure they will get it sorted, the problem is it will probably take a few good drives before you trust it again (and I don't blame you).

RicSpeedSix

Original Poster:

254 posts

195 months

Monday 12th July 2010
quotequote all
SP6 Animal said:
EARTHING ISSUE!!
Well Doctor Animal's diagnosis was bang on the mark.

Just got the car back from Kerridges and apparently there are two earth leads. One looked to have been badly fitted when she was "born" and over time had been shorting it's way down to a few strands! eek

Kerridges replaced under warranty and I'm glad to say everything is now running perfectly and all temperatures normal, got stuck in traffic too on the way back in Sunday's heat and no problems there either.

Only disappointing thing was that the undertray on our other car (A3) used to go and pick her back up again decided to half fall off on the way back so had to stick to a steady 60mph all the way back home for 60 miles until we hit traffic to prevent it completely folding itself underneath.... ah well at least it makes a change for a TVR to be working whilst an Audi is broken smile

Edited by RicSpeedSix on Monday 12th July 18:08

SP6 Animal

6,015 posts

239 months

Monday 12th July 2010
quotequote all
Yes there is one from battery to chassis and one from chassis to engine.

Got something right for a change laugh