New T350T owner

[mindstar]

Hey guys, I bought my first TVR the other day. (pics will follow)
I had a lovely drive back home in it and once we got home we just had to get back out in it :-) What a lovely drive it was.
This was all on Friday, then Saturday morning after having to leave her outside in the heavy rain I jumped in to get to work and the engine just would not accelerate. It felt as if the brakes were stuck on (but they were not) even pressing fully down on the throttle would not make it accelerate as normal. Doing so the engine spluttered when it went over 3K RPM which it only barely could do... After about 12 miles it all of a sudden just let go and revved and accelerated as normal again...
Maybe because of the rain, but is this something anyone has experienced before???

Thanks
Kim

[aaronc]

Congrats in the purchase, I'm not one of the technical ones on here, but to me it sounds like fuel starvation or similar.

[mindstar]

Thanks Aaron. That sounds like a good possibility. I'll have some time in the following week to look in to this.
Not really what I expected to be doing in my first week of ownership

[nrick]

Hi No expert but a couple of things

i) this happens if you fill it to the brim in a Tuscan.
ii) Is there excess pressure in the tank, I am sure there is an issue with my tuscan as it feels as though the tank is being sucked dry and creating a vacuum.

[Targarama]

If you use the throttle gently will it go high up the revs? I'd suggest a throttle sensor or similar tuning tweak if so. But since it was OK the day before and now isn't I'd first look at something having got damp. Did you wash the car? Did you pressure wash it?

[Zippee]

You state it only started going after 12 miles or so. Presumably you'd let the engine get to temp first? There is a stop in the ECU that won't (or shouldn't) allow you to rev over a certain amount whilst the oil is still cold.
Warming up should be 2500rpm max until the oil temp hits 40deg and 3500 max until the oil hits 70 deg.
If you don't follow this and rag it from cold you will be looking at an expensive rebuild in next to no time. These are not cars you can just jump in and expect to use to full potential straight away.

[mindstar]

nrick said:

Hi No expert but a couple of things

i) this happens if you fill it to the brim in a Tuscan.
ii) Is there excess pressure in the tank, I am sure there is an issue with my tuscan as it feels as though the tank is being sucked dry and creating a vacuum.

i) is possible, had my first re-fill the day before and took her out for about a 2hr drive
about 40l went in and there was 4-7l left in the tank? how much does it hold anyway?

[mindstar]

Targarama said:

If you use the throttle gently will it go high up the revs? I'd suggest a throttle sensor or similar tuning tweak if so. But since it was OK the day before and now isn't I'd first look at something having got damp. Did you wash the car? Did you pressure wash it?

Nope, it did not go over approx. 2500 RPM.
As I mentioned, I had to leave it out overnight in heavy rain...

Kim

[mindstar]

Zippee said:

You state it only started going after 12 miles or so. Presumably you'd let the engine get to temp first? There is a stop in the ECU that won't (or shouldn't) allow you to rev over a certain amount whilst the oil is still cold.
Warming up should be 2500rpm max until the oil temp hits 40deg and 3500 max until the oil hits 70 deg.
If you don't follow this and rag it from cold you will be looking at an expensive rebuild in next to no time. These are not cars you can just jump in and expect to use to full potential straight away.

I am aware of the fact that they need warming up properly. but still a good point.
when I started her the oil was about 4deg and after setting off I didn't notice anything wrong as I was taking it easy and letting her get to temp. But then when the oil was at about 30-40deg she was still not accelerating or revving freely? I had to give it about 1/2 throttle or more to get going from standstill and 1/4 to keep going, which felt like a lot more than during my drive the day before. When she did eventually kick back in to life the oil had been indicating more than 70deg for a while...
I get back tonight so I'll be able to see what it's like then, at least I have a few things to keep in mind now if it happens again. I'll let you know how I got on.

Thanks for all the info!

Kim

[nrick]

Hi
My tuscan takes 47l, so I never fill it above 40l. First drive back was from Newcastle and I almost ran out of fuel and then filled it up to the first click (as detailed on this forum), car ran like a dog wouldn't rev, stalled at the lights and 10 miles later all good.

[Targarama]

Have you chatted to the last owner or the supplying dealer? Maybe they have an idea?

Personally I doubt its a fuelling problem. Being a TVR I predict it will run fine if you try it now

[TVR_owner]

Zippee said:

Presumably you'd let the engine get to temp first? There is a stop in the ECU that won't (or shouldn't) allow you to rev over a certain amount whilst the oil is still cold..

Not true, the ECU as configured by TVR has no such facility.

Suprised no one has suggested the obvious ingess of water to the plug leads or a wet coil pack. Most likely some just sealant required.

[Targarama]

TVR_owner said:

Zippee said:

Presumably you'd let the engine get to temp first? There is a stop in the ECU that won't (or shouldn't) allow you to rev over a certain amount whilst the oil is still cold..

Not true, the ECU as configured by TVR has no such facility.

Suprised no one has suggested the obvious ingess of water to the plug leads or a wet coil pack. Most likely some just sealant required.

Kind of what I was hinting at.

[mindstar]

Drove the car back home from work and of course it was perfect! I've filled her up a few times now and haven't had the problem again.
Will be cleaning her today or tomorrow so will see what it's like after simulating rain

Thanks again for all the feedback.

Kim

[mindstar]

As promised, some pictures of the new toy

[jrb43]

Good choice of car and colour

[Targarama]

mindstar said:

nrick said:

Hi No expert but a couple of things

i) this happens if you fill it to the brim in a Tuscan.
ii) Is there excess pressure in the tank, I am sure there is an issue with my tuscan as it feels as though the tank is being sucked dry and creating a vacuum.

i) is possible, had my first re-fill the day before and took her out for about a 2hr drive
about 40l went in and there was 4-7l left in the tank? how much does it hold anyway?

52L is the most I've got in.

[Ironballs]

Your T350 must have been built about the same time as my Tamora, it's also an RX05

[fredd1e]

Think it actually means same registration period and DVLA office/location.

[jrb43]

RA-RY are assigned to Reading and the surrounding area. I'm RX54 ***. I conclude your car was first supplied to, and registered by, Racing Green. Elementary my dear Watson