Was all going so well

[BIGMIKE1]

Well couple of months into ownership no major problems, I knew there were a few niggling little jobs to do this year that I was working through.
Anyway been away to the York races for my 30th birthday, decided to take the Chim as it would be first longish run out, decided the day before we go to investigate the really slow,clicking electric window(what a pain to get door trim off with big arms!) replaced missing bolt, bit of silicone grease and all sorted, next job unblock expansion bottle and tube, bit of a pain getting the air out and swirl pot level kept dropping. So figured its all sorted the night before we go just plan on re-checking swirl pot level when we arrive in York.

Nice run up there behaved perfectly, parked up in the hotel car park for 2 nights. Came to it this morning and think it decided it didn't like being left outside as doors wont unlock, alarm/immobiliser wont dis-arm So managed to get in disconnected the battery, try ECU but nothing would dis-arm it. Got hold of Carl bakers number and gave him a call, what a great guy! He stayed on the phone for ages telling me different things to try and check, in the end it seems my old Foxguard had just decided that was the end and had died. Luckily Carl managed to talk me through everything to get the car running and get me home again, couldn't ask for a nicer more helpful guy, so now need to get the Foxguard replaced so I can get back on the road properly again just a bit of a pain that Carl is 4hrs drive away, with how he helped us today though I think he will be worth the trip!

EDIT- just to add insult to injury the revs decided to start sticking on the way home and I'd only cleaned the idle valve and housing out a few weeks ago as a precaution.

Edited by BIGMIKE1 on Friday 19th August 20:36

Edited by BIGMIKE1 on Friday 19th August 21:41

[zx6rscotty]

carl is amazing at what he does, i had problems with my alarm a week after buying my car. i took it to him and he did everything he could to fix it, nothing would work so it was a replacemet, he fitted my car in a few days later, and he also fitted the boot opening button to my key. so helpfull and would be lost without it. i dropped it off in the morning and picked it up that night so did not even need to take time of work picking it up and dropping it off.

well worth the drive. if you ask me

[FastRich]

Hi,

I've known Carl on and off for over 10 years. He's worked on over 8000 TVR's! I doubt there is a better person to work on TVR electrics, he has so much knowledge and experience, 4 hours is well worth it and will be time well spent...might be an idea to think about other electrical work you want done before making the journey though so you get the best value for ypour miles!

He's a genuinely nice guy and he won't let you down.

Fortunately he's only 4 minutes from me...sorry to rub it in!

[.Mark]

He will travel to you. He has done the alarm on both of mine and is an all round general God.

Can't beat the 4 mins, but could do it in 14, pressing on

[BIGMIKE1]

Must admit Ive not read a bad word about him or his work and I dont think he could have helped me anymore if he tryed when I was stranded. I just wish he wasn't so far away and also makes the job a lot more expensive than it already is when you add in few tanks of fuel and probably a night in a hotel as just over 4hrs there, Carl said he'll need the car for 8hrs then the same journey home would be a hell of a long day. Hoping can combine it with a trip to the missus family in Portsmouth which we're looking into at the minute. Couple of mates have tryed to persuade me to replace it myself or take it somewhere more local, but just keep thinking buy cheap buy twice!
Just bad timing really as there was a few other jobs I'd planned to do first before spending so much on an alarm or really before doing a 500mile round trip
Not really sure of what other electrical jobs I would need him to do, I always struggle to justify paying anyone to do a job I can do myself but Iam thinking this is one of those bite the bullet moments and get my hand in my pocket!

Edited by BIGMIKE1 on Saturday 20th August 23:25

[Ozstyle]

Although it's a good opportunity to upgrade the alarm system, if funds are tight a new foxguard unit (and all accessories) can be bought from Bridgwater Electronics. No need to rewire, just plug straight into existing loom plug behind the dash.

[MADMAX2]

Ozstyle said:

Although it's a good opportunity to upgrade the alarm system, if funds are tight a new foxguard unit (and all accessories) can be bought from Bridgwater Electronics. No need to rewire, just plug straight into existing loom plug behind the dash.

ive a foxguard still on mine best alarm around at the time and still a good alarm i would upgrade the foxguard new unit etc if mine failed! you try getting it out TVR made sure you cant !

[BIGMIKE1]

I didn't think Foxguard components were available any more. I'll certainly look into that, even as a temporary fix it would allow me to use the car again till a slightly more convenient time. All depends how much a new control unit,etc would cost if it might fail again soon because of the age of the other components.

[Ozstyle]

Foxgaurd alarms as a company are no more, I assume some of their engineers work for/set up Bridgwater Electronics. My Griffith had been butchered in the passed with aftermarket alarm systems. I bought a new brain, remotes and siren in Sept 2009. The alarm unit is not off the shelf item they build them as ordered to the TVR spec. Comes with a manual which is very interesting, as it shows what the alarm can do that TVR never utilised/explained. Like, how to interigate the unit to see which triggers have been activated, how to arm the system with the internal microwave sensor deactivated, it can even be set up to close the windows on arming, just to name a few other features.

[BIGMIKE1]

Thanks for the suggestion guys, spoke to bridgwater, posted the control unit off to them, they repaired and returned it the next day! Really helpful and really cheap, I know I still have a 16 year old alarm but at least its back on the road and I can now plan to have it replaced when it suits me.
Just scarred now about leaving it outside again incase the rain had anything to do with it! The guys at Bridgewater seemed to think it had nothing to do with it but only time will tell.
Gave me chance to change a couple of the blown dash bulbs at the same time, although Ive now realised one of the bulbs was 4w instead of 2w so need to get another bulb and take it apart again