small low rev prob
Discussion
having a quick browse through this BB - i'm expecting to get caned for not researching thoroughly. i apologise in advance with a touch of humility - but if someone could re-assure me - cool.
got a 4l hc and last few days she's been a little lumpy and a bit on the rough side under 2000 revs. above this no probs. had it for 6mths and use every day and booked for a service next week. maybe timing prob - bad lead/plug? wondering if this is a common occurence. i don't want to risk anything as not too sure what it is - rather put my cat down than the car!! (joke - actually my cat loves the sound - always runs to the door when i pull up - apparently she got confused the other day when another tvr passed by my home and i didn't appear at the door!!)
thanks people!!
got a 4l hc and last few days she's been a little lumpy and a bit on the rough side under 2000 revs. above this no probs. had it for 6mths and use every day and booked for a service next week. maybe timing prob - bad lead/plug? wondering if this is a common occurence. i don't want to risk anything as not too sure what it is - rather put my cat down than the car!! (joke - actually my cat loves the sound - always runs to the door when i pull up - apparently she got confused the other day when another tvr passed by my home and i didn't appear at the door!!)
thanks people!!
It might of course be a more generic problem.
TVR V8s are renowned for the mismatch between the hardware and the ECU's fuel map, resulting in rich running at the low end of the rev range and lean running at the top. One answer is a new chip from V8 specialist Mark Adams.
My Chimaea suffered from this (and it was not alone) and Mark fixed it for me. Details of what he did for my car are buried somwehere on the features pages here on PH.
TVR V8s are renowned for the mismatch between the hardware and the ECU's fuel map, resulting in rich running at the low end of the rev range and lean running at the top. One answer is a new chip from V8 specialist Mark Adams.
My Chimaea suffered from this (and it was not alone) and Mark fixed it for me. Details of what he did for my car are buried somwehere on the features pages here on PH.
quote:
I bought a 4l at Christmas and have had a recurring problem with the engine dying on tick over and even sometimes when I dip the clutch. This happens when its cold and hot, one minute it idles fine then it just stalls is this a common problem then? Any ideas anyone?
I had exactly the same problem. Took it to Joolz and he cleaned the stepper motor, cleaned out the throttle butterfly and a few other bits and bobs. It's been fine since, and runs a lot smoother.
erm, not sure how to ask this without sounding stupid - what is the stepper motor? - is this easy to do? last time i did any work on a car was - well lets say when star wars part 2 was not even a glint in george lucas's eyes. my excuse is having a company car for a few years - you kinda get lazy, thrash them to an inch of life and then GSI to fix it!! would this be covered in usual services?
Stepper motor is a sinch, even I did it!!!!!
looking at the engine from the drivers side it is a little black plastic thing screwed into the top of the engine near the window (sorry for the description!!!!) it has a few wires going into it which should just un plug, it then will screw out and can be cleaned with a rag and some white spirits.
There has been a much better description posted on here before if you have no idea what I am going on about!!!
Found It!
This is the topic that describes it better!!!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=5614&f=8&h=0&hw=bad+idling
>> Edited by RCA on Tuesday 21st May 11:34
looking at the engine from the drivers side it is a little black plastic thing screwed into the top of the engine near the window (sorry for the description!!!!) it has a few wires going into it which should just un plug, it then will screw out and can be cleaned with a rag and some white spirits.
There has been a much better description posted on here before if you have no idea what I am going on about!!!
Found It!
This is the topic that describes it better!!!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=5614&f=8&h=0&hw=bad+idling
>> Edited by RCA on Tuesday 21st May 11:34
As ppl have said the stepper is a good place to start.
But just out of interest what sort of fuel do you use?
Mine sometimes has the problems you've described when I've put standard 95 RON unleaded in, but with Shell's Optimax it runs like a dream.
Its really smooth around the idle and never any lumpy moments when I pull away. I don't get that annoying shunt up the drive shaft to the diff any more, which sometimes plagued slow driving in traffic and coming to a stop in gear when approaching roundabouts/junctions.
It might be worth trying if you don't use it already, even other brands of super unleaded are only 97 RON. Optimax is gauranteed to be over 98 RON and is usually higher.
But just out of interest what sort of fuel do you use?
Mine sometimes has the problems you've described when I've put standard 95 RON unleaded in, but with Shell's Optimax it runs like a dream.
Its really smooth around the idle and never any lumpy moments when I pull away. I don't get that annoying shunt up the drive shaft to the diff any more, which sometimes plagued slow driving in traffic and coming to a stop in gear when approaching roundabouts/junctions.
It might be worth trying if you don't use it already, even other brands of super unleaded are only 97 RON. Optimax is gauranteed to be over 98 RON and is usually higher.
Honestly I don't work for Shell!
Optimax is the muts nuts.
I have a Griff 500HC and using any other fuel than Optimax, occasionally get pinking under hard acceleration two-up at high revs (4,000 RPM).
Sainsbury's super unleaded is cheap but inconsistant...the mileage covered by most TVRs a few pence on a litre of fuel really does not matter!
Optimax is the muts nuts.
I have a Griff 500HC and using any other fuel than Optimax, occasionally get pinking under hard acceleration two-up at high revs (4,000 RPM).
Sainsbury's super unleaded is cheap but inconsistant...the mileage covered by most TVRs a few pence on a litre of fuel really does not matter!
Take it down to Motivation Motorsport and get them to sort it. Rather than having to replace a stepper motor at a cost of £70, they will clean it, loob inside of it by moving in and out and if that's not the fault there find it.
These guys are pro's and reasonible. And your learn a lot by spending a few hours with them.
L10 TVR
These guys are pro's and reasonible. And your learn a lot by spending a few hours with them.
L10 TVR
Yep, other people have mentioned the fueling too - My 4.0HC runs perfectly ok on unleaded, but below 1400RPM it is really not pleasant to drive (i.e. in traffic). A couple of tanks of Optimax or Super and the thing is fine down to 1000RPM without a problem....
Makes running smooth and does also add a little extra power.
Cheers,
Paul
Makes running smooth and does also add a little extra power.
Cheers,
Paul
I was talking to Dave Batty about lumpy running on my Chimaera 500 and how I've cleaned the stepper motor but it hasn't solved it.
Dave made a rather interesting comment. He said that the stepper motor has aquired almost mythical status amongst TVR owners, to the extent that if anything is not right then the first thing people do is whip it off and clean it (steady!).
He ventured to suggest that since it is a very delicate item and is not always the cause of lumpy running, that maybe I could leave it for him to look at when it is in for a service next week.
Now normally if someone basically said "leave it to the Pro's, matey" I'd get the hump. However, Dave is one of the most honest, down-to-earth and diplomatic / humble people I've met and he managed to say it in such a way that didn't cause offense.
It did leave me wondering whether it is wise to constantly suggest people clean the stepper motor, especially when if you damage it then its between £70-£100 to replace.
Dave made a rather interesting comment. He said that the stepper motor has aquired almost mythical status amongst TVR owners, to the extent that if anything is not right then the first thing people do is whip it off and clean it (steady!).
He ventured to suggest that since it is a very delicate item and is not always the cause of lumpy running, that maybe I could leave it for him to look at when it is in for a service next week.
Now normally if someone basically said "leave it to the Pro's, matey" I'd get the hump. However, Dave is one of the most honest, down-to-earth and diplomatic / humble people I've met and he managed to say it in such a way that didn't cause offense.
It did leave me wondering whether it is wise to constantly suggest people clean the stepper motor, especially when if you damage it then its between £70-£100 to replace.
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