Bad start to the day

[pb450]

Jumped in the car this morning to take it to local specialist for a wheel refurb and an MOT. Two miles from home and the engine died on me. The fuel pump had stopped priming, so no restart.

Called the AA and agreed with the guy that the simplest solution was to put it on a truck and continue to the garage.

So I'm now half way through a two hour wait, in the car, in the rain. Just turned the ignition on for the wipers and guess what? Fuel pump primes and engine starts! Not moving from here now though as its all set up.

Any ideas on this intermitant fault???

[V8 GRF]

I'd suggest it's something to do with the immobiliser if it cut the fuel supply and then restarted or a maybe it's something as simple as a loose or flaky fuse.

[ChimpofDarkness]

Probably a sticking relay in the Meta immobiliser.

[pb450]

OK, thanks guys. I had wondered about the immobiliser in the Meta alarm. The trouble with intermitant faults though is how do you find them. When will it happen again?

[Royster]

Loose/corroded/dirty wire on the fuel pump, under the car?

Worth a look

[TVR Thunder]

I have the same problem with the sticking Meta alarm relay. It only happens say once in every 20 starts, and usually only when cold. So until I can get it to a specialist, I find a rather heavy thump on the dashboard once or twice does the trick!

[Twistygit]

Royster said:

Loose/corroded/dirty wire on the fuel pump, under the car?

Worth a look

+1
i had same problem after water containation

[lordgrover]

NB The preferred 'specialist' is moving abroad soon. Get in quick.

[Naybr]

Agree with all the above. The other possibility is the fuel pump relay. Good to carry a spare or change as a precaution. They are not costly.
It is possible to bypass the fuel pump circuit in the immobiliser (whilst leaving it working on the ignition) as a way of isolating the problem.

[pb450]

Well the car is now with the specialist who REALLY knows his stuff. Immobiliser is top of the list and it will be thoroughly investigated.

Agree with previous post that alarm specialist is moving abroad soon so I think I'm going for an upgrade soon.

Will post again on full diagnosis.

P.S. After the car was unloaded from the AA trailer I started it and drove it into the parking bay! Ironic... Up side was that the owner gave me a lift to the station in his Chim 500! Almost made it all worthwhile!

[Royster]

I've had that lift to the station in the cherry Chim 500 after my own TVR turned-up on a low-loader.....

Sounds like your car is in safe hands.

[pb450]

Royster said:

I've had that lift to the station in the cherry Chim 500 after my own TVR turned-up on a low-loader.....

Sounds like your car is in safe hands.

Yep, I think we know the same driver. Top bloke who really knows his onions and a super nice guy as well.

[pb450]

Apologies for dragging up an old thread but I promissed a full diagnosis.

It was indeed a faulty immobiliser and so I am now the proud owner of an updated Meta system, courtesy of Carl Baker. It all works properly now (including two replaced relays to avoid 'weak link' syndrome.) The added bonus is the additional button on the key for the boot release. I cannot describe the immense joy this small feature brings but I suspect most Chim owners will understand this!

One last tip worth passing on in this saga: The engine cut out a couple more times, seemingly for no reason, after the new immobiliser was fitted. The wealth of experience possessed by Dan at Taylor TVR meant that the problem was immediately diagnosed as a faulty rotor arm. (I would never have worked this one out myself.) Apparently there was a duff batch produced a while back which intermittently fail to operate properly. Dan recognised mine as one of this batch and replaced it with a good'un. Problem solved! How do people know these things?? Again, the benefit of experience. Go Dan!

I'm one happy bunny now. Oh yes, the refurb'd wheels are bloody brilliant too - which is where this story all started.

[LordB]

When you experienced your problems - did the engine actually turnover (i.e. was there still power to starter motor) or was it completely dead, save for the dash lights.

I'm experiencing the similar issues.

thanks