Embarrasing moment today

[Chilliman]

Just thought I'd share this...

So, decided to take the empties down to the bottle bank at the recycle centre few hundred yards down the road from Snetts

Usually use the Golf for runs to the tip, but as I hadn't driven beastie since yesterday I stuck them in the boot, warmed her up, and set off

Pulled into the centre, few extra revs for good order, clocked the usual array of boring big boot motors and 4x4's with home rubbish and garden waste, popped the boot (containing four weeks worth of empty Cab Sav bottles), and switched her off. Sashayed back and forwards to the bottle bank, feeling like a cross between Steve McQueen and Bruce Willis. Lots of rubbish dumping peeps giving beastie admiring glances .

Finished emptying boot, got back in beastie (smoothly, back pain not evident, didn't crack head on roof in process). Feeling good, looking good

Turned ignition on, pressed fob, superior smile on face, pump fired, turned key for explosive V8 eruption... Feck all. Nothing. OK, turned over once. Dead. Left phone at home. Place shuts at four, it's now half three.

So, emerge from car, slightly less smug than a few minutes earlier.

Er, excuse me (huge angry looking recycling centre bloke in big reflective yellow jacket glares at me)...

Very kind lovely people including one with car with huge boot pushed beastie, after 50 yards of clutch dumping she started Thanks to the nice kind people of Snetterton recycling centre.... and blokes with family cars with big boots..

I have no idea why so many people who've never owned a TVR think they're so unreliable

[MPoxon]

LOL - Another amusing tale.

[QBee]

So, I take it that, like me, you don't have one of those irritatingly smug trickle chargers?
Because if you do it sounds like you either have a battery drain to find, or your battery is six years old and needs replacing

[slippery]

Sounds more like an intermittent hot start problem to me.

[roseytvr]

Its people like you that give these cars a bad name!! At least none of your neighbours or mates saw you.

Either your battery is fooked, poor earth or you could have a hot start issue IMO. Either way mate another interesting read - have you ever thought of a career as a writer?

[chris13]

A few years ago I lost power outside Sunderland football stadium, on match day! Smoke bellowing from the bonnet roof down fantastically sunny day. Ht lead had burnt clean thru. I had to sit for over an hour waiting for the aa to turn up. Police turned up also! I reckon about ten thousand plus people walked past me that day laughing and pointing saying " its a Tvr " embarrassing doesn't really some up that day. Ha ha.

[macdeb]

slippery said:

Sounds more like an intermittent hot start problem to me.

[QBee]

How's the battery this morning?

[swisstoni]

Owning an 'exotic' is good for the soul. For every thunderous heroic arrival there just may be a silent sad non-departure.

[EGB]

And alternator not charging or 100 amp fuse. Happens to Ferrari s.

Edited by EGB on Tuesday 3rd December 11:10

[QBee]

EGB said:

And alternator not charging or 100 amp fuse. Happens to Ferrari s.

Edited by EGB on Tuesday 3rd December 11:10

Could be alternator. I agree the 100 amp fuse is a common culprit too. Call me Richard if you need to know how to test both.

[mgjc]

Another option is that there is a sticking point in the original immobiliser that is stopping ignition.

I had this and my only way of starting was to hold the ignition on in the firing position – sometimes it took 30 seconds, sometimes 2 minutes but it would always eventually fire and this was on top of the hot start mod installed.

TVR originally immobilised 3 areas of the ignition system - which was overkill as you only need 2 to make it thatcham 1 compliant and this was the problem for me. To solve my issue the third circuit was bypassed (leaving the fuel pump and ignition so it was still thatcham 1) and hey presto it works and hasn’t failed since. Apparently it was this 3rd area that was sticking open and that is why it wouldn’t fire. But after a fashion the build-up of current was the only way to make the connection “click” and allow the engine to start.

So, no more sitting in petrol stations with impatient drivers flashing and beeping me to move of and I wasn’t able too!

[Chilliman]

QBee said:

How's the battery this morning?

Fooked

To be fair, its lasted 3 years of abuse, I'm only home around 5 months of the year, so beastie often gets subjected to weeks of sitting in a powerless garage, and despite not arming the alarm the last couple of long trips I did it hadn't retained enough charge to fire the engine. And that was in the summer months... Recent short trips with heater/lights/wipers have had their effect too... She'll have to live without the luxury of an accumate or similar for a good while yet, the three car garage with one bedroom flat above won't be happening until mid next year earliest

Will probably fit an easily accessible cut off switch before putting a new battery in, also thinking of moving it to the boot or one of those smaller ones that fit (ish) in the cubby behind the seats...
So many jobs, and so little time...........

Thanks for the (as always) helpful suggestions guys

Rosey, I've always wanted to write a book, even started one once. I did write a piece for Sprint some time back though, OK, it was the April 2012 edition. (thanks again to my agent and V8GRF )

[Swiss Roll]

Hi Chilliman

Why don't you go down the route of a solar cell charger? Extend the cables so you can mount it outside the garage on the wall. Or depending on garage at a good angle on the roof.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AA-Caravan-Battery-Trickle...

Environmentally friendly as I know that's important to you, what with driving the beastie.

[K4TRV]

Swiss Roll said:

Hi Chilliman

Why don't you go down the route of a solar cell charger? Extend the cables so you can mount it outside the garage on the wall. Or depending on garage at a good angle on the roof.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AA-Caravan-Battery-Trickle...

Environmentally friendly as I know that's important to you, what with driving the beastie.

From an earlier Posting re-Solar & flat batteries - Hope it hgelps and clarifies?

Trev

K4TRV said:

ChimpOnGas said:

The whole point of this thread is to find a solution for people with no access to pains power that aren't driving their cars regularly. snippity......

I doubt he'd have had the same result from a solar panel, I spent a long time researching my solar system, I ensured I used a higher wattage panel and a proper separate charge controller.

I went to a solar panel specialist to get advice, what I ended up with was what's commonly used in the yachting/boating word, it was a far better rig than the very mediocre Maplins effort I tried before.................snip

+2 - Should be a Wikki !! Every time someone asks about a dashboard Solar Panel......We are 53-ish degress North and I have two 85w Panels on my M/Home and it struggles to keep-up with usage in UK, May, Jun & Jul excepted!!

[Chilliman]

Swiss Roll said:

Hi Chilliman

Why don't you go down the route of a solar cell charger? Extend the cables so you can mount it outside the garage on the wall. Or depending on garage at a good angle on the roof.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AA-Caravan-Battery-Trickle...

Environmentally friendly as I know that's important to you, what with driving the beastie.

Tony, can you pm me mobile numbers for you and GG? He never answers his!!!!!

[Swiss Roll]

K4TRV said:

+2 - Should be a Wikki !! Every time someone asks about a dashboard Solar Panel......We are 53-ish degress North and I have two 85w Panels on my M/Home and it struggles to keep-up with usage in UK, May, Jun & Jul excepted!!

Used solar panels for years on yachts to keep batteries topped up, I agree it will not have the amperage to charge from flat but as a battery maintenance system I believe they are better than nothing. Also you state it failed to keep up with usage. I'm only referring to a maintenance system where it maintains an already well charged battery.

[Swiss Roll]

Chilliman said:

Tony, can you pm me mobile numbers for you and GG? He never answers his!!!!!

Will do... however he says you've been ignoring his e-mails so I may feed you a false number to keep his paranoia up!

[QBee]

Battery in the wellie boot is the answer. Then when you go off to work you can pop it out of the car, take it indoors and attach it to a carefully selected, premium quality, tricky charger system.
The car should be safe in the garage if the garage is alarmed.....

[Bassfiend229hp]

QBee said:

Battery in the wellie boot is the answer. Then when you go off to work you can pop it out of the car, take it indoors and attach it to a carefully selected, premium quality, tricky charger system.
The car should be safe in the garage if the garage is alarmed.....

Not if the battery goes flat or the quick release terminal comes off whilst you're filling up and you dont realise ... both of which I've had happen to me.