Problems for a beginer......

[J8 TRO]

Hi
New to the game. picked up my first Chim on tuesday night and need to pick all your brains on a few items want to sort out with the car.

Just for some info its a 1994 4.0.

1st) my Temp guage is a bit tempremental. 80% of the time it works and reads between 70 deg and 90 deg (is this average?). the other 20% it jumps round like a crazy fool! and doesnt settle. Can any one help me chase it back to make sure all the conections are good. (any photos would help).

2nd) whilst it sat running outside my friends house last night while he was having a look round i got back in to find the temp gauge nudging the red. (yes the gauge was working this time). does this happen alot or do i have a problem. Can anyone recomend fitting an override fan switch? i have heard this would be a wise move. (i can't imagine what it will be like in the sommer months, if its like this on a cold Jan night!). Aditionally im draining the cooling system this weekend to eliminate the fact there may be an air block.

3rd) At what temp should my own fan kick in so i can check it is doing so tonight?

4th) I have read in the hand book that there is an alarm system that can be turned on by using the door locks. (turn clockwise then anti clockwise etc etc.) i cant seam to do this with the locks and the light does not work on the dash for the alarm and neither does the button on top of the door opening knob to lock the doors from he inside. I therefore presume it doesn't have the alarm fitted. could this be the case? do some of the early models not have the alarm fitted, or could it have just blown a fuse? Any alarm systems recomended if i find i dont have one fitted as standard?

5th) Even after these issues. how do i stop smiling every time it starts up.

>>> Edited by J8 TRO on Thursday 20th January 14:38

>>> Edited by J8 TRO on Thursday 20th January 14:40

[raceboy]

Not a great idea to broadcast a very easy method to break in to your own car on a PUBLIC forum mate
I'd do a bit of editing if I was you
Just remember it for when it locks you out

[Podie]

1) Could be the connections of a dodgy temp sender unit…

2) Hard to tell if it's the guage or a problem. If it's the actual engine temperature then you have a problem. What sort of condition is the radiator in? When was the coolant changed..? To be on the safe side I'd check this ASAP. Not a fan of override switches myself, it just masks the problem.

3) Depends on the stat. IIRC the standard one is around 82-85…

4) Look under the bonnet for a siren…

5) Welcome to PH, and TVR ownership.


>> Edited by Podie on Thursday 20th January 15:04

[Corin Denton]

Podie said:

1) Could be the connections of a dodgy temp sender unit… 2) Hard to tell if it's the guage or a problem. If it's the actual engine temperature then you have a problem. What sort of condition is the radiator in? When was the coolant changed..? To be on the safe side I'd check this ASAP. Not a fan of override switches myself, it just masks the problem. 3) Depends on the stat. IIRC the standard one is around 82-85… 4) Look under the bonnet for a siren… 5) Welcome to PH, and TVR ownership. >> Edited by Podie on Thursday 20th January 15:04

Echo what Podie's said, in refernce to the temp etc, if it were me I would try and put this to bed from the start, I would buy a lower temperature actioning fan switch (otter switch) and a new temp sender fit these and flush the coolant at the same time. Including the antifreeze your total bill for these parts should be no more than £40.

Then see how the car behaves.

Either ask on here or refer to Steve Heath's bible for correct procedures.

Hope you enjoy the car.

Corin

[J8 TRO]

Sorry if it affends anyone but who is Steve Heath?

[Corin Denton]

J8 TRO said:

Sorry if it affends anyone but who is Steve Heath?

www.tvrbooks.co.uk/

[Nuggs]

Corin Denton said:

Echo what Podie's said, in refernce to the temp etc, if it were me I would try and put this to bed from the start, I would buy a lower temperature actioning fan switch (otter switch) and a new temp sender fit these and flush the coolant at the same time. Including the antifreeze your total bill for these parts should be no more than £40.

My car was running a little hot in traffic so I got myself Leven's engine cooling kit - highly recommended

www.leventechnology.co.uk/index.htm

[Podie]

Nuggs said:

Corin Denton said: Echo what Podie's said, in refernce to the temp etc, if it were me I would try and put this to bed from the start, I would buy a lower temperature actioning fan switch (otter switch) and a new temp sender fit these and flush the coolant at the same time. Including the antifreeze your total bill for these parts should be no more than £40. My car was running a little hot in traffic so I got myself Leven's engine cooling kit - highly recommended www.leventechnology.co.uk/index.htm

I've got one too...

[chimburt]

don't go buying anything until you've eliminated an airlock in the cooling system - this can give dodgy temp readings ( though no 'waving about' ), and will prevent the cooling system working ( suprisingly enough ).
bleed the cooling system ( do a search - there are a number of ways suggested so pick the one you're happiest with ) - wouldn't be too suprised if you see some bubbles, then you are in a position to see what temp the fans come on at, wait for them to go back off ( if they don't then you know there is a problem and otter switches do fail, so fan override could be worthwhile to you ).
can be worth investing in some relays and re-wiring the fans from a better supply - they go faster and you won't be reduced to coughing up loads of money for a slow-blow 40A fuse from a dealer. did this to mine ( as i used to commute in it and some of the route was always slow ) and haven't had to buy a fuse since.

welcome and good luck

[M@H]

Re the door locks, are you actually pushing the key and button in the inch it needs to set the alarm, or just spinning it left to right with the button parallel/flush to the door (that just disables the button). Its a bit fiddly to get the hang of the early doorlocks as there's a bit of a knack to it. If you read the handbook section on this about 4-5 times whilst stood at the car it should start to make sense

[chimtvr]

on the door locks check the pin switches on the doors are operating correctly check the interior light goes on and off if it doesnt see the doors shut the interior lock button doesnt work and your battery goes flat in about 2 days

[J8 TRO]

Thanks for all the advice.
I went to hirizon motorsport on the way home last night. Seam like really nice people. they guy said it would most probably be the otter switch not letting the fans kick in from what i explained, and they would charge about £20 to fit a new one.
I also went home and checked all the fuses which all seam fine. I have read in my manual last night about bleeding the system to get rid of an air lock and it seams easy to follow. only thing i could't find in the dark with my torch was the rubber plug/bung it refers to on the top of the rad. can anyone point me in the right direction?

[mgaut]

J8 TRO said:

only thing i could't find in the dark with my torch was the rubber plug/bung it refers to on the top of the rad. can anyone point me in the right direction?

on my 94 Chim there's a metal nut on the top drivers side rad (spanner/socket required).

Mike

[J8 TRO]

Thanks Mike
Saw that one. but took the books word for it and carried on looking for something more rubber looking. I still stand by my story.......it was dark....

>> Edited by J8 TRO on Friday 21st January 11:25