"Character": a euphemism for poor running?
Discussion
I've replaced quite a few bits and bobs on my engine over the course of the last few months, partly due to recent running issues including misfires and poor cold-starting. I still have my weird "dead throttle syndrome", although mysteriously it hasn't happened at all the last few times I've driven it.
But one thing has become abundantly clear to me: the engine is now driving like a dream. It starts from cold and runs perfectly straight away, without the slightest threat of stalling when you touch the throttle (a 'feature' that many people report, and which mine used to threaten as well). When driving away from cold, it pulls keenly and cruises smoothly, with none of the slight recalcitrance and 'bad temper' that it has always had previously for the first half a mile or so. I now realise that even when fully warmed up, the engine always used to have a very subtle hesitation when pulling from low revs, which is now completely gone.
Now I've always put these foibles down to "character". This is, after all, an engine management system from the eighties (even though the cars date from the nineties), and I reasoned that of course the engine doesn't drive as perfectly as a modern engine with wasted spark or coil-on-plug stuff.
But you know what? None of these 'foibles' are actually part of the character of the engine at all. I am now realising that they are characteristics of a fifteen-year-old engine on which several components that are not part of the normal regime of regular replacement were getting a bit elderly and could benefit from a refresh beyond what the service schedule says.
Things I've replaced (roughly in order)
The above list has cost me somewhere between £200-250 from the usual TVR suppliers, so not a huge amount, and no doubt you could buy these bits more intelligently than I did and save money. I'm thinking that this little lot will become a routine replacement every 30,000 miles or 5 years.
Stuff I might yet consider replacing, because who knows whether the engine can run even better:
The smooth running of our engines relies on so many components that may have spent 10 years or more being baked in the heat of the engine bay since they were last replaced. At the risk of sounding smug, my car is now an absolute joy to drive, and is even better than I ever realised it could be. That's how these cars can and should drive, so if yours is anything other than virtually perfect then there is something wrong.
Are lots of us putting up with minor poor running issues on the basis that "they all do that sir", or thinking that it's "character" (in much the same way that Alfa owners put up with poor quality, or "passion" as they call it)?
But one thing has become abundantly clear to me: the engine is now driving like a dream. It starts from cold and runs perfectly straight away, without the slightest threat of stalling when you touch the throttle (a 'feature' that many people report, and which mine used to threaten as well). When driving away from cold, it pulls keenly and cruises smoothly, with none of the slight recalcitrance and 'bad temper' that it has always had previously for the first half a mile or so. I now realise that even when fully warmed up, the engine always used to have a very subtle hesitation when pulling from low revs, which is now completely gone.
Now I've always put these foibles down to "character". This is, after all, an engine management system from the eighties (even though the cars date from the nineties), and I reasoned that of course the engine doesn't drive as perfectly as a modern engine with wasted spark or coil-on-plug stuff.
But you know what? None of these 'foibles' are actually part of the character of the engine at all. I am now realising that they are characteristics of a fifteen-year-old engine on which several components that are not part of the normal regime of regular replacement were getting a bit elderly and could benefit from a refresh beyond what the service schedule says.
Things I've replaced (roughly in order)
- Coolant temperature sensor
- HT leads
- Ignition amp
- Coil
- Spark plug extenders*
- Spark plugs
- Rotor arm
- Distributor cap
The above list has cost me somewhere between £200-250 from the usual TVR suppliers, so not a huge amount, and no doubt you could buy these bits more intelligently than I did and save money. I'm thinking that this little lot will become a routine replacement every 30,000 miles or 5 years.
Stuff I might yet consider replacing, because who knows whether the engine can run even better:
- Air mass sensor
- Throttle pot (might be the cause of my "dead throttle syndrome")
- Lambda sensors
The smooth running of our engines relies on so many components that may have spent 10 years or more being baked in the heat of the engine bay since they were last replaced. At the risk of sounding smug, my car is now an absolute joy to drive, and is even better than I ever realised it could be. That's how these cars can and should drive, so if yours is anything other than virtually perfect then there is something wrong.
Are lots of us putting up with minor poor running issues on the basis that "they all do that sir", or thinking that it's "character" (in much the same way that Alfa owners put up with poor quality, or "passion" as they call it)?
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Saturday 3rd October 12:32
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
I've replaced quite a few bits and bobs on my engine over the course of the last few months, partly due to recent running issues including misfires and poor cold-starting. I still have my weird "dead throttle syndrome", although mysteriously it hasn't happened at all the last few times I've driven it.
But one thing has become abundantly clear to me: the engine is now driving like a dream. It starts from cold and runs perfectly straight away, without the slightest threat of stalling when you touch the throttle (a 'feature' that many people report, and which mine used to threaten as well). When driving away from cold, it pulls keenly and cruises smoothly, with none of the slight recalcitrance and 'bad temper' that it has always had previously for the first half a mile or so. I now realise that even when fully warmed up, the engine always used to have a very subtle hesitation when pulling from low revs, which is now completely gone.
Now I've always put these foibles down to "character". This is, after all, an engine management system from the eighties (even though the cars date from the nineties), and I reasoned that of course the engine doesn't drive as perfectly as a modern engine with wasted spark or coil-on-plug stuff.
But you know what? None of these 'foibles' are actually part of the character of the engine at all. I am now realising that they are characteristics of a fifteen-year-old engine on which several components that are not part of the normal regime of regular replacement were getting a bit elderly and could benefit from a refresh beyond what the service schedule says.
Things I've replaced (roughly in order)
The above list has cost me somewhere between £200-250 from the usual TVR suppliers, so not a huge amount. I'm thinking that this little lot will become a routine replacement every 30,000 miles or 5 years.
Stuff I might yet consider replacing, because who knows whether the engine can run even better:
The smooth running of our engines relies on so many components that may have spent 10 years or more being baked in the heat of the engine bay since they were last replaced. At the risk of sounding smug, my car is now an absolute joy to drive, and is even better than I ever realised it could be. That's how these cars can and should drive, so if yours is anything other than virtually perfect then there is something wrong.
Are lots of us putting up with minor poor running issues on the basis that "they all do that sir", or thinking that it's "character" (in much the same way that Alfa owners put up with poor quality, or "passion" as they call it)?
Hear hear!But one thing has become abundantly clear to me: the engine is now driving like a dream. It starts from cold and runs perfectly straight away, without the slightest threat of stalling when you touch the throttle (a 'feature' that many people report, and which mine used to threaten as well). When driving away from cold, it pulls keenly and cruises smoothly, with none of the slight recalcitrance and 'bad temper' that it has always had previously for the first half a mile or so. I now realise that even when fully warmed up, the engine always used to have a very subtle hesitation when pulling from low revs, which is now completely gone.
Now I've always put these foibles down to "character". This is, after all, an engine management system from the eighties (even though the cars date from the nineties), and I reasoned that of course the engine doesn't drive as perfectly as a modern engine with wasted spark or coil-on-plug stuff.
But you know what? None of these 'foibles' are actually part of the character of the engine at all. I am now realising that they are characteristics of a fifteen-year-old engine on which several components that are not part of the normal regime of regular replacement were getting a bit elderly and could benefit from a refresh beyond what the service schedule says.
Things I've replaced (roughly in order)
- Coolant temperature sensor
- HT leads
- Ignition amp
- Coil
- Spark plug extenders*
- Spark plugs
- Rotor arm
- Distributor cap
The above list has cost me somewhere between £200-250 from the usual TVR suppliers, so not a huge amount. I'm thinking that this little lot will become a routine replacement every 30,000 miles or 5 years.
Stuff I might yet consider replacing, because who knows whether the engine can run even better:
- Air mass sensor
- Throttle pot (might be the cause of my "dead throttle syndrome")
- Lambda sensors
The smooth running of our engines relies on so many components that may have spent 10 years or more being baked in the heat of the engine bay since they were last replaced. At the risk of sounding smug, my car is now an absolute joy to drive, and is even better than I ever realised it could be. That's how these cars can and should drive, so if yours is anything other than virtually perfect then there is something wrong.
Are lots of us putting up with minor poor running issues on the basis that "they all do that sir", or thinking that it's "character" (in much the same way that Alfa owners put up with poor quality, or "passion" as they call it)?
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Saturday 3rd October 12:17
Well said that man.
I have checked/replaced/set up basically the same components on mine along with cam and the fuel pressure regulator and mine is is a peach of an engine as well...
I hope I didn't come across too smug; my aim was to encourage people not to accept anything other than pretty damn perfect, even from a 14CUX based engine. Because when everything is working as it should, by goodness these cars don't half drive beautifully.
Now watch as my car turns into a steaming pile of s
te! 
Now watch as my car turns into a steaming pile of s
te! Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Saturday 3rd October 19:58
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