Closing boot issues tips ?

[TVRSJW]

The boot works as it should I.e button under dash pops the boot and the boot shuts and the lock mech works (opens and closes and solenoid works but.......

The only way I can close the boot is to give it a really firm push on the left side of boot lid and this does not always work pushing in the middle does nothing and it takes 2/3 times of closing placing more pressure on left side of boot lid for it to catch , but the lug fixed the boot lid looks central to catch ?

Getting to stage where it could damage something having to push so hard !

Just to say boot boot seals are ok and in place no raised sections , and nothing seems to be fouling the boot lid

Is it a case of adjusting the lug on boot lid ? Just wondered if there was any tips from experienced TVR owners ?

[rev-erend]

Is this with the roof in the boot ?

[ianwayne]

You can unbolt the lock pin on the boot lid itself and slide it down slightly. This would enable the lid to close more easily. But of course check it won't fly open!

Sounds like you may just need to lubricate the latch mechanism.

[TVRSJW]

Thanks for the reply’s , no the targa not in the boot as I say fully checked fouling and the lock mech is lubed and works fine pushing it in with finger clicks fine and cable pulled with little effort unlocks which is why I was thinking the boot lid lug (what ever it’s called lol)

So if I loosen and adjust forward this should help alignment ?

I’m going to have to figure it out but wanted to put the question to the forum as it’s a mine of info !!!

[mickh32]

Mine works well enough but sometimes not first time. I have to make sure that when I close it, I give it a solid push and don't allow it to bounce up and then it will lock ok.

[Belle427]

I tried adjusting mine and it just made things worse so i gave up.
A good firm push down in the middle is needed to close it.

[rev-erend]

Get yourself an 8mm borescope from ebay for android / iphone.

Great diagnostic tool.

You can just record closing the boot and see the pin and latch interaction.

Edited by rev-erend on Tuesday 9th April 08:23

[TVRSJW]

Thanks yeah I can push hard with my full 18 stone in the middle and no way it will click shut !! This is my second Chim so knew how the old one closed , as I say you have to close and put a lot of force on the left side of boot lid for it to catch and close ! No way it closing pushing down in the middle !!

[rev-erend]

Sounds like a side to side misalignment.

[Skyedriver]

Mine just needs a very gentle press half way between the catch and the right hand end. Anywhere else and it won't shut.

[Sardonicus]

Put up with mine similar to this when I 1st got it inc occasionally springing itself open adjustment helped none, the catch all seemed a bit sloppy on the pivots etc fitted a new one never looked back little push down once with my palm and its shut

[ChimpOnGas]

rev-erend said:

Sounds like a side to side misalignment.

^^This^^

If your adjustment attempts so far have proved unsuccessful I recommend taking a step back, make a study the other areas of adjustment that could be causing your issue, for example it's well known the single gas strut arrangement creates a lot more force on one boot hinge so the boot lid is often not sitting truly horizontal.

If your Chimaera was built before late 1998 it will have the earlier boot hinges which combined with the single sided gas strut arrangement often mean the boot lid will not be sitting horizontally, if this is the case with your car remove the strut temporally and make your adjustments to the boot hinge at the corner where the boot sits highest, refit the strut and test. If you've previously been adjusting the catch or the striker fitted to the lid you will likely need to tweak these again now your boot is sitting horizontally.

TVR really should have fitted two less powerful gas struts (one on each side) to share the force on the lid evenly instead of one strong one on the O/S, as it turns out this is exactly what they did, the two dead dogs were an optional extra by the way

TVR clearly knew things could be better in the boot hinge department as Chimaeras saw three different setups throughout the model's production life. Later cars from late 98 / early 99 had the above much better hinges that allowed the boot lid to sit at the vertical when opened giving better access when stowing the targa panel. The hinges on these later cars are far stronger and the strut force is even so boot misalignment problems became a lot less common, in my opinion it's a significantly superior design.

The twisted boot lid syndrome is very likely why you've been struggling to get it to latch and your sticker/catch adjustments have proved unsuccessful, turn your attentions to the hinges and get the boot lid sitting nice and horizontal first, then make your final adjustments at the striker fitted to the lid. Not only will it latch nicely without you needing to apply a significant closing force but the boot lid will have a nicer fit too.

More detail on boot hinge types in the link below with some photos of Steve Edwards' early Chimaera were he modified it to the far superior Mk3 hinges.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

As you'll see I fitted a slightly longer boot strut to my 1996 Chimaera with Mk2 hinges which allows better access to my LPG filler, the mod worked as intended but ultimately a set of Mk3 hinges would be the superior solution as they are definitely stronger and hold the boot lid in alignment better than the hinge types that came before.

Hope this helps, Dave.

[TVRSJW]

Great thanks had a quick look and yes the strut side the boot lid sits proud of wing and left side doesn’t ! So twisted boot and looks like someone in the last has tried to solve as there seems to be extra washers been out into the hinge on O/S ????

Not done the lug adjustment yet as only wanna tackle it when I have some time as it lives outside and I don’t want to be in a position where I can’t shut the boot for security reasons !! Plus never done anything like this before so not sure “me” adjusting hinges is going to end well ?!!!!