Discussion
Hi,
New 450 owner here, thought I would make a post to introduce myself and ask some questions about my new car. I bought this a couple of weeks ago in Bristol (Hi John if you're in the forum still!) based on a Pistonheads advert. I had been looking for a while and was struck instantly by this 450.
I previously had a Clio 172 Cup, so going to a thumping 4.5ltr V8 has been a proper eye opener for me - safe to say i'll never go back to anything less!
It's very clean, and has only done 36k! Really like the gold badges, think it sets it apart from the others that I had previously looked at - someone has also fitted a cool toolbox in the boot to house the jack/foam/bulbs etc which is a nice touch.
I would be interested to know if anyone on here has owned this before, i'm the 8th owner.
That being said, I had some questions
- The immobiliser is the standard meta system, but someone has changed it to work by pressing the keyfob button near the recepticle; the light goes solid and then you can start the engine. As cool as this is, I would prefer to go back to the system whereby you put a physical key into the square recepticle - mainly just because I have 4 square fobs, and only one button fob. Is this easy to do?
- Upon starting, the revs dip quite low on the verge of stalling a couple of times - I used to have something similar on the 172 which was just the standard map, is there anything that can be done to smooth the startup? There was a lot of work done on the car just before I bought it, including an ECU repair as well as new rotor arm, AFM, vacuum advance kit
- I have seen some recommendations to put some kind of heat shielding on the starter motor, which would help protect it from the manifold heat. Some aluminimum ducting from B&Q was suggested, has anyone done this - worth doing?
Copy of the bible is on the way, so maybe some of these questions might get answered anyways.
Cheers
Sam
New 450 owner here, thought I would make a post to introduce myself and ask some questions about my new car. I bought this a couple of weeks ago in Bristol (Hi John if you're in the forum still!) based on a Pistonheads advert. I had been looking for a while and was struck instantly by this 450.
I previously had a Clio 172 Cup, so going to a thumping 4.5ltr V8 has been a proper eye opener for me - safe to say i'll never go back to anything less!
It's very clean, and has only done 36k! Really like the gold badges, think it sets it apart from the others that I had previously looked at - someone has also fitted a cool toolbox in the boot to house the jack/foam/bulbs etc which is a nice touch.
I would be interested to know if anyone on here has owned this before, i'm the 8th owner.
That being said, I had some questions
- The immobiliser is the standard meta system, but someone has changed it to work by pressing the keyfob button near the recepticle; the light goes solid and then you can start the engine. As cool as this is, I would prefer to go back to the system whereby you put a physical key into the square recepticle - mainly just because I have 4 square fobs, and only one button fob. Is this easy to do?
- Upon starting, the revs dip quite low on the verge of stalling a couple of times - I used to have something similar on the 172 which was just the standard map, is there anything that can be done to smooth the startup? There was a lot of work done on the car just before I bought it, including an ECU repair as well as new rotor arm, AFM, vacuum advance kit
- I have seen some recommendations to put some kind of heat shielding on the starter motor, which would help protect it from the manifold heat. Some aluminimum ducting from B&Q was suggested, has anyone done this - worth doing?
Copy of the bible is on the way, so maybe some of these questions might get answered anyways.
Cheers
Sam
I wrap my starter motor in silver heat proofing similar to what’s used on the inner wings and cable tied on. Been ok for years not that I’m convinced it makes much difference but it does seem like a good idea.
The connections and age of the long power cable to starter is probably more important to keep an eye on.
The dip in revs on start up is probably the system taking its time to get operating/ slow stepper operation.
If it quickly settles to a nice idle maybe just add a tickle of throttle to smooth it over this area.
Others far more versed in the 14CUX will offer better advice here.
Rovergauge is a useful tool you can use to diagnose/ watch the system in operation and get data which is a great help.
The Bible is ok and does obtain some important info but as these cars were hand built it’s a very subjective look at the cars rather than anything detailed.
Most the info you will want can be gained via searching on P/H or indeed by putting up current posts like this one.
Oh and welcome.
Yes it’s very clean
Very smart indeed.
It’s in the detail so as good as these pages are a decent Tvr specialist is helpful for the odd service/ repair and often these guys help you learn the cars so well worth finding a friendly local Tvr man if only to go over the car for you and confirm anything that needs attention.
Specialists might or might not be useful regards your immobiliser but there are a couple of alarm/ guru on here or working on Tvr who might know the way forward in that matter. Alarm/ immobiliser issues are well documented but wiring/ photos and openly talking about the security system is sort of frowned upon as you can imagine.
Carl Baker is one Guru but he’s not full time these days, Abacus Alarms are great with the Meta Alarm and someone else who’s name slips my mind can do all things Tvr alarm wise! Someone will hopefully post his name shortly!
Enjoy the Tvr fun.
What’s your tyre pressures with cold tyres
22f / 24r is normal.
What age are the tyres.
Keep stuff like that present in your mind at all times.
Tvr are light so good tyres help a lot as the suspension is or usually set fairly stiff.
Watch the torque being the thing that overwhelms the tyres and causes wheel spin. Compared to a screamer like the 172 it will sound like the engines barely accelerating but it is as the torque builds through 2500-4500 revs there is a lot of power coming.
Enjoy it but keep it in a straight line,, until you join the boys at a track then you can really enjoy a Tvr
The connections and age of the long power cable to starter is probably more important to keep an eye on.
The dip in revs on start up is probably the system taking its time to get operating/ slow stepper operation.
If it quickly settles to a nice idle maybe just add a tickle of throttle to smooth it over this area.
Others far more versed in the 14CUX will offer better advice here.
Rovergauge is a useful tool you can use to diagnose/ watch the system in operation and get data which is a great help.
The Bible is ok and does obtain some important info but as these cars were hand built it’s a very subjective look at the cars rather than anything detailed.
Most the info you will want can be gained via searching on P/H or indeed by putting up current posts like this one.
Oh and welcome.
Yes it’s very clean
Very smart indeed.
It’s in the detail so as good as these pages are a decent Tvr specialist is helpful for the odd service/ repair and often these guys help you learn the cars so well worth finding a friendly local Tvr man if only to go over the car for you and confirm anything that needs attention.
Specialists might or might not be useful regards your immobiliser but there are a couple of alarm/ guru on here or working on Tvr who might know the way forward in that matter. Alarm/ immobiliser issues are well documented but wiring/ photos and openly talking about the security system is sort of frowned upon as you can imagine.
Carl Baker is one Guru but he’s not full time these days, Abacus Alarms are great with the Meta Alarm and someone else who’s name slips my mind can do all things Tvr alarm wise! Someone will hopefully post his name shortly!
Enjoy the Tvr fun.
What’s your tyre pressures with cold tyres
22f / 24r is normal. What age are the tyres.
Keep stuff like that present in your mind at all times.
Tvr are light so good tyres help a lot as the suspension is or usually set fairly stiff.
Watch the torque being the thing that overwhelms the tyres and causes wheel spin. Compared to a screamer like the 172 it will sound like the engines barely accelerating but it is as the torque builds through 2500-4500 revs there is a lot of power coming.
Enjoy it but keep it in a straight line,, until you join the boys at a track then you can really enjoy a Tvr
And...
....and this might just have been me being lazy....(by getting used to it)
But, the idling was all over the shop on all my cars. Some days no idle, some days 2500 rpm, some days both.
On the no idle thing I just kept my foot on the brake and the accelerator at the same time. Handy on hill starts when combined with a completely useless handbrake.
....and this might just have been me being lazy....(by getting used to it)
But, the idling was all over the shop on all my cars. Some days no idle, some days 2500 rpm, some days both.
On the no idle thing I just kept my foot on the brake and the accelerator at the same time. Handy on hill starts when combined with a completely useless handbrake.
Get a copy of the Rover Gauge s/w on a windows pc and a cable .. blitzracing on here I think..... My inconsistent idle was caused by failing lambda sensors, rover gauge will confirm any faults ... only problem was sourcing proper NGK sensors with the appropriate heat shielded wiring.
Classic Chim said:
I wrap my starter motor in silver heat proofing similar to what’s used on the inner wings and cable tied on. Been ok for years not that I’m convinced it makes much difference but it does seem like a good idea.
The connections and age of the long power cable to starter is probably more important to keep an eye on.
The dip in revs on start up is probably the system taking its time to get operating/ slow stepper operation.
If it quickly settles to a nice idle maybe just add a tickle of throttle to smooth it over this area.
Others far more versed in the 14CUX will offer better advice here.
Rovergauge is a useful tool you can use to diagnose/ watch the system in operation and get data which is a great help.
The Bible is ok and does obtain some important info but as these cars were hand built it’s a very subjective look at the cars rather than anything detailed.
Most the info you will want can be gained via searching on P/H or indeed by putting up current posts like this one.
Oh and welcome.
Yes it’s very clean
Very smart indeed.
It’s in the detail so as good as these pages are a decent Tvr specialist is helpful for the odd service/ repair and often these guys help you learn the cars so well worth finding a friendly local Tvr man if only to go over the car for you and confirm anything that needs attention.
Specialists might or might not be useful regards your immobiliser but there are a couple of alarm/ guru on here or working on Tvr who might know the way forward in that matter. Alarm/ immobiliser issues are well documented but wiring/ photos and openly talking about the security system is sort of frowned upon as you can imagine.
Carl Baker is one Guru but he’s not full time these days, Abacus Alarms are great with the Meta Alarm and someone else who’s name slips my mind can do all things Tvr alarm wise! Someone will hopefully post his name shortly!
Enjoy the Tvr fun.
What’s your tyre pressures with cold tyres 22f / 24r is normal.
What age are the tyres.
Keep stuff like that present in your mind at all times.
Tvr are light so good tyres help a lot as the suspension is or usually set fairly stiff.
Watch the torque being the thing that overwhelms the tyres and causes wheel spin. Compared to a screamer like the 172 it will sound like the engines barely accelerating but it is as the torque builds through 2500-4500 revs there is a lot of power coming.
Enjoy it but keep it in a straight line,, until you join the boys at a track then you can really enjoy a Tvr
Thanks!The connections and age of the long power cable to starter is probably more important to keep an eye on.
The dip in revs on start up is probably the system taking its time to get operating/ slow stepper operation.
If it quickly settles to a nice idle maybe just add a tickle of throttle to smooth it over this area.
Others far more versed in the 14CUX will offer better advice here.
Rovergauge is a useful tool you can use to diagnose/ watch the system in operation and get data which is a great help.
The Bible is ok and does obtain some important info but as these cars were hand built it’s a very subjective look at the cars rather than anything detailed.
Most the info you will want can be gained via searching on P/H or indeed by putting up current posts like this one.
Oh and welcome.
Yes it’s very clean
Very smart indeed.
It’s in the detail so as good as these pages are a decent Tvr specialist is helpful for the odd service/ repair and often these guys help you learn the cars so well worth finding a friendly local Tvr man if only to go over the car for you and confirm anything that needs attention.
Specialists might or might not be useful regards your immobiliser but there are a couple of alarm/ guru on here or working on Tvr who might know the way forward in that matter. Alarm/ immobiliser issues are well documented but wiring/ photos and openly talking about the security system is sort of frowned upon as you can imagine.
Carl Baker is one Guru but he’s not full time these days, Abacus Alarms are great with the Meta Alarm and someone else who’s name slips my mind can do all things Tvr alarm wise! Someone will hopefully post his name shortly!
Enjoy the Tvr fun.
What’s your tyre pressures with cold tyres
22f / 24r is normal. What age are the tyres.
Keep stuff like that present in your mind at all times.
Tvr are light so good tyres help a lot as the suspension is or usually set fairly stiff.
Watch the torque being the thing that overwhelms the tyres and causes wheel spin. Compared to a screamer like the 172 it will sound like the engines barely accelerating but it is as the torque builds through 2500-4500 revs there is a lot of power coming.
Enjoy it but keep it in a straight line,, until you join the boys at a track then you can really enjoy a Tvr
I will check the cable and look into the shielding - thanks
The bad idle doesnt last for too long - it just dips to the verge of stalling, which is sorted out by a bit of throttle but i'll check the stepper to see if it's in good nick
The tyres are old so are next on my list - several threads on here for tires, is the concensus still the rainsport 6 tyres?
PH is amazing for knowledge, have definitely found alot of stuff already
glow worm said:
Get a copy of the Rover Gauge s/w on a windows pc and a cable .. blitzracing on here I think..... My inconsistent idle was caused by failing lambda sensors, rover gauge will confirm any faults ... only problem was sourcing proper NGK sensors with the appropriate heat shielded wiring.
I will look into getting a cable - cheers2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Enjoy your car!
All I'd say is the method of deactivating the immobiliser with the fob is not a mod, but standard. (with a kind of half press)
I have had a bunch of these cars, done maybe a quarter of a million miles and never once use the peg thing.
Yeah I guess it's a moot point really, just paranoid having the immobiliser and the car opening responsibilities on a single flimbsy key fob!All I'd say is the method of deactivating the immobiliser with the fob is not a mod, but standard. (with a kind of half press)
I have had a bunch of these cars, done maybe a quarter of a million miles and never once use the peg thing.
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