Welcome to TVR ownership

[Overhere]

Hi, I picked up my Chimaera on August 1st after years of dreaming about ownership. My biggest problem is that I live in Winchester, on street parking, no drive, no garage.

I just couldn't wait, I know this is not the ideal evironment for a TVR but hey, gotta do what ya gotta do.

My first weeks of ownership were tainted with an ECU/sensor problem which really f***ed me off. Day 2 and the car was belching out smoke and running rough. I was devistated, at the delight of my coleauges. "Jack, it's a TVR, what did you expect!" They said.

I have a friend Tim who bought his 2nd Chimaera brand new in 98 and has NEVER had a single problem, I went on a track day with him in July, I had my VR6, and he gave me a ride, I decided then and there "I want one!"

Thanks to Adiran Blyth (what a professional!) David Batty and Andy Mcloughlin for together sorting the problem out. And HEY what awesome weather we've had since, I've put over 2000 miles on it all over the south of England.

I love driving along and getting headlight flash from other TVR owners, I feel I've entered an elite club.

I have a few questions but will read this forum and get to know it better before posing my questions.

It's Awesome!

Jack

[parrot of doom]

Welcome to the club! You'll love the car, and hate the bills!

Try taking the roof off and going out for a spin on your favourate roads at 1am. Its an amazing experience.

[tattoodrob]

hello jack,i think you were unlucky to have problems so quick but glad you enjoying it now especially in this weather.i took mine out today,roof off driving in centre of cologne(i must admit i do enjoy the admiring glances especially as the germans aint even heard of tvr at all and therefore rubberneck even more,and theres a few tunnels and the exhaust noise sounds good through city streets)i even encountered a yellow ferrari 360(i think,it was feckin nice anyway)he had a good look driving side by side,i gave him a rev and a wheelspin to show the car has a little ooomph(yes i know im a boy racer)he undertook me,shot off...he nearly had an accident as someone pulled into inside lane....screech...outside lane and fecked off.nice sound they got to them too.il keep doing the lottery

>> Edited by tattoodrob on Thursday 8th September 16:55

>> Edited by tattoodrob on Thursday 8th September 16:56

[stuartc]

Welcome fellow TVR convert , I drive my 5.0l in Brisbane Australia were its sunny all the time , I have to put the roof on some times as its too hot.

What a noise

Enjoy the weather in the uk as you dont get that much sun

[cerby4.5]

Welcome to the world of TVR ownership (sometimes frustrating and/or expensive) but I still say that they provide more 'smiles per mile' than any other car! Stick with it, everyone on here is very helpful if you have any queries. As you are finding out, a TVR brings a whole new level of enjoyment to any previously mundane journey in a regular 'tin box'.

[stringbag]

Welcome!
The answer to your first post is...



Clean the stepper motor - guide here
www.tvrcc-south-wales.co.uk/stepper.asp

Enjoy!

[mr_lash]

Hi,

Welcome. I'm just down the road in Amazingstoke (alright not so amazing Basingstoke!). Have you had a blast down the A30, highly recommended.

Just a theory but I think Winchester generates some sort of energy field that attempt to kill chims. I was 1/2 a mile from Winchester last night on the M3, when the car kangeroo'd slight a few times and the suddenly the revs were at 0 and luckily I coasted to the hard shoulder and then I couldn't restart!. AA

At least the other chims that went past had someone to wave at! The Sagaris driver obviously felt that an old chim was to far below him to wave.....

[slikk]

And in answer to your second question, its the button above your left knee.

kim

[.Mark]

3rd question. 21psi front, 23 rear, but take it VERY easy for the first few hundred miles after they are fitted.

[cosmoschick]

Overhere said:

My first weeks of ownership were tainted with an ECU/sensor problem which really f***ed me off.

Same here!

The engine kept cutting out, placing me in some potentially dangerous situations which wasn't a great introduction to TVR ownership. After a while, I lost all confidence but the PH folks were really supportive in encouraging me to get back behind the wheel.

[Overhere]

Hey! Thanks for all the replies, especially from Aus, Holdens look out! (did a project down there).

This forum is great, without even asking I know that the slight hunting of idle is the stepper motor and have learned loads about tyre, fuel etc.

Figures, the month I slap down my hard earned cash on a V8 monster the f***ing petrol prices would hike!

Hey, the next thing is learning how to handel it, I've already had scary moments with the back end and tyres smoking, major fear of the wet!

MAN! love the whole experience, just the look of it, even if it (god forbid) had a sewing machine engine. But the power, torque, handelling, calm down Jack, think of your licence!

Thanks again for the replies!

[parrot of doom]

Overhere, with the roof up cruising on the motorway you can easily get 30mpg, so you can shut all those 'suck through teeth' types right up!

[nocker]

Likewise I've had my first TVR for a week now and simply haven't stopped smiling. Granted I've had no probs so far, which has only increased the pleasure really, but it's absolutely brilliant !! I'm simply living for lunchtime and finishing work so I can go out and play esp with the weather at the mo...

[Overhere]

Thanks again for all the replys, I've been making the most of my recent purchase and highly suggest that it's the best investment any Chimarea owner can make. Steve Heath's "Bible". I've skimmed it once and am now reading more thoroughly, for days, my wife is worried because I'm obsessed with reading it. It's brilliant, sometimes you think this is useless, I'm never going to rebuild my injectors, but other time you are riveted and thinging Wow!

One of the things I've learned is in chapter 7, Cooling, the Chimaera was fitted with a 90 degree "otter" switch, but I know my fans switch on at just over 70 degress. Interestingly this may be good for a guy that drives his Chim in heavy traffic alot, but I'm not sure it's right for me as the "sweet spot" for the engine is between 70 and 90. In my driving it rarely get's above 75 even in the hot weather we've had lately.

I'll start another thread on this for more opinions as this is now burried in this thread, but welcome any comments. Read the bible!

Thanks again!

Jack

[dtpugh]

Overhere said:

One of the things I've learned is in chapter 7, Cooling, the Chimaera was fitted with a 90 degree "otter" switch, but I know my fans switch on at just over 70 degress. Interestingly this may be good for a guy that drives his Chim in heavy traffic alot, but I'm not sure it's right for me as the "sweet spot" for the engine is between 70 and 90. In my driving it rarely get's above 75 even in the hot weather we've had lately.

Welcome you will enjoy it!

I have had a chimp 5 years with no problems at all until this year and now I am making up for it. But hopefully I am over the worse and the car will settle down again

Anyway as regard to temperature, if the fans are cutting in at 70 degrees and it never get's above 75. I would suspect a faulty gauge or sensor. Rather than this being the actual temperature.

I am sure someone more knowledgable will be along soon and comment.

Dave

[shnozz]

get your arse to the Hants TVRCC region meets! We meet at teh Hen and Chicken in Upper Froyle so just a blast down the A31 for you!

[tahiti450]

Overhere said:

Steve Heath's "Bible". I've skimmed it once and am now reading more thoroughly, One of the things I've learned is in chapter 7, Cooling, the Chimaera was fitted with a 90 degree "otter" switch, but I know my fans switch on at just over 70 degress.

Welcome to the club!
1) "the Bible" really is essential reading, devoured mine once i'd decided i was going to start seriously lookng for a car.

2) as has been said the water temp gauge, like all the instruments (not just on TVRs I should add)readings need to be taken as a guide rather than assumedto be spot on. Like you my fabs cut in at what seem like low temps (70-80) but then at other times dont cut in until the gauge is reading 90.

On the subject of anxious first days of ownership, you reminded me thaht i found that my fan switch (on the rad) had failed on my first ever journey in the chim driving it down from York when i picked it up, got very hot until on the M-way (which was all the way home) But easily fixed. Also then discovered the brake light switch was loose and the brake lights had been on all the time over heating the red lenses one of which warped and fell out behind the perspex cover! So dont be to surprised these cars are supposed to keep you on your toes. Since then apart from relative trivia the car has been absolutely reliable and a total joy.

>> Edited by tahiti450 on Monday 12th September 23:31

[overhere]

Hi, Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your feedback and comments! I've been away on business for a week and came back to my babe (and my girlfriend! ;-). Another great w/e MAN! Have we been lucky with the weather this month or what!!! I took a run down the 272 to Midhurst and on to Petworth House (girlfriend loves the drive as long as we take in a national trust ;-).

Thanks to Shnozz, I'd love to meet the hanst TVRCC, must do that, in fact looking forward to it

Jack

[jonnyb]

parrot of doom said:

Welcome to the club! You'll love the car, and hate the bills! Try taking the roof off and going out for a spin on your favourate roads at 1am. Its an amazing experience.

OH YES!!!!

[Big Al.]

and a very big welcome to the forum.

Hope to see you around, OH