New chim 2 week update + several questions

[chimune]

So, i picked up my chimaera 500 two weeks ago and despite my initial worries about going from front to rear wheel drive, i am pleasantly suprised at how easy it is to drive. Thanks to all who gave advice in my prev thread.

First thoughts:

what a noise !!! - but you all knew that anyway. I found out that the exhaust system is new and designed to not have cats. Not just a standard one with the cats poked out. There also appears to be a bespoke exhaust manifold. Would anyone have a piccy of a standard 500 manifold so i can be sure?

I had presumed that a 500 would be hard work in town, and sure there is a bit of hunting / missfire below 2k, but its not bad at all. I will check the usual suspects mentioned on this site soon, but i just sit in 2nd around town instead. Even on the open road, i thought it would be 'champing at the bit', but the ( relativly ) stiff throttle peddle makes more gas a decision not an accident.

The interior is a bit tatty, with what seems to be quite a common lifting crack in the dash veneer. Some bits of leather are pretty tired and i will replace these in the future, but it is a 8 yr old car. Some tlc is required first. A good clean and feed.

Body and wheels are sweet with a respray and refurb just completed.

Engine - it was new, but i hadnt appreciated that this just means a recon block, with new pistons etc. The head is the same with a skim and new valves etc. I have seen the folder on this car and it is huuge ! When i am next at its original home ( Hexham Horseless C ) i will sit down and plow through it properly to try and get a picture of what is new and what may need attention soon. It does seem that lots of jobs have been done recently tho ( chassis waxol, wishbones, brakes etc ).

So, picked it up on the fri, drove it all day sat to get some miles under my belt. Sunday was a full day advanced drive session with Ride Drive. Very usefull, but i fear i should have done it in the Corrado. I found myself trying to concentrate on two new things at the same time ! Drive a new and scary car, whilst trying to recall what road sign i had just passed ! Even so, it was good stuff and it would definatly recommend it.
By the time i got back to Edinburgh on sun eve i had driven 450 mls in the heart of northumberland and the borders. A baptism of fire ! I was akip by 9:30.
Last weekend i did another 300, but have actually run out of petrol money now ...

I have several questions though:

1. What is the rocker switch looking at me to the right of the gear stick, on the hump shoulder? It seems to make a wirring sound, which lasts about 4 secs then stops. If i rock it the other way it does it again and stops. I think it is a tvr switch with a raised bump with a white dot.

2. I found the dash lights ! - but there are two buttons above my left knee. The one closest to the engine is the dash light, but the one closest to me seems to do nothing. They are of the same type. Of course this is the one i thought was the dash. Any ideas?

3.There is a small plastic box mounted directly in front of the gear stick. It is on the fwd facing slope towards the two heater vents. I dont think it has a button on it but cant be sure. Could it be the key fob / alarm receiver? As far as i know it is a factory meta alrm.

4. Someone asked me where the radio ariel is. Seems like a good question - what is the answer ?!

5. As the engine is new i am being carefull with revs. As far as i can work out it has about 800 - 900 miles on it now. HHC said it had a mineral oil in it but this should be replaced after run-in with mobil 1. Question is when is it run in?

I have lots of other questions and Steves bible wont be here for another 2 weeks ! I will ask them in a new thread.

Thanks again for the advice and yes - i now have the grin !

Cheers

[Nick_Chim]

Great to hear you're enjoying it; sounds like you've got a good one, and are approaching ownership & getting to know your car in the right way - a start of a beautiful relationship me'thinks Some thoughts on your questions:

chimune said:

1. What is the rocker switch looking at me to the right of the gear stick, on the hump shoulder? It seems to make a wirring sound, which lasts about 4 secs then stops. If i rock it the other way it does it again and stops. I think it is a tvr switch with a raised bump with a white dot.

Sounds like the aircon recirc switch.

chimune said:

2. I found the dash lights ! - but there are two buttons above my left knee. The one closest to the engine is the dash light, but the one closest to me seems to do nothing. They are of the same type. Of course this is the one i thought was the dash. Any ideas?

Doesn't sound standard, but some people have had a fan override fitted - in various forms; mine replaces the dash 'silent running' mode switch which has been hard-wired. A previous owner could have added a switch? Don't press it with a passenger in, in case previous owner was a Mr J Bond.

chimune said:

3.There is a small plastic box mounted directly in front of the gear stick. It is on the fwd facing slope towards the two heater vents. I dont think it has a button on it but cant be sure. Could it be the key fob / alarm receiver? As far as i know it is a factory meta alrm.

Meta alarm receiver is under the dash - not that if alarm is standard. Can't help there - no connections, sockets or switches present? Perhaps another Q-branch mod?

chimune said:

4. Someone asked me where the radio ariel is. Seems like a good question - what is the answer ?!

Think this is also under the dash, but it's pants! There is a 'modwise' radio reception improvement kit available - search for David Beer on the forums for contact details.

chimune said:

5. As the engine is new i am being carefull with revs. As far as i can work out it has about 800 - 900 miles on it now. HHC said it had a mineral oil in it but this should be replaced after run-in with mobil 1. Question is when is it run in?

Horse's mouth:

My handbook said:

Running In the purpose of running in is to allow the new engine components to bed in properly. To gain maximum performance, service life and general reliabilityu, the best policy to adopt during the running in period is to avoid high engine rpm, large throttle openings and most importantly not allowing the engine to labour in a high gear (I don't think the implied double negative there is intentional! ) Starting the engine from cold 0-1000 miles - rpm should not exceed 2500 rpm until engine is warm 0-250 miles max rpm not to exceed 3500 rpm whilst the engine is hot 250-2000 miles, rpm should be gradually increased until full power and max rpm for the vehicle is achieved.

so the answer to when is it run-in is 2000 miles.

However,

My handbook said:

Engine Oil Spec up to 1000 Miles - Mobil 10w30 Mineral up to 6000 Miles - Mobil 15w40 Mineral after 6000 Miles - Mobil1 5w50 synthetic

As to the Synthetic to use after 6000 miles, welcome to the great oil debate! The recommended Mobil 1 5W50 is no longer available. In the uk, Mobil1 comes in 0w40 (referred to as bat's piss) and 15w50 which some use. In France it's 5w40 which I'm running with. Others recommend Mineral Castrol GTX (but yet others claim sludging); some swear by Shell Helix Ultra 10w60 or Castrol Formula RS 10w60.

Hope this helps.

>> Edited by Nick_Chim on Wednesday 19th October 23:25

[Cider Andy]

chimune said:

1. What is the rocker switch looking at me to the right of the gear stick, on the hump shoulder? It seems to make a wirring sound, which lasts about 4 secs then stops. If i rock it the other way it does it again and stops. I think it is a tvr switch with a raised bump with a white dot.

Nick_Chim said:

Sounds like the aircon recirc switch.

Yes, it is. It opens a flap in the nearside footwell next to the battery.

[chevtrev]

The airel is a wire which is incorpated around the windscreen surround.
The second "left knee button" could well be a fan overide as previously mentioned.
Enjoy

[v41ley]

chimune said:

3.There is a small plastic box mounted directly in front of the gear stick. It is on the fwd facing slope towards the two heater vents. I dont think it has a button on it but cant be sure. Could it be the key fob / alarm receiver? As far as i know it is a factory meta alrm.

I had a snooper device velcro'ed into this space on mine by the previous owner. There are about 2 wires coming through the air vent which fit into the back.
Never used it as I stick to the speed limits !

[Graham]

chimune said:

2. I found the dash lights ! - but there are two buttons above my left knee. The one closest to the engine is the dash light, but the one closest to me seems to do nothing. They are of the same type. Of course this is the one i thought was the dash. Any ideas?

on mine the other one is the boot release

[quote]
3.There is a small plastic box mounted directly in front of the gear stick. It is on the fwd facing slope towards the two heater vents. I dont think it has a button on it but cant be sure. Could it be the key fob / alarm receiver? As far as i know it is a factory meta alrm.


[/quote]

mine has somthing similar and its the window closer. try opening the windows and then pressing the button.

G

[j8 tro]

Ive read topics before now of a heated seat switch under the dash near the left knee.

[hugepiece]

the box infront of the geatstick could be the microwave sensor for the alarm.

[jonathant]

The heated seat button is above my right knee on the steering column (obviously not the boot release!) near the ignition barrel.

Confirm the left knee whirring button as aircon recirc, mine's broken so doesn't whirr any more. :[

[chimune]

Ok - thanks for the help. I will check out the suggestions over the weeekend.

Nick_Chim - thanks for the notes on oil and run-in. I will get it changed after payday.

Graham - dunno if it helps but this wee fella is midway between the two window switches. Ill post a piccy if i can find a digi cam over weekend. Will also do this for the other bits - and get a profile set up. Boot release is defo on right hand side.

Will investigate if 2nd button above left knee is heated seat. Orig owner was fond of them so its a possibility.

Re:aircon the noise was defo down the nearside foorwell so that sounds like the cause. How do i turn the aircon on? HHC mentioned that it may need some attention.

As an aside - i cant actually turn the hot air off. Again, the orig owner would drive with the top off as often as possible - all year round, so maybe its just stuck there for good, but the dial spins ok. Is this a dash off troubleshoot?
Related: Will investigate if 2nd button above left knee is heated seat. Orig owner was fond of them too so its a possibility.

Sheesh - i'm sure all this will be in the bible !

Cheers

[Cider Andy]

The heater temperature control (if working properly) turns on the air conditioner. When almost fully right (towards the cold position) you will hear a microswitch click. This should start the compressor. This is accompanied by the engine fans switching on for a few seconds at a time, even with the engine cold. As with all car A/C systems, if it hasn't been used regularly all the gas escapes and the compressor doesn't start.

[jonathant]

As ciderandy says, moving the temperature control far right will click a microswitch, you should then hear the compressor clutch click on. The compressor is also controlled by a relay in the footwell which (I guess/hope is connected to a thermostat somewhere). Stops everything freezing up?

The main engine cooling fans will also run periodically.