Hot start mod worth doing?
Discussion
Hello
Bought a 450 last October and thanks to everyone who posts on here I’ve learnt so much about the car already, also read the bible as suggested on here before I bought the car, that was the best book I ever invested in.
Can they all suffer with the hot start problem? Is it a mod worth doing as a preventative measure?
I'm quite handy when it comes to cars and I’m planning on keeping the car for a long time so if anyone has any other mods / improvements worth thinking about I’d like to hear about them please?
Also looking at carrying a few spares, looked on TVR Chimerapages.com, "touring with a Chimaera" there’s a small spares list on there that seems quite reasonable.
Many thanks again to everyone who posts on here it’s very much appreciated from a new TVR owner.
Bought a 450 last October and thanks to everyone who posts on here I’ve learnt so much about the car already, also read the bible as suggested on here before I bought the car, that was the best book I ever invested in.
Can they all suffer with the hot start problem? Is it a mod worth doing as a preventative measure?
I'm quite handy when it comes to cars and I’m planning on keeping the car for a long time so if anyone has any other mods / improvements worth thinking about I’d like to hear about them please?
Also looking at carrying a few spares, looked on TVR Chimerapages.com, "touring with a Chimaera" there’s a small spares list on there that seems quite reasonable.
Many thanks again to everyone who posts on here it’s very much appreciated from a new TVR owner.
Is it worth doing as a preventative measure, as opposed to a cure? Hell 
You can bet your bottom dollar, it will go wrong in the most inconvenient and/or embarrassing situation (mine was in a car park while surrounded by admirers - strolled up to crowded car, eased door open, slid into seat, all ready to twist key and put the fear of God into the spectators and.... click
).
It's cheap easy and spares your blushes - go for it!
You can bet your bottom dollar, it will go wrong in the most inconvenient and/or embarrassing situation (mine was in a car park while surrounded by admirers - strolled up to crowded car, eased door open, slid into seat, all ready to twist key and put the fear of God into the spectators and.... click
). It's cheap easy and spares your blushes - go for it!
Many thanks for the replies, Its one mod I will definitely do before it happens,
The car came with all the Leven bits already, (most of them I think, inc petrol cap, oil filler cap etc!)
Bunglist here's the link
www.chimaerapages.com/resources_ho
When you turn the key power is sent to the starter motor. However one of the wires in the chain isn't quite up to the job so in hot conditions the resistance in the wire builds to the point where insufficient power gets to the starter motor
The car came with all the Leven bits already, (most of them I think, inc petrol cap, oil filler cap etc!)
Bunglist here's the link
www.chimaerapages.com/resources_ho
When you turn the key power is sent to the starter motor. However one of the wires in the chain isn't quite up to the job so in hot conditions the resistance in the wire builds to the point where insufficient power gets to the starter motor
Edited by Whizz65 on Tuesday 23 January 15:58
Bunglist,
The mod takes the high current away from the poxy wiring that TVR fitted from the ignition key to the starter motor solenoid and hence stops the voltage drop across said wiring.
All it consists of is a relay which uses the same solenoid wire to energise said relay which then carries the high current to the starter motor solenoid. No more voltage drop.
Thats it.
Cheers.
Paul
The mod takes the high current away from the poxy wiring that TVR fitted from the ignition key to the starter motor solenoid and hence stops the voltage drop across said wiring.
All it consists of is a relay which uses the same solenoid wire to energise said relay which then carries the high current to the starter motor solenoid. No more voltage drop.
Thats it.
Cheers.
Paul
Paulathome said:
Bunglist,
The mod takes the high current away from the poxy wiring that TVR fitted from the ignition key to the starter motor solenoid and hence stops the voltage drop across said wiring.
All it consists of is a relay which uses the same solenoid wire to energise said relay which then carries the high current to the starter motor solenoid. No more voltage drop.
Thats it.
Cheers.
Paul
The mod takes the high current away from the poxy wiring that TVR fitted from the ignition key to the starter motor solenoid and hence stops the voltage drop across said wiring.
All it consists of is a relay which uses the same solenoid wire to energise said relay which then carries the high current to the starter motor solenoid. No more voltage drop.
Thats it.
Cheers.
Paul
Thanks alot, not sure if someone has done this to mine, (I dont think so) but I have never had a hot start problem (but now I have said this it will happen)
. Hi
Thanks for all the posts, ordered a hot start kit today.
Spoke to someone who was turning right at a busy junction and his car stalled and wouldn't re-start, so £20 well spent I think, as many of you say better to prevent before it happens.
many thanks again.
Head light mod next on the list I think after speaking to Dave at Mod wise
Thanks for all the posts, ordered a hot start kit today.
Spoke to someone who was turning right at a busy junction and his car stalled and wouldn't re-start, so £20 well spent I think, as many of you say better to prevent before it happens.
many thanks again.
Head light mod next on the list I think after speaking to Dave at Mod wise
I am not entirely certain it is fair to blame the TVR wire thickness for the problem. Suffered it on my 98 Griff and although I agree there was not adequate current available at the starter solenoid to pull it in, the substantial voltage loss was not in the cables but in the Starter channel of the Immobiliser. That aside it is certainly worth doing.
steve-v8s said:
I am not entirely certain it is fair to blame the TVR wire thickness for the problem. Suffered it on my 98 Griff and although I agree there was not adequate current available at the starter solenoid to pull it in, the substantial voltage loss was not in the cables but in the Starter channel of the Immobiliser. That aside it is certainly worth doing.
Thats a very reasoned description, I would only add that the problem goes away with a new starter or when starter is cold. It seems to be a combination of heat / wear & going 'just' beyond tolerances to throw the solenoid.
As DB has said several times; LR did it :- so why not do it on TVR...
Dave
Easy to fit as said. The only difficulty I had which doubled the installation time from 25 mins approx to 50mins was that the pre formed hole on the battery spade was too small. I enlaged the hole insitu as I was 
if I was going to undo my wiring. Therefore double check the size of your hole before yee start. 
if I was going to undo my wiring. Therefore double check the size of your hole before yee start. Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff