First TVR problem

[f1fx]

Hi all
Just to let you know .. i had my First Tvr breakdown this morning on the way into work.
started it up this morning . all ok .. drove out the street, and as i drove down the road it cut out and then burst in to life again. this happened 2 more times until i got half way around a BIG roundabout .. where it stopped . and would not start. so i had to jump out and push it to edge of the roundabout .
and then would not start ... for 5 mins ..i managed to get it started, but it then just stopped. then once again started, and i managed to drive home .. not missing a beat. very odd ..... any one got any thoughts on this ???? and serious ones too pls . I was hoping it is damp as it is kept on the drive ! not the fuel filter or pump problem. Or coil .

Thanks in advance

[chim666]

It could be one of the silver relays playing-up.
Remove the bit of carpet covering the battery in the passenger footwell.
You'll see a circuit board with the ECU and other bits & bobs probably on top of the battery box.
You will also see two fly-leads each with a silver relay on them - they are identical. Try re-plugging the relays, or you could also try swapping them over to see if the problem changes symptoms.
Part number: Bosch 0332014112
The relay with the brown and orange wires coming out of it powers the injectors, AFM and a feed to the ECU.
The relay with the white/purple and white/orange wires coming off it feeds the fuel pump and carbon canister (white purple wire) and the lambda heaters (white/orange)

Hope this helps.

Paul

Edited by chim666 on Friday 23 February 09:55

[f1fx]

chim666 said:

It could be one of the silver relays playing-up.
Remove the bit of carpet covering the battery in the passenger footwell.
You'll see a circuit board with the ECU and other bits & bobs probably on top of the battery box.
You will also see two fly-leads each with a silver relay on them - they are identical. Try re-plugging the relays, or you could also try swapping them over to see if the problem changes symptoms.
Part number: Bosch 0332014112
The relay with the brown and orange wires coming out of it powers the injectors, AFM and a feed to the ECU.
The relay with the white/purple and white/orange wires coming off it feeds the fuel pump and carbon canister (white purple wire) and the lambda heaters (white/orange)

Hope this helps.

Paul

Edited by chim666 on Friday 23 February 09:55

WOW chears ! will have a look when i get home !

Edited by f1fx on Friday 23 February 11:52

[WazzaL]

Whilst we seem to have an 'expert' in our midst. I have a similar problem. Sometimes when I first start the car, reverse it out, it can really be a handful to keep alive. Coughs and splutters and often cuts out. Then I restart, allow it a min or two to warm up (even though many think this is not recommended or nessecary) and it is fine from there on in.

Could this be resolved in a similar way? - Or am I going to have to delve a little deeper.

Thanks in advance.

[pena]

first things first, do you park your cars outside.
This plays a big part in the footwell getting damp.

Mine did this for 6 months.
The problem was the position of the ECU in the footwell.
Mine was placed in front of the battery upright, underneat the heating outlet.
Over time of the ECu going from damp > wet when heated by blower, it packed up.
This took 6 months for the whole process to happen.

When we opened up the ECU, the corrusion on the electical points was disturbing.
New now lays on its side, away from the floor, and blower & battery.

Been 3 years with no issue. **Touch wood**

Check this first.

Edited by pena on Friday 23 February 13:37

[jonathant]

WazzaL said:

Sometimes when I first start the car, reverse it out, it can really be a handful to keep alive. Coughs and splutters and often cuts out. Then I restart, allow it a min or two to warm up (even though many think this is not recommended or nessecary) and it is fine from there on in.

I think the general concensus on this one is that TADTS. Mine does this on the cold days - leave it to idle for 30-90secs and wait for the revs to drop a little then drive off as normal.

[chim666]

WazzaL said:

Whilst we seem to have an 'expert' in our midst. I have a similar problem. Sometimes when I first start the car, reverse it out, it can really be a handful to keep alive. Coughs and splutters and often cuts out. Then I restart, allow it a min or two to warm up (even though many think this is not recommended or nessecary) and it is fine from there on in.

Could this be resolved in a similar way? - Or am I going to have to delve a little deeper.

Thanks in advance.

Not an 'expert' by any means, just 'been there, done that'

But seeing as you asked; firstly I'd say check the stepper motor is clean (see here for details www.car1.clara.co.uk/tvr/stepper.h )

and here's some more useful information www.chimaerapages.com/

I would not think that the relay is the cause of your particular problem as you say that after a while, it's ok. So I'd go with the stepper motor, then maybe clean the plugs.

Good luck!

Paul

Edited by chim666 on Friday 23 February 13:58

[spend]

The connections to the fuel pump can be as problematic as the relay. Just give both areas a bit of a fettle. PeteH always advocates trying to hotwire the fuel pump ~ carry a length of wire in good Blue Peter fashion just to be sure. You can carry a std twin/dual make&break relay as a spare ~ it wmay just run the battery down ~ but will keep you running (and can also be used as spare for lights & fans...)

It does sound like fuel starvation. Sure no smell of petrol?

Dave

[WazzaL]

There was a smell of petrol once after I filled up. - But not smelt it since. Assumed that it was over filled and not thought much more of it.

[f1fx]

Just to update you all . i still have no idea what i have done to fix this problem.
i had all the relays out .. still done it . took the ecu out still done it .. Removed the battery .. Removed the immobiliser and alarm system, and reconnected. Still done it ..

the last thing i done was to remove the ECU once more .. open it up and took it over the road to a friends house. that has a chip reader / remapper , to read the chip .. put it all back together and now it is all ok ! not missed a beat, very odd !

Bloody TVR! would not have it any other way

Edited by f1fx on Tuesday 27th February 12:54

[f1fx]

with all this talk of fuel problems .. i think this is the cause of my tvr trouble. Because i have put a tank of vpower in there now .. and it has not missed a beat !
also .. i have noticed if i have half a tank of say vpower , and then i top it up with bp .. my car runs like a bag of shite....
maybe something for you guys to consider! or test ? and post your findings on here !

[Slikk]

f1fx said:

with all this talk of fuel problems .. i think this is the cause of my tvr trouble. Because i have put a tank of vpower in there now .. and it has not missed a beat !
also .. i have noticed if i have half a tank of say vpower , and then i top it up with bp .. my car runs like a bag of shite....
maybe something for you guys to consider! or test ? and post your findings on here !

I think that most of we "long term" owners have tried various fuels and it would seem that some prefer Shell, others Ultimate and others still Tescos! Whether this is down to the individual car or merely our personal interpretation is a mystery. Personally, i have found that i get the best result from vpower / optimax.

HTH

Kim

[coetzeeh]

I once read a post from a very knowledgeable contributor here that your car's ecu adjusts to the characteristics of the fuel you use - it will actually take more than a tank to "learn and adjust".

Sticking to the same fuel will help your car run smoother apparently - V Power in my case.

[tvr keith]

Doubt whether the ECU in a Chim is that intelligent