First Chimera, few problems

[drew.h]

Just got an old Chimera off eBay, mostly in good condition but has a few niggles. It drives great and at 6’3” I was surprised at the leg/head room. Took a colleague out for a test drive today (a Civic type-R owner) and managed an “I think you should slow down now”, so nothing wrong with the engine ;o)

It took me a while to find the battery and after doing so I think my first job is a battery isolator. Is the fuse box usually loose and wrapped in a rubber sheet?

Faults found so far:
Useless stereo and door speaker fell out snapping a tab off – new ones ordered
Velcro on hood not glued down – any suggestions on a good contact adhesive?
A few times when setting off (in first or reverse) there was a rasping noise, initially I though it wasn’t in gear but I think its something on the clutch and more of a vibration than grinding – any ideas? Clutch was replaced recently.
Alarm key fob does nothing – the key fob is Clifford, the car beeps when I turn the ignition on or off. Probably do a rip out and replace (when I find it). May just go for a transponder immobiliser.
Rear side lights don’t work – there was a broken fuse in the fuse box, are the rear side lights on a different fuse to the front? Brake lights, fog, reverse and indicators all work.
Door wouldn’t shut – key lock is sticking when you press it.
Heater control only appears to give me hot or warm, no cold (even on a day like today) and electric mirrors don’t move.

There are several items that don’t appear to do anything, a knob under the dash near my right knee, an LED in a funny housing below the wiper stalk, what looks like a light and a switch on top of the steering column and I’m sure the was two more but can only think of the button on top of the door release which does nothing.

This has to be the best thing my wife has ever bought me.

[pilgrim13]

I had a rumbling/grating when pulling away sometimes, turned out to be the diff mountings, if the thing near your right knee is a knob that you turn its the switch for an auxillary ventilation fan, if its a button you push it opens the boot. I've had three chimaeras and never been able to get cold/unheated air through the vents, you may not have enough pull on the cold/hot switch cable, try adjusting it

[pilgrim13]

Oh and the button on top of the door release should lock the doors so they cant be opened from the outside when you are in the car

[mt10argyll]

drew.h said:

Heater control only appears to give me hot or warm, no cold (even on a day like today) and electric mirrors don’t move.

There are several items that don’t appear to do anything, a knob under the dash near my right knee, an LED in a funny housing below the wiper stalk, what looks like a light and a switch on top of the steering column and I’m sure the was two more but can only think of the button on top of the door release which does nothing.

This has to be the best thing my wife has ever bought me.

Heater is normal. Knob under dash is to open boot with ignition on ,the button on the left above your knee is for the dash lights to turn on or off, Led is part of the immobiliser usualy comes with a key insert to overide alarm. Switch on top of column might be a cooling fan overide or maybe not welcome to the world of TVR

Max

Edited by mt10argyll on Saturday 19th July 00:30

[saxmund]

drew.h said:

It took me a while to find the battery and after doing so I think my first job is a battery isolator. Is the fuse box usually loose and wrapped in a rubber sheet?

Not sure but by 2000 the wiring loom still seems to be a cat's cradle of wires knocking around on top of the battery

drew.h said:

Faults found so far:
Useless stereo and door speaker fell out snapping a tab off – new ones ordered

No reason why the stereo shouldn't work, in fact mine (which I think is a factory original) is fking loud which is obviously the first criterion when competing with a 4 litre V8 If in doubt, develop a taste for heavy rock. To keep the door speaker in place, fit slightly fatter screws than the originals - as they seem to wear a bigger hole in the GRP.

drew.h said:

Velcro on hood not glued down – any suggestions on a good contact adhesive?

Glue in place using any all purpose glue BUT you will probably need to re-stitch which will require carpet needles, linen thread and a knowledge of how to do saddle-stitch. There should be three lines of stitching, at least there is on mine.

drew.h said:

Alarm key fob does nothing – the key fob is Clifford, the car beeps when I turn the ignition on or off. Probably do a rip out and replace (when I find it). May just go for a transponder immobiliser.

Not sure about that, mine's a Meta. But if you get stuck, speak to Carl

drew.h said:

Heater control only appears to give me hot or warm, no cold (even on a day like today)

The air is being sucked in past a 4 litre v8, it doesn't do cold. You should have the top down (even on a day like today, or, indeed, in February. If you don't have the top down in all weathers, we have to suffer from jibes about our manhood from Griff owners).

drew.h said:

There are several items that don’t appear to do anything, a knob under the dash near my right knee, an LED in a funny housing below the wiper stalk, what looks like a light and a switch on top of the steering column and I’m sure the was two more but can only think of the button on top of the door release which does nothing.

This has to be the best thing my wife has ever bought me.

Welcome to TVR... if you ever have doubts, you just need to go into a bend at 60, drop down to 3rd and nail it on the way out...

[Cider Andy]

How old is the car? Various parts changed over the years and may make a difference to most of the questions you've posed, eg. door locks, alarm system, gearbox, diff, mirror controls. But along with the other answers here's a few things to start with:

drew.h said:

Alarm key fob does nothing – the key fob is Clifford, the car beeps when I turn the ignition on or off. Probably do a rip out and replace (when I find it).

Not worth changing the remote battery first?

drew.h said:

Rear side lights don’t work – there was a broken fuse in the fuse box, are the rear side lights on a different fuse to the front? Brake lights, fog, reverse and indicators all work.

There's a panel in each 'B' pillar behind each seat that lifts to expose the door locking and closing mechanisms. In this void you'll find multi-connectors for the circuits that feed the back of the car. It's not unusual to find connectors here that need cleaning.

drew.h said:

Door wouldn’t shut – key lock is sticking when you press it.

There are three different lock types depending on the age of the car: I'm assuming you have one with a key? Probably needs oiling, see above for access to the mechanism.

drew.h said:

Heater control only appears to give me hot or warm, no cold.

The heater matrix is high up in the passenger footwell, fed by air through the nearside wing. Heater temperature is regulated by a cable-controlled valve that may need adjustment to allow it to close properly.

drew.h said:

electric mirrors don’t move.

They will either be operated by the door switch in conjunction with a set of change-over relays or (on later cars) via a different door switch and an ECU under the dash. There are multi-connectors behind the door speaker that may have corroded: I'd start by checking voltages there.

[anonymous-user]

There is a heater valve up under the dash on the passenger side. You can shut off this valve and it prevents hot water entering the heater matrix, then you'll only get cold air out the vents with the blower on.

[saxmund]

BagOfOldRats said:

There is a heater valve up under the dash on the passenger side. You can shut off this valve and it prevents hot water entering the heater matrix, then you'll only get cold air out the vents with the blower on.

Is this the case with later cars as well? Mine's a 2000.

[That Daddy]

BagOfOldRats said:

There is a heater valve up under the dash on the passenger side. You can shut off this valve and it prevents hot water entering the heater matrix, then you'll only get cold air out the vents with the blower on.

Which is also prone to not shutting off completely(including the VW its from)and replacment is the only cure worth checking the cable 1st though is adjusted correctly,mind the you dont loose the clip that secures the cable they can ping off

[MADMAX2]

Sounds a nice car!!!!! seriously its a full time job sorting out the bodgings of previous owners who have neglected these fantastic supercars had mine a year not spent a lot just needed tidying up and lots of tlc labour and using my mechanical knowledge to the max also posting problems on this site and getting the right answer back! good bunch of guys on here! so welcome and dont be afraid to post any problems on here someone else has had the same think 99% of the time you get it sorted!



welcome!



Ian

[big geoff]

Welcome i got my car in feb this site has helped me with a few niggles though im a ex mechanic i use the gasing station every day great bunch of petrol heads

[WOO5IE]

saxmund said:

BagOfOldRats said:

There is a heater valve up under the dash on the passenger side. You can shut off this valve and it prevents hot water entering the heater matrix, then you'll only get cold air out the vents with the blower on.

Is this the case with later cars as well? Mine's a 2000.

Mine's a 2000 and the heater valve is on the left of the passenger footwell at the top.
You will have to pull back a little of the carpetto gain access

There are 2 cables that go to the heat adjuster on the dash and is adjustable if you take the dash top off. Adjusted mine but still cant get cold only not so warm as before.

The best temerature control is of course taking the roof off


Trev

[drew.h]

Thanks for the replies. Mirrors, aux fan and rear side lights all now working. Just a fuse and blown bulbs. Still can't get the alarm working. Either its the wrong key fob or bust.

I've had 3 kit cars before, so the TVR should be a cake walk! One of my kit cars had been built using red wire only, what a nightmare that was.

Got a copy of Steve Heath, which will help.

[pilgrim13]

"I've had 3 kit cars before, so the TVR should be a cake walk! One of my kit cars had been built using red wire only, what a nightmare that was".

Sounds like a Dutton I once re-wired. The only 'free' wire from work was red!!