Stuck in York with a sick Chim
Discussion
Help please folks!
I'm fairly new to this game, I've had my first Chim for about a month now. This particular car I think is known to a lot of you as the previous owner is an avid PH'er.
Anyway, getting near York I started to feel a slight vibration which worried me enough to pull over. When I did I found the handbrake handle almost too hot to touch, the gear stick was fairly warm and a fair amount of heat was coming from the centre pedestal. the car still moves but doesn't feel great.
Any suggeations to a) what's wrong and b) where I can take it.
Thanks in advance
DP
ps. When I'm in a better mood I'll tell you a very funny story about bringing Heathrow airport to a standstill with my new pride and joy
I'm fairly new to this game, I've had my first Chim for about a month now. This particular car I think is known to a lot of you as the previous owner is an avid PH'er.
Anyway, getting near York I started to feel a slight vibration which worried me enough to pull over. When I did I found the handbrake handle almost too hot to touch, the gear stick was fairly warm and a fair amount of heat was coming from the centre pedestal. the car still moves but doesn't feel great.
Any suggeations to a) what's wrong and b) where I can take it.
Thanks in advance
DP
ps. When I'm in a better mood I'll tell you a very funny story about bringing Heathrow airport to a standstill with my new pride and joy
Hot handrake and gear shift knob are quite usual in a Chim - especially if you have the ally ones. There's a lot of heat trapped under a fiberglass shell that doesn't radiate away as it would if the shell was metal. There's also a couple of blower vents just in front of the gear shift lever that often blow hot air all the time. If this is your first long run then maybe its just a case of getting familiarised with the little nuances of a TVR!
Having said that is there any way that the handbrake is not completely disengaging?
Did the vibration start suddenly (presume you didn't clip a kerb and knocked the tracking out?) or did it come on gradually?
Doesn't sound too serious but you're right to check it out for peace of mind. Hoping you have a speedy return to speedy enjoyment!
Having said that is there any way that the handbrake is not completely disengaging?
Did the vibration start suddenly (presume you didn't clip a kerb and knocked the tracking out?) or did it come on gradually?
Doesn't sound too serious but you're right to check it out for peace of mind. Hoping you have a speedy return to speedy enjoyment!
chim450 said:
This happened in my Tuscan. Turned out the handbrake cable had seized, locking the rear brakes and shagging the discs. Hope it is not the same with you.
I don't think the heat would travel all the way back up the handbrake cable from the back axle.
How about the exhaust pipe. It may have move across and is touching the prop shaft - that would certainly cause some vibration - don't know if it's possible though.
If the exhaust was touching the handbrake mounting or gearbox, this would certainly cause heating of these components. Mine doesn't warm up on a long journey.
Matt
The vibration may be unconnected to the heat - and the heat as suggested may be completely normal.
I see this all the time in IT; something goes wrong, and all sorts of other symptoms are ascribed to the problem which are generally shown to have been there all along, sometimes for years, unnoticed until this something else went wrong.
My Chim will get hot on a long trip, and heat soak can be considerable. Hot gear lever and handbrake are not unusual. I'd focus on the vibration.
I see this all the time in IT; something goes wrong, and all sorts of other symptoms are ascribed to the problem which are generally shown to have been there all along, sometimes for years, unnoticed until this something else went wrong.
My Chim will get hot on a long trip, and heat soak can be considerable. Hot gear lever and handbrake are not unusual. I'd focus on the vibration.
. The dealer told me it wasn't my fault! (they could have been lying though to spare my blushes!) David - I did txt you back later yesterday evening as sson as I got the msg, assumed you'd got it sorted since you didn't reply.
The gear lever does get warm after a long run, the handbrake lever obviously points to the rear end, it shouldn't get more than midly warm (unless the sun is on it top down for a long time)
It sounds like the handbrake isn't fully disengaged. It had just had a new caliper and the handbrake adjusted for the MOT. If this is the first time it's been on a long high speed run it might be binding a bit. The vibration sounds strange though. As you know the diff and prop are all recently re-bearinged.
Did you touch the rear wheels to see how hot they were? If I'm right they'd have burned your hand and maybe even smoking a bit. How do the rear discs/pads look? (they'll probably smell horrid if it's binding).
The vibration could have been the bearings getting uphappy about the heat they were being subjected to.
Give me a call if you want - you've got the number.
Nearest place to York I know of is Harrogate Horseless Carriages - nice guys. Closeish.
The gear lever does get warm after a long run, the handbrake lever obviously points to the rear end, it shouldn't get more than midly warm (unless the sun is on it top down for a long time)
It sounds like the handbrake isn't fully disengaged. It had just had a new caliper and the handbrake adjusted for the MOT. If this is the first time it's been on a long high speed run it might be binding a bit. The vibration sounds strange though. As you know the diff and prop are all recently re-bearinged.
Did you touch the rear wheels to see how hot they were? If I'm right they'd have burned your hand and maybe even smoking a bit. How do the rear discs/pads look? (they'll probably smell horrid if it's binding).
The vibration could have been the bearings getting uphappy about the heat they were being subjected to.
Give me a call if you want - you've got the number.
Nearest place to York I know of is Harrogate Horseless Carriages - nice guys. Closeish.
I've been thinking some more. The handbrake didn't bind after they fixed it as I tested it by spinning the wheels (jacked up) while inspecting the garage's handywork.
It does sound like the handbrake might not have been all the way off. I had a habit of tapping the handle with the heel of my hand sometimes if the brake warning light came on. It is possible in bright sunlight you could have missed the warning light, or that the handbrake was on enough to bind but not light the warning light.
Just a theory. If so my cooked brakes line is probably still true.
It does sound like the handbrake might not have been all the way off. I had a habit of tapping the handle with the heel of my hand sometimes if the brake warning light came on. It is possible in bright sunlight you could have missed the warning light, or that the handbrake was on enough to bind but not light the warning light.
Just a theory. If so my cooked brakes line is probably still true.
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