Engine Failure
Discussion
Good evening All - Has anyone has similar Engine failure symptoms to the ones I experienced on Saturday.
Oil px seemed a little lower than usual ( just under 30psi indicated) on the motorway just prior to the 'event'. The following happened just after leaving the Mway, thankfully.
Batt light illuminated , a brief Loud mechanical sound followed by oil px dropping - engine switched off by me and coasted to a halt.
Oil Qty checked - start attempted - engine wouldn't turn over - just a partial turn then stop - this was only attempted once.
Up to this point all T & P indications were normal.
I have subsequently removed the R/H bank rocker cover - cranked by hand - all seems ok - Timing chain still evidently in position. Plenty of Oil observed in the rocker case indication I may have switched of in plenty of time.
The only observation was a light Gray film on the internals of the rocker case indicating something wearing, but its been 35000 since re-build so likely normal??
I've owned the Car for 21 Years and know it (almost) intimately. Serviced annually which equated to every 4000 miles, always garaged.
I'm somewhat surprised by this apparent catastrophic failure with no warning.
Has anyone experienced the following with any of the above symptoms?
Timing chain jump a tooth ?
Mechanically Failed Distributor ?
Oil pump Failure ?
Alternator Failure ?
Last serviced October 2025 - The magnet on the sump plug did noy show any abnormal ferrous particles.
A Very sad and disappointing mystery. - Investigation continues...
Oil px seemed a little lower than usual ( just under 30psi indicated) on the motorway just prior to the 'event'. The following happened just after leaving the Mway, thankfully.
Batt light illuminated , a brief Loud mechanical sound followed by oil px dropping - engine switched off by me and coasted to a halt.
Oil Qty checked - start attempted - engine wouldn't turn over - just a partial turn then stop - this was only attempted once.
Up to this point all T & P indications were normal.
I have subsequently removed the R/H bank rocker cover - cranked by hand - all seems ok - Timing chain still evidently in position. Plenty of Oil observed in the rocker case indication I may have switched of in plenty of time.
The only observation was a light Gray film on the internals of the rocker case indicating something wearing, but its been 35000 since re-build so likely normal??
I've owned the Car for 21 Years and know it (almost) intimately. Serviced annually which equated to every 4000 miles, always garaged.
I'm somewhat surprised by this apparent catastrophic failure with no warning.
Has anyone experienced the following with any of the above symptoms?
Timing chain jump a tooth ?
Mechanically Failed Distributor ?
Oil pump Failure ?
Alternator Failure ?
Last serviced October 2025 - The magnet on the sump plug did noy show any abnormal ferrous particles.
A Very sad and disappointing mystery. - Investigation continues...
They are not known for big failures, I would maybe remove the distributor and check the drive gear first but this wont really explain oil pressure loss if its a serpentine engine.
Just check your oil pressure sensor cable connection is nice and tight too and its not giving you a false reading.
Just check your oil pressure sensor cable connection is nice and tight too and its not giving you a false reading.
It's a serp engine. Borescope shows piston movement when cranked so I'd assume the crank shaft is still serviceable.
Today / tomorrow's plan is to drop the oil & get the timing cover off to check the oil pump condition.
I'll check the oil px sender whilst grovelling around under the car.
Today / tomorrow's plan is to drop the oil & get the timing cover off to check the oil pump condition.
I'll check the oil px sender whilst grovelling around under the car.
Edited by TVR450s on Wednesday 8th April 07:49
Battery light came on.
Loud mechanical noise.
You switched the engine off.
You tried to restart it, it sort of turned over a little then wouldn't start.
Left field thought.
In my 13 years of Chimaera ownership I have had the 100 amp fuse fail twice.
It's the one vertically below the alternator, against the chassis rail and next to the sump.
It is between the alternator and the battery.
The effect is that when it fails the car continues running on battery for about 45 miles.
On my car the speedo started misreading, saying I was doing 55 mph at 6000 rpm in fourth (I was on a track day).
When you then run out of electrons in the battery the engine dies.
It wont restart because it needs lots of electrons to start.
Suggestion to eliminate this thought - check the battery and see what state it is in.
If fully charged it's not this.
If it is close to flat then check the fuse.
It's in a black covered fuse holder. Take it out to check it, because it is a blade fuse and can look ok when actually cracked.
I am not sure what the loud noise was.
When mine went the first time it just started to run really lumpily and lost all power.
Second time I was on a track day and as I threw the car into a tight right hand bend it stalled and locked the transmission, causing an embarrassing spin.
Loud mechanical noise.
You switched the engine off.
You tried to restart it, it sort of turned over a little then wouldn't start.
Left field thought.
In my 13 years of Chimaera ownership I have had the 100 amp fuse fail twice.
It's the one vertically below the alternator, against the chassis rail and next to the sump.
It is between the alternator and the battery.
The effect is that when it fails the car continues running on battery for about 45 miles.
On my car the speedo started misreading, saying I was doing 55 mph at 6000 rpm in fourth (I was on a track day).
When you then run out of electrons in the battery the engine dies.
It wont restart because it needs lots of electrons to start.
Suggestion to eliminate this thought - check the battery and see what state it is in.
If fully charged it's not this.
If it is close to flat then check the fuse.
It's in a black covered fuse holder. Take it out to check it, because it is a blade fuse and can look ok when actually cracked.
I am not sure what the loud noise was.
When mine went the first time it just started to run really lumpily and lost all power.
Second time I was on a track day and as I threw the car into a tight right hand bend it stalled and locked the transmission, causing an embarrassing spin.
Hi, I'd checked the Fuse. All good.
Batt condition seems OK plugged the CTEC in and showed plenty of charge.
Mag chip didn't reveal any failures.
Oil pickup didn't fill me with confidence although oil px has always been good.
Just s
te cork gasket debris.
Unfortunately things have taken a disappointing turn whilst removing the timing cover.
Permission for bottom lip to wobble.. bugger..
The bolt is completely corroded into the timing cover. After 5 hour of gentle persuasion it's moved 1/8th of an inch.
Just enough for a hacksaw blade.. that's tomorrow's fun.
From what I've seen so far the donk looks in good shape. In some respects I'd like to actually find a problem. This doesn't add up...
Appreciate your responses. It lifts the spirits during these dark TVR times...
Batt condition seems OK plugged the CTEC in and showed plenty of charge.
Mag chip didn't reveal any failures.
Oil pickup didn't fill me with confidence although oil px has always been good.
Just s
te cork gasket debris.Unfortunately things have taken a disappointing turn whilst removing the timing cover.
Permission for bottom lip to wobble.. bugger..
The bolt is completely corroded into the timing cover. After 5 hour of gentle persuasion it's moved 1/8th of an inch.
Just enough for a hacksaw blade.. that's tomorrow's fun.
From what I've seen so far the donk looks in good shape. In some respects I'd like to actually find a problem. This doesn't add up...
Appreciate your responses. It lifts the spirits during these dark TVR times...
It's been soaked in KRoil overnight, heated and It just wouldn't budge. I'm fairly confident the thread will wind out of the block with an easy out from what I can see..
Stud extractor just eats the remainder of the bolt.
I guarantee they'll be nothing wrong under the cover after this...
.
Stud extractor just eats the remainder of the bolt.
I guarantee they'll be nothing wrong under the cover after this...
.
It's off... 
Bolts out..
Timing chain is in good order. Typically..
This is going back together - assuming I can get the seized bolt out of the timing cover...
Any recommendations for gasket sealant please.
Any good suppliers for Timing cover bolts + oil pump cover bolts. (motorclan are nil stock)
Oil pump screws were originally installed by the Saturday boy by the looks of them.
Bolts out..
Timing chain is in good order. Typically..
This is going back together - assuming I can get the seized bolt out of the timing cover...
Any recommendations for gasket sealant please.
Any good suppliers for Timing cover bolts + oil pump cover bolts. (motorclan are nil stock)
Oil pump screws were originally installed by the Saturday boy by the looks of them.
Edited by TVR450s on Friday 10th April 10:22
TVR450s said:
Well - By way of an update..
Engine is out and delivered to a gentleman called DOM. After a visit to TVR Power the decision to future proof the Car has now been made. Rebuild & MBE management.
Here's to another 21 Years of ownership....
Wow. Having owned the car for such a long time this is a fantastic thing to have done. Engine is out and delivered to a gentleman called DOM. After a visit to TVR Power the decision to future proof the Car has now been made. Rebuild & MBE management.
Here's to another 21 Years of ownership....
Dom built my 450 and added MBE later on and that combination adds so much to the car, mostly in subtle ways but to me there’s not a better combination and you are likely to receive ultra reliability for at least another two decades.
Later on I added Iridium 6 grade plugs (hotter) as I used the car continuously for over a decade which meant lots of slow or low rev driving and those plugs seemed to burn better at those revs but it’s not essential.
I wish both you and Dom all the luck.
When he opens the engine up I wonder if you can report back here so we have an idea what happened that fateful day.
Forums | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff