Worrying noise?

[Macbags]

Hi, first post as recently back in the TVR fold after an absence of nearly17 years (families eh !) and now very proud owner of a lovely Chimaera 450. A few minor teathing problems now sorted and the car has woken up to the fact that she's going to be subject to some reasonably spirited driving.

Perhaps I'm a little anxious waiting fo the next niggle but when out at the weekend I was alarmed by a very very loud crack (like a whip or a gun shot) followed by an equally loud 'ting' as if a bell had been struck. Had a good look at the underside of the car but can't see anything obvious that may have snapped or broken...... could a stone flicked up by a front tyre really have caused such a loud bang???

I never experienced anything similar in the past...has any one experienced anything similar / should I be alarmed and get the car on a ramp to have a closer look?

[TVRSJW]

Sounds like a stone hitting the exhaust underneath to me ? Assuming everything still works ?

[TVRSJW]

Btw good luck with ya new purchase 4.5 good choice ! And worrying noises are I think part of owning a TVR I hear things all the time and think o st what’s that ? Lol....

[ianwayne]

Check the lower wishbones where the droplink from the rear anti-roll bar mounts to it. Common place for failure if it hasn't been cornered hard for many years. Gave a similar sound when I had one fail a few years ago.

You don't say how old it is, later models (from about 1998 onwards but I stand to be corrected) have a stronger plate on them. In fact, they can be bought separately if need be:

https://tvr-parts.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tvr-d...

[Macbags]

Thanks guys I'll check the drop link albeit no obvious issue with the handling after the Big Bang. She's a 2000 car, lovely condition but no garage princess. Occasional clunks and a bit of clutch drag has resulted in my changing the gearbox oil, clutch master & slave and all now working well. I've also increased the ride height a bit as she's obviously not used to carry a biggish unit! Pretty impressed with the performance ( however you always want more horses). Intending to keep her stock.......but you never know!!!

[TVRSJW]

What clutch drag did you have ? While trying to pull off ? I sometimes smell clutch when doing this but it had an uprated Clutch last Sept and slave and I’ve recently changed the box oil

Just curious what you were experiencing and the solution ?

[Macbags]

Hi SJW

I've read your other thread and don't think it was at all similar. The problems I had were progressive over a short few days.... first she became difficult to engage in 1st or 2nd when crawling through traffic, only an intermittent problem as after a couple of pumps of the clutch pedal all was good again. Then I noticed she was dragging the clutch a bit when I was parking and I just knocked her out of gear. No significant loss of fluid and plenty in the reservoir albeit there were signs of a little seepage round the master.

I just jumped in and ordered a master and slave from TVR parts ad fitted them over the weekend. Still early days but the problem seems to have disappeared.

Good luck in tracking things down

[QBee]

I had similar some years ago - it was a wheel weight flying off at 60 mph and hitting the floor under my feet and then the exhaust.

[plangston]

Hi, I bet it was a socket or a spanner left in the engine bay if there appears to be nothing missing or you don't have any problems. I lost a 10mm socket in the engine bay and when it came loose at 40 mph it made hell of a noise. And I managed to drive back and get it!

[Skyedriver]

plangston said:

Hi, I bet it was a socket or a spanner left in the engine bay if there appears to be nothing missing or you don't have any problems. I lost a 10mm socket in the engine bay and when it came loose at 40 mph it made hell of a noise. And I managed to drive back and get it!

This guy?
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Tenmil%20So...

[Macbags]

Hi

Thanks for all the suggestions ...... who knows what it was. No obvious side effect, no missing spanners ( that I've noted) kinda forgot about it and haven't fallen off the road so all good !!