New Chim owner - trouble already :-(

[sam303]

Hi everyone,

I'm the (so far) proud new owner of a 1998 Chimaera 450. R361 NGO if anyone's interested. Bought from a lovely couple in the south of England a few weeks ago and have enjoyed probably around 10 short drives so far with no problems.

The problem I'm now having is that the car won't start.

- starting from cold.
- car has a new battery (fitted just before it was sold to me) and battery seems to be adequately charged (has started without problems so far).
- it has the Meta alarm system.
- I got in, inserted the little touchkey thing into the rectangular receptacle next to the ignition; LED goes on while the touchkey is in, then goes off when touchkey is removed.
- within 3 seconds or so inserted key in ignition and attempted to start the car.
- first time, engine turned over very briefly and sounded like it was about to start, but then abruptly stopped. All subsequent attempts the car whirrs (I think that's the fuel pump) but then nothing on further turn of the key. Does not attempt to turn over.
- doors lock and unlock; alarm works; ignition comes on; everything seems normal i.e. I don't think battery is flat.
- not sure if relevant but hot start fix apparently implemented on this car. As said, engine is not hot currently.

I've tried locking and unlocking; getting out and back in; waiting overnight; putting touchkey in and taking out again; trying to start without touchkey; even having touchkey in at same time as inserting key in ignition and turning.

it did do this once before, but I just inserted touchkey, removed it, LED went out, I started the car. Now though it's just doing nothing other than I can hear what I think is the fuel pump priming when I turn ignition on.

Can anyone offer advice please?

Thanks,

Sam

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I had Chimaeras for 25 years and never once used the little square thing (although all mine were factory alarms)

I used to

Turn ignition on
Press fob and listen for fuel pump
Turn to starter motor and brrrrmmmm away

[Monkeylegend]

The only time my Griffith wouldn't start it was the infamous 100 amp relay in the passenger footwell.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Monkeylegend said:

The only time my Griffith wouldn't start it was the infamous 100 amp relay in the passenger footwell.

Fuse, not relay?

One of mine came loose and heated up it's plastic cover until it melted!

[Monkeylegend]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Monkeylegend said:

The only time my Griffith wouldn't start it was the infamous 100 amp relay in the passenger footwell.

Fuse, not relay?

One of mine came loose and heated up it's plastic cover until it melted!

Could be, I did think that before I posted, and googled TVR 100 amp relay first and it came up with a picture so went no further

Anyway this is when you find out how TVR built their cars

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Monkeylegend said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Monkeylegend said:

The only time my Griffith wouldn't start it was the infamous 100 amp relay in the passenger footwell.

Fuse, not relay?

One of mine came loose and heated up it's plastic cover until it melted!

Could be, I did think that before I posted, and googled TVR 100 amp relay first and it came up with a picture so went no further

Anyway this is when you find out how TVR built their cars

I hated looking in the footwell

[phazed]

Mine did that and was immobiliser.

Got a new one fitted by Dave.at HF Solutions.

[e-mail]

07721 654829

Worth a chat to confirm.

[blaze_away]

Always a good start is to disconnect the battery then wait a couple of minutes and then reconnect it.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

blaze_away said:

Always a good start is to disconnect the battery then wait a couple of minutes and then reconnect it.

If you can get to it!

[asd2001]

Worth checking battery voltage, to rule out charging circuit before going down the alarm route (although I’ve been there and replaced mine!). Good luck

[Italian450]

With mine the fuel pump won’t run if the immobilser is activated.
Perhaps not the alarm.

Long shot but could the starter bendix be jammed.
This happens sometimes to mine rocking the car in gear can free it.

[glow worm]

Replace both LUCAS relays in the footwell
If the starter motor is sticking you will hear a click each time you try to start it.... just replaced my original starter motor with 2KW one £144+VAT (They don't like not being used)

Edited by glow worm on Monday 22 March 20:39

[robsco]

Sounds bizarre, but put the car into gear and rock it forwards and backwards (grab one of the wheel spokes and rock the car that way). I had a similar issue years ago and I can’t remember which car it was. It sounds as though it is starter related to me. It doesn’t sound like immobiliser issues as you wouldn’t hear the fuel pump priming if that was the case.

[deeen]

Do the ignition lights etc. come on? Can you tow start it?

[sam303]

deeen said:

Do the ignition lights etc. come on? Can you tow start it?

Yes, ignition lights come on, headlights can be turned on. I haven't tried bump / tow starting it as yet.

[rusgb]

Sounds like the relay to me. I had a spare bosch one in the boot and switched it (under dash passenger side) and worked. That was 10 years ago so struggling to be more specific. Seem to recall two of the same relays being under there, switch them round maybe to test?

[Azzurrinick]

phazed said:

Mine did that and was immobiliser.

Got a new one fitted by Dave.at HF Solutions.

[e-mail]

07721 654829

Worth a chat to confirm.

Same problem here on a previous car, immobiliser and Dave is the man to sort it for you

[nawarne]

Recently had a similar problem....in Tesco car park with my current TVR.

Heard fuel pump prime - ignition and oil light 'ON' on dash, but no starter motor activity....Hmmm, immobiliser not 'energising' starter motor circuit, thought I. Got a push start, all seemed fine so returned home. In the garage removed dash pod covers (Tuscan) and wiggled wires onto ignition switch. At last! engine cranked over and fired up - all good. Decided connections to switch were iffy so battery disconnected and made soldered connections. Tested - same symptoms as Tesco car park!!! Decided IT WAS DUFF IGN SWITCH. Replace same and now everything working....Hurrah.

I did 'phone Dave Fairclough and he told me how to by-pass immobiliser. I tried this and the starter would still not turn. I guessed then that it must be something other than the immobiliser - something downstream to activate the starter...the ignition switch or wiring to it.

Nick

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

rusgb said:

Sounds like the relay to me. I had a spare bosch one in the boot and switched it (under dash passenger side) and worked. That was 10 years ago so struggling to be more specific. Seem to recall two of the same relays being under there, switch them round maybe to test?

I also had that issue. Swapping the relays did it for me too

[Monkeylegend]

And me.

Just glad I never had to change the battery.