Planning for a long road trip - common issues and parts etc

[Chuck21]

Hi all,

This may be covered elsewhere but I couldn't find what I was after so apologies if this is a duplicate post!

I'll hopefully have my first TVR (a Chimaera) by the end of the Summer and will be quickly embarking on a good old road trip. I have a reasonable budget for the car so I'm not expecting major issues but I know TVR's have their quirks so I want to be prepared. Is there a list anywhere of common niggles that one might experience on such a trip and how to fix them/spare parts and equipment it's advisable to have on board (fuses and such like)? If not if anybody can help put together such a guide that would be a massive help.

Many thanks in advance.

[QBee]

Chuck21 said:

Hi all,

This may be covered elsewhere but I couldn't find what I was after so apologies if this is a duplicate post!

I'll hopefully have my first TVR (a Chimaera) by the end of the Summer and will be quickly embarking on a good old road trip. I have a reasonable budget for the car so I'm not expecting major issues but I know TVR's have their quirks so I want to be prepared. Is there a list anywhere of common niggles that one might experience on such a trip and how to fix them/spare parts and equipment it's advisable to have on board (fuses and such like)? If not if anybody can help put together such a guide that would be a massive help.

Many thanks in advance.

Slightly different approach.
I would get a good TVR garage to give it a minor service (unless you have proof of recent servicing) and a thorough check over.
Not saying that TVR Chimaeras are a problem, they are a very reliable car, if used regularly etc.
Sadly I don't know the experts in Surrey, I take mine to Mat Smith Sports Cars just south of Kings Lynn, Norfolk, even though it is a 160 mile round trip.

One other thing I would definitely do is to get the suspension checked and a four wheel alignment done, prior to heading off on your tour. The Chimaera is very sensitive to misaligned wheels and drives so much better properly set up. "It's trying to kill me" translates as "it needs (better tyres and) a four wheel alignment". But find someone like Mat to do it, he has the knowledge and a Hunter 4 wheel aligner.

I did a tour of Southern Scotland a few weeks ago. Took some spare engine oil, cleaning stuff and an RAC card. Used the cleaning stuff.

[Brithunter]

QBee said:

Slightly different approach.
I would get a good TVR garage to give it a minor service (unless you have proof of recent servicing) and a thorough check over.
Not saying that TVR Chimaeras are a problem, they are a very reliable car, if used regularly etc.
Sadly I don't know the experts in Surrey, I take mine to Mat Smith Sports Cars just south of Kings Lynn, Norfolk, even though it is a 160 mile round trip.

One other thing I would definitely do is to get the suspension checked and a four wheel alignment done, prior to heading off on your tour. The Chimaera is very sensitive to misaligned wheels and drives so much better properly set up. "It's trying to kill me" translates as "it needs (better tyres and) a four wheel alignment". But find someone like Mat to do it, he has the knowledge and a Hunter 4 wheel aligner.

I did a tour of Southern Scotland a few weeks ago. Took some spare engine oil, cleaning stuff and an RAC card. Used the cleaning stuff.

Love the last bit .................................... "Used the cleaning stuff"

[Chuck21]

QBee said:

Slightly different approach.
I would get a good TVR garage to give it a minor service (unless you have proof of recent servicing) and a thorough check over.
Not saying that TVR Chimaeras are a problem, they are a very reliable car, if used regularly etc.
Sadly I don't know the experts in Surrey, I take mine to Mat Smith Sports Cars just south of Kings Lynn, Norfolk, even though it is a 160 mile round trip.

One other thing I would definitely do is to get the suspension checked and a four wheel alignment done, prior to heading off on your tour. The Chimaera is very sensitive to misaligned wheels and drives so much better properly set up. "It's trying to kill me" translates as "it needs (better tyres and) a four wheel alignment". But find someone like Mat to do it, he has the knowledge and a Hunter 4 wheel aligner.

I did a tour of Southern Scotland a few weeks ago. Took some spare engine oil, cleaning stuff and an RAC card. Used the cleaning stuff.

Many thanks QBee, sounds like good advice. If I bought from a dealer I'd ask for a wheel alignment and service as part of the sale so hopefully that would be covered; I have Fernhurst TVR and Racing Green not too far away so have some options.

[robsco]

Just returned from a trip down to the south of France in the T350.

Took along a handful of fuses (including the 100amp), spare throttle cable, 2 litres of oil and a spare coolant cap. No problems.

[crispian22]

On a recent trip to France I used my spacesaver for the first time ever(tyre valve dissapered)and had to fit my spare coil(burnt itself out).

Unlikely things to happen but glad I wasn't left stranded.

[Chuck21]

crispian22 said:

On a recent trip to France I used my spacesaver for the first time ever(tyre valve dissapered)and had to fit my spare coil(burnt itself out).

Unlikely things to happen but glad I wasn't left stranded.

How easy (or not!) is it to replace the coil?

[QBee]

Chuck21 said:

crispian22 said:

On a recent trip to France I used my spacesaver for the first time ever(tyre valve dissapered)and had to fit my spare coil(burnt itself out).

Unlikely things to happen but glad I wasn't left stranded.

How easy (or not!) is it to replace the coil?

Wise to carry a small set of screwdrivers and spanners if carrying spares and no RAC card. But the spares are useful in conjunction with an RAC card if you don't have tools or the knowledge to use them.

My Mini crankshaft pulley came apart in Pisa in 1974 on a Sunday morning. My Dad had noticed some play in it the morning of my departure for the grand tour three weeks previously, and had stuffed a spare one in the boot just in case. Having the spare and my RAC card got me Auto Club of Italy service to recover me to a garage, and when I produced the part, the man to change it on a Sunday afternoon (even though I had to show him the neat way to get the big nut off the end of the shaft).

[N7GTX]

Before you go, replace the ignition relay and the fuel pump relay as they can fail if they are a few years old. Cost around £10 each and easy to fit.
New batteries in the key fobs just in case.
A screwdriver in case you lock your keys in the boot - it happens quite a lot - or have the boot release switch live feed changed to a permanent live so you will never have this problem.
Replace the standard 100 amp fuse with the type in the picture below. This type does not crack like the original ones.



Happy

[Classic Chim]

Coill, distributor cap and arm, ignition amp, a spare long plug lead a large enough adjustable spanner to remove and clean stepper motor. Put some injector cleaner in your fuel before you leave.
Basically buy your next service items and take them along.
I always carry coolant and oil.
Don't forget the sunglasses
Enjoy.

[wseed]

I'd agree with the list Classic Chim lists. I'd also add a coolant cap and a couple of relays as others have mentioned.

I took the same on my recent trip to France and chose to fit them before I travelled. I then kept the used parts as known ok spares. They don't take much room and along with a few tools gave me piece of mind and the ability to fix the minor issues I had one the way (stuck relay and window switch that needed cleaning) I also took a Li Pol jump starter battery as a precaution and the Steve Heath "Bible"

I'd had an over heating issue prior to my trip and had already refreshed the relevant switches, thermostat and coolant and had no issues with running hot at all even when in nose to tale traffic in 30+ degree heat.

Get familiar with your car before you travel and give it a good test before you go and you should be fine. However you can't take a spare for every eventuality or fix everything at the roadside so breakdown cover is top of my list.

[Chuck21]

Thanks everybody for all of the advise, exactly what I was after! My mechanical ability is 'limited' but I am keen to learn so when I get the car I'll try and find somebody locally willing to give me a crash course in return for beer! I'm thinking ahead to Le Mans Classic next year as we usually take back routes and I'd kick myself if I ended up stranded because of some easily fixable issue.

On a related note a couple of you mentioned RAC (which I do have), but do you have/have you had European breakdown cover?

[crispian22]

Chuck21 said:

How easy (or not!) is it to replace the coil?

5 minute job.

Don't skimp on quality though,the one that failed was less than 6 months old,one of those shiny powerspark items.
Replaced with an expensive oem Bosch item and all good.

[Hedgehopper]

I suggest that you check that your breakdown cover doesn't have a vehicle age limit on it as some do.

Not sure if your road trip is a Continental one but if it is you will also need high viz jackets and a breathalyser kit for some countries

Edited by Hedgehopper on Wednesday 16th August 13:01

[pb450]

My touring kit (made up by myself with input from lists elsewhere) for recent 1400 mile Highlands trip. Most of it (except fluids - but I didn't take these in the end) fits into a small bag which takes up very little space in the boot. By the way, didn't need any of it - except the phone charger!

Tools (compact selection spanners & scredrivers)
Multimeter
Spare battery for multimeter
Emergency boot entry tools
Spare key
Spare key battery
Fuses
Relays
Insulating tape
Terminal blocks
Amalgamating tape
Cable ties
Duct tape
Electrical tape
Epoxy putty
Glues (super glue, epoxy & general)
Velcro tape
Selection of self-tapping screws
Hose repair tape
Length of strong fencing wire
4ft of nylon cord
Small selection common nuts, bolts & washers
Can of tyre sealant
Engine oil, ATF & brake/clutch fluid
Mobile phone charger
Sat Nav
‘The Bible’
WD-40
Overalls
Small Swarfega
Latex gloves
Tyre pressure gauge
Torch
Jump leads
Allen key selection
Stanley knife
Hacksaw
Pliers (thin nose & normal)
Fire extinguisher

[phillpot]

I'd add a bit of wire and selection of terminals to that



... and any actual "spares" ... fan belt, HT lead or two , rotor arm etc.

[pb450]

Yep, good adds.

[pb450]

On reflection, I did take a spare fan belt - plust a picture on my phone of the routing. Too late to wonder where it goes if it's already broken!
No spare coil, rotor arm or stepper motor for me as I have Canems ECU, which does away with all these bits.

[Chuck21]

Superb list, thanks! Mt secondary issue is once I have all of that I'd have b*gger-all idea what to do with it so will definitely be getting some advice on basic mechanics and electrics, it'll be good to pick up some new skills!

[pb450]

Simple... Mend stuff... As required...!