Lot's of problems - where to go?

[grif500]

Hi everyone,

Well, I've had my Griff for around a month now, and my list of issues is growing by the day

So far, it includes.

1, Won't start after 30 mins of driving, needs 20 mins to cool down
2, Running very hot, average is 90, but tends to creap into the 100's in traffic
3, "Ticking" noise from engine, always present, increses/decreases with Rev's
4, Fuel economy, I know I shouldn't expect much, but I'm only getting around 100 miles to a tank, now that can't be right can it??? I'm not too fussed about the cost side of it, just worried it might be doing some damage to my engine
5, Speedo makes no sense at all, has a complete mind of its own

Still, despite this, I still wouldn't be without it

So, if anyone can provide any pointers to any of the above I'd appreciate it, otherwise any recommendations for a good TVR or Indie service centre in Essex would be handy

I'm off to the mid essex meet on Sunday, so hopefully I'll pick up some pointers there as well,

Cheers
Karl

[Hughesie2]

grif500 said:

1, Won't start after 30 mins of driving, needs 20 mins to cool down

you need a Mod Wise hot start kit

grif500 said:

2, Running very hot, average is 90, but tends to creap into the 100's in traffic

Water wetter and a lower rated otter switch

grif500 said:

3, "Ticking" noise from engine, always present, increses/decreases with Rev's

Manifold Gasket

grif500 said:

4, Fuel economy, I know I shouldn't expect much, but I'm only getting around 100 miles to a tank, now that can't be right can it??? I'm not too fussed about the cost side of it, just worried it might be doing some damage to my engine

Could be a faulty sensor on the ECU or Lambda Sensors faulty

grif500 said:

5, Speedo makes no sense at all, has a complete mind of its own

TADTS

>> Edited by Hughesie2 on Thursday 10th November 17:46

[Ballistic Banana]

Hughesie2 said:

grif500 said: 1, Won't start after 30 mins of driving, needs 20 mins to cool down you need a Mod Wise hot start kit grif500 said: 2, Running very hot, average is 90, but tends to creap into the 100's in traffic Water wetter and a lower rated otter switch grif500 said: 3, "Ticking" noise from engine, always present, increses/decreases with Rev's Manifold Gasket grif500 said: 4, Fuel economy, I know I shouldn't expect much, but I'm only getting around 100 miles to a tank, now that can't be right can it??? I'm not too fussed about the cost side of it, just worried it might be doing some damage to my engine Could be a faulty sensor on the ECU or Lambda Sensors faulty grif500 said: 5, Speedo makes no sense at all, has a complete mind of its own TADTS >> Edited by Hughesie2 on Thursday 10th November 17:46

Dont you just hate a smart arse

Well your in the right place to ask
The speedo is TADTS but can be sorted it is possibly the speed sensor on the diff, it may need asjusting.Do a search on here and the Chump forum for speedo and it should come up with a few threads covering it.In the bible it tells you how to test the sensor too at the ecu.

Essex Garages

Leventech,Castle TVR, maybe tower view in North London if your not to far.

BB

[grif500]

Wow, now that's quick service, cheers Hughesie!

You'll have to bare with me, not exactly mechanically inclined, so excuse the silly questions...

Hughesie2 said:

grif500 said: 1, Won't start after 30 mins of driving, needs 20 mins to cool down you need a Mod Wise hot start kit

Is this a DIY kit, or something a garage would have to do?

Hughesie2 said:

grif500 said: 3, "Ticking" noise from engine, always present, increses/decreases with Rev's Manifold Gasket

Is this as bad as it sounds? Anything I can to check before taking into a garage?

hughesie2 said:

grif500 said: 5, Speedo makes no sense at all, has a complete mind of its own TADTS

Ahhhh, well, I was kinda expecting that answer for some of the problems, so got off lightly I suppose..

Thanks for the advice

[Hughesie2]

Ballistic Banana said:

Dont you just hate a smart arse

Thought i was in the Chimaera Forum there for a minute...

Ballistic Banana said:

Well your in the right place to ask

Tend to find the Griff owners a bit slower than us youthful Chimaera owners though in answering

Ballistic Banana said:

The speedo is TADTS but can be sorted it is possibly the speed sensor on the diff, it may need asjusting.Do a search on here and the Chump forum for speedo and it should come up with a few threads covering it.In the bible it tells you how to test the sensor too at the ecu.

Speedy Cables can recon the clock as well i understand if needed.

Simon, gimme a call about your post on the TVRCC site (Events)

[grif500]

Ballistic Banana said:

Dont you just hate a smart arse

Lol, yup, but only when they're helping me

Ballistic Banana said:

Leventech,Castle TVR, maybe tower view in North London if your not to far. BB

Cheers BB, North London would probably be easiest, for getting a train into the city afterwards, anyone on here used them before?

[Hughesie2]

grif500 said:

Wow, now that's quick service, cheers Hughesie!

No worries mate...

grif500 said:

You'll have to bare with me, not exactly mechanically inclined, so excuse the silly questions... Hughesie2 said: grif500 said: 1, Won't start after 30 mins of driving, needs 20 mins to cool down you need a Mod Wise hot start kit Is this a DIY kit, or something a garage would have to do?

DIY, simple to fix...

grif500 said:

Hughesie2 said: grif500 said: 3, "Ticking" noise from engine, always present, increses/decreases with Rev's Manifold Gasket Is this as bad as it sounds? Anything I can to check before taking into a garage?

DIY if you like scraped knuckles, i'd probably get someone to do it that knows as they would be used to the access problems, Seasider did his, but he's got girly hands...

grif500 said:

hughesie2 said: grif500 said: 5, Speedo makes no sense at all, has a complete mind of its own TADTS Ahhhh, well, I was kinda expecting that answer for some of the problems, so got off lightly I suppose..

Easily fixable though as per BB post...

grif500 said:

Thanks for the advice

Again, no worries mate, welcome abourd the goodship TVR !!

[Hughesie2]

grif500 said:

Cheers BB, North London would probably be easiest, for getting a train into the city afterwards, anyone on here used them before?

or drive in and use Kings Cross TVR now

[Pies]

grif500 said:

North London would probably be easiest, for getting a train into the city afterwards, anyone on here used them before?

Yep they know there stuff alright

[mongoose]

grif500 said:

2, Running very hot, average is 90, but tends to creap into the 100's in traffic

Something definately not right there.At this time of year especially,it should read much lower.Assuming youve not got the modwise gauge kit fitted,then i would expect to see 70ish on the run and 90-95 in traffic.The lower otter and water wetter will not 'cure' the problem.Possibly you have a partially blocked rad or failed stat.I'd get it checked.

[grif500]

hughesie2 said:

or drive in and use Kings Cross TVR now

Well, I'm up town tomorrow, might pop in

Pies said:

grif500 said: North London would probably be easiest, for getting a train into the city afterwards, anyone on here used them before? Yep they know there stuff alright

Cheers pies, will give them a bell tomorrow as well

[grif500]

mongoose said:

grif500 said: 2, Running very hot, average is 90, but tends to creap into the 100's in traffic Something definately not right there.At this time of year especially,it should read much lower.Assuming youve not got the modwise gauge kit fitted,then i would expect to see 70ish on the run and 90-95 in traffic.The lower otter and water wetter will not 'cure' the problem.Possibly you have a partially blocked rad or failed stat.I'd get it checked.

Well, on the motorways, it'll sit around 70 quite happily, but as soon as i hit traffic, or on local roads, it sits at 90ish, and this evening in rush hour sat around 100 for a while. The fans are kicking in, and it drops to around 95.

Will definately have it looked at soon, what are everyones opinions on non-tvr garages looking at their cars? Reason I ask is that I know a good garage who has looked after my previous cars, is it a risk to let non-tvr trained mechanics work on them, are they that complicated?

Thanks again all!

[grif500]

Ok, had a nose around for this modwise hotstart kit, thing, something...

Their website doesn't appear to exist anymore, so can't see anything about buying a kit. Some of the links on PH seem to suggest it's just a re-wiring job, and the picture on BB's site shows this as well, is that right? Do I just need to chop up some wires and re-attach them in a different way? (OK, I guess there's probably a little more to it than that )

I've seen it mentioned in some places that the problem is to do with the starter motor overheating, how does the re-wiring sort this out?

Sorry again for the silly questions

[ajcerb]

and Andy who used to be at Tower View is now the Senior Technician at London TVR which opeded recently in Kings Cross and is a good guy. Did my clutch when it went pop a while back. Either one of those places will come well recommended for you. Tower View will give you a lift back to the tube and pick you up when you return for your car and LondonTVR is very easy to get to and is walking distance of Kings Cross station and tube after you have dropped off. Hope it all gets sorted

[mongoose]

grif500 said:

mongoose said: grif500 said: 2, Running very hot, average is 90, but tends to creap into the 100's in traffic Something definately not right there.At this time of year especially,it should read much lower.Assuming youve not got the modwise gauge kit fitted,then i would expect to see 70ish on the run and 90-95 in traffic.The lower otter and water wetter will not 'cure' the problem.Possibly you have a partially blocked rad or failed stat.I'd get it checked. Well, on the motorways, it'll sit around 70 quite happily, but as soon as i hit traffic, or on local roads, it sits at 90ish, and this evening in rush hour sat around 100 for a while. The fans are kicking in, and it drops to around 95. Will definately have it looked at soon, what are everyones opinions on non-tvr garages looking at their cars? Reason I ask is that I know a good garage who has looked after my previous cars, is it a risk to let non-tvr trained mechanics work on them, are they that complicated? Thanks again all!

Ok,now that sounds a litle more like it.I thought you meant 90 on the run.

I would say that if your around 70 on the run,and the fans keep it to 95 all the time in traffic,then you not far off.

[barreti]

mongoose said:

grif500 said: mongoose said: grif500 said: 2, Running very hot, average is 90, but tends to creap into the 100's in traffic Something definately not right there.At this time of year especially,it should read much lower.Assuming youve not got the modwise gauge kit fitted,then i would expect to see 70ish on the run and 90-95 in traffic.The lower otter and water wetter will not 'cure' the problem.Possibly you have a partially blocked rad or failed stat.I'd get it checked. Well, on the motorways, it'll sit around 70 quite happily, but as soon as i hit traffic, or on local roads, it sits at 90ish, and this evening in rush hour sat around 100 for a while. The fans are kicking in, and it drops to around 95. Will definately have it looked at soon, what are everyones opinions on non-tvr garages looking at their cars? Reason I ask is that I know a good garage who has looked after my previous cars, is it a risk to let non-tvr trained mechanics work on them, are they that complicated? Thanks again all! Ok,now that sounds a litle more like it.I thought you meant 90 on the run. I would say that if your around 70 on the run,and the fans keep it to 95 all the time in traffic,then you not far off.

So now you only need the Mod-Wise half speed fan kit
Simple to install - pretty much plug and play - and your fans kick in at a lower temp but just on half speed. Keeps your temp nice and steady around town.
The man to contact is David Beer. Drop him an email, he's a good egg and will reply.
www.pistonheads.co.uk/members/showProfile.asp?memberId=14712

[grif500]

barreti said:

So now you only need the Mod-Wise half speed fan kit Simple to install - pretty much plug and play - and your fans kick in at a lower temp but just on half speed. Keeps your temp nice and steady around town. The man to contact is David Beer. Drop him an email, he's a good egg and will reply. www.pistonheads.co.uk/members/showProfile.asp?memberId=14712

This sounds interesting, is this part of the standard modwise kit? It's all getting very confusing

edited cos I really should look into things before replying! I've found their site through David's profile, it all makes sense now, lots of goodies to order

>> Edited by grif500 on Thursday 10th November 20:05

[john57]

FWIW my Griff 500 has the modwise kit and but the temp sits fairly regularly at 90 ..... a bit below now its colder but rarely moves over that unless I'm in traffic when it goes up to just under 95.

I don't have any problems (well, apart from the hot start issues most get - unless I leave it for 20 mins!). The car runs smooth and well + was R/R at Austec recently at 267bhp / about 225 at wheels which I believe is about right for a std car which has only been 'mapped' by Mark Adams.

On the basis it runs fine I have not worried about the temp (which has been the same since I bought it) and have left it alone......

It goes to David Batty on Monday for a new starter motor to hopefully solve the hot start issues from the current deteriorating starter that is getting progressively worse!

[bjwoods]

You shouldn't really need this kit,

When everything is ok, ie rad, switches, etc, etc it does work.
No problems, griff 500, near 8 years old from new, sits at 90 on the hottest days in traffic (as does every other car I've ever had with a temp gauge) this time of year between 70-90.

B

[dnb]

Don't forget that the temperature gauge can simply be a random number generator (much like the speedo, rev counter, oil pressure gauge etc...) So the 70 or 90 you're seeing may in fact be 90 or 100... Or anything really - if ours is anything to go by.