Steve Heath S Series Bible - Does it include the S3C?
Discussion
Hi all, as my Dad has now bought an S3C I've started looking for any/all technical information about it I can find. I've already found that it has a different ECU and engine control setup to non-cat S series. So can anyone who has a copy of the bible confirm it's useful for an S3C specifically? Also, the Cerbera workshop manuals and servicing schedule sheets from TVR themselves have been invaluable over my 5 years ownership. Does anything similar exist for the S Series? I've found some wiring info from the Useful Links sticky.
The S Series book written by Steve Heath (it's a bible not the Bible) should be considered as a guide to running and maintaining an S series, it is not however a "workshop manual" as such. Depending on your knowledge and experience you may find some useful stuff in there along with a few mistakes and a lot of irrelevant waffle
I'd suggest a Haynes manual for the appropriate Ford Granada/Scorpio fitted with the 2.9 EFI Catylyst engine. They can often be picked up "cheap as chips" on Ebay.
Not saying this is definitely the one but it could be ? ........ Haynes Manual
Hi Will. Welcome to the forum.
The Steve Heath bible (mine's a 2002 edition) is well worth having, but doesn't go very far on the details that make an S3C an S3C.
It does include it in the engine data chart, but then only talks about lambda's, cats etc in reference to the SV8.
The engine wiring diagram is useless, though the body/chassis wiring is fine. If there's a later version, I'd love to hear about it; but I think that by that time Steve was pretty committed to his work on the 14CUX Diagnostic tool for the V8.
i have the latest (I think) Haynes books on the Sierra V6 (1996 edition) and Granada (1999). The Sierra book doesn't mention the cat or related parts, and the Granada dismisses the cat in one long paragraph on safety and service life. My Granada copy is a little later than the ebay one Mike shows: it claims to go up to '94. None of the engine wiring diagrams, or setting-up instructions are worth a damn (related to my car, of course). But of course they're as good as always on engine maintenance and re-assembly.
The only engine wiring diagram I've found which corresponds pretty well to my car is a German Sierra XR4 Ford print from 1990: it doesn't scan and print well, but I'll have another go, and try and post it!
For components, Fordopedia is a terrific guide. It tells me that my ECU, an 88BB 12A650 LB is fine for my '90 cat car (but should have an auto gearbox!)
Other components which go with the cat installation are the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor and the Lambda sensors (HEGO's): all durable, testable and replaceble. You'll never have to worry about the AFM's (Air Flow Meters), which you have not got. As with all 2.9's the TPS (Throttle Position Sensors) are a constant worry.
Other remarks: there's a theory that all original S3C/S4C crate engines would have had hydraulic tappets rather than the solid ones on the S3 (mine has been re-engined, so solid lifters). This, and the engine wiring diagram, suggest to me that non-cat engines were UK sourced while cat engines came from Germany. All complete with appropriate ECU's of course.
Bodywork details on S3C's are random, as everything that may (or not) have been specified for the S3C was also available on the S3.
I'd love to hear remarks from other S3C owners: I still don't know just how standard my car is. But it works: off for a trip round Spain next week!
The Steve Heath bible (mine's a 2002 edition) is well worth having, but doesn't go very far on the details that make an S3C an S3C.
It does include it in the engine data chart, but then only talks about lambda's, cats etc in reference to the SV8.
The engine wiring diagram is useless, though the body/chassis wiring is fine. If there's a later version, I'd love to hear about it; but I think that by that time Steve was pretty committed to his work on the 14CUX Diagnostic tool for the V8.
i have the latest (I think) Haynes books on the Sierra V6 (1996 edition) and Granada (1999). The Sierra book doesn't mention the cat or related parts, and the Granada dismisses the cat in one long paragraph on safety and service life. My Granada copy is a little later than the ebay one Mike shows: it claims to go up to '94. None of the engine wiring diagrams, or setting-up instructions are worth a damn (related to my car, of course). But of course they're as good as always on engine maintenance and re-assembly.
The only engine wiring diagram I've found which corresponds pretty well to my car is a German Sierra XR4 Ford print from 1990: it doesn't scan and print well, but I'll have another go, and try and post it!
For components, Fordopedia is a terrific guide. It tells me that my ECU, an 88BB 12A650 LB is fine for my '90 cat car (but should have an auto gearbox!)
Other components which go with the cat installation are the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor and the Lambda sensors (HEGO's): all durable, testable and replaceble. You'll never have to worry about the AFM's (Air Flow Meters), which you have not got. As with all 2.9's the TPS (Throttle Position Sensors) are a constant worry.
Other remarks: there's a theory that all original S3C/S4C crate engines would have had hydraulic tappets rather than the solid ones on the S3 (mine has been re-engined, so solid lifters). This, and the engine wiring diagram, suggest to me that non-cat engines were UK sourced while cat engines came from Germany. All complete with appropriate ECU's of course.
Bodywork details on S3C's are random, as everything that may (or not) have been specified for the S3C was also available on the S3.
I'd love to hear remarks from other S3C owners: I still don't know just how standard my car is. But it works: off for a trip round Spain next week!
Edited by mentall on Tuesday 8th October 10:19
Edited by mentall on Tuesday 8th October 10:25
mentall said:
Hi Will. Welcome to the forum.
The Steve Heath bible (mine's a 2002 edition) is well worth having, but doesn't go very far on the details that make an S3C an S3C.
It does include it in the engine data chart, but then only talks about lambda's, cats etc in reference to the SV8.
The engine wiring diagram is useless, though the body/chassis wiring is fine. If there's a later version, I'd love to hear about it; but I think that by that time Steve was pretty committed to his work on the 14CUX Diagnostic tool for the V8.
Sounds like a good starter for 10. That's a birthday present sorted. Good job he's changed cars. I think I've bought him just about every MG Midget T-shirt going.The Steve Heath bible (mine's a 2002 edition) is well worth having, but doesn't go very far on the details that make an S3C an S3C.
It does include it in the engine data chart, but then only talks about lambda's, cats etc in reference to the SV8.
The engine wiring diagram is useless, though the body/chassis wiring is fine. If there's a later version, I'd love to hear about it; but I think that by that time Steve was pretty committed to his work on the 14CUX Diagnostic tool for the V8.
mentall said:
i have the latest (I think) Haynes books on the Sierra V6 (1996 edition) and Granada (1999). The Sierra book doesn't mention the cat or related parts, and the Granada dismisses the cat in one long paragraph on safety and service life. My Granada copy is a little later than the ebay one Mike shows: it claims to go up to '94. None of the engine wiring diagrams, or setting-up instructions are worth a damn (related to my car, of course). But of course they're as good as always on engine maintenance and re-assembly.
The only engine wiring diagram I've found which corresponds pretty well to my car is a German Sierra XR4 Ford print from 1990: it doesn't scan and print well, but I'll have another go, and try and post it!
Thanks. Anything is better than nothing!The only engine wiring diagram I've found which corresponds pretty well to my car is a German Sierra XR4 Ford print from 1990: it doesn't scan and print well, but I'll have another go, and try and post it!
mentall said:
For components, Fordopedia is a terrific guide. It tells me that my ECU, an 88BB 12A650 LB is fine for my '90 cat car (but should have an auto gearbox!)
Other components which go with the cat installation are the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor and the Lambda sensors (HEGO's): all durable, testable and replaceble. You'll never have to worry about the AFM's (Air Flow Meters), which you have not got. As with all 2.9's the TPS (Throttle Position Sensors) are a constant worry.
Sounds like a spare TPS is required. I've got a bag of spare bits in the boot of the Cerb at all times (lambda sensors, TPS, throttle cable and other sensors & relays). Has anyone got an emergency kit list for an S? Also, are there any guides for how to test the components above? Is there anything I can plug into the ECU and use software to see whats going on or do I need an oscilloscope?Other components which go with the cat installation are the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor and the Lambda sensors (HEGO's): all durable, testable and replaceble. You'll never have to worry about the AFM's (Air Flow Meters), which you have not got. As with all 2.9's the TPS (Throttle Position Sensors) are a constant worry.
mentall said:
Other remarks: there's a theory that all original S3C/S4C crate engines would have had hydraulic tappets rather than the solid ones on the S3 (mine has been re-engined, so solid lifters). This, and the engine wiring diagram, suggest to me that non-cat engines were UK sourced while cat engines came from Germany. All complete with appropriate ECU's of course.
Bodywork details on S3C's are random, as everything that may (or not) have been specified for the S3C was also available on the S3.
I'd love to hear remarks from other S3C owners: I still don't know just how standard my car is. But it works: off for a trip round Spain next week!
Are there any different maintenance requirements for the engines? I've had a look through the Useful Links Sticky but unless I'm being blind I can't see a service schedule. Is it in Steve's book? If not has anyone got 1?Bodywork details on S3C's are random, as everything that may (or not) have been specified for the S3C was also available on the S3.
I'd love to hear remarks from other S3C owners: I still don't know just how standard my car is. But it works: off for a trip round Spain next week!
CerbWill said:
Are there any different maintenance requirements for the engines?
It's a little less sophisticated than your Cerb, oil and filter once a year and it'll outlast you 
No paperwork with the car? This is a laminated photocopy of a Service Sheet that came with my car, it's big, A3? About 16 x 12 inches?
Edited by phillpot on Tuesday 8th October 11:37
phillpot said:
It's a little less sophisticated than your Cerb, oil and filter once a year and it'll outlast you
Excellent. Everyone worries about service history with a Cerb. I'm not paying £1k for a 12k service I can do myself over a weekend for more like £250 of oils and filters so I do that and keep notes/records/receipts. If people are happy with a home serviced S I'll do the same for my Dad. Are they done on the same 6k/12k intervals as later TVRs? A list of what needs changing when would be useful, spark plugs, engine oil, gearbox oil, diff oil, filters, brake fluid, etc. TBH I think the oil and filter once a year approach is probably fine as I don't see it doing many miles.Oil & filter 6 months or 6000 miles
Gearbox and diff are only ever check & top up if required
Spark Plugs when it starts to misfire
If you want to cover postage I can send you an unlaminated copy to get copied and return mine to me?
There's no writing on it but some of the box's have been ticked. Anyone thats clever with a scanner or whatever could probably clean it up to look un-used.
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Hi Tim. Great idea. Don't know why I didn't think of it before!
I've made my attempt to include it in useful links. I can open it; please could you see if you can?
But I would like S3C owners to check it against their cars. I don't know how standard my car is. Whatever standard means.
Thanks.
I've made my attempt to include it in useful links. I can open it; please could you see if you can?
But I would like S3C owners to check it against their cars. I don't know how standard my car is. Whatever standard means.
Thanks.
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