Poor running once getting up to temp
Discussion
Hi all
Quick update
The replacement of leads etc seemed to be a cure but only temporarily alas
Been working on it from time to time but other stuff got in the way (doesn’t it always) so little progress for some time
Finally got some time to concentrate on the car and finally nailed the fault and the moral of the story is - Check your wiring very very very carefully !!!!
Knew the fault was on the ignition side and had replaced a lot of that side of things so started suspecting a possible issue with the aftermarket immobiliser so thought I’d delve deeper and thoroughly check the immobiliser and check and clean all connections and terminals on the ignition
Should have taken photos
I checked immobiliser action and found to be ok
the connections around the coil have been messed with at some point possibly due to the immobiliser being fitted but all wiring seemed to be factory rather than aftermarket. The connection to the + side of the coil, 2 cables white with black trace in a female spade connector seemed fine on 1st inspection but once tape removed found one of the wires attached by only 3 fine filaments of copper. Joint cut and re-terminated
Hidden further down in the tape was a nearly broken wire again just a few strands holding it together. Obviously the insulation had cracked at some point the copper had corroded and someone had affected a repair by just taping it up
The wire between the distributor and coil had a crimp on it probably the same issue as above again buried in the re taped loom - once the tape was removed the wire just fell out !!!
Re crimped and retaped
Car started on the button and a 30min run confirmed that the problem was fixed
A combination of failing old wire insulation (it is 40 years old ) poor repair and hiding everything in tape so it looked like part of the loom made this a very frustrating and time consuming issue to locate
Anyway problem sorted although my son has now lost all confidence and any pleasure in driving in the car and is probably going to sell up shortly , so unfortunately we’ll be a TVR less family for the first time in about 12 years.
Quick update
The replacement of leads etc seemed to be a cure but only temporarily alas
Been working on it from time to time but other stuff got in the way (doesn’t it always) so little progress for some time
Finally got some time to concentrate on the car and finally nailed the fault and the moral of the story is - Check your wiring very very very carefully !!!!
Knew the fault was on the ignition side and had replaced a lot of that side of things so started suspecting a possible issue with the aftermarket immobiliser so thought I’d delve deeper and thoroughly check the immobiliser and check and clean all connections and terminals on the ignition
Should have taken photos
I checked immobiliser action and found to be ok
the connections around the coil have been messed with at some point possibly due to the immobiliser being fitted but all wiring seemed to be factory rather than aftermarket. The connection to the + side of the coil, 2 cables white with black trace in a female spade connector seemed fine on 1st inspection but once tape removed found one of the wires attached by only 3 fine filaments of copper. Joint cut and re-terminated
Hidden further down in the tape was a nearly broken wire again just a few strands holding it together. Obviously the insulation had cracked at some point the copper had corroded and someone had affected a repair by just taping it up
The wire between the distributor and coil had a crimp on it probably the same issue as above again buried in the re taped loom - once the tape was removed the wire just fell out !!!
Re crimped and retaped
Car started on the button and a 30min run confirmed that the problem was fixed
A combination of failing old wire insulation (it is 40 years old ) poor repair and hiding everything in tape so it looked like part of the loom made this a very frustrating and time consuming issue to locate
Anyway problem sorted although my son has now lost all confidence and any pleasure in driving in the car and is probably going to sell up shortly , so unfortunately we’ll be a TVR less family for the first time in about 12 years.
Sounds like your son needs to take advantage of the remaining summer and get some miles in.
The smiles will soon return.
I had similar issues with Wendy when she first arrived. Started checking connections in the engine bay. They all seemed terrible. Once the tape and covers were pulled back, connectors were hanging on by a few strands, there were numerous 'twisted' connections / splices, cuts in the wires, wrong connectors used ..
Methodically went through them all. Ran great for a while then intermitently rough (hot and cold). Turned out to be the advance in the distributor and the tracks in the MAF. An experienced mechanic plus a rolling road and all was great. Only a few horses short of the TVR claimed 190bhp - not bad for 30 years of use!
Then the fuel pumps went
Then covid and lock down.
The smiles will soon return.
I had similar issues with Wendy when she first arrived. Started checking connections in the engine bay. They all seemed terrible. Once the tape and covers were pulled back, connectors were hanging on by a few strands, there were numerous 'twisted' connections / splices, cuts in the wires, wrong connectors used ..
Methodically went through them all. Ran great for a while then intermitently rough (hot and cold). Turned out to be the advance in the distributor and the tracks in the MAF. An experienced mechanic plus a rolling road and all was great. Only a few horses short of the TVR claimed 190bhp - not bad for 30 years of use!
Then the fuel pumps went
Then covid and lock down.
VyperSpace said:
And here I thought bending wrenches and chasing gremlins were the main attractions of TVR ownership. V8 howl, rocket-like acceleration, and white knuckle handling were 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
The attractions of oil embedded under the fingernails, skinned knuckles and smelling of old oil with a hint of momentum 99 appear to be lost on the young man !! He’s bought a Nissan 350z - newer more power Japanese reliability etc etc. (I’d still rather have his 390 ) 
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