Various Tamora issues
Various Tamora issues
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Discussion

theHotHead

Original Poster:

61 posts

237 months

Thursday 28th March 2013
quotequote all
Hi all, I feel quite bad actually because I only really use the site when I have a problem frown(

My Tamora certainly needs some tlc but I'm not in a position financially to get everything done at once so will have to spread the work out. I'd like to list the main issues and if anyone can point me in the right direction with any of them it would be greatly appreciated. I have to point out also that the car has gone to a well known and highly recommended TVR specialist/dealer for its last service and some other work but I am not here to criticise them and I don't want to soil their name.

1) Fuel smell. A while ago my fuel pump stopped working and after reading up on it I thought I would try re-seating the connectors - which involved opening the fuel tank. It was a success but ever since then I get a strong fuel smell when the engine gets hot. Its a massive pain in the summer because the windows are down but the smell gets so strong you have to close the windows - which makes the cabin a sauna. This was pointed out to the garage but was not resolved. I think they replaced the seal around the tank that all the screws go through.

2) Intermittently not starting. Sometimes the car won't start and the only way to get it started is a push .. which suggests a battery problem except .. its not. The battery reading is above 12V and I can leave it for a couple of wintry weeks, like I have recently, and it starts. Most of the time when it wont start if I start the engine with a fully open throttle it will start. This method is used when an engine is flooded I am told as it limits the fuel put in the engine when started. Sometimes the car will begin to idle at 1500 to 2000 revs for no reason which makes me wonder if the engine is flooded when I turn the ignition off. It will always start if I turn the engine off for up to 30 mins though, like stopping off to go to a shop, any more than that and it is touch and go. I must add, I replaced the battery last night and it didn't start.

3) My door seals are kack and the rubber moulds at the end of the door have come off so when it rains I get a little water running down the inside of the car, not a lot but enough to be annoying. Can anyone recommend a company that can reseal the doors ? It would also serve as a bit of noise reduction too.

4) I've had my front rebuilt a couple of times because it is so low to the ground, London roads/speed humps keep crippling it. A fabricator added a metal plate to the front to help strengthen it and I was massively pleased with the work, alas, a 3 point turn too many and I've damaged it again on a kerb. Is the only real solution to have the ride height raised a few cms ? Would this be achieved by adjusting the springs/lessening the angle of rake ?

Thanks in advance.

Edited by theHotHead on Thursday 28th March 12:07


Edited by theHotHead on Thursday 28th March 12:08

ShiDevil

2,293 posts

195 months

Thursday 28th March 2013
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In response to 4. Would suggest ride height increased, or be more careful, or finally, our resident guru of all thngs experimental, Alex will be along shortly to tell you about the next innovation he has discovered at Bespoke Performance, which aids those less fortunate in the speed bump category by raising and lowering the car, like a Lamborghini smile

JLF

418 posts

222 months

Thursday 28th March 2013
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Fully appreciate your issues. My old Tamora put out petrol fumes in the hot weather like you would not believe. I had a garage that was under my daughter’s bedroom and in the summer her bedroom smelt like a glue sniffers squat. Fortunately she was not at home at the time otherwise I would have needed to spray her with Fabrise every morning before she went to school. I took the car to my local TVR guy who sorted it…apparently a known fault.

Re height …either raise the car or plot another route. No simple answer. Issue is it costs.

Re stop start… again sent it to the TVR specialist and he sorted it. I was told to replace the battery by one dealer which seemed like a complete ordeal with the battery being behind the front wheel…..what is all that about!!! My specialist knew the issue and sorted it. Must say nothing more embarrassing than rocking up with a great car and then needing to stop on a hill just in case it wont start.

These cars are not cheap to sort. The TVR factory ethos was to sell the car and let the owner be the development consultant. Bit cack really. So if you get one that still has issues you are the developer. However…..best thing it to find a genuine TVR specialist who has been working on these cars for years, who will not rip you off and has a service ethos. They do exist.

alex_gray255

6,331 posts

226 months

Thursday 28th March 2013
quotequote all
ShiDevil said:
In response to 4. Would suggest ride height increased, or be more careful, or finally, our resident guru of all thngs experimental, Alex will be along shortly to tell you about the next innovation he has discovered at Bespoke Performance, which aids those less fortunate in the speed bump category by raising and lowering the car, like a Lamborghini smile
There is a lifter kit that you can have installed on the car that will raise or lower (if you wanted it lower?!) your car by a few inches. Basically, get around the problem by lifting the car up. tongue out

TVR_owner

3,349 posts

212 months

Thursday 28th March 2013
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If the car is set up as it should be, there are no issues in normal daily use.

Pursyluv

1,948 posts

195 months

Thursday 28th March 2013
quotequote all
3) I don't think the door finishers are available anymore, also if you get water coming through the window top because the seal is too short they can be stretched in hot water.....it could be true i suppose!

4) I replaced the original shocks with Protechs and in the process raised the ride height at the front splitter from 105 to 125mm, it's definitley helped

Tom The Cat

203 posts

178 months

Friday 29th March 2013
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Hi all,

first good luck hothead...everything will be gone fine ....

1) Fuel smell.
......
if you had taken out the fuel pump, then surely the seal is broken. Did you have a new gasket used?
on the other hand, once I had the same problem. Where the gearbox and the Engine is flanged together. The fuel lines from the solid plastic tube (coming form the Back of the car), goes on a flexible plastic hose , these hoses were connected not optimal! small leak!
I think that you should check very seriously.


2) Yes, the starting problem

For this story there is a lot of post's.
I believe that if you currently have no money, then seeking a TVR colleagues in your area who has a little experience with the T Models.

But now to the point: check all the electrical connections in the engine compartment and in the passenger compartment.
It is usually corroded contacts that make the problems!
Change the fuses, even if they look ok! cost about £ 5 (80A, 120)
They are under the Air Box and left form the battery.
in the Passenger Foot well top right.
Ignition wire Resistive and traversed.
check spark plugs
etc.
Check the POD, Dashboard, go to the menu via the two buttons on the steering wheel
Check any errors!

3)
the usual suspects , TVR Power, RG ... etc

4) Mine had the same Issue ,but i had 225/35/18 on her... well i changed the Dampers.

Regards TTT