Cerbera: 3 weeks sitting around
Discussion
I left mine for a fortnight once - it didn't like it at all. Brakes felt horrible, gearbox was stiff and the engine took ages to circulate the oil and sounded rough for a while.
I did have withdrawl symptoms and after 2 hours drive around, it was back to normal
The car was ok after 5 minutes, but it took me 2 hours 
I did have withdrawl symptoms and after 2 hours drive around, it was back to normal
The car was ok after 5 minutes, but it took me 2 hours 
washy said:Why does the cerbera battory go flat so much faster than many other cars out there? Because of the alarm/imob or...?
I find three weeks the limit before the battery gets weak at this time of year. Need to take mine out tonight as it's been two and a half weeks since my last outing!!
UKBoB said:I wouldn't say the Cerbera is worse than any other TVR.
I find three weeks the limit before the battery gets weak at this time of year. Need to take mine out tonight as it's been two and a half weeks since my last outing!!
Why does the cerbera battory go flat so much faster than many other cars out there? Because of the alarm/imob or...?
My old S would flatten in a week before the battery was replaced, then after that about 3 weeks. Although that was partially due to having two alarm systems fitted in it.
It must either be something to do with poor earth and lack of metal panels or just the fact that the wiring in generally a little crap compared to mass manufactured cars.
The Cerbera does have lots of electrical gizmos compared to the older cars (doors, boot etc.) so that will not help the loss of power, whether of not the alarm is activated.
I was locked out of my cerbera at the start of the week cos I'd left her sitting for 3 weeks. Its not a lot of fun trying to breakin to her when the battery is pan bread!
Even bought a jump starter kit, which didnt even have the balls to turn her over more than twice! In the end had to remove the battery and stick it on the charger for a night.
So avoid the pain, dont let the battery run flat!
Billy.
Even bought a jump starter kit, which didnt even have the balls to turn her over more than twice! In the end had to remove the battery and stick it on the charger for a night.
So avoid the pain, dont let the battery run flat!
Billy.
The engine? The gearbox? The differential? The hydraulics?... if you leave your baby in the cold for a long time, might be an idea to get one of those engine heaters plugged up before you start her up... so the oils nice and warm to get to work quick on a dry engine... well, its what many classic car yankies do...
DustyC said:
Its only 3 weeks, the oil isn't gonna go off!
Obviously... but acids and stuff like that can cause more than needed wear and tear when you start her up after 3 or more weeks... well, thats what I've been told, whence why I'm getting heating rods fitted in the sump to heat the oil up before ignition everyday... (theres nothing wrong with extra caution) 
GreenV8S said:
How's the project going Ash? I assume you have an external power source for your oil heater? I doubt a normal car battery would pack enough energy to heat the oil *and* start the engine afterwards.
Its a special setup, that runs off a neat power contraption, which holds enough charge for 3 warming up sessions, dump charged via a lead straight into the mains, completely isolated from the other two power systems. There are 3 completely isolated systems in there.
One is strictly starter/ignition, one is for everything else, and one is for engine oil heating (also an emergency starter dump switch, incase the main starter battery is buggered... no more taking riskings with flat batteries here.
Project is coming along sloooow... but we're getting there. All the suppliers and bits selected, just waiting for engine internals to turn up so we can put the thing together and order in all the ancillaries and get all the sizing/fitting alongside.... the bay is being re-engineered... I aint taking no chance with tvr's plumbing...
It'll get exciting once the engine is put back together... until that happens, we're just admiring the hole in the car.... ( dude, wheres my engine!!!
)UKBoB said:
I find three weeks the limit before the battery gets weak at this time of year. Need to take mine out tonight as it's been two and a half weeks since my last outing!!
Why does the cerbera battory go flat so much faster than many other cars out there? Because of the alarm/imob or...?
Battery condition also affects length of time it can be unused, obviously. On my cerbera, I fitted a 'Disconnect' switch close to the battery negative terminal. I now shut the car door, having unlocked the bonnet then lift the bonnet to remove the red key from the switch. The battery now loses no juice but the car needs to be somewhere secure if you do this because anyone else could also open your bonnet. Batteries also last years longer doing this. TVRs are not the only make of car to suffer electricity drain from the battery. An alternative is to buy a special intelligent trickle charger to keep the battery topped up without boiling off the water from the acid.
You can also get isolators that automatically disconnect the battery before it runs completely flat, retaining enough charge to start the engine. This means you are protected even if you accidentally leave the lights on. Mine is a Priority Start - I understand Tower View sell these now.
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