goldfishbowl car
Discussion
to all tvr chimaera owners out there!After picking up my first chim (starmist blue Preg 97)and having loads of fun driving around in the sun. I now seem to have undertaken 1cm of water in both footwells behind both seats and after hours looking for the leak still cant find it!!!theres no damp around the hood or bag window it all gathers under the seat(very bemused)Any offers of help and ideas would be welcome.Plus do you have to take it to main dealers for services or is ther any independent ones out there around the cheshire area??Having no garage is it better to put a plastic hood on it to protect it in the winter months and is it ok just to drive her at w/end or are they better drove daily??Just any advice or tips from over tvr chim owners would be grateful.P.s its due itsyearley service and have been quated 450+vat at christopher neils is that correct?
Hello there, for your leaks get some one to hose it down while tou sit in it. usually it is where wires/pipes come through the fibreglass and the sealant is crap. its easy to cure yourself. It seems to be nationally accepted amougnst the TVR community that a specialist service place is as good as a dealer, certainly cheaper, Im a southern softie so dont know any places up your way, someone here will. I prefer independant specialists they seem more interested and knowledgable. But like most things there are crap ones and good ones of both types. Good luck and happy Tiving
As zippy says, it could be getting in from a number of places so try the hose test.
Have you had a price from the factory? I think it may be more than you've been quoted, but it's worth thinking about and they are just up the road from you.
Sounds like you bought it and then discovered this site. Shame. The ideal is the other way round!
Best of luck tho' wherever you get it done.
Have you had a price from the factory? I think it may be more than you've been quoted, but it's worth thinking about and they are just up the road from you.
Sounds like you bought it and then discovered this site. Shame. The ideal is the other way round!
Best of luck tho' wherever you get it done.
If the hood hasn't been waterproofed for a while, or isn't velcroed down properly behind the doors, water can get in the sides and runs down into the footwells without necessarily soaking the outmerost layer of carpet on the way down. Can be deceptive. Good dosing of Fabsil cured mine, but Thompson's waterseal product for masonry is also gets recommended.
I agree with ATG. As Dave Batty said to me once "you can have all the seals, sealant, membranes and whatnot that you want, but if the hood isn't waterproof then you're going to get leaks" (or words to that effect).
Waterproof the hood and do a hose test. If you still have leaks then begin your investigations, not before!
Waterproof the hood and do a hose test. If you still have leaks then begin your investigations, not before!
450 + VAT sounds about the mark for a main dealer, I've used Christopher Neil in the past and they were OK. Last service I took it to Wedge Auto (or RD Racing as they're now known - around 275 + VAT) in Sheffield, I'm not aware of an independent in the North West. Thompson Water seal is the stuff to proof the hood.
Mine has leaked through badly fitting doors (now fixed). A good yardstick here is if you get drafts along the door sills with hood on and windows closed then seals are unlikely to be water tight. Another main area for leaks in the drivers footwell are the inspection covers and seating for clutch and break resevoirs - reseal with sealant usually works.
Overall though its a common problem - you'd think TVR wwould take it on board and sort.
Overall though its a common problem - you'd think TVR wwould take it on board and sort.
THANKS YOU GUYS FOR THE ADVICE BUT WHEN YOU SAY THOMSON WATER SEAL DO YOU MEAN THE OUTDOOR BRICK SEALANT(IF SO WHERE DO YOU PUT IT ON)DOES IT GO JUST OVER THE HARD TOP IR DOWN THE BACK REAR W/SCREEN PANEL ASWELL.DO YOU JUST BRUSH IT ON AND DO YOU JUST PUT ONE COAT ON?ALSO ANT TIPS ON DRYING OUT THE CARPETS UNDER THE SEATS AS IT SEEMS THAT THE BOLT HOLES FOR THE SEATS GO RIGHT THROUGH THE CARPETS.(VERY PUZZLING)AS MY CAR IS STARTING TO STINK!!!AS YOU CAN SEE IM A VIRGINAL CHIMP OWNER.DO YOU HAVE ANY MEETS WITH OTHER OWNERS IN THE N.W IM IN ALTRINCHAM? PLUS HOW LONG DOES THE SEAL TAKE TO DRY BEFORE I DO THE HOSEPIE TEST AND IS IT BETTER TO COVER HER IN THE WINTER?ANY OTHER ADVICE IS WELCOME(IVE NOT JUST WASTED ALL MY SAVINGS HAVE I)???
If yours lives outside like mine does get one of those 'water catcher' thingy's from a hardware store. I got a big one for :cough: caravans and stand it on the floor of the car when I'm not using it, you would be surprised how much water they collect.
As for drying it out in the mean time I guess a load of kitchen roll should do it?
As for drying it out in the mean time I guess a load of kitchen roll should do it?
The carpet is held to the GRP with dollops of glue. Doesn't offer much resistance when you pull it up. I shoved a load of newspaper underneath it to soak up the water. Changed the papers a few times, then stuck the carpet back down with bog standard carpet tape. You can mop a lot of the water out of the carpet's pile with a cloth too to start with.
I never did find my leak with ended up with water under the seats. I just took out the carpet under the seats and did without them.... might not be purfect
but it is an option.. don't ignore it and let the carpets go moldy ... there is nothing worse that a
TVR with a moldy smelling interior.
but it is an option.. don't ignore it and let the carpets go moldy ... there is nothing worse that a
TVR with a moldy smelling interior.
Almost certainly the damp is caused by a non-waterproofed hood -- it's the most common cause of water behind and under the seats.
Treat it with Thompson's Water Seal -- it's industrial strength, lasts for ages one coat should last there months at least. Put it on all the mohair bits, especially round the edge of the rear window where the stitching is. Be careful not to let it drip into paintwork though since it dries solid. If it does drip on, wipe off gently while wet or, if it dries, meths or white spirit gets it off again.
Treat it with Thompson's Water Seal -- it's industrial strength, lasts for ages one coat should last there months at least. Put it on all the mohair bits, especially round the edge of the rear window where the stitching is. Be careful not to let it drip into paintwork though since it dries solid. If it does drip on, wipe off gently while wet or, if it dries, meths
Autoglym do a good cabriolet shampoo and sealer kit.
Used it on my Griffith after a couple of years, where water used to soak into the mohair, it now beads and sits on top.
Actually piut it in the garage wet, and the next day rather than soak in, the water has just evaporated with some beads of water still sitting there.
Used it on my Griffith after a couple of years, where water used to soak into the mohair, it now beads and sits on top.
Actually piut it in the garage wet, and the next day rather than soak in, the water has just evaporated with some beads of water still sitting there.
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