My Chimaera won't start even when cold
Discussion
About 10 days ago I suffered what seemed like the hot start issue. Back from a run and wouldn't restart when hot.
I had spare relays so while it was cooling I swapped them. It still wouldn't start until it cooled down and then started fine. I drove it into the garage and left it until yesterday. When i came to start it the fuel pump primed but seemed lazy but the starter didn't even try to turn so I put the battery on charge.
This morning it was booked for an MOT but same situation: fuel pump primes healthily but won't start.
What's the best way to diagnose this please?
My thoughts are that it could be :
Immobiliser fault
Starter/solenoid fault
Ignition switch fault
Other?
Any obvious things to check before I start pulling the car apart?
ETA: the dash lights or headlights don't dim at all when I try and operate the starter
I had spare relays so while it was cooling I swapped them. It still wouldn't start until it cooled down and then started fine. I drove it into the garage and left it until yesterday. When i came to start it the fuel pump primed but seemed lazy but the starter didn't even try to turn so I put the battery on charge.
This morning it was booked for an MOT but same situation: fuel pump primes healthily but won't start.
What's the best way to diagnose this please?
My thoughts are that it could be :
Immobiliser fault
Starter/solenoid fault
Ignition switch fault
Other?
Any obvious things to check before I start pulling the car apart?
ETA: the dash lights or headlights don't dim at all when I try and operate the starter
Edited by Tyre Tread on Saturday 16th May 09:11
Could you or anybody else please PM me the info about the immobiliser Thanks in advancePlease be patient with me as I am a newbie to the TVR fraternity.I have only had the the car for a month and it has been running fine and I have been enjoying the car.
Today it would not start, battery fully charged, fuel p/p priming turned ignition key to start to be met with a click(like a solenoid). Thinking it was a starter motor fault I put the car in gear and rocked it and tried again no joy.
Not knowing much about the TVR electrical gremlins that I have read about on these very helpfull forums. I do not want to jump into the deep end and start dismantling unnecessary equipment.Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
I am hoping it is not pointing to the dreaded immobiliser
Would my next step be starter motor connections and solenoid are these common faults?
Today it would not start, battery fully charged, fuel p/p priming turned ignition key to start to be met with a click(like a solenoid). Thinking it was a starter motor fault I put the car in gear and rocked it and tried again no joy.
Not knowing much about the TVR electrical gremlins that I have read about on these very helpfull forums. I do not want to jump into the deep end and start dismantling unnecessary equipment.Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
I am hoping it is not pointing to the dreaded immobiliser
Would my next step be starter motor connections and solenoid are these common faults? Search 'hot start mod'; you'll turn up loads of threads - basically TVR cut a couple of corners when adapting the donor car loom and omitted a crucial relay, with the result the starter circuitry is a bit marginal (including the immobiliser) - Add in a starter that gets toasted too and it can be a recipe for no-goes (if the starter solenoid is firing, tends to indicate the problem is the starter or the high-current motor feed - maybe worth locating and checking the 100 amp fuse(s) too - one on the off-side chassis box section just ahead of the starter and possibly another in the footwell hanging around behind the battery box. The chassis mounted one especially can be prone to fracturing through fatigue even if not obviously blown. Very annoying when these issues crop up; very satisfying when you fix 'em 
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