Discussion
Finally I’ve got an S3 and she’s wonderful! I drove her home last night unfortunately was absolutely frozen during the 150 mile run (no heater, not even a hint of warmth). Can anyone give me any idea of where to look or what to look for? Could it be the thermostat perhaps?
Also I completed the last the last 30 miles or so in the rain. Given that it has not rained much recently and the roads have been gritted loads recently, should I wash the underside of the car? Should I use a pressure washer or an ordinary hose?
Brakes seem spongy (not quite optional) the previous owner fitted braded pipes. Any suggestions for bigger disks or callipers? Alternatively has anyone fitted disks on the rear.
Also I completed the last the last 30 miles or so in the rain. Given that it has not rained much recently and the roads have been gritted loads recently, should I wash the underside of the car? Should I use a pressure washer or an ordinary hose?
Brakes seem spongy (not quite optional) the previous owner fitted braded pipes. Any suggestions for bigger disks or callipers? Alternatively has anyone fitted disks on the rear.
There is a heater valve in the water hose above the right hand cylinder bank - check that it opens and closes properly, by hand, and also using the lever in the car, to make sure the cable is adjusted right.
With the engine warm, feel the hoses - if ALL the hoses are cold (or not hot!) then the engine might be running too cold - might be the thermostat. If the rest of the hoses are hot, but the hoses to the heater are cold, the system may have an air lock and may need to be bled. There is a small valve on the left-hand top corner of the radiator - make sure you let all the air out, and also squeeze along the heater hoses to help dislodge any air bubbles.
If that doesn't work, maybe the heater matrix is blocked - a bit more awkward to fix I'm afraid.
Re the brakes - braided hoses should normally remove hose expansion and the brakes should be harder - if they feel spongy, they might need to be bled through properly. If they are just soft, with lots of travel, there might be a sticky caliper or the back shoes might be badly worn.
With the engine warm, feel the hoses - if ALL the hoses are cold (or not hot!) then the engine might be running too cold - might be the thermostat. If the rest of the hoses are hot, but the hoses to the heater are cold, the system may have an air lock and may need to be bled. There is a small valve on the left-hand top corner of the radiator - make sure you let all the air out, and also squeeze along the heater hoses to help dislodge any air bubbles.
If that doesn't work, maybe the heater matrix is blocked - a bit more awkward to fix I'm afraid.
Re the brakes - braided hoses should normally remove hose expansion and the brakes should be harder - if they feel spongy, they might need to be bled through properly. If they are just soft, with lots of travel, there might be a sticky caliper or the back shoes might be badly worn.
Hey Ro
So you bought it then??? You'll have to bring it round and show me. We can have a look at that heater problem too if you can't fix it. I'm having to work today and porbably some of tomorrow - if you're free I might be around tomorrow afternoon.
We need some pictures though...
Ref the cleaning, don't use a presssure washer unless you want to spend the weekend under the car re-applying waxoyl (assuming it's been waxoyled).
Enjoy the sun........
Colin
So you bought it then??? You'll have to bring it round and show me. We can have a look at that heater problem too if you can't fix it. I'm having to work today and porbably some of tomorrow - if you're free I might be around tomorrow afternoon.
We need some pictures though...
Ref the cleaning, don't use a presssure washer unless you want to spend the weekend under the car re-applying waxoyl (assuming it's been waxoyled).
Enjoy the sun........
Colin
ro_torque said:
The car doesn't have a Thatcham Cat 2 device, well the cetificate doesn't say it is. Does any one have any recommedations please?
Sorry, what I should have said is that although it is fitted with an alarm and immobiliser the cert. grubby piece of paper size of a bus ticket doesn’t declare the device to be cat 2.
I'm more or less of the opinion I will have the existing stuff removed and a new one/s fitted. My concern was to find someone who could recommend a supplier/installer – I really don’t want someone to practice on my car.
Incidentally, hard though it is to believe the chap that sold the car had never heard of PH.
bugsy said:
So which one did you buy Ro, was it the cat D one?
And where are the photos?
Thanks for your interest.
I see you've got a new one too.... No V8 yet!
I think the S3 is fantastic choice. I didn’t get the cat D in the end for a combination of reasons. I had no objection to a car that has “condition inspected” status, since it is a car I intend to keep for sometime. Not worried about devaluation etc. I consulted people on PH and got some really sound advice. I decided not to buy because:
- I wasn’t given the information “up-front” - It came through the HPI check
- Unfamiliarity with insuring such a car for the first time – The insurance companies kept asking for an engineers report etc.
- The asking price was too high - The vendor wanted above market rate for admittedly an exceptional car
- The combination of the above worried me so much it took the fun out of the decision process
So I bought one with loads more mileage and very pretty she is too. I will post pictures as soon as I can figure out how it’s done.
ro_torque said:
So which one did you buy Ro, was it the cat D one?
And where are the photos?
Thanks for your interest.
I see you've got a new one too.... No V8 yet!
I think the S3 is fantastic choice. I didn’t get the cat D in the end for a combination of reasons. I had no objection to a car that has “condition inspected” status, since it is a car I intend to keep for sometime. Not worried about devaluation etc. I consulted people on PH and got some really sound advice. I decided not to buy because:
- I wasn’t given the information “up-front” - It came through the HPI check
- Unfamiliarity with insuring such a car for the first time – The insurance companies kept asking for an engineers report etc.
- The asking price was too high - The vendor wanted above market rate for admittedly an exceptional car
- The combination of the above worried me so much it took the fun out of the decision process
So I bought one with loads more mileage and very pretty she is too. I will post pictures as soon as I can figure out how it’s done.
Very nice, which is more than I can say about mine at the moment but I have plans, which is why I took a step back and bought a bargain basement jobby.
shnozz said:
were any of the previous owners on PH? Might be an idea to post up the reg number see if anyone knows the car and can help with telling you anything about the history, including whether the alarm is a Thatcham one etc...
Welcome to the wonderful world of S ownership. Hope to see you around. I wouldn't go posting the reg No here and then discussing the type of alarm it's got or not got. There are lots of good people on PH, but you can never be too careful.
oldred said:
were any of the previous owners on PH? Might be an idea to post up the reg number see if anyone knows the car and can help with telling you anything about the history, including whether the alarm is a Thatcham one etc...
Welcome to the wonderful world of S ownership. Hope to see you around. I wouldn't go posting the reg No here and then discussing the type of alarm it's got or not got. There are lots of good people on PH, but you can never be too careful.
sorry oldred, was just wondering if it was my old car, as that was a Cat D. Now he has confirmed its not a Cat D I know its not anyway - I just thought somewhere down the line of ownership a PHer may have owned the car and be able to supply some info. You would be surprised at how many owners of newer TVRs had an S a few years back.
To be honest, I cant imagine many S's get nicked. Its rare that any TVR gets half inched due to it being impossible to sell them on as a stolen car, especially an old one with low value. The only reason I can see for anyone pinching one is solely for a joy ride. It wont be very "joy" ride when the throttle pot goes haywire and the disco rear lights are doing whatever they fancy
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