Do they all have this

[Tim Sanders]

I have a mint late 94 Chimaera with 27k on the clock.On a roughish surface at low speed I get a thump,thump from the rear end which sounds as if the boot lid is open or somthing is jumping around in the boot.I have checked the exhaust mounting and damper mountings etc. The noise seems almost non existent with the roof off.Its driving me nuts.Please tell me that they all do this.
Thanks,
Tim

[simpo one]

Roof struts? My Griff went through a phase of this, but it seems OK now. As you're driving along, reach behind and hold the middle of the strut to see if the noise stops.

[Tim Sanders]

Thanks.I will try this and let you know.

[wolosp]

I too have this problem - mine is a 96 car, and after I checked the boot latch etc,. and nothing has fallen off (yet), have resigned to it being just 'one of those things'. As you say, with the roof off it's not a problem...there that's the solution!

[simpo one]

How about testing it with roof panel in boot as usual but with targa section up? That might help narrow it down.

[MartinB]

I think they possibly all make this noise to soem extent. Mine did for 35,000 miles with nothing untoward happening. Like you, I couldn't hear it with the roof off. The dealer did trace the problem and did some expensive suspension work as a result, but I didn't notice any difference.

[Tim Sanders]

Thanks for your replies and ideas. It was not the roof struts. I will carry on trying to find it although I am starting to think that you have to live with it. Not really a problem if they all do it to some extent,
Thanks, Tim

[Gerrard]

hey, mine does this too! Gave up worrying about it as nothing seemed loose and it hasn't gotten any worse.

Gerrard
99T Sapphire Blue Chim 400

[cutmonster]

My rear dampers made a knocking noise when i first got the car. Seems to have gone now, but I was assured it was nowt to worry about!

[Nashy]

Mine too did this for 12 months. Checked it out when it first started and it was the rear shocks 'clonking' when they changed direction (contract/extend). Just had them replaced due to normal wear and tear and the noise has gone. If it handles ok don't worry about it!

[qube]

quote:I have a mint late 94 Chimaera with 27k on the clock.On a roughish surface at low speed I get a thump,thump from the rear end which sounds as if the boot lid is open or somthing is jumping around in the boot.I have checked the exhaust mounting and damper mountings etc. The noise seems almost non existent with the roof off.Its driving me nuts.Please tell me that they all do this.
Thanks,
Tim

I suffer the same fate especially going over speed humps or cobble roads fitted with brand new gazzmatic struts, first of all i thought the struts were loose, so i spoke to a bloke at Newtown Motors TVR Dealer and he confirmed that all the Chimearas and Griffs suffered with this noise, it's something to do with the top strut bush, most cars are fitted with a small bush, while the new struts available are fitted with a much bigger rubber bush to stop the clonking, the smaller bush doesn't take the rebound so good as the bigger one.