Starting problem
Starting problem
Author
Discussion

Andy500

Original Poster:

26 posts

283 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Advice please, my Griff 500 wouldn't start yesterday. Parked the car up for approx 1 hour following a reasonable run, when I returned to it and tried to start up, the petrol pump came on but the engine wouldn't turn over. I prodded about under the bonnet looking for any loose connections, tried the ignition again, still no joy, left it for about a further 20 mins whilst waiting for the AA. Had another prod and poke under the bonnet, tried the ignition again and it fired up. The Griff has started fine this morning.

Has anybody got any ideas what it could be? Concerned now as I'm due to take the car to Belgium in about 3 weeks time and the better half is getting nervous about going in the Griff. She's talking about going in the boring car instead, I need to get it sorted asap.

Thanks for any advice.

mongoose

4,360 posts

284 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
the usual hot starter problem.very common.do a search for it and youll turn up loads more than i can tell you.current trend is to fit an extra relay and give the solenoid a decent feed.

starmist

1,052 posts

271 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
There is a reasonably current thread in the general TVR forum. I shall be fitting the relay myself this weekend, hopefully.

beano500

20,854 posts

304 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Andy - you're in good hands around here. I'd be surprised if there wasn't an owner who hadn't had the problem. And the answer, my friend is blowing in the, er...

...archives of PH. As already stated!



I had a new starter motor fitted before I picked the car up and it went on for years without any issues, so I can count myself really lucky. I did have the coil pack up on me once, and it can start with similar symptoms, so fingers crossed it's not that. Low loaded away one wet Friday night - I felt a bit of a fool when I turned up at The Garage only for it to start!


So all I can add is a quick:

"They all do that, Sir"




Ooo that was good - haven't squeezed in a TADTS for weeks!

steve-v8s

2,924 posts

277 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
After replacing my starter motor for the same no go when hot problem I have a piece of heat shield wrapped around it. No idea if it will help long term but can’t do any harm.

starmist

1,052 posts

271 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Just been out and bought the equipment I need - 1 x 30A automitive relay, spade connectors, in line fuse holder and 20A fuse and a scotch connector (I have some wire). Cost just over a tenner.

I will (attempt) to fit the mod later today and will report back. I reckon about 30 minutes and all in the passenger footwell.

peternib

98 posts

260 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Andy,

Do me a favour and let me know how this turns out!! Mine has just recently started doing the same. After trawling through the PH strings theres Blo*** loads of things it could be!! Anyway, for the meantime i think i'll just risk it! who really cares how far the walk is!!

saf

448 posts

269 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Mine did this during that odd bit of hot weather we had last year. Had the starter motor replaced along with some new heat shield, no hot starting problems now.

Andy500

Original Poster:

26 posts

283 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Gents

Thanks for the replies, its great knowing you are all there supporting. Its funny but despite the problem and the long wait once it started the run home still brought a massive grin to my boat race. What an awesome car!!!

starmist

1,052 posts

271 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
Fitted the bits and pieces. Eventually got the right wires connected the the right terminals and sorted that my posituve feed wasn't working, then the earth wasn't working, etc. etc., and er the car still starts!

Time will tell if it's cured the hot start problem.

Hoever, the car seems to be running roughly as low revs now. I'm wondering if the ECu has reset itself, and it needs to learn its map again.

Any thoughts anyone? I've even tried taking the kit back off again to see if the problem goes away, but it doesn't.

petros

2,441 posts

258 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
just as a point, is this only a griff problem or is it something my chim might suffer from ? peter

heightswitch

6,322 posts

279 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
just dropped my newly purchased griff 500 off at HHC in harrogate today for the same problem

(If any of the West lancs Mob are reading This is why I will not be out on Sunday.)Maybe one day soon.

There are apparently 2 main causes, both to do with the immense heat given off from the exhausts in such close proximity to the starter.

The heat can cook the wiring causing greater internal resistance and hence restrict the flow of juice to the solenoid. The other cause is the heat causing the solenoid to stick itself.

My car is still under warranty, but the fault is so well known that the franchised TVR dealers all carry out the upgrades when they occur. The mod is essentially a new bit of loom and a relay to allow more juice to the solenoid. This mod cures both eventualities.

Neil.

mongoose

4,360 posts

284 months

Friday 1st April 2005
quotequote all
petros said:
just as a point, is this only a griff problem or is it something my chim might suffer from ? peter
both suffer equally.