Don't let your girlfriend move in..you Chimaera will sulk!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

So, I've had the same girlfriend for 25 years, the same Chimaera for about a dozen.

After 25 years of living in different towns she's moved in, which means her stuff in the garage & car outside (temporarily). Went to go for a blast yesterday & I think some water has got in where it shouldn't.

What I've noticed (so far). First off I tried to open the boot to pop the roof in. I pressed the button & nothing, no click, nothing. Strange methinks. I then went to start her up.

Ignition on, press fob & the dash led does its usual thing & starter spins...but then on second go (when I've switched the radio of) no tell tale buzz from the fuel pump priming up.

I've tried to dry everything in the footwell with 'er indoors hair drier & still nothing. I've looked at the fuses & that's me oot.

Any ideas? Have I two separate issues or are these related? (I've not yet checked indicators, horn lights etc)

I tried not to sulk all day, but I'm afraid I failed

[Belle427]

Send the girlfriend back home, problem solved!
Seriously though it sounds as if the alarm is throwing a hissy fit too (plenty of those to look forward to now!)
What alarm is it?

[Chim450]

Either the fuel pump or the immobiliser I think. Unfortunately the immobiliser is located in a rather inaccessible place on the chimaera.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Thanks both. It's the alarm that came as standard in 2000.

I am hopeful that as the immobiliser is partly working at intended that it's something else (relay?)

I was ready for kicking 'er indoors out yesterday

[Steve_D]

Do a systematic check of all the electrics and report back.
Have you found water anywhere inside?

Steve

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Steve_D said:

Do a systematic check of all the electrics and report back.
Have you found water anywhere inside?

Steve

Hi Steve. Yes, despite having two car covers on water has seeped into the passenger footwell. (I looked there first...might be in other places too I guess). I've been drying everything for a day or so.

[Chim450]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Thanks both. It's the alarm that came as standard in 2000.

I am hopeful that as the immobiliser is partly working at intended that it's something else (relay?)

I was ready for kicking 'er indoors out yesterday

You may be right about the immobiliser, but it does use different internal relays for ignition and fuel pump, so in theory could fail on one of those circuits and not the other.
Have you checked the fuel pump relay and fuses?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Chim450 said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Thanks both. It's the alarm that came as standard in 2000.

I am hopeful that as the immobiliser is partly working at intended that it's something else (relay?)

I was ready for kicking 'er indoors out yesterday

You may be right about the immobiliser, but it does use different internal relays for ignition and fuel pump, so in theory could fail on one of those circuits and not the other.
Have you checked the fuel pump relay and fuses?

Checked all the fuses that I could see, not swapped an relays (yet)

[QBee]

Could you smell fuel?
If not, then it sounds like fuel not getting through.
If the pump is not priming it is most likely that part of the immobiliser not disconnecting, but I guess you tried locking and unlocking it to reset? You could also check the fuel pump terminals, though I don't see why they would have come loose with the car sitting on the drive.

If the ECU has got wet, that might be the cause. Was it sitting in the wet on the carpet? If it is, and the car still won't start this morning, then you could try taking the ECU out of the car, open it up and let it dry out.

The boot not opening is an odd one. It does require ignition on, so could be immobiliser related I guess.

I think the car is just sulking - how dare you put the storage needs of a mere woman before the comfort needs of your best beloved?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

QBee said:

Could you smell fuel?
If not, then it sounds like fuel not getting through.
If the pump is not priming it is most likely that part of the immobiliser not disconnecting, but I guess you tried locking and unlocking it to reset? You could also check the fuel pump terminals, though I don't see why they would have come loose with the car sitting on the drive.

If the ECU has got wet, that might be the cause. Was it sitting in the wet on the carpet? If it is, and the car still won't start this morning, then you could try taking the ECU out of the car, open it up and let it dry out.

The boot not opening is an odd one. It does require ignition on, so could be immobiliser related I guess.

I think the car is just sulking - how dare you put the storage needs of a mere woman before the comfort needs of your best beloved?

Thanks. No fuel. Tried the locking, unlocking, taking out the fuses etc. I've tried drying everything for two days now. My instinct is immobiliser related (although it is partially working)

...as for 'er indoors, she knows I'm not impressed!

[QBee]

I have only had the fuel pump not prime due to three causes:

1. I triggered the roll-over cut out by entering a gravel trap at Mallory Park sideways. This doesn't sound like your problem.

2. I stalled at a roundabout, in the middle lane of three. Not popular. Pushed the car to the verge and called my TVR guy. He said lock and unlock, and was correct.

3.. I had endless hot starting, cold starting and alarm issues the year I got the car. Eventually opened my wallet, took it to Carl Baker and have never had a fuel pump priming problem since apart from 1&2 above.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

QBee said:

I have only had the fuel pump not prime due to three causes:

1. I triggered the roll-over cut out by entering a gravel trap at Mallory Park sideways. This doesn't sound like your problem.

2. I stalled at a roundabout, in the middle lane of three. Not popular. Pushed the car to the verge and called my TVR guy. He said lock and unlock, and was correct.

3.. I had endless hot starting, cold starting and alarm issues the year I got the car. Eventually opened my wallet, took it to Carl Baker and have never had a fuel pump priming problem since apart from 1&2 above.

Cheers. I've never had a problem with it before, or the deep silence when trying to open the boot. When I press the fob after turning on the ignition there is (maybe) the faintest click where the hum/buzz should kick in. Looks like AA recovery to the menders!

[ou sont les biscuits]

This won't help you with the boot, but as far as the fuel pump goes there are a couple of relays in the passenger footwell thta can play up. they are on the end of an 18" bit of wiring loom that just dangles around. If they are original they will more than likely be silver coloured with a red diagonal stripe. Pulling them out and swapping them around might work. If they have failed (mine did) and you have to replace them, you need to make sure you get the right ones, as these ones have diodes in (or something).

Re the immobiliser, does the light on the cowl go out when you try to disarm it? Does it come on again when you let it arm? If it does then I'd have thought that the immobiliser is working.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

ou sont les biscuits said:

This won't help you with the boot, but as far as the fuel pump goes there are a couple of relays in the passenger footwell thta can play up. they are on the end of an 18" bit of wiring loom that just dangles around. If they are original they will more than likely be silver coloured with a red diagonal stripe. Pulling them out and swapping them around might work. If they have failed (mine did) and you have to replace them, you need to make sure you get the right ones, as these ones have diodes in (or something).

Re the immobiliser, does the light on the cowl go out when you try to disarm it? Does it come on again when you let it arm? If it does then I'd have thought that the immobiliser is working.

Thanks

Yes, LED & starter motor behaving as standard. All I'm missing is fuel....and the ability to replace it!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

ou sont les biscuits said:

This won't help you with the boot, but as far as the fuel pump goes there are a couple of relays in the passenger footwell thta can play up. they are on the end of an 18" bit of wiring loom that just dangles around. If they are original they will more than likely be silver coloured with a red diagonal stripe. Pulling them out and swapping them around might work. If they have failed (mine did) and you have to replace them, you need to make sure you get the right ones, as these ones have diodes in (or something).

Re the immobiliser, does the light on the cowl go out when you try to disarm it? Does it come on again when you let it arm? If it does then I'd have thought that the immobiliser is working.

So....I remembered I've got a box of relays & fuses behind the driver's seat. Swapped one of the relays & brrrrrrmmmmmm we have a running motor! still can't open the boot, so yes, I have two unrelated issues! (I guess the boot thing could have happened a while ago & I've just never noticed.

Thanks for the help!

[TR4man]

That's good news, but you still haven't solved the bigger problem - getting your girlfriend to get her junk out of the garage so the Chimaera can have its home back before it throws another sulk.

[PhilH42]

25 years you've got away with it....what the hell happened?

Long shot but If you can hear something clicking even faint on the boot...could the lock have jammed so its not releasing? Can you try the secret method so you get a bit more purchase on it and check it out?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

PhilH42 said:

25 years you've got away with it....what the hell happened?

Long shot but If you can hear something clicking even faint on the boot...could the lock have jammed so its not releasing? Can you try the secret method so you get a bit more purchase on it and check it out?

So! Flushed with success on getting the engine running I thought I'd tackle the boot release. Tried the button a few times & still utter silence. I'd already checked all the fuses, and looking in the handbook the fuse also serves the dials, which are working.

I thought I'd use the secret method to enter the boot....and I reckon this car has been made without it! So, having hit that brick wall I tried the boot release one more time & hey presto we are in!

....but worse it yet to follow.

We've bought a new house with a steep drive to the subterranean garage. I'd been reticent to move the TVR there until we've had the gradient adjusted. Anyhoo....now it's alarmed with CCTV and a garage door defender I thought it might be worth a go, (better than getting everything all damp again).

Tried to reverse in, exhausts hit the deck. Turned around & went in forwards no problem. Surely what goes in will come out? Nope. Exhausts hit the drive early on, so nicely running Chimaera is now stuck until I come up with a plan!

I'm now turning to lager

[QBee]

Build two ramps, coming a couple of feet into the garage and a couple of feet up the slope, fitting into that triangular shape.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

QBee said:

Build two ramps, coming a couple of feet into the garage and a couple of feet up the slope, fitting into that triangular shape.

Cheers, I reckon that will be the deal