Thankfully The Hazard Lights Work...............
Discussion
I've owned my first TVR for just over 48 hours and its had its first breakdown...........Oh well, its all part of the fun.
I think I've done the right things (from the handbook) but wanted to check with you more experienced people before it goes out on the roads again.
It's worth pointing out that this is the first time I've done anything to a car other than putting in oil and water. (oh and petrol!)
Got about 2/3 miles into the journey in slow traffic and whisps of steam started coming out from under the bonnet. Stopped the car immediately and had a look. The steam was coming from what I now know to be the expansion tank. (Blue screw cap)
Filled the header tank (brass screw) with half water and half coolant (antifreeze). Opened the radiator bleed valve slightly until bubbles stopped coming out and the header tank remained full (above the outlet hose). Topped up the expansion tank to half way.
Ran the engine until the heaters came on and the fans cut in. Drove 2 miles back home (gently) and the car is now parked outside.
Is there anything else I should've done/should do?
Thanks
I think I've done the right things (from the handbook) but wanted to check with you more experienced people before it goes out on the roads again.
It's worth pointing out that this is the first time I've done anything to a car other than putting in oil and water. (oh and petrol!)
Got about 2/3 miles into the journey in slow traffic and whisps of steam started coming out from under the bonnet. Stopped the car immediately and had a look. The steam was coming from what I now know to be the expansion tank. (Blue screw cap)
Filled the header tank (brass screw) with half water and half coolant (antifreeze). Opened the radiator bleed valve slightly until bubbles stopped coming out and the header tank remained full (above the outlet hose). Topped up the expansion tank to half way.
Ran the engine until the heaters came on and the fans cut in. Drove 2 miles back home (gently) and the car is now parked outside.
Is there anything else I should've done/should do?
Thanks
Sorry to hear u broke down Jo.
The only thing i could see you might of not done right when bleeding the system,or u might of mis written it,is that the heater should be on as u fill the system up again,this makes sure the whole systems is a comple open loop so no air is in there.
What sort of temp did u have/did the fans cut in
BB
The only thing i could see you might of not done right when bleeding the system,or u might of mis written it,is that the heater should be on as u fill the system up again,this makes sure the whole systems is a comple open loop so no air is in there.
What sort of temp did u have/did the fans cut in
BB
I don't know what the temperature was, I didn't look. (Makes mental note for next time) 
I didn't have the heating on when I was doing the radiator valve. Could I do this now to eliminate any air that may be in there?
The handbook went through all the instructions and then said at the bottom "Start the engine and run it until the cooling fans cut in. Check that the heater is blowing hot air (did that). Turn off the heater and check that the air starts to become cooler (did that). Stop engine, allow to cool and check water level. (will check tomorrow evening)
I did exactly what it said, read it 3 or 4 times before starting!.
Have I done something bad? Sorry, this is probably really basic stuff to you but its all new to me.
I didn't have the heating on when I was doing the radiator valve. Could I do this now to eliminate any air that may be in there?
The handbook went through all the instructions and then said at the bottom "Start the engine and run it until the cooling fans cut in. Check that the heater is blowing hot air (did that). Turn off the heater and check that the air starts to become cooler (did that). Stop engine, allow to cool and check water level. (will check tomorrow evening)
I did exactly what it said, read it 3 or 4 times before starting!.
Have I done something bad? Sorry, this is probably really basic stuff to you but its all new to me.
No that sounds ok aslong as the heater was on and it was on hot as u can imagine this opens a valve and lets the water go all the way around the system.
beleive me it isnt a silly question as i think there is about 3 different ways of Topping up the systems and they can be quite confusing but it is important that the cooling system is up to scratch.
All the best and welcome to the world of TVR's
BB
beleive me it isnt a silly question as i think there is about 3 different ways of Topping up the systems and they can be quite confusing but it is important that the cooling system is up to scratch.
All the best and welcome to the world of TVR's
BB
No that sounds ok aslong as the heater was on and it was on hot as u can imagine this opens a valve and lets the water go all the way around the system.
beleive me it isnt a silly question as i think there is about 3 different ways of Topping up the systems and they can be quite confusing but it is important that the cooling system is up to scratch.
All the best and welcome to the world of TVR's
BB
beleive me it isnt a silly question as i think there is about 3 different ways of Topping up the systems and they can be quite confusing but it is important that the cooling system is up to scratch.
All the best and welcome to the world of TVR's
BB
there'll be a few jealous TVR owners out there now they know yours actually works!!! There's LOADS of stuff on here about cars overheating. It's a 'feature'.
First of all, what you have done re. bleeding sounds fine.
The bigger issue is why did it overheat? Normally something simple, but it's a process of elimination. I would start by tightening the cap on the expansion tank as hard as you can. If it were loose it would vent quicker than it should. Then run it on the drive until the fans kick in. See if you can replicate the problem. Keep an eye on the temperature. By looking at the dial, the fans should switch on around 92-95 degrees and bring the temperature down to around 88-90 (this varies as the guages are all unique!!). If there is a significant variation in this (i.e. they switch on at 100) you'll be needing a new otter switch (the thing that detects the temperature and turns on the fans).
That's a start. See if it happens again. I reckon it probably won't (sometimes a combination of circumstances means it just happens). One word of caution though - if the temperature exceeds 100, best switch it off....
First of all, what you have done re. bleeding sounds fine.
The bigger issue is why did it overheat? Normally something simple, but it's a process of elimination. I would start by tightening the cap on the expansion tank as hard as you can. If it were loose it would vent quicker than it should. Then run it on the drive until the fans kick in. See if you can replicate the problem. Keep an eye on the temperature. By looking at the dial, the fans should switch on around 92-95 degrees and bring the temperature down to around 88-90 (this varies as the guages are all unique!!). If there is a significant variation in this (i.e. they switch on at 100) you'll be needing a new otter switch (the thing that detects the temperature and turns on the fans).
That's a start. See if it happens again. I reckon it probably won't (sometimes a combination of circumstances means it just happens). One word of caution though - if the temperature exceeds 100, best switch it off....
I only collected the car a day or so ago and foolishly I didn't think about checking anything like oil or water. Just wanted to get in and drive it away! Doh!
When I looked inside the header and the expansion tank it would appear that both were all but empty. It took nearly 4 litres of fluid to get the levels back to how the handbook describes them. I'm hoping that this caused the problem...! There weren't any obvious leaks anywhere.
I will keep an eye on the temperature and check the levels more frequently. I will also check the oil tomorrow......! If the oil needs topping up should I use Mobil 5W/50 Synthetic as it recommends in the handbook?
Jo
When I looked inside the header and the expansion tank it would appear that both were all but empty. It took nearly 4 litres of fluid to get the levels back to how the handbook describes them. I'm hoping that this caused the problem...! There weren't any obvious leaks anywhere.
I will keep an eye on the temperature and check the levels more frequently. I will also check the oil tomorrow......! If the oil needs topping up should I use Mobil 5W/50 Synthetic as it recommends in the handbook?
Jo
quote:
When I looked inside the header and the expansion tank it would appear that both were all but empty. It took nearly 4 litres of fluid to get the levels back to how the handbook describes them.
Aaaah - that would be it then!!!! Wouldn't bother with any of the other stuff I wrote unless it happens again!
The first job I did on my Griff was a rad bleed too! 
Might be worth putting some paper underneath it while it's parked up overnight to see if any coolant is leaking out. The cooling system can't just empty itself, either the previous owner didn't put anything in or you might have a leak somewhere. Just a thought.
Good luck - hope you enjoy the car!!
Edited to add: Will we be seeing you at a TVR Girls meet one of these days??
>> Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 25th September 08:43
Might be worth putting some paper underneath it while it's parked up overnight to see if any coolant is leaking out. The cooling system can't just empty itself, either the previous owner didn't put anything in or you might have a leak somewhere. Just a thought.
Good luck - hope you enjoy the car!!
Edited to add: Will we be seeing you at a TVR Girls meet one of these days??
>> Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 25th September 08:43
If it took 3-4 litres of antifreeze mix, I reckon this goes down as really shoddy pre delivery inspection by whoever sold it 
. On the plus side the system was still over half full and the chance of you having knackered anything are slim
You'll get a quick answer and a load of sympathy here anyway
Ben
. On the plus side the system was still over half full and the chance of you having knackered anything are slim You'll get a quick answer and a load of sympathy here anyway
Ben
It is fairly likely that you just overfilled it. I have found on both the Griff I have now and the Chimaera before it that the levels suggested by the manual were waaaay off. My griff runs best with only a few mm of coolant in the expansion bottle, any more it throws out like the toys from the proverbial pram. This may have been what you experienced rather than an overheat...
....actually, ignore me. I have just had a large lunch and failed to read your post properly.
>> Edited by dans on Wednesday 25th September 14:48
....actually, ignore me. I have just had a large lunch and failed to read your post properly.
>> Edited by dans on Wednesday 25th September 14:48
I think the previous owner had been a little mean with the TLC! Everything seems to be running perfectly well now, however I will do the paper thing this weekend just to double check I haven't got a little leak somewhere. Checked the temperatures after a "proper" run and the gauge was around 80 degrees.
I'm pleased to report that my boot now contains some spare coolant and water - just incase!! Also bought oil and some 'tools'. I almost feel like a real owner now ! ....
All that's left is to get my hands dirty.
I'm pleased to report that my boot now contains some spare coolant and water - just incase!! Also bought oil and some 'tools'. I almost feel like a real owner now ! ....
All that's left is to get my hands dirty.
Chimp_Girl said:
All that's left is to get my hands dirty.
Ahhh... my kind of woman...!
The last one I had (Claire indoors, for 10 years) was bloody useless on the road. She scared the sh1t out of me a few times, and then there was the mechanical ineptitude. She managed to trash every single car she got, including the one I gave her.
Let's think... Renault 5: bumped it; trashed the clutch.
Renault 21: clutch again, ripped a mirror off, never checked the oil, engine clattered.
Cavalier: best forgotten. It was a Cav with bits of a 1.8 Carlton under the bonnet, as dodgy as you like. I TOLD her not to buy it...
Skoda Estelle: stolen from a layby on the A19 after it overheated.
Skoda Rapid: Reversed into a Transit van. Drove 5 miles on a flat tyre. Cooked the engine.
Peugeot 309 TD: rolled it on a bend. Wrote off the clutch (not at the same time!)
Citroen Xantia: Wrote off the clutch. Then the engne because... she never checked the oil, even though there was a bright orange lamp on the dash with a f*ing DIPSTICK symbol on it...!
Ford Escort: Reversed into a wall at high speed.
Oh, and she hates TVRs. :toughshit:
Current woman (me Julie)... bliss. :devil: ...
Not only is she one of the best female drivers I've EVER come across (steady...!), she volunteered to help me remove, strip and rebuild the 390's V8, then asked me to show her how to sort the front brakes on her Piat Funto; put on a pair of my old overalls (sexy!) and got stuck in.
I should point out... she's slightly disadvantaged by only having 1.5 hands (as she puts it!).
Love it.
ldromanticsmiley: Ian
Chimp_Girl said: I think the previous owner had been a little mean with the TLC! Everything seems to be running perfectly well now, however I will do the paper thing this weekend just to double check I haven't got a little leak somewhere. Checked the temperatures after a "proper" run and the gauge was around 80 degrees.
I'm pleased to report that my boot now contains some spare coolant and water - just incase!! Also bought oil and some 'tools'. I almost feel like a real owner now ! ....
All that's left is to get my hands dirty.
Do you undertake any other mechanical jobs on Chims? Mine is due a service in May, start reading up on it, the job is yours
Ivan
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