Hello and assitance please - Tamora no start
Discussion
Hi all,
I've recently purchased a Tamora, my fourth TVR having changed from a Tuscan. The car is great - looks, sound, handling - all fantastic.
However, now the car will not start. Doubly a problem as the car is in an underground car park and I need to somehow get the car up to the street to be recovered. Any ideas will be very much appreciated.
Situation:
On turning the key - all usual dash lights come on, Tamora start up message on LCD, chunk - chnunk - chunk of the engine turning over..... but the engine does not start. No error messages on the LCD.
Car:
September 2003 Tamora
Thanks,
Ian
I've recently purchased a Tamora, my fourth TVR having changed from a Tuscan. The car is great - looks, sound, handling - all fantastic.
However, now the car will not start. Doubly a problem as the car is in an underground car park and I need to somehow get the car up to the street to be recovered. Any ideas will be very much appreciated.
Situation:
On turning the key - all usual dash lights come on, Tamora start up message on LCD, chunk - chnunk - chunk of the engine turning over..... but the engine does not start. No error messages on the LCD.
Car:
September 2003 Tamora
Thanks,
Ian
Trade - dealer is assisting - advice is to get recovered. Thanks,
If I can not start the car this is what I will do... however the car is at the bottom of an underground car park... (with a long ramp to get out) a recovery truck will not be able to get down.. so I need to get up.
Options are: start the car somehow (hense this request.. is there something simple I am missing.. anyone else solved the same problem?) or, I need to push the car up the hill (with the help of about 4/5 other chaps), out of the car park and get the car towed away. Not good.
Should amuse the estate agents accross the road though... how they laughed when the battery on my Tuscan went flat...
Ian
If I can not start the car this is what I will do... however the car is at the bottom of an underground car park... (with a long ramp to get out) a recovery truck will not be able to get down.. so I need to get up.
Options are: start the car somehow (hense this request.. is there something simple I am missing.. anyone else solved the same problem?) or, I need to push the car up the hill (with the help of about 4/5 other chaps), out of the car park and get the car towed away. Not good.
Should amuse the estate agents accross the road though... how they laughed when the battery on my Tuscan went flat...
Ian
Mine did exactly this last winter. Once recovered it went to the dealer, and guess what - nothing wrong, started first time, and has never done it again!!
The only think I can think of is some software malfunction, perhaps with the immobiliser; all my dealer did was plug in the diagnostics lead, unplug it, and it started! So maybe disconnecting the battery for a few minutes, then rebooting, might shake it up?
Anyway, it's up to the recovery boys to sort you out - you pay them to do the recovering!
The only think I can think of is some software malfunction, perhaps with the immobiliser; all my dealer did was plug in the diagnostics lead, unplug it, and it started! So maybe disconnecting the battery for a few minutes, then rebooting, might shake it up?
Anyway, it's up to the recovery boys to sort you out - you pay them to do the recovering!
Hi Paul,
Thanks. Fuel pump... I'm not sure - I don't know what the pump sounds like, I can't say that I have noriced it before. All I hear is the chunk, chunk, chunk - and that is all.... so, this could be a good lead - thank you.
I'll try the inertia switch. I don't have a message on the LCD saying the inertia switch has been tripped though.
Ian
Thanks. Fuel pump... I'm not sure - I don't know what the pump sounds like, I can't say that I have noriced it before. All I hear is the chunk, chunk, chunk - and that is all.... so, this could be a good lead - thank you.
I'll try the inertia switch. I don't have a message on the LCD saying the inertia switch has been tripped though.
Ian
You should hear the fuel pump whirr/whine for 2-3 seconds if you turn the key to the point where the lights come on. The noise will then stop, it is the fuel pump pressurising the fuel system (or something like that).
If you don't hear this then check the fuses and relays for the fuel pump.
If you do hear this, does the engine then turn over - kind of brr brr brr as the engine spins without firing? If it does not and you just get a kind of loud click then there is a fault with the starter motor mechanism. It would possibly be a loose connection as the current required to make the starter crank the engine is quite high. A loose connection might not show in normal 'tugging', but under loads of amps it might break contact. Alternatively the starter motor could be jammed, in which case put the car in reverse and push it back and fore to try to disengage it.
So:
1. fuel pump whine? No = don't bother trying to start it, check power/fuses/relays to pump (or the inertia switch somewhere under the glovebox area).
2. Fuel pump whine = yes and does turn over = call AA - something for them to diagnose
3. Fuel pump whine= yes and does not turn over = start motor/solenoid assembly. Again, AA or whoever will check all connections (while cursing the lowness of the car
).
Hope you get it sorted.
If you don't hear this then check the fuses and relays for the fuel pump.
If you do hear this, does the engine then turn over - kind of brr brr brr as the engine spins without firing? If it does not and you just get a kind of loud click then there is a fault with the starter motor mechanism. It would possibly be a loose connection as the current required to make the starter crank the engine is quite high. A loose connection might not show in normal 'tugging', but under loads of amps it might break contact. Alternatively the starter motor could be jammed, in which case put the car in reverse and push it back and fore to try to disengage it.
So:
1. fuel pump whine? No = don't bother trying to start it, check power/fuses/relays to pump (or the inertia switch somewhere under the glovebox area).
2. Fuel pump whine = yes and does turn over = call AA - something for them to diagnose
3. Fuel pump whine= yes and does not turn over = start motor/solenoid assembly. Again, AA or whoever will check all connections (while cursing the lowness of the car
). Hope you get it sorted.
I had this once and it was the wierd emmissions from a mobile phone mast. I used the chip immoboliser and all was happy.
Basically take the keys out of the ignition. Put them in the little box, what the led go solid red, put them back in the ignition, here the fuel pump prime, its very distinctive and then it should turn over.
Where are you?
Basically take the keys out of the ignition. Put them in the little box, what the led go solid red, put them back in the ignition, here the fuel pump prime, its very distinctive and then it should turn over.
Where are you?
Thanks everyone. Advice is very much appreciated.
I can hear the fuel pump so I think it is now..
2. Fuel pump whine = yes and does turn over = call AA - something for them to diagnose
Will try the roll backwards, & then forwards also. Tried using the immoboliser slot also...
Can't wait to get the car back prowling the streets again..
Ian
I can hear the fuel pump so I think it is now..
2. Fuel pump whine = yes and does turn over = call AA - something for them to diagnose
Will try the roll backwards, & then forwards also. Tried using the immoboliser slot also...
Can't wait to get the car back prowling the streets again..
Ian
WOOO HOOO!
Back on the road! Bad connection on a fuse situated under the steering wheel side. RAC and a helpful dealer on the phone and all is well again.
Thanks again for the input, and I'm looking forward to actively participating in the Forum in future.
[Oh and the chap from the RAC did moan about the lowness of the car and the lack of room he had to look into the engine bay. But once the car boomed into life a broad grin crossed his face.. you just gotta love TVRs]
Back on the road! Bad connection on a fuse situated under the steering wheel side. RAC and a helpful dealer on the phone and all is well again.
Thanks again for the input, and I'm looking forward to actively participating in the Forum in future.
[Oh and the chap from the RAC did moan about the lowness of the car and the lack of room he had to look into the engine bay. But once the car boomed into life a broad grin crossed his face.. you just gotta love TVRs]
Reminds me of Minihoon - I couldn't get any dipped beam, and so had a rather hazardous night time drive back from a restaurant on side and foglights. Turns out I'd pulled out the dipped beam fuse thinking it was a spare! Duhhh.....
Still got mine back as well today - 18000 mile service. Wow! It is so much better now the engine is retuned! Lovely and smooth, lots more pops and crackles on the overrun, no hesitancy, no stalling on cold start. Plus it needed a new engine mount, which has quietened down the clunking from the front end.
Oil pressure is fine, despite the fact that the new oil sender I had fitted 6 months ago to replace a leaky one, is also leaking, and faulty as well!!
Needs the new tyres on the back now, and I'm all set for Eurohoon!!
Still got mine back as well today - 18000 mile service. Wow! It is so much better now the engine is retuned! Lovely and smooth, lots more pops and crackles on the overrun, no hesitancy, no stalling on cold start. Plus it needed a new engine mount, which has quietened down the clunking from the front end.
Oil pressure is fine, despite the fact that the new oil sender I had fitted 6 months ago to replace a leaky one, is also leaking, and faulty as well!!
Needs the new tyres on the back now, and I'm all set for Eurohoon!!
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