Chimaera Just stopped!!!

[BrianT]

I have a 1997 Chimaera 400 which suddenly stopped last night. Engine just cut out and wont restart. It cranks over good and strong on the starter. It did restart once but ran only briefly. I get a good spark and the fuel pump is heard to be running. Any ideas???

I've only had this car for 1 month and it has been superb over the 1,000 miles which I've done.

[Hughesie2]

My fuel pump was running, just not getting enough fuel to the spark to ignite, could also be a coil problem, check leads and good spark from coil...

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Might be worth posting under the TVR Chimaera section.

Mine has been guilty of this twice. Both times I was driving along fine when the engine just stopped firing.

Both times it turned out to be the same relay. Check the relays located in the passanger footwell near the battery.

Hope this is of use and good luck....

[cosmoschick]

Might be worth having a read of this thread:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=199012&f=8&h=0&p=1

[jsr]

And this one...

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=198059&f=8&h=0

Strange that there's a few cars all doing this at the moment???

[ian187]

Sounds similar to what I had when I first got my car. It ran perfectly fine for a while then I stopped at a garage to refuel and it wouldn't start again.

My MIL light was ON (but only VERY dim) it turned out to be the connectors of the ECU!!! I removed the ECU and cleaned up the bits where it plugs in - with girlfriends suede brush sprayed a bit of contact stuff on it and its been OK since!

Thing is tho. if you remove the ECU, the ECU will need to relearn itself, which it does when the cars up to temp, so the idle seems a bit high etc. for a bit

[BrianT]

Hughesie2 said:

My fuel pump was running, just not getting enough fuel to the spark to ignite, could also be a coil problem, check leads and good spark from coil...

Yes the spark is very good indeed, I am hopefully going to have a chanve to look at it on Saturday.

[BrianT]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Might be worth posting under the TVR Chimaera section. Mine has been guilty of this twice. Both times I was driving along fine when the engine just stopped firing. Both times it turned out to be the same relay. Check the relays located in the passanger footwell near the battery. Hope this is of use and good luck....

Thanks to whoever was responsible for putting this in the Chimaera Section, this site seems really good, cheers for all of the advice I will give it a go.

[BrianT]

Thanks to All of you for fantastic responses.

Over the past few days I have cleaned stepper, adjusted idling, changed coil, swapped relays, checked plugs, leads etc. but to no avail. It does start with difficulty but sometimes won't restart when cold or hot, I have lost confidence in driving it as the RAC will go mad if I call them out yet again.

I guess I'll have to shell out and take it to a dealer. Problem is, nearest dealer is 50 miles away and I'm not sure if I'll get there!!

Thanks once again. Brian

[parrot of doom]

Have you changed the fuel filter? Also check the carbon cannister from the fuel tank.

[Hughesie2]

BrianT said:

Thanks to All of you for fantastic responses. Over the past few days I have cleaned stepper, adjusted idling, changed coil, swapped relays, checked plugs, leads etc. but to no avail. It does start with difficulty but sometimes won't restart when cold or hot, I have lost confidence in driving it as the RAC will go mad if I call them out yet again. I guess I'll have to shell out and take it to a dealer. Problem is, nearest dealer is 50 miles away and I'm not sure if I'll get there!! Thanks once again. Brian

Have you Tried the Fuel Relays ??

[parrot of doom]

*buys Hughsie some glasses*

[BrianT]

Just on the off chance, I have another clue!!!!!!!

It's worse at night when the lights are on. I have used the car several times today and whilst hard to start when warm, it runs reasonably ok but when using it tonight I broke down three times (only just got home) at one stage the interior light came on! It cuts out even when at 1500 revs. Could this be to do with the alarm? Does anyone know where the contacts are and how to defeat them?