New (to me) Tuscan S - Questions/Guidance

[TuscanS_DE]

Hi all,

I recently made teenage me happy/jealous by getting hold of a 2004 MK1 Tuscan S (left hand drive). It's been a long 25 years waiting for it and I've not stopped smiling since picking it up last week

Of course, being 21 years old (and a TVR), there are a few things that need looking at to get it to 'perfect', but I want to get my hands dirty myself rather than getting them fixed elsewhere. I am hoping for some pointers on doing it the right way or things to avoid/forget about as lost causes.

Lets get to the point:

1. The windscreen wipers are quite sad looking, with the driver's side lifting from the screen at low speeds (30mph) and basically not touching at all at Autobahn speeds (150mph). The latter I can sort of live with but when I am driving somewhat normally, it should be possible to clear the screen. Is wipers lifting a "thing" with the Tuscan or am I better off looking at replacing both arms on spec to have new blades and arms?

2. A recent post by Modrich about restoring a Tuscan shows a "surround" for the targa roof clip on the windscreen side of the assembly. This has broken on my car with half of it now missing. I don't know what/how to search for that as a replacement part, any suggestions? (I can't post a link/image just yet as a new user).

3. The passenger window is misbehaving. If the door is opened, the window lowers as expected. When the door closes again, the window only raises about half way. It can be closed using the window button/wheel, but that is also not responding as well as the driver's side. It seems to miss some of the clicks when turning the button. I am wondering if there is a way to reset the window or program the behaviour at all.

4. The heater seems to not be working right. I turn it on and the heater itself seems to get hot, but no hot air flows into the cabin. The end effect is a red hot dashboard around where the radio is and thats it. I assume a stepper motor for air mixing is failing, but am not sure where to start with that.

I realise this is a wall of text, so if I should break it down into separate questions, let me know.

Any advice is welcome here

Cheers

Edited by TuscanS_DE on Friday 7th November 10:32

[The Three D Mucketeer]

Is it a MK2 Tuscan Targa ??? 2004 could be MK1 or MK2 I think .... Is it a MK1 "pepperpot" grille

[TuscanDownUnder]

1) Wipers shouldn't move at speed for the Tuscan, tighten or replace whatever might be loose.
2) Roof latch cover unfortunately isn't sold by anyone these days... You could always 3D print something to fit.
3) Not sure, but window module may need a reset or replacement at worst.
4) Sometimes the hot and cold manual adjustment gets stuck - try toggling between cold then hot and see if hot air blows.

Welcome on the Tuscan btw! For urgent questions there is a Tuscan Owners group on Facebook that's better populated vs PistonHeads forums these days =)

[PeteS2k]

Heater fault might just be sticking hinges on the heater flap rather than a failing stepper motor. I don't know how different the layout is on the Left Hand Drive, but on the Right Hand Drive, you can get at the offending area through a wiring grommet in the passenger footwell (right in the middle on the bulkhead, behind the carpet). Just enough access to get some WD40 on the hinges, and encourage the flap to move to 'hot' by leaning on the flap with a long screwdriver. Worth a try, and considerably less hassle than dismantling the rest of the heater system from the engine bay!

The heater logic - at least on mine (2002) - winds the the flap closed against the stop (cold) on switching ignition on, then tries to return to where it was. My heater fan also doesn't wake up until the fan controller switch is moved, either altering the speed or switching on-off. That also had me thinking it was broken until I realised!

[TuscanS_DE]

The Three D Mucketeer said:

Is it a MK2 Tuscan Targa ??? 2004 could be MK1 or MK2 I think .... Is it a MK1 "pepperpot" grille

Hi, it is a MK1 (Updated the OP to reflect that too)

[TuscanS_DE]

PeteS2k said:

Heater fault might just be sticking hinges on the heater flap rather than a failing stepper motor. I don't know how different the layout is on the Left Hand Drive, but on the Right Hand Drive, you can get at the offending area through a wiring grommet in the passenger footwell (right in the middle on the bulkhead, behind the carpet). Just enough access to get some WD40 on the hinges, and encourage the flap to move to 'hot' by leaning on the flap with a long screwdriver. Worth a try, and considerably less hassle than dismantling the rest of the heater system from the engine bay!

The heater logic - at least on mine (2002) - winds the the flap closed against the stop (cold) on switching ignition on, then tries to return to where it was. My heater fan also doesn't wake up until the fan controller switch is moved, either altering the speed or switching on-off. That also had me thinking it was broken until I realised!

I heard the motor "buzz" on startup and figured it was a reset like you mentioned. I'll have a dig and see if I can do what you suggested. Thanks

[Gladers01]

TuscanS_DE said:

The Three D Mucketeer said:

Is it a MK2 Tuscan Targa ??? 2004 could be MK1 or MK2 I think .... Is it a MK1 "pepperpot" grille

Hi, it is a MK1 (Updated the OP to reflect that too)

Q3) Try resetting the window position by arming/disarming the alarm on the fob or disconnect and reconnect the Ecu module which is under the centre console either side of the ashtray, can also be the window encoder pcb behind the door card not counting the pulses as the window goes up/down resulting in the Ecu not knowing which position the window is in, also worth checking the 'door closed' microswitch while you're at it

[sixor8]

I presume TVR didn't switch the wiper arm positions to the 'proper' LHD. On UK cars, the passenger ones on many cars from the Griffith onwards do not contact the screen very well due to the curvature, which unfortunately will be the driver's side on a LHD car.

[Modrich]

Try Denso hybrid wipers, they're a mix between traditional and flat blade style and work really well on the curved screen.

Part numbers 19" DU-48R, 21" DUR-053.

Ashley Sutherland on 'TVR Tuscan Owners group' on facebook is breaking 4 Tuscans, try contacting him for a 'Batman' shaped roof trim.