Chim's all fixed!

[meeko]

After weeks of poor running and low MPG, I've finally sorted it. The coolant was low for a start, and the thermostat was stuck open. I replaced:

Thermnostat
Bled system
New HT leads
New plug extenders
New Dizzy Cap/Rotor
New Stepper
New Bosch Coil.

What a difference. There is absolutely no jerking at low revs. It picks up without any flat spots now and when started from cold it isn't lumpy as previous. For all of you who have to use your clutch to stop the car kangarooing, there must be something wrong.

Ony problem is the radio now picks up a lot of interferance from the coil/leads. Anyone have any tips on eliminiating this?

[petea]

what leads did you put on? standard?

I put high performance 10mm leads on my 94 chim 400 along with a new coil and they sent the tacho daft! no interference on the radio though.

[trackcar]

More likely a coil fault for the tacho as the white/black -ve wire is the signal for the ecu and tacho.

radio suppression .. what HT ends did you fit? the cheap non resistor type or the 5kOhm vauxhall ones that are fitted as std?

[Tobs]

It will be interesting to see what your MPG is now. I've been having similar problems and also replaced most of the ignition system. However when doing this I noticed the vac pipe to the fuel pressure regulator wasn't connected and an earth wire that should go to the back of the engine had come adrift (I think this was the earth for the lambdas/temperature sensors!). Seems to be running a lot better now and I'm hoping for more that 14mpg over the next few tank fulls!

Toby.

[meeko]

I put on some bog standard leads from Peninsula. The lengths didn't really correspond to the originals I removed, so it doesn't look as nice. I don't think there are any resistors on the leads. They cost about £30 for a set and the Parts chap reckoned that he'd spoke to TVR power and they don't beleive there to be any performance advantage to fitting super duper leads. There are small adaptors that are pressed on to the dizzy cap and that's it...

[victormeldrew]

meeko said:

I put on some bog standard leads from Peninsula. The lengths didn't really correspond to the originals I removed, so it doesn't look as nice. I don't think there are any resistors on the leads. They cost about £30 for a set and the Parts chap reckoned that he'd spoke to TVR power and they don't beleive there to be any performance advantage to fitting super duper leads. There are small adaptors that are pressed on to the dizzy cap and that's it...

There isn't a performance advantage, its more a longevity advantage. You know how you just had to replace the leads - with the "super duper" leads that wouldn't happen again. With "standard" leads you can look forward to another round of iffy running followed by HT lead replacement in a few years. Something like 8.5 or 10mm Magnecor leads will last many times the lifetime of normal leads in chargrilled proximity to TVR manifolds, which is why they are used - not to give any performance advantage.

I'm not saying your parts chap told porkies, he just either didn't know or chose not to tell you the full story. I don't know if he stocks "super duper" leads, and therefore if he gained a sale and potential repeat business from this, but you have to wonder!

If you have ceramic coated manifolds of course then you have no worries, and you just saved a bunch of notes!

[meeko]

Ok, After running two tanks of fuel I can say that my MPG is now approaching 17. This is a definite improvement over the 14MPG as previous, but not ideal!. I think I'll hibernate the Chim and buy a runner for the winter!

[Tobs]

I was also getting between 13-14mpg until I fixed a few probs; vac line had become disconnected from fuel pressure regulator, and an earth wire had become disconnected at the back of the engine.

After sorting these, and replacing ignition leads, coil dizzy cap, and rotor arm. I managed 15-16mpg on the last tank full - still not too good but perhaps more 'normal' in this cold weather. Although I am still finding a slight hesitation around 1500rpm. Not sure whats causing this. I still need to check my timing though to see what that is set at. Also engine temp never seems to get above 60 degrees on the gauge when driving in traffic it gets upto 80, but then drops again to 60 - I know this could be the temp gauge sender as its on the end of a pipe but I may try changing my thermostat to see if that helps.

Toby.