Discussion
Can anyone help. MY S3 has started to mis-fire (I only picked it up Wednesday). Do you think it could be dodgy petrol from Tescos or something else. It hasn't had a recent service or tune up which i want to get done. Does anyone know a good garage near Stratford upon Avon, my local garage can't do it as their ramp is too steep to get it on. Need to get this prob sorted as it's seriously uncool when a car this loud starts spluttering up the road.
According to the AA Travel guide http://www.scaredstifff.com/ is just 56 minutes drive. Used happily by many on here ! One of the guys there has/had an S2..say now more 
I presume you've done the basics like check all the spark plug leads are on and secure.
Pull them off one at a time and check its clean and secure. Taking more than one off means you might mix them up and if you think you have a misfire now...........
Worth checking the connectors on the injectors too. I'd take all the engine connectors off one at a time and check its clean with no water or corrosion in it.
Many of them have a retaining clip which once you've figured it out are reasonably easy to remove.
If you find a dodgy one clean it out the best you can (an old toothbrush works well, poke it down the holes a few times) and put some petroleum jelly in it to keep the water out (don't overdo it a little is fine, enough to cover the contacts).
Chris
Pull them off one at a time and check its clean and secure. Taking more than one off means you might mix them up and if you think you have a misfire now...........
Worth checking the connectors on the injectors too. I'd take all the engine connectors off one at a time and check its clean with no water or corrosion in it.
Many of them have a retaining clip which once you've figured it out are reasonably easy to remove.
If you find a dodgy one clean it out the best you can (an old toothbrush works well, poke it down the holes a few times) and put some petroleum jelly in it to keep the water out (don't overdo it a little is fine, enough to cover the contacts).
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Friday 15th June 09:53
If you cant find when it was last serviced that cant be good. Anyway, there are lots of stuff to check yourself that is quite easy and most of it can be replaced easily too. As mentioned before check the plug leads are all on tight. Have a look and see how old they look. Take out each spark plug and look at that for signs of fouling, check the gap and re-fit. If still not going well then check dist and rotor arm connections. If still not well then starting to get out of your hands. You could try replacing all the plugs and leads as one may be faulty. Only £28 the lot from the local motor factors.
coolcatmaz said:
Thanks guys, but I'm a girl and no man in my life what do I know about engines. Found a garage local that service sports cars so on my way over now with the beast, of course its raining so top up again. And yes, it's being booked in for a service and tune up. I'll keep you posted.
Remember the engine is a Ford Unit from a Sierra / Granada / Transit, so any old Grease Monkey should be able to help you out. No need to go to a Sports Car Specialist! they tend to charge more.Rest assured I'm not wasting money on a specialist sports car garage, the grease monkey likes working on TVR's and other sports cars, it's just a little garage. Diagnostic didn't reveal any obvious reason to mis-fire, hoping maybe dodgy petrol. It's booked in next week for a good service and general looking at. Seems pretty sound though, needs water pump doing at some stage, it's ran like a dream this afternoon though.
I'm from a village half way between Stratford & Banbury, maybe you've seen it advertised on the web somewhere. It's been sat at a garage down the road from me last two months.
I'm from a village half way between Stratford & Banbury, maybe you've seen it advertised on the web somewhere. It's been sat at a garage down the road from me last two months.
Had a run over to David Gerald last Saturday to see what he'd got for sale, some really nice cars but seemed on the expensive side - sales & service. Met Stourbridges2trv there who took me for a run in his S2 and then kindly cast an eye over the S3 I've just bought. Must say you guys all seem nice helpful chaps, probably get to meet one or two more of you at the S club meet in Coventry.
Yes and no to the raining question. It had been raining but wasn't when it was misbehaving. It's been running sweet as a nut yesterday & today, even managed to dodge showers today & get the top down for a run into Stratford. Do you guys use normal unleaded petrol or super unleaded? I've been using normal, didn't know whether it would make a difference.
I use normal unleaded but I'm a 4 litre V8!
If your car is running well the TVR golden rule is to leave the thing alone !
Might have just been a glitch from it not having been run for a while - these cars don't like to be left standing.
I would have thought you are fine using unleaded - but wait till a few more of the guys back this up.
Whats your overall view of TVR ownership so far ?
Chris
If your car is running well the TVR golden rule is to leave the thing alone !
Might have just been a glitch from it not having been run for a while - these cars don't like to be left standing.
I would have thought you are fine using unleaded - but wait till a few more of the guys back this up.
Whats your overall view of TVR ownership so far ?
Chris
Hi Chris
Thanks for that reply, it seems quite happy on regular unleaded petrol. I've spent most of the afternoon giving it a good polish. I just couldn't believe the amount of filth coming off the paintwork, it's almost got a lovely deep red shine to it now (and loads of scratches but I'll worry about those at a later date).
Always wanted a TVR, the sound is worth the money alone, its providing lots of fun now I'm getting to grips with it. Definitely recommend it to anyone getting divorced!
If anyones bored and got nothing to tinker with on their cars, mines probably got loads that needs doing to it, always plenty of tea and bacon sarnies on tap and a drink or two up the pub later.
Maz
Thanks for that reply, it seems quite happy on regular unleaded petrol. I've spent most of the afternoon giving it a good polish. I just couldn't believe the amount of filth coming off the paintwork, it's almost got a lovely deep red shine to it now (and loads of scratches but I'll worry about those at a later date).
Always wanted a TVR, the sound is worth the money alone, its providing lots of fun now I'm getting to grips with it. Definitely recommend it to anyone getting divorced!
If anyones bored and got nothing to tinker with on their cars, mines probably got loads that needs doing to it, always plenty of tea and bacon sarnies on tap and a drink or two up the pub later.
Maz
If you are having it in the garage get them to check the chassis - especially what is called the outrigger tubes.
They run from the centre of the car, under your feet just behind the front wheels, down each side of the car at the outer edge then back into the middle of the car just in front of the back wheels.
They are notorious for rusting, and will fail an MOT. They also carry the seatbelt mounts.
Get them to clean them and then coat them with waxoyl - this is a rustproofing compound, they will know it well.
If you're feeling flush get them to clean the tubes and paint them (properly) before putting the wayoyl on.
Get it checked every year.
You'll find lots of sad photos on here of cars with rotten outrigger tubes.
Its not the end of the world but the car has to be seriously taken to bits to fix it.
You'll also find a few wierd posts on here - like one of mine getting all excited about some new indicator lenses.
They don't make them anymore - so when I found a couple in stock at a dealer I got all giddy !
They are officially rocking horse poo.
There's a fix with some kia lenses if you need some - there's lots of ingenuity going on with these cars - some parts may no longer be available but where there's a will there's a way and nothing has beaten the guys on here yet !
Ehough waffle, I need to go and wash my anorak and trim my beard.
Chris
They run from the centre of the car, under your feet just behind the front wheels, down each side of the car at the outer edge then back into the middle of the car just in front of the back wheels.
They are notorious for rusting, and will fail an MOT. They also carry the seatbelt mounts.
Get them to clean them and then coat them with waxoyl - this is a rustproofing compound, they will know it well.
If you're feeling flush get them to clean the tubes and paint them (properly) before putting the wayoyl on.
Get it checked every year.
You'll find lots of sad photos on here of cars with rotten outrigger tubes.
Its not the end of the world but the car has to be seriously taken to bits to fix it.
You'll also find a few wierd posts on here - like one of mine getting all excited about some new indicator lenses.
They don't make them anymore - so when I found a couple in stock at a dealer I got all giddy !
They are officially rocking horse poo.
There's a fix with some kia lenses if you need some - there's lots of ingenuity going on with these cars - some parts may no longer be available but where there's a will there's a way and nothing has beaten the guys on here yet !
Ehough waffle, I need to go and wash my anorak and trim my beard.
Chris
Awwwww, and there's me thinking one of you boys were going to offer to come over and get my car in order for me. The chap at the garage did mention about using waxoyl before winter comes to protect it, he also suggested it's a job I could do, yeh like I've got a ramp to put it on to get underneath it. Water pump is going to need doing at some stage soon, as are the bonnet catches.
I saw your pics of the indicator lights.......good find, be interesting as to what you could sell those for on ebay if they're so rare.
Getting aquainted with the beasty now, spent most of the day hooning about, making lots of noise along with all those folk on vintage motorbikes doing the rally from god knows where to Banbury via my front door & Sun Rising Hill (Edge Hill).
Any other pointers then? Guess they're not keen on sitting in traffic queues as the temp gauge goes up quite quickly!
Maz
I saw your pics of the indicator lights.......good find, be interesting as to what you could sell those for on ebay if they're so rare.
Getting aquainted with the beasty now, spent most of the day hooning about, making lots of noise along with all those folk on vintage motorbikes doing the rally from god knows where to Banbury via my front door & Sun Rising Hill (Edge Hill).
Any other pointers then? Guess they're not keen on sitting in traffic queues as the temp gauge goes up quite quickly!
Maz
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