Just bought a Tuscan S
Discussion
Hi Guys
I'm new here so forgive any errors!!
Just bought a 2003 Tuscan S. 4.0 litre engine (which I haven't seen yet as the bonnet is bolted down!). Tahiti Blue with Blue / Cream interior. I bought the car from McGurk.com last Friday (Leamington Spa) and thoroughly enjoyed the drive home (Cardiff).
I think it will take a while to get used to the car - crunched the gears a few times (the "bite" on the clutch does seem very close to the deck) - Is this the same on all Tuscans? Can this be adjusted? Steering is nice and tight (reminds me of my rallying days - mini cooper s 1293cc). Already experienced Tuscan bite! Yes, put it sideways a couple of times - never seen a golf party move so fast!
Also would like to work on the car myself to a limited degree - does anyone know of a workshop manual for the Tuscan?
Also I expect I need a trolley jack to get under the bodywork/chassis - any recommendations for make/model?
Tips I have picked up so far are:
1. Warm the car up before setting out.
2. Do not exceed 3000 rpm until oil temp is 50 degrees minimum.
3. Check fluid levels weekly.
any more I should be aware of? If there are loads, I will catalogue them for other members.
Also, obtained full owners manual with car. In reading other posts it seems that there are some members who would like to see a manual (sometimes prior to purchase as the info on these cars is quite scarce) if this is the case I could scan the manual and post it in the forum (if this is possible)
Thanks
Art
I'm new here so forgive any errors!!
Just bought a 2003 Tuscan S. 4.0 litre engine (which I haven't seen yet as the bonnet is bolted down!). Tahiti Blue with Blue / Cream interior. I bought the car from McGurk.com last Friday (Leamington Spa) and thoroughly enjoyed the drive home (Cardiff).
I think it will take a while to get used to the car - crunched the gears a few times (the "bite" on the clutch does seem very close to the deck) - Is this the same on all Tuscans? Can this be adjusted? Steering is nice and tight (reminds me of my rallying days - mini cooper s 1293cc). Already experienced Tuscan bite! Yes, put it sideways a couple of times - never seen a golf party move so fast!
Also would like to work on the car myself to a limited degree - does anyone know of a workshop manual for the Tuscan?
Also I expect I need a trolley jack to get under the bodywork/chassis - any recommendations for make/model?
Tips I have picked up so far are:
1. Warm the car up before setting out.
2. Do not exceed 3000 rpm until oil temp is 50 degrees minimum.
3. Check fluid levels weekly.
any more I should be aware of? If there are loads, I will catalogue them for other members.
Also, obtained full owners manual with car. In reading other posts it seems that there are some members who would like to see a manual (sometimes prior to purchase as the info on these cars is quite scarce) if this is the case I could scan the manual and post it in the forum (if this is possible)
Thanks
Art
Well done on the purchase, everyone has a different way of warming the cars up, I tend to start up at rev to 1500rpm for 30 seconds, then let it idle for a few minutes until the oil temperature reaches 30, then I'll drive below 3000 rpm until it reaches 60, although on a few colder nights it still wasn't at 60 after 45 minutes drive so just use common sense, if it's been running a reasonable amount of time then it should be ok.
Trolley jacks can struggle to get under the Tuscan, I have a couple of blocks of wood nailed together and drive up onto them first.
Paul
Trolley jacks can struggle to get under the Tuscan, I have a couple of blocks of wood nailed together and drive up onto them first.
Paul
This fits under Daftlads Sagaris. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
Lots of different advice re warm-ups, have a search. Consensus seems to be that warming up by idling stationary isn't going to get as much oil around as warming up with the engine under load and at a reasonable speed.
Personally I drive straight off, keeping the revs up but below 3krpm until up to temp.
Contratulations BTW!
Cheers,
FT.
Personally I drive straight off, keeping the revs up but below 3krpm until up to temp.
Contratulations BTW!
Cheers,
FT.
I think it's better to drive the car to warm up, this allows all the main parts to get warmed up. Drive the front wheels on to some slabs or a block of wood this will give you clearance to get a trolly jack under. Check oil weekly and do it as soon as you turn the engine of. I would stop car leave engine running ,open service bonnet,turn engine off, then quickly dip the oil.
Enjoy
Enjoy
MrsS said:
This fits under Daftlads Sagaris. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
or some wood and a std £30 trolley jack.be careful out there on slippy roads, they dont make tuscans anymore!
clutch might be on the way out or need some fluid.
custard
custardkid said:
MrsS said:
This fits under Daftlads Sagaris. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
or some wood and a std £30 trolley jack.be careful out there on slippy roads, they dont make tuscans anymore!
clutch might be on the way out or need some fluid.
custard
If you've not got a jack, these are well worth the extra cash (IMHO)
Warming up is best done underload. Don't let the thing sit and idle, it will do more harm than good.
Welcome to the fold! As has already been said, take it easy and warm up the car slowly - I do the "1500rpm's for 20 secs or so" method on start up but never leave it idling when very cold, always drive it to warm it up. I tend to stick to 2500rpm max until the oil reaches 40C and then below 3000rpm until 60C with full confidence once around 65/70C. These are all static readings - air flow over the front of the engine will reduce these indicated temps but it gives you an idea.
The low bite on the clutch might be low fluid as already mentioned or it could be the clutch/slave on its way out - what mileage is on it? Any history of clutch replacement?
Good luck with it, enjoy yourself and read as much as you can on here (and SP6 forum) and get to know a trustworthy dealer/indy if at all possible
Andy
The low bite on the clutch might be low fluid as already mentioned or it could be the clutch/slave on its way out - what mileage is on it? Any history of clutch replacement?
Good luck with it, enjoy yourself and read as much as you can on here (and SP6 forum) and get to know a trustworthy dealer/indy if at all possible
Andy
Daftlad said:
custardkid said:
MrsS said:
This fits under Daftlads Sagaris. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
or some wood and a std £30 trolley jack.be careful out there on slippy roads, they dont make tuscans anymore!
clutch might be on the way out or need some fluid.
custard
If you've not got a jack, these are well worth the extra cash (IMHO)
Warming up is best done underload. Don't let the thing sit and idle, it will do more harm than good.
the £100 one does look very spangly, but couldn't justify the extra spend on something i'm going to use once a year
custard
custardkid said:
Daftlad said:
custardkid said:
MrsS said:
This fits under Daftlads Sagaris. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
or some wood and a std £30 trolley jack.be careful out there on slippy roads, they dont make tuscans anymore!
clutch might be on the way out or need some fluid.
custard
If you've not got a jack, these are well worth the extra cash (IMHO)
Warming up is best done underload. Don't let the thing sit and idle, it will do more harm than good.
the £100 one does look very spangly, but couldn't justify the extra spend on something i'm going to use once a year
custard
Hi Guys
Many thanks for the information.
Looks like I will have the bonnet off this weekend after all! no excuse needed here.
Thanks for help on the clutch situation - I will check all the fluid levels asap (McGurk.com confirmed all "service" checks had been carried out satisfactorily with no errors / problems coming to light), maybe it is the slave cylinder? Is this a case of re-rubbering or will it mean a replacement cylinder (I will be looking to do the work myself - having done it many times on my mini cooper S). I do not know if the slave is original or is a replacement - will I be able to tell by looking at it?
As far as the car is concerned it has covered 19500 miles and McGurk.com told me it has been fitted with a replacement engine (I was told the original TVR Tuscan engines was TVR's own design, and it had a few design faults (??!?), many broke! TVR offered free replacement engines to existing owners, and this car was fitted with one out of the TVR Coventry factory). I do not know when this was fitted, and I do not know if the 19500 miles refer to the car or the period since the replacement engine was fitted. As far as the other "bits" are concerned, I am told it is all original. I have tried to trace the previous owner - without success (I will try another thread on this).
So it looks like I am going to start collecting TVR Tuscan "tips" and compile them into a working document. I hope this helps all existing owners and those "lurking" waiting to buy. I am not sure of the format as yet, however I would like to structure it to acknowledge individual members contributions.
It looks like the first sections are:
Specification details
Maintenance and access - jacking up the car
Clutch problems - slave cylinder
Lighting - Converting headlights to Xenon lamps
Accessories - where to buy a waterproof car cover - yes, mine leaks through the seal between the removable roof panel and the windscreen pillar!
Finally, can we attach files to these threads? (word doc's and pictures - jpg's?)
Regards
Art
Many thanks for the information.
Looks like I will have the bonnet off this weekend after all! no excuse needed here.
Thanks for help on the clutch situation - I will check all the fluid levels asap (McGurk.com confirmed all "service" checks had been carried out satisfactorily with no errors / problems coming to light), maybe it is the slave cylinder? Is this a case of re-rubbering or will it mean a replacement cylinder (I will be looking to do the work myself - having done it many times on my mini cooper S). I do not know if the slave is original or is a replacement - will I be able to tell by looking at it?
As far as the car is concerned it has covered 19500 miles and McGurk.com told me it has been fitted with a replacement engine (I was told the original TVR Tuscan engines was TVR's own design, and it had a few design faults (??!?), many broke! TVR offered free replacement engines to existing owners, and this car was fitted with one out of the TVR Coventry factory). I do not know when this was fitted, and I do not know if the 19500 miles refer to the car or the period since the replacement engine was fitted. As far as the other "bits" are concerned, I am told it is all original. I have tried to trace the previous owner - without success (I will try another thread on this).
So it looks like I am going to start collecting TVR Tuscan "tips" and compile them into a working document. I hope this helps all existing owners and those "lurking" waiting to buy. I am not sure of the format as yet, however I would like to structure it to acknowledge individual members contributions.
It looks like the first sections are:
Specification details
Maintenance and access - jacking up the car
Clutch problems - slave cylinder
Lighting - Converting headlights to Xenon lamps
Accessories - where to buy a waterproof car cover - yes, mine leaks through the seal between the removable roof panel and the windscreen pillar!
Finally, can we attach files to these threads? (word doc's and pictures - jpg's?)
Regards
Art
Welcome to the fold Art - try this topic for some early help; http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Also - recommend joining the TVR Car Club (good service, community, web site, mag and discounts on servicing)& look to do a Ride Drive course.
art nouveau said:
TVR offered free replacement engines to existing owners, and this car was fitted with one out of the TVR Coventry factory.
You may find this to be the case for some fortunate souls in the early days of engine failures, but regrettably, there are a lot of others who had to pay for their new engines pretty shortly after their original 2 yr warranties had finished. Have a review of the Speed Six forum to get some background on the fundamental issues as they are numerous. art nouveau said:
Accessories - where to buy a waterproof car cover - yes, mine leaks through the seal between the removable roof panel and the windscreen pillar!
Covercraft - try the Weathershield. Not cheap, but absolutely superb, and I have used mine for 2.5 yrs now in all weathers. I wash it monthly and it has made a real difference in keeping the car dry, out of direct sunlight, avoiding bird c**p etc. Cannot recommend highly enough, and in this case, you do pay for what you get. A lot of cheaper covers scratch which is not to be recommended. Also - recommend joining the TVR Car Club (good service, community, web site, mag and discounts on servicing)& look to do a Ride Drive course.
Hi art,
We will all be watching your working document develope.
I think that you may become a very popular Tuscan owner.
Out of interset, there is a thread on here somewhere that started to list materials part numbers and sources / suppliers
ie Ford part number from Escort.....
I guess this would also add a lot of value to your task.
When you updating your profile with a picture ?
All the best,
Tony.
We will all be watching your working document develope.
I think that you may become a very popular Tuscan owner.
Out of interset, there is a thread on here somewhere that started to list materials part numbers and sources / suppliers
ie Ford part number from Escort.....
I guess this would also add a lot of value to your task.
When you updating your profile with a picture ?
All the best,
Tony.
art nouveau said:
Hi Guys
So it looks like I am going to start collecting TVR Tuscan "tips" and compile them into a working document. I hope this helps all existing owners and those "lurking" waiting to buy. I am not sure of the format as yet, however I would like to structure it to acknowledge individual members contributions.
It looks like the first sections are:
Specification details
Maintenance and access - jacking up the car
Clutch problems - slave cylinder
Lighting - Converting headlights to Xenon lamps
Accessories - where to buy a waterproof car cover - yes, mine leaks through the seal between the removable roof panel and the windscreen pillar!
Finally, can we attach files to these threads? (word doc's and pictures - jpg's?)
Regards
Art
Brilliant idea, I was thinking of doing something similar but haven't done anything yet beyond noting what I've done to the car in my blog on this site. Let me know if you need any help!So it looks like I am going to start collecting TVR Tuscan "tips" and compile them into a working document. I hope this helps all existing owners and those "lurking" waiting to buy. I am not sure of the format as yet, however I would like to structure it to acknowledge individual members contributions.
It looks like the first sections are:
Specification details
Maintenance and access - jacking up the car
Clutch problems - slave cylinder
Lighting - Converting headlights to Xenon lamps
Accessories - where to buy a waterproof car cover - yes, mine leaks through the seal between the removable roof panel and the windscreen pillar!
Finally, can we attach files to these threads? (word doc's and pictures - jpg's?)
Regards
Art
Cheers,
FT.
glow worm said:
Sorry if I'm wrong, but wasn't this the car written off and being sold in bits...?????
Sadly it looks that way! http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...Gassing Station | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff