Running out of ideas on engine prob...help

[mcosh]

OK here's the story so far.

1996 Grif 500 with 66k mile and had a new cam at 45k. Been running like a dream until 2 weeks ago when out on a trip in very wet conditions and the car started cutting out badly. Local team diagnosed cracked distributor and replaced...big improvement but still cutting out, like a hesitation. I can replicate the problem particularly between 3-3.5k revs.

Have now replaced plugs, leads, coil, ignition module and fuel pump all to no avail with problem still there and the engine sounds a little rough to me.

I have the rest of this week off and want to get her on a rolling road but TVR power is stacked out can anyone recommend any where I can ring that are good as a few of the rolling road companies just don't know TVR's?

Also a little worried as Dom at Power suggested it may be a lobe on the cam!!! and that we should do a compression test??? (I'm as green as they come when it gets technical)

Ideally I need a rolling road to visit in the next couple of days just to rule out all eclectics before I hand over to Dom.

Help please if you have tel numbers and recommendations

Mark

[chrispitman]

Compression test is simple you remove the plugs and the gauge goes into the plug hole and turn the engine over a few times, then repeat for all eight cylinders the values should be all simular if not then you have a problem.

Also as it's 3-3.5K have you checked or swaped the throttle Pot Sensor device on plenum whitch is attached to the butterfly. As if this has worn at that point the ecu will think you have taken your foot off the pedal and reduce fuel etc.

[AntonyJ]

Well, you profile doesnt say where in the SW you are, but if you are prepared to come up to Power then Shrewsbury may be within travelling distance too.

Shropshire Automotive Services Ltd [phone]
Clayton Way
Oxon Business Park
Bicton Heath
Shrewsbury
SY3 5AL

Mike, is the guy you want, he is very good.
He found an intermittent miss on mine, it was a loose connection in an injector plug.
It was loosing connection when the engine got warm!

IMHO he would be well worth a try.

[mcosh]

Thanks guys will put a new throttle sensor on tomorrow...is it standard for rover v8?

[Ballistic Banana]

not trying to make you chase other things but dont the lambdas cut in at 3000rpm? maybe a dodgy one.
Your doing the best thing taking it to a pro..can save you loads just by the changing everything to find problem syndrome.

good luck

BB

[Fat Griff]

Could be your AFM? Drive the car with it unpluged see if it runs better on limp mode.

[griffter]

Mark, Interpro where we had the Griff shoot-out don't know TVRs as such, but they do know Rover V8s and engines in general (judging by the Lichfield Supercharged TVR 5 litre Range Rover, grass track racers and turbo Hyabusa'd race car I've seen).
Also I've got a 5 litre NON-cat ecu you can try if you like. It would rule out ecu and lambdas at least. I'm near Chepstow.

[thegman]

Fat Griff said:

Could be your AFM? Drive the car with it unpluged see if it runs better on limp mode.

i had a similar problem after have my car power washed. i replaced the AFM and that got rid of my problem.

[HRG]

I seem to remember Rob from V8D saying something about distributor cap manufacturers and some not being as good as others and it being the cause of all manner of ills. As that was the start of the problem I'd check which make it is that you now have fitted.

Sorry I can't remember more detail but it might be a pointer in the right direction.

[mcosh]

Thanks for the comments. Of to dulfords in am and will let you know what they find. Mark

[mcosh]

OK Problem solved in the end.

I must compliment Colin at Dulfords in Cullumpton.....what a star.

So after 5 hours labour working his way through every possibility ...it turned out to be a failing distributor. This caused the car to run ok until about 3k revs when the timing got thrown out and she sounded rough as a bag of nails and kept hesitating. It also explained the lousy performance

Colin fitted the new part, tweaked the tuning and set up and hey presto, the bast*rd father wanting to kill all around him becomes happy chappy again. De-stressed and loving the fresh air.

Its the first time I've used Dulfords and being in the same building as TVR carparts meant a fix on the day. It cost a few quid in parts and labour but as my old trout said on my return..........."I'd have paid them double to stop you sulking, thank god she fixed"...hah.

Thank for all the suggestions and support.

Mark