Power Failure on the motorway
Discussion
Thought I would share my power loss experience with you. As some of you may have read elsewhere in the thread about Brands Hatch, my W reg Chimaera 450 suffered sudden and complete power loss on the M25 last Sunday, giving me a few scary moments as I dived over two lanes to the hard shoulder. On trying to restart, the engine cranked a couple of times but then there was nothing on turning the key, not even the fuel pump priming, but still ignition lights, hazards etc worked.
So, home with Bob the AA transporter man, and at first we thought the problem was immobiliser failure. Then discovered the fuel pump fuse had blown – replace, immobiliser/alarm resets, but as soon as I turned the key, the fuse blew again. Further investigation points suspicion at a wiring break in the feed to the fuel pump, so the car is now with Dave Porter for some fettling, and I’ll let you know what happens!
So, home with Bob the AA transporter man, and at first we thought the problem was immobiliser failure. Then discovered the fuel pump fuse had blown – replace, immobiliser/alarm resets, but as soon as I turned the key, the fuse blew again. Further investigation points suspicion at a wiring break in the feed to the fuel pump, so the car is now with Dave Porter for some fettling, and I’ll let you know what happens!
Experienced something similar in the S a few years ago - except it was the immobiliser. Added fun was that I was in the outside lane of the M1, it was dark, n streetlamps, I was doing around 75 and everything died. No lights, no engine, nothing. The wife nearly had a heart attack whilst I had to make a rapid manouvre to the hard shoulder.
Definitly not one to reccomend.
Definitly not one to reccomend.
yikes bugmeister!! those are the times you're glad to be able to talk about over a beer when you're home safe and the heart has returned to its rightful place, back in your body!Similar, though not nearly as scary, thing happened to my Chim. Going around a roundabout and the main fusable link (100amp?)from the battery blew due to a fusebox short. No power,lights,anything!
Got out and shut the door - leaving mobile and keys inside
but that is another story!
My sympathies mate, hope it's not too expensive!
Got out and shut the door - leaving mobile and keys inside
but that is another story! My sympathies mate, hope it's not too expensive!
My fuse link blew on the M25 on the way back from Fernhusts , it was back in Feb when we had the serious snow. Talk about cacking myself, I was right on the junction with the M40 and had to get to the hard shoulder from the outside lane, no power, no pas, hazzards ! I nearly got squashed by an artic in the process. Almost got frostbite waiting for the RAC.
Guess what, I now carry a spare !
Guess what, I now carry a spare !
caro said:
...my W reg Chimaera 450 suffered sudden and complete power loss on the M25 last Sunday, giving me a few scary moments as I dived over two lanes to the hard shoulder...
Hi Caro
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt!!
Lots of scary moments...usually happened on blind bends, major roundabouts and heavily trafficked roads. Always the way isn't it
As it was an intermittent problem it took a while to get diagnosed but ended up being faulty ECU/air flow meters which have subsequently been replaced under warranty. Glad you were okay following your incident on the motorway
...could have been very nasty indeed 
>> Edited by cosmoschick on Thursday 2nd October 10:55
Many Moons ago before we had things like mobile phones and Tony Bear (as Kirsty off Newsnight would say)my 3000M blew a fuse between Bristol and Oxford. It was a very dark narrow country lane in the middle of nowhere with no street-lights. All the lights went off including dash lights. I couldn't see a thing but there was a car behind doing about 80ish so I couldn't stop either.
I put my foot down until I saw a car infront and came up behind him to see via his lights. The driver seemed to think he was being chased by a nutter with his lights off so he accelerated. By the time we got to a bit of road with lighting where I could stop we were both doing somewhat over HM recommended speed limit!
Mmmmm squishy Y fronts driving.
I put my foot down until I saw a car infront and came up behind him to see via his lights. The driver seemed to think he was being chased by a nutter with his lights off so he accelerated. By the time we got to a bit of road with lighting where I could stop we were both doing somewhat over HM recommended speed limit!
Mmmmm squishy Y fronts driving.
Caro
Sorry to hear of your experience.
Pure coincidence this but been speaking with Dave Porter this morning he was telling me about this Chim that he was looking at ....obviously yours, sounded like he was well on the way to fixing it....thought I would let you know. He will be giving my chim and my mates griff a health check next monday.
Sorry to hear of your experience.
Pure coincidence this but been speaking with Dave Porter this morning he was telling me about this Chim that he was looking at ....obviously yours, sounded like he was well on the way to fixing it....thought I would let you know. He will be giving my chim and my mates griff a health check next monday.
Thanks for the replies - strangely enough, Griffmeister, my power failure was on the M40/M25 link, but going South! Obviously a dark place of mischievous spirits who don't like TVRs...
Clearly my problem is not the main fuseable link as some circuits till worked (oh good, I can still wind up the window whilst the traffic thunders past)- there's definitely a problem in the fuel pump circuit, don't know yet if the immobiliser is also involved. Ok if I tell Dave to nick any bits he needs off yours, schimg
?
Clearly my problem is not the main fuseable link as some circuits till worked (oh good, I can still wind up the window whilst the traffic thunders past)- there's definitely a problem in the fuel pump circuit, don't know yet if the immobiliser is also involved. Ok if I tell Dave to nick any bits he needs off yours, schimg
?
caro
yes no problem, that said wixer will be dropping his griff 500 off at the same time ...his is newer than mine...and he is not that much of a mate really!
We are leaving Nuneaton about 6pm should get there about 6.15pm ....have a quick chat with Dave....so should be home at about 11pm then! (if you see what I mean)
You can't knock him for his enthusiasm can you?
Steve G.
yes no problem, that said wixer will be dropping his griff 500 off at the same time ...his is newer than mine...and he is not that much of a mate really!
We are leaving Nuneaton about 6pm should get there about 6.15pm ....have a quick chat with Dave....so should be home at about 11pm then! (if you see what I mean)
You can't knock him for his enthusiasm can you?
Steve G.
schimg said:
You can't knock him for his enthusiasm can you?
I know just what you mean! and it's good to find someone who is quite happy to talk it all through instead of just giving you the bill, isn't it?
Picked the car up today, Dave is pretty sure the problem was in the fuel pump wiring in the section between the pump and the nest behind the passenger seat, but hasn't been able to trace the suspected break exactly. So, new wiring for that section, and so far so good in the run home followed by backup vehicle (thanks, hubby!). We'll see how it it goes, and meanwhile thanks to Dave for all the time spent tracing that elusive fault.
So you and your mate's cars are safe this time
Glad to hear that your problem has been sorted.
Just for the record: myself and wixer spent about 3 hours talking to Dave last night after dropping off the cars, colllected them tonight only took 2 hours, some sort of record that!
He gave both cars a health check, both have got good compression/oil pressure etc no issues(touch wood), He also and changed the engine and gearbox oil in mine, put on the landrover oil filter.
As you say nice personal touch, leaves you with the impression that will only do stuff that needs doing.
Cheers Steve G.
Just for the record: myself and wixer spent about 3 hours talking to Dave last night after dropping off the cars, colllected them tonight only took 2 hours, some sort of record that!
He gave both cars a health check, both have got good compression/oil pressure etc no issues(touch wood), He also and changed the engine and gearbox oil in mine, put on the landrover oil filter.
As you say nice personal touch, leaves you with the impression that will only do stuff that needs doing.
Cheers Steve G.
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