My first breakdown
Discussion
and I feel very embarassed to say that it was not the car's fault it was mine. The car overheated due to not enough coolant in the engine! 
I do usually check the fluid levels regularly - every time I do a journey of more than 50 miles but haven't for a few weeks as I've not travelled very far. Suffice to say the level was very low and was definitely the cause of the problem.
The temp got to 116 degrees and as soon as I saw this I pulled over and switched the engine off. There was some steam from the bonnet but after wating for a hour or so I topped up the coolant and the car started and drove perfectly. All seems fine now.
My questions are:
Could I have done any permanent damage?
Is the stat set to come on at 100 degrees? The rest of the journey the temp didn't get above 95 whilst in traffic and the fan didn't come on.
Has anyone fitted a manual switch to their fan and would you recommend it?
Thanks
I do usually check the fluid levels regularly - every time I do a journey of more than 50 miles but haven't for a few weeks as I've not travelled very far. Suffice to say the level was very low and was definitely the cause of the problem.
The temp got to 116 degrees and as soon as I saw this I pulled over and switched the engine off. There was some steam from the bonnet but after wating for a hour or so I topped up the coolant and the car started and drove perfectly. All seems fine now.
My questions are:
Could I have done any permanent damage?
Is the stat set to come on at 100 degrees? The rest of the journey the temp didn't get above 95 whilst in traffic and the fan didn't come on.
Has anyone fitted a manual switch to their fan and would you recommend it?
Thanks
I have to say WhyTwo, that's a pretty basic error!
I imagine one of the possibilities is that you may have caused thermal transfer damage to the vulnerable areas of the head. If it's run ok since, you may have got away with it, you lucky boy.
Fitting a manual switch is a great idea. It's a simple circuit to modify for anyone with basic electrical knowledge. That may rule you out though!!
Take care in future though - these cars are easily upset and can be expensive to put right.
Best of luck.
I imagine one of the possibilities is that you may have caused thermal transfer damage to the vulnerable areas of the head. If it's run ok since, you may have got away with it, you lucky boy.
Fitting a manual switch is a great idea. It's a simple circuit to modify for anyone with basic electrical knowledge. That may rule you out though!!
Take care in future though - these cars are easily upset and can be expensive to put right.
Best of luck.
Thanks for your helpful feedback Tuscan Chick. In my defence it was simple and easy mistake to make and certainly won't happen again. Not having driven the car much recently due to the weather I was very excited to be taking it out for a run on a brisk winters morn simply forgot to check the fluids and got unlucky to be stuck in traffic.
I would estimate that the temp went from 95 degrees to 118 degrees in the space of 5 minutes and was at it's max temp for a matter of a few seconds so fingers crossed no permanent damage has been done - except obviously to my own pride!
As for my experience with cars, a history of fettling with hot hatches followed by owning a couple of kit cars including a Dutton (don't tell anyone about that!) and a Dax Rush I think it's safe to say I have a reasonable understanding of car mechanics
I would estimate that the temp went from 95 degrees to 118 degrees in the space of 5 minutes and was at it's max temp for a matter of a few seconds so fingers crossed no permanent damage has been done - except obviously to my own pride!
As for my experience with cars, a history of fettling with hot hatches followed by owning a couple of kit cars including a Dutton (don't tell anyone about that!) and a Dax Rush I think it's safe to say I have a reasonable understanding of car mechanics
WhyTwo,
No need to take offence!
With respect, it's an electrical understanding that you'll need to perform the modification, not a mechanical understanding.
Whilst having owned some "interesting" cars, I would suggest that just because you have owned a couple of plastic tubs in the past, that hardly qualifies you as "Mr Know It All" when it comes to a TVR.
A modern day TVR is a somewhat more sophisticated vehicle than an old Dutton or even a DAX.
Indeed, if the car is loosing coolant at that rate, it would seem that you may have an issue elsewhere. You say that you checked it recently and then haven't used the car because of the weather?? Lack of use, but still loosing coolant.....
I suggest that firstly you trace the source of the leak, then test the function of the thermostat(s).
Start with the simple things - run a direct 12VDC feed to the fan(s) and go from there.
Once you are sure the circuits are performing correctly, you should consider the manual switch. A 2 stage toggle can be easily dropped into the circuit, with a relay to carry the second stage fan feed.
If you need a few pointers, I'm only too pleased to help.
As I said at the start, don't take offence; I know some chaps find it difficult to take advice on cars from a mere girl!
No need to take offence!
With respect, it's an electrical understanding that you'll need to perform the modification, not a mechanical understanding.
Whilst having owned some "interesting" cars, I would suggest that just because you have owned a couple of plastic tubs in the past, that hardly qualifies you as "Mr Know It All" when it comes to a TVR.
A modern day TVR is a somewhat more sophisticated vehicle than an old Dutton or even a DAX.
Indeed, if the car is loosing coolant at that rate, it would seem that you may have an issue elsewhere. You say that you checked it recently and then haven't used the car because of the weather?? Lack of use, but still loosing coolant.....
I suggest that firstly you trace the source of the leak, then test the function of the thermostat(s).
Start with the simple things - run a direct 12VDC feed to the fan(s) and go from there.
Once you are sure the circuits are performing correctly, you should consider the manual switch. A 2 stage toggle can be easily dropped into the circuit, with a relay to carry the second stage fan feed.
If you need a few pointers, I'm only too pleased to help.
As I said at the start, don't take offence; I know some chaps find it difficult to take advice on cars from a mere girl!
Not entirely sure how any information in my profile would be of use to you and how the lack of this information puts you at any sort of "disadvantage"?
What would you like to know? Clean questions only though.....
I was trying to be helpful. Never mind.
You are quite right though, I am new to the Forum. Is being new some sort of bar to being allowed to contribute?
Anyway, best of luck with the car.
What would you like to know? Clean questions only though.....
I was trying to be helpful. Never mind.
You are quite right though, I am new to the Forum. Is being new some sort of bar to being allowed to contribute?
Anyway, best of luck with the car.
It was simply a turn of phrase and yes I'm very grateful your info has been helpful thank you.
Don't take offence. You're more than welcome to contribute I just have a suspicous mind and if you knew my friends you'd understand why. The tone of your comments is very familiar to me. Lets leave it at that
Don't take offence. You're more than welcome to contribute I just have a suspicous mind and if you knew my friends you'd understand why. The tone of your comments is very familiar to me. Lets leave it at that
Answer to your question is both. I took the car out today and when I got home I checked the coolant level and it had dropped again. Moved the car off the drive and there was a small amount of coolant so there's a leek.
I also left the car running and let the temp reach 96 degrees and neither fan kicked in so I suspect there's a fault with the stat as well.
Needs a cooling system check, anyone got any recommendations around the Reading/Basingstoke area? Used Racing Green in the past and they were very good but just looking for options
I also left the car running and let the temp reach 96 degrees and neither fan kicked in so I suspect there's a fault with the stat as well.
Needs a cooling system check, anyone got any recommendations around the Reading/Basingstoke area? Used Racing Green in the past and they were very good but just looking for options
WhyTwo,
I was thinking a little more about your predicament.
I've done some digging and found this. Not my words or views, but may be of some use to you:-
Some earlier Tuscan have suffered rad damage due to the cores being weak, stones can penetrate the cores and water is lost this way. Also the end tanks on some later Tuscans are of the plastic variety, some were not a good fit and the seals let go.
Some Tuscans have suffered head stud stretch and/or the washers on the head studs have compressed too far. This has the result of the head gasket failing usually water gets into the combustion chamber. Cylinder 6 runs hot and the later gaskets did have a mod to allow more coolant to flow around this cylinder. There are aftermarket uprated head studs and copper head gaskets with Ferriday ring seals available.
Looking at the age of your car, it being one of the older examples, I pressume that you've had a rebuild on the engine? May be the second point mentioned above is a possibility. i hope not, as this can turn into a very deep pocket scenario!
Anyway, have you made any progress on finding the source of the leak and fan problems?
I was thinking a little more about your predicament.
I've done some digging and found this. Not my words or views, but may be of some use to you:-
Some earlier Tuscan have suffered rad damage due to the cores being weak, stones can penetrate the cores and water is lost this way. Also the end tanks on some later Tuscans are of the plastic variety, some were not a good fit and the seals let go.
Some Tuscans have suffered head stud stretch and/or the washers on the head studs have compressed too far. This has the result of the head gasket failing usually water gets into the combustion chamber. Cylinder 6 runs hot and the later gaskets did have a mod to allow more coolant to flow around this cylinder. There are aftermarket uprated head studs and copper head gaskets with Ferriday ring seals available.
Looking at the age of your car, it being one of the older examples, I pressume that you've had a rebuild on the engine? May be the second point mentioned above is a possibility. i hope not, as this can turn into a very deep pocket scenario!
Anyway, have you made any progress on finding the source of the leak and fan problems?
Gassing Station | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff