Car starts, then dies
Discussion
I have 2000 Tuscan which has been playing up for a while. Basically, from cold it starts fine and idles nicely.
However, as soon as I try to drive off it feels like it is going to die on me so I stop, reverse (as I don't want to end up stranded) and then it just loses revs and stalls. I can't catch it and give it some revs - it just doesn't want to play ball. If I leave it for a while, I can start the car again but it dies on me again. This happens all of the time so I can't even get it to a dealer to look at. Can't use RAC recovery because it is at my house and doubt I would get as far as the required 1/4 of a mile away.
I had a mobile mechanic take a look but he couldn't find anything obvious but suggested it could be the Throttle Sensor getting stuck. So, I replaced it but it made no difference (by the way, are there two of these - I changed the blue one). I have also replaced the fuel relay.
Then I remembered a similar sort of problem I had before with water getting into the spark plug wells which was fixed by the dealer. I thought maybe I'd cracked the problem - removed the spark plug cover and there was a fair bit of water in evidence so I cleared it all out and.....the problem is still there. I have just checked under the spark plug cover again and it seems to be free of any evidence of water (re-sealed with silicon - what a crap setup that is!!).
I have no idea what to try next. I have bought a new fuel pump in case it was that but the mobile mechanic didn't seem to think that.
Not sure where to go form here!!!
However, as soon as I try to drive off it feels like it is going to die on me so I stop, reverse (as I don't want to end up stranded) and then it just loses revs and stalls. I can't catch it and give it some revs - it just doesn't want to play ball. If I leave it for a while, I can start the car again but it dies on me again. This happens all of the time so I can't even get it to a dealer to look at. Can't use RAC recovery because it is at my house and doubt I would get as far as the required 1/4 of a mile away.
I had a mobile mechanic take a look but he couldn't find anything obvious but suggested it could be the Throttle Sensor getting stuck. So, I replaced it but it made no difference (by the way, are there two of these - I changed the blue one). I have also replaced the fuel relay.
Then I remembered a similar sort of problem I had before with water getting into the spark plug wells which was fixed by the dealer. I thought maybe I'd cracked the problem - removed the spark plug cover and there was a fair bit of water in evidence so I cleared it all out and.....the problem is still there. I have just checked under the spark plug cover again and it seems to be free of any evidence of water (re-sealed with silicon - what a crap setup that is!!).
I have no idea what to try next. I have bought a new fuel pump in case it was that but the mobile mechanic didn't seem to think that.
Not sure where to go form here!!!
You've described what happens if you try to drive off when it's cold. Is it OK once it's warmed up? How long since it's been serviced? The symptoms sound rather like overfuelling and/or a weak spark. If it's coming due for a service it may be as simple as needing some clean plugs. There are lots of other potential causes though. Although it's probably not going to be difficult or expensive to fix, I would suggest you get a TVR specialist to fix it. If you try to fix it yourself without understanding the system then you stand to waste a lot of time and money on things you don't need, and may even end up causing other problems along the way.
Thanks everybody. The car was serviced back in October. It was fine on a round-trip to Devon shortly afterwards.
The reason I have been trying to get to the bottom of the problem myself is because I can't drive it to get it looked at. I spoke to the mechanic where I have it serviced (Austec Racing) but they said they said I'd have to take the car in. Catch 22...maybe I just need to pay the £150 or so it will take to get it transported there.
In answer to another question - the problem happens when the car is warmed up. I haven't tried moving off with the car cold as I expect to get just as stranded at some point...probably at the end of the road!!
As for the 100 amp fuse - where do I find that - is it in the fuse box along with the others?
The reason I have been trying to get to the bottom of the problem myself is because I can't drive it to get it looked at. I spoke to the mechanic where I have it serviced (Austec Racing) but they said they said I'd have to take the car in. Catch 22...maybe I just need to pay the £150 or so it will take to get it transported there.
In answer to another question - the problem happens when the car is warmed up. I haven't tried moving off with the car cold as I expect to get just as stranded at some point...probably at the end of the road!!
As for the 100 amp fuse - where do I find that - is it in the fuse box along with the others?
sockfish said:
Thanks everybody. The car was serviced back in October. It was fine on a round-trip to Devon shortly afterwards.
The reason I have been trying to get to the bottom of the problem myself is because I can't drive it to get it looked at. I spoke to the mechanic where I have it serviced (Austec Racing) but they said they said I'd have to take the car in. Catch 22...maybe I just need to pay the £150 or so it will take to get it transported there.
In answer to another question - the problem happens when the car is warmed up. I haven't tried moving off with the car cold as I expect to get just as stranded at some point...probably at the end of the road!!
As for the 100 amp fuse - where do I find that - is it in the fuse box along with the others?
The 100amp fuse is located under the air box, if you do a search there are pics on here somewhere The reason I have been trying to get to the bottom of the problem myself is because I can't drive it to get it looked at. I spoke to the mechanic where I have it serviced (Austec Racing) but they said they said I'd have to take the car in. Catch 22...maybe I just need to pay the £150 or so it will take to get it transported there.
In answer to another question - the problem happens when the car is warmed up. I haven't tried moving off with the car cold as I expect to get just as stranded at some point...probably at the end of the road!!
As for the 100 amp fuse - where do I find that - is it in the fuse box along with the others?
http://www.varleyhyd.com/SpeedSix.asp Here you go .
Edited by D14 AYS on Sunday 18th January 15:05
Edited by D14 AYS on Sunday 18th January 15:06
sockfish said:
In answer to another question - the problem happens when the car is warmed up. I haven't tried moving off with the car cold as I expect to get just as stranded at some point...probably at the end of the road!!
When you start from cold, does the engine start and idle OK? Can you pick the revs up by slowly opening the throttle, and does it respond as normal when you blip the throttle? Now get it up to temperature and do the same tests.Gassing Station | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff