Who says tvrs are unreliable!
Discussion
I hate when people mostly the ones who have never had a TVR say Yeah nice car but there always breaking down arent they? 
Well no actually they are not,I had a wedge in the eighties it was my only car used it everyday come rain,snow etc had it four years or so and it NEVER let me down once.I have had my Griff now for five years and although I do not use it everyday is only let me down once and that was earlier this year when it would not start.It turned out to be the main chassis earth that had failed so all in all great reliability 
TVRs dont you just luv em!
G.M
Well no actually they are not,I had a wedge in the eighties it was my only car used it everyday come rain,snow etc had it four years or so and it NEVER let me down once.I have had my Griff now for five years and although I do not use it everyday is only let me down once and that was earlier this year when it would not start.It turned out to be the main chassis earth that had failed so all in all great reliability TVRs dont you just luv em!
G.M
Mine has run like a dream on the last 4 years runs to Le Mans but this year was a different story.
Wednesday run down
'Stutter' on M1
Wouldn't start after refuelling. Had a coffee, fixed itself
'Stutter' on AutoRoute
Thurs at Le Mans
overheating, spotted early thank god. Fan Fuse blown. Easily spotted as I have fuses which light up when they blow.
Chatting to another Griff owner who stopped to help, with car running, and it dies and won't start again.
Pushed it to Parc Ferme by Houx entrance. Went back 2hrs later, fixed itself.
Saturday at Le Mans (2am run to Mulsanne corner)
Passenger door won't stay locked and keeps popping open - Internal handle cable seemed too tight and it was still slightly holding the catch. Released the cable grip on the cable and it cures it but now the internal opener doesn't work. Bugger it, passengers instructed to wind the window down and use the outside opener.
Sun - run to Beauvais
No OSR indicator. Boot is packed so b
ks to it.
dies at 70mph in the middle of nowhere.
no spark
replaced coil - no spark
replaced king lead - bingo.
rescue Magnacour king lead thrown into a tree by Johno while cursing them and 'suggesting' Moroso leads
Mon - Beauvais to Calais
OSR indicator fixed itself
'Stutter' on AutoRoute
back in England
dies for about 5 secs on exit of Dartford tunnel, then picks up again.
dies on M25 - no spark
(we are now in the fast lane in the middle of roadworks in a massive thunderstorm and have no roof on. Couldn't stop under the bridge because of the cones which have tape tying them together. Had to get Jeff to push me backwards 100yds in torrential rain to the nearest bridge. Sounds funny now, really REALLY wasn't at the time)
replaced king lead (again) - no spark
Jeff breaks my bonnet stay and is chuntering because the bonnet hit him in the head. I'm biting my tongue and want to hit him in the head again.
Passenger door mirror falls off
replace ignition amp - bingo
made it home
although I phoned the AA when we broke down on the M25, they arrived as we'd fixed it. So I'm quite proud that we got home under our own steam (steam being the operative word after getting soaking wet)
Was it the ignition amp all along? Do these gradually break down and show these symptoms?
Wednesday run down
'Stutter' on M1
Wouldn't start after refuelling. Had a coffee, fixed itself
'Stutter' on AutoRoute
Thurs at Le Mans
overheating, spotted early thank god. Fan Fuse blown. Easily spotted as I have fuses which light up when they blow.
Chatting to another Griff owner who stopped to help, with car running, and it dies and won't start again.
Pushed it to Parc Ferme by Houx entrance. Went back 2hrs later, fixed itself.
Saturday at Le Mans (2am run to Mulsanne corner)
Passenger door won't stay locked and keeps popping open - Internal handle cable seemed too tight and it was still slightly holding the catch. Released the cable grip on the cable and it cures it but now the internal opener doesn't work. Bugger it, passengers instructed to wind the window down and use the outside opener.
Sun - run to Beauvais
No OSR indicator. Boot is packed so b
ks to it.dies at 70mph in the middle of nowhere.
no spark
replaced coil - no spark
replaced king lead - bingo.
rescue Magnacour king lead thrown into a tree by Johno while cursing them and 'suggesting' Moroso leads
Mon - Beauvais to Calais
OSR indicator fixed itself
'Stutter' on AutoRoute
back in England
dies for about 5 secs on exit of Dartford tunnel, then picks up again.
dies on M25 - no spark
(we are now in the fast lane in the middle of roadworks in a massive thunderstorm and have no roof on. Couldn't stop under the bridge because of the cones which have tape tying them together. Had to get Jeff to push me backwards 100yds in torrential rain to the nearest bridge. Sounds funny now, really REALLY wasn't at the time)
replaced king lead (again) - no spark
Jeff breaks my bonnet stay and is chuntering because the bonnet hit him in the head. I'm biting my tongue and want to hit him in the head again.
Passenger door mirror falls off
replace ignition amp - bingo
made it home
although I phoned the AA when we broke down on the M25, they arrived as we'd fixed it. So I'm quite proud that we got home under our own steam (steam being the operative word after getting soaking wet)
Was it the ignition amp all along? Do these gradually break down and show these symptoms?
Edited by Barreti on Tuesday 16th June 11:28
Check this out... (want to buy any studs yet??):-
3.3 My 350i sometimes stumbles and I think it may be the ignition amplifier. Is it easy to replace?
Yes you can unscrew the amp and replace it (with correct type of course!). wedg1e
The ignition module (Lucas part DAB135)comes in two versions - the original with 2 spade connectors or the current one which has a "special plug" which needs a converter kit (Lucas part XXB445). Easy to fit and quite cheap. My 350 had similar problems to yours and this fixed it. dickymint
Don't be too hasty in assuming it is the ignition amplifier. I have had similar symptoms (intermittent cutting out) and I too, at first, assumed it was the amplifier. However it turned out not to be the amplifier but the 12 volt feed to the ignition coil that was the problem. Occasionally and for no reason it would momentarily drop to about 2V, which would cause a stall. At the moment I have a temporary fix which is a feed straight from the battery to the coil. This has cured the problem completely and I can still drive it whilst I try to find where the problem is. Just remember to disconnect the coil from the battery when you park up at night or else you will wake up to a flat battery next morning!! arcturus.
3.4 No spark!
Could be the ignition amplifier on the side of the distributor has failed. The coil appears to read 'positive' both sides because the test meter presents no load. Until the ignition amplifier fires,
the coil is not earthed. So in effect the voltage passing through the coil looks the same at both 'ends', to the meter. An auto-electrician should know this. Other possibilities include: the carbon brush in the distributor cap is missing, or not touching the rotor arm; the coil is open-circuit; the air gap on the trigger rotor in the distributor is incorrect or the pickup is duff....
3.3 My 350i sometimes stumbles and I think it may be the ignition amplifier. Is it easy to replace?
Yes you can unscrew the amp and replace it (with correct type of course!). wedg1e
The ignition module (Lucas part DAB135)comes in two versions - the original with 2 spade connectors or the current one which has a "special plug" which needs a converter kit (Lucas part XXB445). Easy to fit and quite cheap. My 350 had similar problems to yours and this fixed it. dickymint
Don't be too hasty in assuming it is the ignition amplifier. I have had similar symptoms (intermittent cutting out) and I too, at first, assumed it was the amplifier. However it turned out not to be the amplifier but the 12 volt feed to the ignition coil that was the problem. Occasionally and for no reason it would momentarily drop to about 2V, which would cause a stall. At the moment I have a temporary fix which is a feed straight from the battery to the coil. This has cured the problem completely and I can still drive it whilst I try to find where the problem is. Just remember to disconnect the coil from the battery when you park up at night or else you will wake up to a flat battery next morning!! arcturus.
3.4 No spark!
Could be the ignition amplifier on the side of the distributor has failed. The coil appears to read 'positive' both sides because the test meter presents no load. Until the ignition amplifier fires,
the coil is not earthed. So in effect the voltage passing through the coil looks the same at both 'ends', to the meter. An auto-electrician should know this. Other possibilities include: the carbon brush in the distributor cap is missing, or not touching the rotor arm; the coil is open-circuit; the air gap on the trigger rotor in the distributor is incorrect or the pickup is duff....
Barreti said:
Mine has run like a dream on the last 4 years runs to Le Mans but this year was a different story.
Wednesday run down
'Stutter' on M1
Wouldn't start after refuelling. Had a coffee, fixed itself
'Stutter' on AutoRoute
Thurs at Le Mans
overheating, spotted early thank god. Fan Fuse blown. Easily spotted as I have fuses which light up when they blow.
Chatting to another Griff owner who stopped to help, with car running, and it dies and won't start again.
Pushed it to Parc Ferme by Houx entrance. Went back 2hrs later, fixed itself.
Saturday at Le Mans (2am run to Mulsanne corner)
Passenger door won't stay locked and keeps popping open - Internal handle cable seemed too tight and it was still slightly holding the catch. Released the cable grip on the cable and it cures it but now the internal opener doesn't work. Bugger it, passengers instructed to wind the window down and use the outside opener.
Sun - run to Beauvais
No OSR indicator. Boot is packed so bks to it.
dies at 70mph in the middle of nowhere.
no spark
replaced coil - no spark
replaced king lead - bingo.
rescue Magnacour king lead thrown into a tree by Johno while cursing them and 'suggesting' Moroso leads
Mon - Beauvais to Calais
OSR indicator fixed itself
'Stutter' on AutoRoute
back in England
dies for about 5 secs on exit of Dartford tunnel, then picks up again.
dies on M25 - no spark
(we are now in the fast lane in the middle of roadworks in a massive thunderstorm and have no roof on. Couldn't stop under the bridge because of the cones which have tape tying them together. Had to get Jeff to push me backwards 100yds in torrential rain to the nearest bridge. Sounds funny now, really REALLY wasn't at the time)
replaced king lead (again) - no spark
Jeff breaks my bonnet stay and is chuntering because the bonnet hit him in the head. I'm biting my tongue and want to hit him in the head again.
Passenger door mirror falls off
replace ignition amp - bingo
made it home
although I phoned the AA when we broke down on the M25, they arrived as we'd fixed it. So I'm quite proud that we got home under our own steam (steam being the operative word after getting soaking wet)
Was it the ignition amp all along? Do these gradually break down and show these symptoms?
Yeah, but your rack didn't fail... Wednesday run down
'Stutter' on M1
Wouldn't start after refuelling. Had a coffee, fixed itself
'Stutter' on AutoRoute
Thurs at Le Mans
overheating, spotted early thank god. Fan Fuse blown. Easily spotted as I have fuses which light up when they blow.
Chatting to another Griff owner who stopped to help, with car running, and it dies and won't start again.
Pushed it to Parc Ferme by Houx entrance. Went back 2hrs later, fixed itself.
Saturday at Le Mans (2am run to Mulsanne corner)
Passenger door won't stay locked and keeps popping open - Internal handle cable seemed too tight and it was still slightly holding the catch. Released the cable grip on the cable and it cures it but now the internal opener doesn't work. Bugger it, passengers instructed to wind the window down and use the outside opener.
Sun - run to Beauvais
No OSR indicator. Boot is packed so b
ks to it.dies at 70mph in the middle of nowhere.
no spark
replaced coil - no spark
replaced king lead - bingo.
rescue Magnacour king lead thrown into a tree by Johno while cursing them and 'suggesting' Moroso leads
Mon - Beauvais to Calais
OSR indicator fixed itself
'Stutter' on AutoRoute
back in England
dies for about 5 secs on exit of Dartford tunnel, then picks up again.
dies on M25 - no spark
(we are now in the fast lane in the middle of roadworks in a massive thunderstorm and have no roof on. Couldn't stop under the bridge because of the cones which have tape tying them together. Had to get Jeff to push me backwards 100yds in torrential rain to the nearest bridge. Sounds funny now, really REALLY wasn't at the time)
replaced king lead (again) - no spark
Jeff breaks my bonnet stay and is chuntering because the bonnet hit him in the head. I'm biting my tongue and want to hit him in the head again.
Passenger door mirror falls off
replace ignition amp - bingo
made it home
although I phoned the AA when we broke down on the M25, they arrived as we'd fixed it. So I'm quite proud that we got home under our own steam (steam being the operative word after getting soaking wet)
Was it the ignition amp all along? Do these gradually break down and show these symptoms?
Edited by Barreti on Tuesday 16th June 11:28
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