Why does it keep cutting out?
Discussion
Hi all,
I won't bother you (yet) about the journey to France and the subsequent horrors at a garage in Chelsea - now I want to actually, but will need to wait till I get home from work. Safe to say the car is giving my wallet and my patience an epic work out. In fact, I've even dreamed of selling....sshhhhh
she might hear me and break down like last time and the time before that when I said, "That's it. Come the morning you're gone!"
Or like this morning on the way to work, although everything was well until then.
Problem: Car is cutting out. It's definitely electrical and not connected to any type of driving or conditions. I've had a new fuel pump too. What could be earthing it? Could it be something to do with the Yellow connector problem? I normally wait about 5 mins and it starts with no problem like it did this morning and for that matter, yesterday - twice
Will post more later about my growing feeling that it could be cursed....WHHHOOOHHAHAHAHA
I won't bother you (yet) about the journey to France and the subsequent horrors at a garage in Chelsea - now I want to actually, but will need to wait till I get home from work. Safe to say the car is giving my wallet and my patience an epic work out. In fact, I've even dreamed of selling....sshhhhh
she might hear me and break down like last time and the time before that when I said, "That's it. Come the morning you're gone!"Or like this morning on the way to work, although everything was well until then.
Problem: Car is cutting out. It's definitely electrical and not connected to any type of driving or conditions. I've had a new fuel pump too. What could be earthing it? Could it be something to do with the Yellow connector problem? I normally wait about 5 mins and it starts with no problem like it did this morning and for that matter, yesterday - twice
Will post more later about my growing feeling that it could be cursed....WHHHOOOHHAHAHAHA
I'm not sure how you could check it but could it be an immobiliser problem with it part arming or is that a silly idea .. I suppose it could be worth waggling all the wires round the engine and seeing if there is a bad connection; no doubt other ideas will be along from others soon. Must be really annoying though as I suppose it could be several different things! Any other symptoms?
Jim
Jim
Sounds like you have an intermittent problem which needs to be tracked down. The best way I know to track this sort of thing down is to wire up a small test lamp to show the signal you're interested in, put it somewhere you can see from the driver's seat and then wait for the problem to occur. I suggest you start by seeing whether it is affecting the fuel pump power supply, and power to the coil. This will give you a good start in narrowing down the problem.
I seem to think a few have now posted to say the multi connector on the offside of the engine can be a cause of trouble - and cutting it out and either joining the wires or fitting new connectors is the best option.
This is of course a guess.
There is a tester thingy for the V6 engine which someone said has a 'waggle test' so you can track down dodgy connections, this might be pursuing in your case by the sound of it.
This is of course a guess.
There is a tester thingy for the V6 engine which someone said has a 'waggle test' so you can track down dodgy connections, this might be pursuing in your case by the sound of it.
Pierce,
I have a TVR factory diagonostic star tester which Tim ( Elfit ) succesfully diagnosed electrical connector problems with utilising the waggle test mode - I happily send it around the Country to anyone from the S community who wants to borrow for the price of the postage - its in Scotland right now as thats where the last person to borrow it was from - I just let the last person who had it keep it until its needed again to save on postage costs sending it back to me - let me know if you want it by PM with an address and I will put you in touch with the current keeper.
Graham
I have a TVR factory diagonostic star tester which Tim ( Elfit ) succesfully diagnosed electrical connector problems with utilising the waggle test mode - I happily send it around the Country to anyone from the S community who wants to borrow for the price of the postage - its in Scotland right now as thats where the last person to borrow it was from - I just let the last person who had it keep it until its needed again to save on postage costs sending it back to me - let me know if you want it by PM with an address and I will put you in touch with the current keeper.
Graham
The Stiglet said:
I won't bother you (yet) about the journey to France and the subsequent horrors at a garage in Chelsea....
As for the cutting out, I had a similar problem in Belgium recently and it turned out to be as simple as a dodgy 2 pin connector on the fuel pump. You say you've had a new pump but might be worth checking.
And after the time & money you've spent getting the car right why let someone else get the benefit?! Keep it, use it and enjoy it
Thanks all for the help, as always. I might need to give some of this a try if I can. Thanks for the offer Graham, very kind 
Longers, you thought France and everything was bad?! Check this out:
You might wonder why it took me 2 days to reply... something terrible has happened to the car. It's the engine. Either cracked head or head gasket. I should know soon. Will write a full update when I know more but luckily there is no oil contamination or smoke out the back, just water leaking from above the plugs.
Longers, you thought France and everything was bad?! Check this out:
You might wonder why it took me 2 days to reply... something terrible has happened to the car. It's the engine. Either cracked head or head gasket. I should know soon. Will write a full update when I know more but luckily there is no oil contamination or smoke out the back, just water leaking from above the plugs.
- Just had a call, it's certainly one or the other, they did the dye test and it failed immediately. Now, I've been sent a long list by the engine builder of possible options that I'll want to go through with you all to reach some sort of consensus. Things like, Stage 1, 2, 3 and performance cams on exisiting block or buy new and stage it or upgrade to 3.0+ spec with stages (but I think that's just too expensive for me). Even going up to stage 3 with a cam on my existing block is mind bogglingly expensive. How about, is it even worth it? Just do normal heads instead? etc...
I would honestly look at either replacing the head gasket if thats what it is or replacing the engine with a used unit if its worse than the head gasket.
As far as I'm aware the engine is bog standard sierra / granada - remember this was a budget TVR.
To throw loads of money at it wouldn't be good value IMHO.
I don't think I've heard of anyone having a cracked head on the V6 - its a tough old lump.
Is the engine builder someone you've used before and trust?
If not beware
As far as I'm aware the engine is bog standard sierra / granada - remember this was a budget TVR.
To throw loads of money at it wouldn't be good value IMHO.
I don't think I've heard of anyone having a cracked head on the V6 - its a tough old lump.
Is the engine builder someone you've used before and trust?
If not beware
Edited by Barkychoc on Wednesday 5th August 17:14
Hmmm, sound advice. I need to remember it is a budget TVR, that's proven difficult to match up to all the bills I've had since I got it.
I haven't used him before but they've been in business a very long time. (Not that it says a huge amount).
I don't really have the facilities to change the engine myself, we would need to rent space and proper tools but it could be done if I had to. Seems the main costs are labour in this game. I've been quoted £350 for the standard heads plus £350 to remove existing plus oil/filter flush/antifreeze at £89 all plus VAT.
What do you think now guys?
I haven't used him before but they've been in business a very long time. (Not that it says a huge amount).
I don't really have the facilities to change the engine myself, we would need to rent space and proper tools but it could be done if I had to. Seems the main costs are labour in this game. I've been quoted £350 for the standard heads plus £350 to remove existing plus oil/filter flush/antifreeze at £89 all plus VAT.
What do you think now guys?
The Stiglet said:
luckily there is no oil contamination or smoke out the back, just water leaking from above the plugs.
Hi Pierce, if water if water is leaking from above the plugs then it can't possibly be a head gasket and I'm pretty sure a cracked head/block on these engines is nigh on impossible, if I'm right then isn't the inlet manifold water heated ? if so then could that be leaking ?If my memory is correct I've seen threads on here offering 2.9 engines for as little as £1.
Personally if the engine is shagged (and I doubt it) then just get a good 2nd hand one for peanuts and get it fitted and set up properly (ie not the garage you have used so far)
Cheers.....Tony..
edited to add I forgot yours is an S1 and therefore a 2.8, but same applies
Edited by tozerman on Wednesday 5th August 18:16
Hi Pierce, if water if water is leaking from above the plugs then it can't possibly be a head gasket and I'm pretty sure a cracked head/block on these engines is nigh on impossible, if I'm right then isn't the inlet manifold water heated ? if so then could that be leaking ?
If my memory is correct I've seen threads on here offering 2.9 engines for as little as £1.
Personally if the engine is shagged (and I doubt it) then just get a good 2nd hand one for peanuts and get it fitted and set up properly (ie not the garage you have used so far)
Cheers.....Tony..
edited to add I forgot yours is an S1 and therefore a 2.8, but same applies
Hi Tony, at least the wheels are looking good
I didn't have a clue about that inlet manifold being water heated...
However, I ran this past the old man who had a good look at it (and who has had a nagging suspicion that a water channel has been cracked in the head for about 4 months) and he says the water is dripping from below the plugs but looks as though it is above due to the fan blowing it around. And the dye test did confirm this - there's nothing to suggest they would be lying to me. Thanks for the heads up though...
As to why the head might be cracked or the head gasket failed - that's the real question. It's done 55 thousand miles, seems a bit strange. Mind you, as I've said, it's been suffering from over heating issues since I got it and probably for the last 6 years because no work was done to it in this period. As I've had so much replaced you'd think this might now be the final answer and whilst the price is high, maybe this is it?!
Cerberatony: I would send it up North but I'm down in London and the car is over in Essex...would be a mission but thanks for the offer though. (Saying that, let's see what they find out over there)
Yes Longers, I am this week's Euromoney jackpot winner
If my memory is correct I've seen threads on here offering 2.9 engines for as little as £1.
Personally if the engine is shagged (and I doubt it) then just get a good 2nd hand one for peanuts and get it fitted and set up properly (ie not the garage you have used so far)
Cheers.....Tony..
edited to add I forgot yours is an S1 and therefore a 2.8, but same applies
Hi Tony, at least the wheels are looking good
I didn't have a clue about that inlet manifold being water heated...
However, I ran this past the old man who had a good look at it (and who has had a nagging suspicion that a water channel has been cracked in the head for about 4 months) and he says the water is dripping from below the plugs but looks as though it is above due to the fan blowing it around. And the dye test did confirm this - there's nothing to suggest they would be lying to me. Thanks for the heads up though...
As to why the head might be cracked or the head gasket failed - that's the real question. It's done 55 thousand miles, seems a bit strange. Mind you, as I've said, it's been suffering from over heating issues since I got it and probably for the last 6 years because no work was done to it in this period. As I've had so much replaced you'd think this might now be the final answer and whilst the price is high, maybe this is it?!
Cerberatony: I would send it up North but I'm down in London and the car is over in Essex...would be a mission but thanks for the offer though. (Saying that, let's see what they find out over there)
Yes Longers, I am this week's Euromoney jackpot winner
Edited by The Stiglet on Thursday 6th August 12:28
Edited by The Stiglet on Thursday 6th August 13:03
I got a spare 2.8 engine with my car which the bloke who i bought it off said it was a good one, you are welcome to have it if you want to collect it, i am in Scarborough North Yorkshire
Very very kind indeed Graham, thank you.
I'm sorely tempted. Will have a chat with the engine builder and set what he's found out and get back to you if you don't mind? To be honest, maybe I should take you up on your excellent offer anyway and have a back up. I'm sure you'll except a lunch as a thank you?
Cheers
Very very kind indeed Graham, thank you.
I'm sorely tempted. Will have a chat with the engine builder and set what he's found out and get back to you if you don't mind? To be honest, maybe I should take you up on your excellent offer anyway and have a back up. I'm sure you'll except a lunch as a thank you?
Cheers
The Stiglet said:
I got a spare 2.8 engine with my car which the bloke who i bought it off said it was a good one, you are welcome to have it if you want to collect it, i am in Scarborough North Yorkshire
Very very kind indeed Graham, thank you.
I'm sorely tempted. Will have a chat with the engine builder and set what he's found out and get back to you if you don't mind? To be honest, maybe I should take you up on your excellent offer anyway and have a back up. I'm sure you'll except a lunch as a thank you?
Cheers
Just let me know if you need it and we can arrange a suitable time for you to collect it, just to let you know the engine has had all it's ancillarys removed it is just the cylinder block with both heads and sump and internal components.Very very kind indeed Graham, thank you.
I'm sorely tempted. Will have a chat with the engine builder and set what he's found out and get back to you if you don't mind? To be honest, maybe I should take you up on your excellent offer anyway and have a back up. I'm sure you'll except a lunch as a thank you?
Cheers
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