Im now a happy Cerbera 4-5 owner - help!
Im now a happy Cerbera 4-5 owner - help!
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Discussion

boss1uk

Original Poster:

260 posts

204 months

Friday 23rd October 2009
quotequote all
Just got my first TVR a few days ago(thank you Peter) and having a taste of the smiles to come. just hoping somone can give my a few bits of help.
I had read that dipped headlight wernt good but I had to go round the front to make sure they where on, as for driving down fast country lanes that was a big NO NO. Main beam fine. Iv got the single round head lights and was wondering what the best thing to do is. Does just new glass and lens do enough (there 3ish years old) or has anyone put a different glass in?
Just had some clutch slip today to. Was running fine but after shall we say enthusiastic driving it began to slip. waiting to see what its like tomorrow after its cooled down but dont think its the clutch plate for some reason. does anything else cause this?
Im sure I will have some more questions later after seeing old receipts and seeing some parts get changed regularly.
Thanks

Steve_T

6,356 posts

302 months

Friday 23rd October 2009
quotequote all
A common problem is that the dipped beam goes entirely and you're left just with the 5 watt sides (typically a burnt out connector in the boot). Is this what you've got or is it simply that the dip beam is rubbish (also true)? If the dip beam is just rubbish you're looking at either re-wiring so you can handle more powerful bulbs or a HID kit.

Re. the clutch not many tend to wear out to the point that they slip. I'd be suspicious of the clutch slave seals going and possibly getting fluid on the clutch plates. You need to keep an eye on the level in the reservoir, which is under the circular cover in the drivers side wing. It will be siliconed and possibly also screwed in. I'd also look for leaks under the car. There's a few folks about with Cerbs in the Surrey area, DonnyMac is probably the closest to you. If you're stuck, shout up and someone should be able to help you out. There's also a number of specialists in the surrounding area who will be able to help you fix anything you can handle.

Good luck!

Steve.

HarryW

16,029 posts

299 months

Friday 23rd October 2009
quotequote all
Highlights are like candles in the wind, maybe a HID conversion would help. Are you sure its clutch slip and not the wheels in this weather hehe

Tanguero

4,535 posts

231 months

Friday 23rd October 2009
quotequote all
It is usualy the relectors which are the problem rather than the lenses. I replaced mine with new ones and got a certain amount of improvement. I put a dipable HID kit in and was able to see the road in front at night!! Yes it has passed MOTs with them, no they dont dazzle oncoming drivers. Pick a low colour temperature set and they are not very different to halogens in apperance, only bright enough to see where you are going safely.

DonnyMac

3,634 posts

233 months

Friday 23rd October 2009
quotequote all
Steve_T said:
There's a few folks about with Cerbs in the Surrey area, DonnyMac is probably the closest to you
Hi Boss, I'm in East Croydon, give me a buzz and we can figure out what's up - 07590 11 7590.

boss1uk

Original Poster:

260 posts

204 months

Friday 23rd October 2009
quotequote all
DonnyMac said:
Steve_T said:
There's a few folks about with Cerbs in the Surrey area, DonnyMac is probably the closest to you
Hi Boss, I'm in East Croydon, give me a buzz and we can figure out what's up - 07590 11 7590.
Im Selsdon........... spend lot of time at south croydon. half way between south croydon bus garage and newton honda.

DonnyMac

3,634 posts

233 months

Friday 23rd October 2009
quotequote all
boss1uk said:
DonnyMac said:
Steve_T said:
There's a few folks about with Cerbs in the Surrey area, DonnyMac is probably the closest to you
Hi Boss, I'm in East Croydon, give me a buzz and we can figure out what's up - 07590 11 7590.
Im Selsdon........... spend lot of time at south croydon. half way between south croydon bus garage and newton honda.
I burble past there quite often, did you used to have a Griff parked up against one of the office forecourts?

Feel free to give me a buzz.

pole

323 posts

244 months

Saturday 24th October 2009
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Yet another Cerb in the croydon area, im in coulsdon, WELCOME!

pole

323 posts

244 months

Saturday 24th October 2009
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I have a dip beam HID kit fitted to mine, its brighter than the main beam and i would recommend getting it fitted.

Marian

1,860 posts

243 months

Saturday 24th October 2009
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pole said:
I have a dip beam HID kit fitted to mine, its brighter than the main beam and i would recommend getting it fitted.
Do you have the details of the kit please?

alinton

965 posts

266 months

Saturday 24th October 2009
quotequote all
Although HIDs are good (I have them in mine), one of the problems with the standard setup is that the wires from the fusebox in the boot to the headlights are too thin, and you lose too much voltage on the way.

A good mod, which works, is to fit a pair of relays at the front which are triggered by the existing wires from the boot. The relays switch a nice heavy (fused!) cable direct from the battery to the lights.

So you get no loss in voltage.

Its an easy mod, and works well.

A.

davidd

6,713 posts

314 months

Saturday 24th October 2009
quotequote all
alinton said:
Although HIDs are good (I have them in mine), one of the problems with the standard setup is that the wires from the fusebox in the boot to the headlights are too thin, and you lose too much voltage on the way.

A good mod, which works, is to fit a pair of relays at the front which are triggered by the existing wires from the boot. The relays switch a nice heavy (fused!) cable direct from the battery to the lights.

So you get no loss in voltage.

Its an easy mod, and works well.

A.
Is there a kit for this and some simple instructions as I'm probably going to do the HID and so might as well upgrade the wiring as well (then I can happily run with55w).

Cheers

D

Tanguero

4,535 posts

231 months

Saturday 24th October 2009
quotequote all
This was the kit I used - it contaioned relays wiring and instructions to run directly to the battery, switched by the existing wiring. I have been extremely pleased with it and have no hesitation in recomending it. I chose the 35W, 4300k colour temperature version as it is fairly close to standard in look (not bright blue!) just very much clearer and brighter without blinding oncoming cars.

HIDs-Direct 35W 4300k H4-3 Hi&Lo

davidd

6,713 posts

314 months

Saturday 24th October 2009
quotequote all
Tanguero said:
This was the kit I used - it contaioned relays wiring and instructions to run directly to the battery, switched by the existing wiring. I have been extremely pleased with it and have no hesitation in recomending it. I chose the 35W, 4300k colour temperature version as it is fairly close to standard in look (not bright blue!) just very much clearer and brighter without blinding oncoming cars.

HIDs-Direct 35W 4300k H4-3 Hi&Lo
Ah cool, I'll order the h7, I know I have to mod the dip switch box in the boot as well which will mean a trip to maplins.

So if I understand this..

I get the kit, shove the new bulb in, plug the old bulb connector into the ballast, connect the ballast to the battery and -ve somewhere and then connect the new bulb to the new bulb connector from the ballast...

Sound about right?

D

Tanguero

4,535 posts

231 months

Sunday 25th October 2009
quotequote all
davidd said:
Tanguero said:
This was the kit I used - it contaioned relays wiring and instructions to run directly to the battery, switched by the existing wiring. I have been extremely pleased with it and have no hesitation in recomending it. I chose the 35W, 4300k colour temperature version as it is fairly close to standard in look (not bright blue!) just very much clearer and brighter without blinding oncoming cars.

HIDs-Direct 35W 4300k H4-3 Hi&Lo
Ah cool, I'll order the h7, I know I have to mod the dip switch box in the boot as well which will mean a trip to maplins.

So if I understand this..

I get the kit, shove the new bulb in, plug the old bulb connector into the ballast, connect the ballast to the battery and -ve somewhere and then connect the new bulb to the new bulb connector from the ballast...

Sound about right?

D
From your profile it looks like you have the single round headlight in which case you need the H4-3 kit I linked to. Not H7

davidd

6,713 posts

314 months

Sunday 25th October 2009
quotequote all
Tanguero said:
davidd said:
Tanguero said:
This was the kit I used - it contaioned relays wiring and instructions to run directly to the battery, switched by the existing wiring. I have been extremely pleased with it and have no hesitation in recomending it. I chose the 35W, 4300k colour temperature version as it is fairly close to standard in look (not bright blue!) just very much clearer and brighter without blinding oncoming cars.

HIDs-Direct 35W 4300k H4-3 Hi&Lo
Ah cool, I'll order the h7, I know I have to mod the dip switch box in the boot as well which will mean a trip to maplins.

So if I understand this..

I get the kit, shove the new bulb in, plug the old bulb connector into the ballast, connect the ballast to the battery and -ve somewhere and then connect the new bulb to the new bulb connector from the ballast...

Sound about right?

D
From your profile it looks like you have the single round headlight in which case you need the H4-3 kit I linked to. Not H7
Thats the old car, I came back for seconds... It's got pods..

D

boss1uk

Original Poster:

260 posts

204 months

Monday 26th October 2009
quotequote all
Have had a good look and think i need to do the glass and reflectors first. Where should i get these from? After that i might have to go the hid route. Thanks for all the advice, And love the car