sacrificial TVR...
Discussion
Hi peeps... Had enough bulls**t.. Been trying to get me 280i running for two weeks now and am contemplating a ritial sacrifice of burning it and then smashing up whats left.. Fitted.. Fuel filter, Plugs, Leads, Coil, Distributor cap, Rotor arm, air filter,new rear lights and bulbs,Originally the car ran even if it had no power but now it wont even start, I can hear the 4 pin relay clicking when i try to start it, Dont know if its the fuel pump relay or where to get a replacement, Nearly had a fight in the parts shop cos all the t**t was doing was shaking his head after i took parts in to get replacements.. his response was "its a tvr what do you expect" Like its some sort of diesease.. Maybe i should give up on me dream. Me tvr mate is so unreliable, I waited 8 hrs for him yesterday for nothing.. I hope it rains for the rest of the year, Ive had enough.
Chin up. Don't get put upon by the car. Been there done that etc. Cannot help you with the ford engine (cannot much with the v8 either 
) but sure someone can point the way. Its worth it when they go and when on top of things, they do most of the time. My old festa saw the back of the recovery truck more than the Wedge.
At the moment awaiting some plumbing to be made so car is lurking waiting for the off again. Then its the dash. Then its the carpet......
) but sure someone can point the way. Its worth it when they go and when on top of things, they do most of the time. My old festa saw the back of the recovery truck more than the Wedge.At the moment awaiting some plumbing to be made so car is lurking waiting for the off again. Then its the dash. Then its the carpet......
Cheers guys, Trying to be positive, Did ask for capri mk3 parts but all the guy kept saying was its a german engine.. They dont make parts anymore.. I messed about yesterday with the firng order.. Maybe should of drew a dia, But went on book spec and online spec but no joy.. I know that the engine should start even if firing order is wrong and it will bang and pop, But after replacing most if not all the ignition side of things it still wont start.. Whereas it did before. I can smell petrol so the pump is working, The relay is working as its clicking, Im going round and round in circles like a fox chasing his tail, Someone either shoot me or chop off me tail.. Gonna have another go in bout an hr .. Will have to turn the rain machine off.. Keep you posted, Cheers
pwd95 said:
Don't give up Mark, you'll be so glad when it's up & growling. Oh & it's never a TVR when dealing with parts shops, it's a Ford Capri, you'll get more sense. 
Sometimes it falls flat on its face.Me. Off a Cortina
Him what year
Me 1980
Him. Model
Me er Mrk 6?
Blank looks...
Him. Didn't go to Mark 6.
Me Er, the blue ones with the 1.7 engines?
Him. Stop taking the piss.
Me. TVR 1983.
Him. Don't do TVR sir.
Or the other is trying to get a hose with a 45 angle and a long leg.
Without the model they could not go to the part bin.
Reminds of a cartoon I have somewhere. The fitter is at the stores bawling his eyes out banging his head on the counter and pointing at the part. The storeman is reading through a mile long printout saying " I don't care if you can see it, if it aint on the list you aint having it.
mrzigazaga said:
Cheers guys, Trying to be positive, Did ask for capri mk3 parts but all the guy kept saying was its a german engine.. They dont make parts anymore.. I messed about yesterday with the firng order.. Maybe should of drew a dia, But went on book spec and online spec but no joy.. I know that the engine should start even if firing order is wrong and it will bang and pop, But after replacing most if not all the ignition side of things it still wont start.. Whereas it did before. I can smell petrol so the pump is working, The relay is working as its clicking, Im going round and round in circles like a fox chasing his tail, Someone either shoot me or chop off me tail.. Gonna have another go in bout an hr .. Will have to turn the rain machine off.. Keep you posted, Cheers
It may bang and pop, even back-fire through the inlet, but you will be seeking a miracle if you expect it to run!I had similar a few years back after spending a lot of time and money rebuilding/uprating an 'A' series engine. Came to start it and nothing! The engine turned fine but would not fire! Finally ended with one big BANG and flames coming out of the carb!
Turned out I'd put the distributor in 180 degrees out!! Swapped leads around and she ran instantly!
Its enough to drive a saint mad.. The thing is i used to work in motor parts, AP autella.. Lockhead, And everything for every car ever made was then and still is made, There are cheap alternatives, Replacement parts,and copies, My experience was he had the book of books to surpass all knowledge of parts and availability behind him yet was to content looking in his little intermotor catalogue and shaking his silly head.. He might end up in me rear window, Like one of those stupid nodding dogs.. Your right mate it is like a cartoon..
Cheers poledriver.. The problem only started after changing distributor cap, The firing order in the capri manual says 1-4-2-5-3-6 Yet my tvr mate and online says 1-5-3-6-2-4.. I cant work out which is one on the cap, There is a one printed near one but it looks like thats for the coil, In the manual it says one is 3 o clock on the distributor.. Is that right.Im sooooooo confused.
mrzigazaga said:
Cheers poledriver.. The problem only started after changing distributor cap, The firing order in the capri manual says 1-4-2-5-3-6 Yet my tvr mate and online says 1-5-3-6-2-4.. I cant work out which is one on the cap, There is a one printed near one but it looks like thats for the coil, In the manual it says one is 3 o clock on the distributor.. Is that right.Im sooooooo confused.
The bible says 1-4-2-5-3-6. number 1 being about the 2o clock position while standing on the passenger side and the timing set at 12* btdc +-2Sorry if this has already been asked (I'm having a quick, sneaky look in here while I should be working), but do you know that when it's turning over you have fuel coming through and a spark at the plugs?
If it's the same set up as a Capri 2.8i I am quite familiar with those so I might be able to advise.
The injection system is fairly straight forward really.
If it's the same set up as a Capri 2.8i I am quite familiar with those so I might be able to advise.
The injection system is fairly straight forward really.
Here's a quick tip... pull the air inlet hose off the throttle body. Lift the throttle and pour a capful of petrol into the plenum chamber. Turn the key. If the car tries to start, or even backfires, you probably have sparks; meaning it's a fuelling problem.
The injection system is more akin to a diesel than modern petrol injection; you need enough fuel pressure to make the injectors open and spray. That pressure is provided by the fuel pump and regulated by the fuel distributor. If you take off the air filter and lift the flap by hand, you should feel a cetain amount of resistance. This should increase once the fuel pump is running (you can poke 12v direct to the pump by various means). Cracking any of the fuel pipe unions around the top centre of the fuel distributor should produce a nice spray of petrol if there's any fuel pressure there.
The entire engine, ignition and fuel system is exactly as used on the 2.8i Capri or Mk 2 Granada. The only difference I know of was the exhaust manifolds being a bit special. If you state 1980 to a parts place that should get them close enough - the Tasmin appeared in 1979. If you have a late 280i then it may have one or two funny relays fitted in which case stating the earliest year they appeared on a comparable Ford (Capri, or early Mk3 Granada?) will probably be correct. I know the '86 US cars had a pink relay/module because there's a duff one in front of me: its part number is 85GG9P704AA, FINIS code 6145938. It's burnt to a crisp and the car it came from wouldn't start...
The injection system is more akin to a diesel than modern petrol injection; you need enough fuel pressure to make the injectors open and spray. That pressure is provided by the fuel pump and regulated by the fuel distributor. If you take off the air filter and lift the flap by hand, you should feel a cetain amount of resistance. This should increase once the fuel pump is running (you can poke 12v direct to the pump by various means). Cracking any of the fuel pipe unions around the top centre of the fuel distributor should produce a nice spray of petrol if there's any fuel pressure there.
The entire engine, ignition and fuel system is exactly as used on the 2.8i Capri or Mk 2 Granada. The only difference I know of was the exhaust manifolds being a bit special. If you state 1980 to a parts place that should get them close enough - the Tasmin appeared in 1979. If you have a late 280i then it may have one or two funny relays fitted in which case stating the earliest year they appeared on a comparable Ford (Capri, or early Mk3 Granada?) will probably be correct. I know the '86 US cars had a pink relay/module because there's a duff one in front of me: its part number is 85GG9P704AA, FINIS code 6145938. It's burnt to a crisp and the car it came from wouldn't start...
Hi chaps, Sorry for taking sooo long.. Ive tried every combination of firing orders and the only time it did fire and misfire at air plate cover was when i tried 1-5-3-6-2-4 I cant remember what i used to initiate number 1, There is a number 1 printed on the cap but ends up upside down at 6 oClock, The book says 3oClock, Will try 2.. Cheers.
I think you making this harder then need be. Have you bought a Hayes (or equivalent) manual for a Capri or a Granada - anything with a Cologne 2.8?
Then follow the logical fault finding check list under "engine cranks but does not start". Frantically swapping things out usually doesn't work.
The famous Steve Heath bible is more for the TVR-ish bits and you will need that too but now you just need to get an old Ford running.
Then follow the logical fault finding check list under "engine cranks but does not start". Frantically swapping things out usually doesn't work.
The famous Steve Heath bible is more for the TVR-ish bits and you will need that too but now you just need to get an old Ford running.
Hi grady. Have got a haynes manual for a capri 1979 onwards. Have checked firing order, Can smell petrol (wether i should im not sure)Have a spark from coil to distributor.. The amp meter inside the car flicks up and down ? Have changed plugs, Leads, Distributor cap, Coil, Not sure about rotor arm cos the shop was messin me about.. There is a 1 Printed upside down passenger side dist cap, Its not at 2oClock more 6-7 did try nominating 1 at printed 1, 2,3 6 no joy..
Number the cylinders from the front, looking at the engine;
1,2,3 down the left (drivers side) and 4,5,6 down the right.
The dizzy leads fit on in the order 1,4,2,5,3,6, clockwise (looking down on top), with number 1 being at the back, nearest the bulkhead. If there are two side by side at the back then try one and if that doesn't work move them all round 1 place.
Had the same trouble years back in my novice days. Surprisingly the car actually ran, but not very successfully.
Extract from the net, don't know if it will help!
Alex
1,2,3 down the left (drivers side) and 4,5,6 down the right.
The dizzy leads fit on in the order 1,4,2,5,3,6, clockwise (looking down on top), with number 1 being at the back, nearest the bulkhead. If there are two side by side at the back then try one and if that doesn't work move them all round 1 place.
Had the same trouble years back in my novice days. Surprisingly the car actually ran, but not very successfully.
Extract from the net, don't know if it will help!
Alex
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