Very Concerning
Discussion
Well it would seem that my T350T wants to kill me!
This all started a couple of days ago.
I was driving a friend to the next town near to me and whilst in motion the engine cut, all electrics failed, no power.
Managed to pull up and sat there for 20 or so seconds trying to understand what has happened, then all of a sudden the power is back. Pressed the alarm button on the key, fuel pump whirr's, started her up and drove home without any further issues.
Until the day before yesterday, same thing happened, sort of.
That time it did it very quickly, power went, then pretty much came straight back, very similar to fuel cut, but not of course, did this twice in a row in the space of about 10 seconds.
Yesterday I went on a 150 mile round trip without any issues whatsoever.
However, tonight is a different story.
I am lucky to be alive, or at least very lucky that I did not crash my car!
I was driving along doing a steady 60 or so mph, in the dark, when the power goes again, no engine, and NO LIGHTS, nothing!
I somehow managed to stop the car without hitting anything, luckily this occurred on a straight part of an otherwise winding road.
I sat there for some time while I got my head around the fact that I very nearly crashed my car. Or the car crashed itself, depending on how you look at it.
I noticed that the LED next to the button which disables the door from the outside was very dimly lit and flashing now and then.
I also notice that the LED for the immobiliser is flashing, so I try the immobiliser fob in the square hole and the light goes out, but still nothing, no power, no lights, nothing.
Then after a few minutes the car comes back to life and off we go.
Only two miles down the road the same thing happens, only this time I was doing 30mph as I did not want to take any chances.
Luckily the Police turned up and sat behind me with their light on while I tried to get the car started.
I tried many things, all to no avail.
Then for no apparent reason she comes back to life all by herself, I was not even sat in the car at the time!
So I started her up again and the Police kindly escorted me down the hill into the village that I live in.
But it happened again, another cut out.
Same thing, sat there for a while and she came back to life and off we went.
Car is now in my garage.
I am feeling quite sorry for myself and lucky that me or my car is not injured.
Can someone please explain what might be causing this rather dangerous problem, I can deal with engines cutting out, but not lights while driving in the dark!
The car is under warranty so I have no problems there.
The problem I do have is that the garage that the warranty is valid for is over 200 miles from where I live.
Is there anything I can check?
I have a feeling that it has something to do with the immobiliser/alarm system.
Thanks
Dorian
This all started a couple of days ago.
I was driving a friend to the next town near to me and whilst in motion the engine cut, all electrics failed, no power.
Managed to pull up and sat there for 20 or so seconds trying to understand what has happened, then all of a sudden the power is back. Pressed the alarm button on the key, fuel pump whirr's, started her up and drove home without any further issues.
Until the day before yesterday, same thing happened, sort of.
That time it did it very quickly, power went, then pretty much came straight back, very similar to fuel cut, but not of course, did this twice in a row in the space of about 10 seconds.
Yesterday I went on a 150 mile round trip without any issues whatsoever.
However, tonight is a different story.
I am lucky to be alive, or at least very lucky that I did not crash my car!
I was driving along doing a steady 60 or so mph, in the dark, when the power goes again, no engine, and NO LIGHTS, nothing!
I somehow managed to stop the car without hitting anything, luckily this occurred on a straight part of an otherwise winding road.
I sat there for some time while I got my head around the fact that I very nearly crashed my car. Or the car crashed itself, depending on how you look at it.
I noticed that the LED next to the button which disables the door from the outside was very dimly lit and flashing now and then.
I also notice that the LED for the immobiliser is flashing, so I try the immobiliser fob in the square hole and the light goes out, but still nothing, no power, no lights, nothing.
Then after a few minutes the car comes back to life and off we go.
Only two miles down the road the same thing happens, only this time I was doing 30mph as I did not want to take any chances.
Luckily the Police turned up and sat behind me with their light on while I tried to get the car started.
I tried many things, all to no avail.
Then for no apparent reason she comes back to life all by herself, I was not even sat in the car at the time!
So I started her up again and the Police kindly escorted me down the hill into the village that I live in.
But it happened again, another cut out.
Same thing, sat there for a while and she came back to life and off we went.
Car is now in my garage.
I am feeling quite sorry for myself and lucky that me or my car is not injured.
Can someone please explain what might be causing this rather dangerous problem, I can deal with engines cutting out, but not lights while driving in the dark!
The car is under warranty so I have no problems there.
The problem I do have is that the garage that the warranty is valid for is over 200 miles from where I live.
Is there anything I can check?
I have a feeling that it has something to do with the immobiliser/alarm system.
Thanks
Dorian
L33 said:
100A fuse?
Don't those 100 Amp fuses need a good cleaning every once and awhile so you always have a good connection. I try to go over those things and all the grounds I can still find twice a year to be on the safe side. The 3 Lucas wired cars which are all pre 1980 cause me less trouble than my 3 Yanky trucks which are all less than 6 years old. Go figure, Lucas is better than Yanky wiring for me anyways.I am by no means an expert when it comes to these cars.
But from what I have read there are two 100amp fuses.
One for the PAS, which has nothing to do with this.
And one for the alternator side of things, if the fuse was to have an issue then its unlikely to cause a complete power failure in an instant, yes there would be power loss, but not so abruptly as in this case.
Surely if the fuse was at fault the power would drain instead of turning off instantly?
But from what I have read there are two 100amp fuses.
One for the PAS, which has nothing to do with this.
And one for the alternator side of things, if the fuse was to have an issue then its unlikely to cause a complete power failure in an instant, yes there would be power loss, but not so abruptly as in this case.
Surely if the fuse was at fault the power would drain instead of turning off instantly?
TR1PL3D said:
Surely if the fuse was at fault the power would drain instead of turning off instantly?
You'd think, but it caused the POD to do all sorts of weird things on ours. You're right in that, in our case at least, it didn't cause the issues you're having, but it seems to throw up different symptoms in each case.I'm not saying it's definitely the 100amp fuse, just that it's a typical cause and a relatively easy check to do and rule out.
Earth connections would be another check to do at the same time.
I don't think it will be the fuse - when that fails you run on battery power without recharging it, then the battery dies after a few miles and the car is dead. Dead as a parrot dead. This sounds to me more like a complete power failure - so a main relay or a major earth connection.
I would look at the earths in behind the battery area as a first resort.
I would look at the earths in behind the battery area as a first resort.
Targarama said:
I don't think it will be the fuse - when that fails you run on battery power without recharging it, then the battery dies after a few miles and the car is dead. Dead as a parrot dead. This sounds to me more like a complete power failure - so a main relay or a major earth connection.
I would look at the earths in behind the battery area as a first resort.
I agree with Trefor, having had a 100amp go it shouldn't cause the symptoms you describe but will do those above. Earths are the parts I'd start checking, ensure all are clean and tight - if your cars under warranty though get the garage to do the hard work.I would look at the earths in behind the battery area as a first resort.
Zippee said:
Targarama said:
I don't think it will be the fuse - when that fails you run on battery power without recharging it, then the battery dies after a few miles and the car is dead. Dead as a parrot dead. This sounds to me more like a complete power failure - so a main relay or a major earth connection.
I would look at the earths in behind the battery area as a first resort.
I agree with Trefor, having had a 100amp go it shouldn't cause the symptoms you describe but will do those above. Earths are the parts I'd start checking, ensure all are clean and tight - if your cars under warranty though get the garage to do the hard work.I would look at the earths in behind the battery area as a first resort.
If it is something simple like an earth or a dodgy battery terminal then I should be able to sort it myself.
But not knowing my way round the car is making things a little difficult.
I dont know how to access the batter or know the locations of the earths
TR1PL3D said:
Also, in my passenger side foot well I have a 100amp fuse, is this the one for the PAS?
No its not the PASThis is main fuse and is most likley to be culprit, if it is a fuse.
Check earth connection points and also the cable where it goes into the connector/spade.
I don't know when the car was last serviced, but all the good TVR guys will check these on there inspection schedule
G
VARLEYHYD said:
TR1PL3D said:
Also, in my passenger side foot well I have a 100amp fuse, is this the one for the PAS?
No its not the PASThis is main fuse and is most likley to be culprit, if it is a fuse.
Check earth connection points and also the cable where it goes into the connector/spade.
I don't know when the car was last serviced, but all the good TVR guys will check these on there inspection schedule
G
Targarama said:
VARLEYHYD said:
TR1PL3D said:
Also, in my passenger side foot well I have a 100amp fuse, is this the one for the PAS?
No its not the PASThis is main fuse and is most likley to be culprit, if it is a fuse.
Check earth connection points and also the cable where it goes into the connector/spade.
I don't know when the car was last serviced, but all the good TVR guys will check these on their inspection schedule
G
G
I'd swop all the fuse's for the 125amp upgrades and new fuse holders.
Check all the battery cabling for any damage, don’t want a nasty short.
Clean and check all major earth cabling
Check battery and its terminals
Check alternator and its connections.
All low cost things that can rule allot of things out and add to piece of mind, also fit a new Anderson connector whilst your under there and a battery with the positive terminal not trying to set the car on fire!
Check all the battery cabling for any damage, don’t want a nasty short.
Clean and check all major earth cabling
Check battery and its terminals
Check alternator and its connections.
All low cost things that can rule allot of things out and add to piece of mind, also fit a new Anderson connector whilst your under there and a battery with the positive terminal not trying to set the car on fire!
TR1PL3D said:
Thanks for the tips.
The car has just had a 12k service at Str8 Six, thats where I bought the car from and thats where the warranty is for.
Give Jason a call and tell him the problems your having - He could give you some advice if not then he has a low loader so could pickthe car up from you and sort the work out?The car has just had a 12k service at Str8 Six, thats where I bought the car from and thats where the warranty is for.
Thanks all for your help.
I checked all of the battery connections, also the earth connections and they are all fine.
I have also checked the large fuses.
It appears that I have managed to resolve the problem.
It seems that the fuse in the passenger footwell was causing the problem.
I had the engine running while I put a ratchet onto one of the 8mm bolts, as soon as I did this the engine and all electrics died.
One of the bolts where ever so slightly loose, also the fuse holder cover was not closed properly.
I have had a couple of tall passengers over the last couple of days and I think that with them pushing the fibreglass footwell cover with their feet has aggravated the fuse and caused it to fail.
I will be replacing the fuse for a 100amp, it is currently 80amp, I will also change the fuse holder.
I am just happy that it was something this simple and nothing sinister!
Again, thanks for every ones help.
Dorian
I checked all of the battery connections, also the earth connections and they are all fine.
I have also checked the large fuses.
It appears that I have managed to resolve the problem.
It seems that the fuse in the passenger footwell was causing the problem.
I had the engine running while I put a ratchet onto one of the 8mm bolts, as soon as I did this the engine and all electrics died.
One of the bolts where ever so slightly loose, also the fuse holder cover was not closed properly.
I have had a couple of tall passengers over the last couple of days and I think that with them pushing the fibreglass footwell cover with their feet has aggravated the fuse and caused it to fail.
I will be replacing the fuse for a 100amp, it is currently 80amp, I will also change the fuse holder.
I am just happy that it was something this simple and nothing sinister!
Again, thanks for every ones help.
Dorian
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