Dead Cerbie

Dead Cerbie

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gazzab

Original Poster:

21,108 posts

283 months

Wednesday 24th April 2002
quotequote all
My 98 4.5 is dead. Wouldnt start the other morning - I dont think there was enough battery power. Tried jump starting it last night but the battery just seemed to get flatter and the electircs started doing some funny things eg headlights coming on as the starter clicked.
Not sure why that didnt work!!?
Can you charge the battery without removing ie attach a charger to the pos terminal and then do you attach the negative to the battery (not sure that is easy) or to say the alternator as it is metal and close by !?!?
aaaggghhh Gary.

Pinkney

1,010 posts

265 months

Wednesday 24th April 2002
quotequote all
gazzab
I have also got a 98' 4.5 Cerbera and had a few problems with a temperamental battery about a month or so ago - had to jumpstart it every morning for a couple of weeks before I finally sorted it out with a new battery at the dealership. Occasionally when I was trying to jump start the car the battery seemed to be getting weaker (electrics dying out). When this happened I left the other car engine running for 5 to 10 minutes (with the jump leads still connected) before attempting to start the Cerbera again and it succeeded every time. Hope this works.
Dan

P.S Did not connect negative to battery but to metal section above / near to oil filler (I'm not clued enough up to give you the technical name)

>> Edited by Pinkney on Wednesday 24th April 12:38

gazzab

Original Poster:

21,108 posts

283 months

Friday 26th April 2002
quotequote all
Sorted!! It was all caused by the alternator fuse blowing. TOP TIP :- If your cerbera rev counter starts to play up then this suugests the fuse to the alternator is on its way. BIG thanks to Brian at Fernies for sorting this out for me.

ChrisLeese

54 posts

269 months

Friday 26th April 2002
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Just for reference, where is the alternator fuse?

mycerbera

413 posts

268 months

Friday 26th April 2002
quotequote all
I had exactly the same problem! Rev counter went down when you put your foot on the gas and started dancing all over the place! Turns out the fuse had blown, It's a big 100amp bugger situated near the battery I believe?

ChrisLeese

54 posts

269 months

Friday 26th April 2002
quotequote all
Cheers guys.

The reason I ask, my tacho is dancing around all over the place.

I suppose its a TVR only part?

dannylt

1,906 posts

285 months

Friday 26th April 2002
quotequote all
It's behind the two coil packs, at the back of the engine between the V. It's in a little plastic case that's often held shut by a cable tie.

You can get them from tvrgear.co.uk overnight/next day, or just bold one end of the contact to the other end (i.e. bypass the fuse) as an emergency hack.

I expect you can buy them elsewhere, but I seem to remember they were less than a pound.

Common fault - buy 2 just in case, so you can help someone out .

danny

gazzab

Original Poster:

21,108 posts

283 months

Friday 26th April 2002
quotequote all
It is very hard to get to. The fuse is on top of the bell housing ie kind of under the dashboard/windscreen. You take off the large plastic cover behind the bonnet. You then use a very long extension on a socket to reach the fuse. Have to be careful cos you cant disconnect the battery and you might short stuff. The fuse is a flat piece of metal. TVR dealers have loads in stock. Takes about 15/20 mins to do. Very fiddly, very hot... I got a spare fuse now that I am keeping for next time.

dannylt

1,906 posts

285 months

Friday 26th April 2002
quotequote all
On a 4.5 take off the rear most inlet tube - then easy access (aside from hot!). Guess it's dead easy on a 4.2.

gazzab

Original Poster:

21,108 posts

283 months

Friday 26th April 2002
quotequote all
Mine is a 4.5 and didnt take off the rear trumpet.

dannylt

1,906 posts

285 months

Friday 26th April 2002
quotequote all
Ah, but if you do, you don't need quite as long a socket