TVR - why-o-why do I love you
Discussion
The day: Sunday 30 June 2002
The Location: Langdale, Lake District
The Destination: Crewe, Cheshire
The Weather: P***ing Down
You might think that having a destination of Crewe was daunting enough but this journey was bad, real bad.
After persuading my beloved to go to the lakes in the Wedge for the weekend, we faced a simple journey back home after the World Cup Final.
At 3pm we finally set off after I'd cracked a joke, saying that the windscreen wipers would pack up on the way home. HA HA, how I chuckled to myself as she laughed at my little quip.
As we headed off in the pouring, seriously hazardous rain, we reached Windermere where the traffic started to slow as people made their way towards the M6. Lucky enough, the flow of traffic kept moving and it was at this stage that I thought it would be a good idea to stop at the upcoming BP garage for my Bensons before we hit the motorway.
The garage appeared shortly after a purple Griff had passed with a waving hand of TVR recognition. I pulled in and hopped out to get my fags. At least if we got held up, I'd have some cigs to pass the time.
It was at this point that things started to go a bit wrong. As I lowered myself into the car, strapped myself in and started the engine, I was convinced I'd left the wipers on intermitent - but they did'nt come on. Nor did the demist blower. Nor did my usually smiling mouth. "Whats up?", she said. "The Wipers!", I said. The temptation of fate, I thought.
It was'nt the fuse or the relay and I'm afraid my checklist stops there as far as ideas go.
After 20 minutes of debating things, I thought I'd try to drive without them - anyone who's done this will know its not a good idea. As it happens, in a Wedge the screen slopes sufficiently well enough that water half clears ar 55mph so I thought I'd keep going.
It did'nt matter too much as the M6 was crawling so I thought I'd try to keep going at least to the next junction. O.K, one more junction was achievable, then another, then another and so on. The fact was that the traffic was that bad, it took 4 hours to get to junction 29 near Preston. The fan was managing to keep the engine cool but steam was coming out of my head faster than the Flying Scotsman. If the wipers were working, I still would'nt have been able to see as the windows were so misted up that people must have thought I was shagging whilst on the move!
Half my Bensons were smoked.
I was approaching breaking point by the fourth hour but then, could it be, YES the traffic started to move as we passed through the unmanned roadworks. I think we're gonna be O.K now I said, as the rain lashed down hard enough to dislodge the other rain blocking my vision.
By Junction 21 I was tired, battered and defeated but I kept going. What's this, I thought to myself as the clutch pedal seemed to be different to normal. Could it be another problem? I pressed it in again.
"The clutch is on its way out", I said in a monotone, zombie type voice. "HA HA", she said, "Dont fool around". I did'nt need to say anything else. I just let the crunching / revving / crunching sounds do all the talking for the short bit of journey that was left.
5 Hours and 20 minutes after my original joke about the wipers, I finally managed to back the means of transport into my garage.
Now - excuse me if I'm wrong but are'nt fags supposed to do you harm and TVR's are supposed to be a release of pressure ?????
It Will Be Back .........................
The Location: Langdale, Lake District
The Destination: Crewe, Cheshire
The Weather: P***ing Down
You might think that having a destination of Crewe was daunting enough but this journey was bad, real bad.
After persuading my beloved to go to the lakes in the Wedge for the weekend, we faced a simple journey back home after the World Cup Final.
At 3pm we finally set off after I'd cracked a joke, saying that the windscreen wipers would pack up on the way home. HA HA, how I chuckled to myself as she laughed at my little quip.
As we headed off in the pouring, seriously hazardous rain, we reached Windermere where the traffic started to slow as people made their way towards the M6. Lucky enough, the flow of traffic kept moving and it was at this stage that I thought it would be a good idea to stop at the upcoming BP garage for my Bensons before we hit the motorway.
The garage appeared shortly after a purple Griff had passed with a waving hand of TVR recognition. I pulled in and hopped out to get my fags. At least if we got held up, I'd have some cigs to pass the time.
It was at this point that things started to go a bit wrong. As I lowered myself into the car, strapped myself in and started the engine, I was convinced I'd left the wipers on intermitent - but they did'nt come on. Nor did the demist blower. Nor did my usually smiling mouth. "Whats up?", she said. "The Wipers!", I said. The temptation of fate, I thought.
It was'nt the fuse or the relay and I'm afraid my checklist stops there as far as ideas go.
After 20 minutes of debating things, I thought I'd try to drive without them - anyone who's done this will know its not a good idea. As it happens, in a Wedge the screen slopes sufficiently well enough that water half clears ar 55mph so I thought I'd keep going.
It did'nt matter too much as the M6 was crawling so I thought I'd try to keep going at least to the next junction. O.K, one more junction was achievable, then another, then another and so on. The fact was that the traffic was that bad, it took 4 hours to get to junction 29 near Preston. The fan was managing to keep the engine cool but steam was coming out of my head faster than the Flying Scotsman. If the wipers were working, I still would'nt have been able to see as the windows were so misted up that people must have thought I was shagging whilst on the move!
Half my Bensons were smoked.
I was approaching breaking point by the fourth hour but then, could it be, YES the traffic started to move as we passed through the unmanned roadworks. I think we're gonna be O.K now I said, as the rain lashed down hard enough to dislodge the other rain blocking my vision.
By Junction 21 I was tired, battered and defeated but I kept going. What's this, I thought to myself as the clutch pedal seemed to be different to normal. Could it be another problem? I pressed it in again.
"The clutch is on its way out", I said in a monotone, zombie type voice. "HA HA", she said, "Dont fool around". I did'nt need to say anything else. I just let the crunching / revving / crunching sounds do all the talking for the short bit of journey that was left.
5 Hours and 20 minutes after my original joke about the wipers, I finally managed to back the means of transport into my garage.
Now - excuse me if I'm wrong but are'nt fags supposed to do you harm and TVR's are supposed to be a release of pressure ?????
It Will Be Back .........................
After suffering the M6 on the way back from Chatsworth my sympathies are with you for that alone. Where do the come from on a Sunday?!
Ouch though, it was sunny and my clutch worked and I knew my way around there, so I was able to A road a lot of it. My 1 1/2 hours to get from 15 to the M5 were not as bad as I thought.
Good luck on the repairs.
Ouch though, it was sunny and my clutch worked and I knew my way around there, so I was able to A road a lot of it. My 1 1/2 hours to get from 15 to the M5 were not as bad as I thought.
Good luck on the repairs.
Know the feeling, convinced the new wife to let me drive her from the church in the Taz after our wedding, the Tvr gremlin struck on the busiest island in Chester, cut out and would not start. Full monty white ribbons, horse shoes the lot, what a t**t! Best man did a good job giving us a bump start while the families watched in disbelief.....good luck.
I remember that before buying my wedge, someone said to me - "you definitely need a sense of humour to own a TVR" And they were probably right. however i have just returned from a 3000 mile round trip of France, and apart from discovering the car's fitted swimming pool one morning after a night of heavy rain, she gave me no hassle. I did make sure i had AA Five star european cover JUST in case.
One english guy i got chatting to at the french/Swiss border saw my car and said- Well done .....Have you broken down yet?? My mates got a Cerbera, and its always in the garage. Bloody Cheek!
Dont forget TVR used a lot of Lucas parts
including wiper motors!which reminds me of a pal's T-Shirt Dedicated to Lucas. He lives in the States where Lucas is a bit of a dirty word to classic car enthusiasts. It says LUCAS- Prince of darkness. and underneath is a picture of an old toggle switch with three positions-labelled Off, Dim, Flicker!!
One english guy i got chatting to at the french/Swiss border saw my car and said- Well done .....Have you broken down yet?? My mates got a Cerbera, and its always in the garage. Bloody Cheek!
Dont forget TVR used a lot of Lucas parts
including wiper motors!which reminds me of a pal's T-Shirt Dedicated to Lucas. He lives in the States where Lucas is a bit of a dirty word to classic car enthusiasts. It says LUCAS- Prince of darkness. and underneath is a picture of an old toggle switch with three positions-labelled Off, Dim, Flicker!!I am either a total t
t or a hero. I am intending to export a big wedge to Hungary where I now live. I will of course stock up with spares before leaving the UK and am looking forward to the drive across, hopefully next summer. I am suffering such severe withdrawal symptoms that I have to have a wedge soon.
t or a hero. I am intending to export a big wedge to Hungary where I now live. I will of course stock up with spares before leaving the UK and am looking forward to the drive across, hopefully next summer. I am suffering such severe withdrawal symptoms that I have to have a wedge soon.
Rain-X would have helped. I tried it and was amazed, the rain just flies off the screen, even at low speeds!.
Check the slave cylinders, hopefully they may just need bleeding and topping up (?).
Mike
www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk
>> Edited by mikeb on Wednesday 3rd July 09:43
Check the slave cylinders, hopefully they may just need bleeding and topping up (?).
Mike
www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk
>> Edited by mikeb on Wednesday 3rd July 09:43
If you want 'dumped in the doo-doo'...
Wife and I went to 'Back Home' a few years back ('97, the Golden Jubilee in fact!). Tasmin got all the way there before I realised it was running on 5 cylinders, wouldn't idle and then decided it needed a bad earth to the starter. So we got there late, found the seafront cavalcade in full flow and we were going the wrong way! Some pompous git even fumed about it in 'Sprint', I recall. Ended up having to bump-start the car several times, missed being in the 'official' video, made it home in a right mood and discovered the rings had broken up on one cylinder, writing off the engine.
What fun.
...and then I bought ANOTHER wedge...
W.
Wife and I went to 'Back Home' a few years back ('97, the Golden Jubilee in fact!). Tasmin got all the way there before I realised it was running on 5 cylinders, wouldn't idle and then decided it needed a bad earth to the starter. So we got there late, found the seafront cavalcade in full flow and we were going the wrong way! Some pompous git even fumed about it in 'Sprint', I recall. Ended up having to bump-start the car several times, missed being in the 'official' video, made it home in a right mood and discovered the rings had broken up on one cylinder, writing off the engine.
What fun.
...and then I bought ANOTHER wedge...
W.
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