Roadside repairs

[JonRB]

Went out in the Chimaera on Saturday with the top down as it was a nice day - I'm really getting into open top motoring now.

We must have been out for a good few hours and conversation turned to the car's reliability. I was just telling my partner how the replaced radiator seems to have sorted things out, and she was just saying that she was starting to trust the car, when the Great God Gaffa (copyright Steve Heath) decided to strike us down for our impudence and the accelerator pedal promptly went floppy. "Aha! Snapped throttle cable", I think, and immediately call the RAC. Also called Hawthorns to find that everyone apart from Rod Barrett had gone home. Rod suggested calling Steve Howard at Thames Valley Racetech, which I did. Steve said he was just leaving the workshop for the day, but would be right over to try and give me a running repair (top bloke). As it turned out the RAC arrived before Steve and also arrived within 30mins of call out - which kind of made up for the 3 hours they took last time.

I popped the bonnet for the RAC man and realised that I hadn't actually got round to doing that yet. Yes, I am embarrassed to admit it, but my first thought had been to phone for help rather than taking a look. I've learnt an important lesson, as the moment the bonnet was opened and the RAC man looked at the throttle it was obvious that I didn't have a snapped cable and it was simply the nut & bolt that attaches the cable to the throttle that had come off. Within 5 mins I was running again. Very red face on my part.

So I have decided to read Steve Heath's book rather than skimming it, learn a bit of basic mechanical stuff and carry a roadside repair kit (like spare nuts & bolts, stuff for repairing snapped cables, etc.)

My question to the group is - what exactly should I carry and where might I go to get some advice and tuition on learning a bit of mechanical stuff? As my partner pointed out, if I'm going to have a car like a TVR, I should know how to get it running again when it has a "hiccup".

Thanks in advance for any help or advice

Regards
Jon R-B
97R Chimaera 500 and a red face.

[trefor]

:-)

I hope you called Steve and told him you'd fixed it ... he is a nice guy.

T/.

[johno]

Jon,

I've been fortunate and have learnt my mechanical knowledge from my father who's been an engineer and machanic all his life. Thats one of the best ways ;-)

I do know a couple of people though who have gone along to evening classes in car Maintaince. These are well supported and informative and will give you general knowledge about how an engine functions and what to look for. Once you have this level of knowledge there are more advanced courses available.

It allows you to 'bugger about' with other engines so as you can't cause any upset or damage to your own.

Cheers

Mark

[JonRB]

quote:
I hope you called Steve and told him you'd fixed it ... he is a nice guy.

Absolutely - first thing I did. I also told him that if he'd like to invoice me for the callout, even though it was aborted, then I'd be more than happy to pay. He actually seemed almost offended by my offer. When he refused I told him he'd get me in the end anyway as I was planning to come over to see him anyway.

[mhibbins]

The most important things I have learnt while mucking around with cars is always, always wait until you have the right tools for the job and get a torque wrench and some wd40/plusgas. The biggest problems I have had have always been caused by me either knackering something with a homemade 'tool', over-tightening some nut or bolt and stripping the thread or doing the same while undoing a siezed nut/bolt.

--
Mark

[apache]

a mobile is still a good repair kit in that you can call an expert and ask him to talk you through a problem, that way you learn a bit more, there is no call out and you should save a bit of money