New Owner Questions

[virtualfern]

Afer taking the plunge and buying a Chimaera I have a few newbie questions:

Is the PAS supposed to make a noise when steering ?(sort of a shhhhhhhh - old steam train coming to a stop)

Do I really need to seek out a shell garage to use Optimax?

Where can you buy Fabsil from (Halfords never heard of it)?

Thanks

[neilus]

Is the PAS supposed to make a noise when steering ?(sort of a shhhhhhhh - old steam train coming to a stop)
Never noticed that on mine

Do I really need to seek out a shell garage to use Optimax?
I always used to try and fill up with Optimax or Unleaded, but I can't say I noticed any difference

Where can you buy Fabsil from (Halfords never heard of it)?
I think I used Renovo, I got it from Millets (the camping shop). Halfords do some other waterproofing products for soft tops though

Neil.

[raceboy]

virtualfern said:

Is the PAS supposed to make a noise when steering ?(sort of a shhhhhhhh - old steam train coming to a stop)

Can't say, mines not got it

virtualfern said:

Do I really need to seek out a shell garage to use Optimax?

Mine hates Optimax I get about 5mpg and it runs like a dog, but I think mine is the exception to the rule, most people 'think' it makes the car faster but normal 'super' unleaded was fine before optimax was 'invented

virtualfern said:

Where can you buy Fabsil from (Halfords never heard of it)?

Thompsons water seal (£10 for a gallon from B&Q) is the same stuff as Fabsil (which you would have to go to a camping shop/Yemans for) and loads cheaper

[trooper1212]

virtualfern said:

Afer taking the plunge and buying a Chimaera I have a few newbie questions: Is the PAS supposed to make a noise when steering ?(sort of a shhhhhhhh - old steam train coming to a stop)

My Cerb does that, never thought anything of it and it's still going round corners

[chimhunter]

Have a look at this thread, it's got pretty much everything you'll need to know in it, and will explain lots of the 'features' of the Chim.

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=63496&f=13&h=0&hw=TADTS

Rob

[jev]

Welcome to the fold !

"Is the PAS supposed to make a noise when steering ?(sort of a shhhhhhhh - old steam train coming to a stop)"

Mine does this! I've checked the fluid level and it seems OK so I expect its a 'they all do that sir!'


"Do I really need to seek out a shell garage to use Optimax?"

Why not - its only a few extra TVR miles! I tend to use Optimax but a few fill-ups with something weaker is probably not a problem

"Where can you buy Fabsil from (Halfords never heard of it)?"

Don't know! Fabsilling the roof is something I keep on meaning to get round to. Had the TVR 18 months now and its not leaking yet (famous last words...)

Enjoy

[aaandy]

Power Steering - Mine makes that noise too. Not need to worry, this is quite normal.

Optimax - Have never put anything else in mine aprt from Optimax so can't give a comparison. Some people reckon there is a marked difference, some say they can't notice. But I would always use super unleaded as a minimum.

Fabsil - Need to go to a good camping shop. Don't bother will the spray stuff. Need the can of liquid stuff a good paint brush. Really easy to put on. Lot's of people use Thompson's as well which is available from B&Q and Homebase. Just do a search and you will find loads of info on both.

[li'l pugs]

My PAS does make a slight noise but only when reaching the full lock position........

Optimax, does seem to improve things.

Fabsil is a fabric waterproofing liquid used on tents and awnings, so go embarrass yourself at the local caravan shop.........I had to !!

[virtualfern]

Dealer informs me that the valving in the PAS pump can cause this noise - what do you guys think?

I am going to check te fluid levels at lunchtime methinks.

[simpo two]

Mine (97 Griff) lives on unleaded and is fine for normal purposes, ie road use. I thought I might treat it to some Optimax once, saw the price and put unleaded in again.

Obviously the higher the octane, the more power you get. Personally I don't mind whether I get (say) 275bhp or 278bhp. It also depends on what your ignition timing is set to, and if you want to cane it round a track at 6,000rpm then the higher octane will be appreciated, IMHO.

[kdd]

simpo two said:

Mine (97 Griff) lives on unleaded and is fine for normal purposes, ie road use. I thought I might treat it to some Optimax once, saw the price and put unleaded in again. Obviously the higher the octane, the more power you get. Personally I don't mind whether I get (say) 275bhp or 278bhp. It also depends on what your ignition timing is set to, and if you want to cane it round a track at 6,000rpm then the higher octane will be appreciated, IMHO.

I'll check once we've picked the Chim up, but our other cars, old and new alike, do more to the gallon as well as better performance on Optimax. The added mpg pays for the difference in pump price if you see what I mean. By better performance, I don't mean vastly quicker or anything, they just seem to pick up better, seem more willing to go etc..... nothing I can measure except the slight increase in mpg.....

[andyf007]

virtualfern said:

Dealer informs me that the valving in the PAS pump can cause this noise - what do you guys think?

Quite true, it can depend on the tightness of the bends in the pipework and the stiffness of the rack itself. These cause a pressure variance at the pump and valves, bit like a partial kink in a garden hose. Nothing to worry about.

There's been a lot of stuff on here about optimax etc, and it all boils down to whether or not your engine is set up for 95 or 97 Octane. If yours is set to 95 octane, then optimax will not improve things, in fact it will probably run noticably worse.

Fabsil and Thompsons (make sure you get the one that's OK for canvas) are pretty much the same stuff and do the same job, the choice is yours.

Andy

[z_chromozone]

I always use optimax. Even if it does not give more power you have a few more degrees of advance to play with before the engine starts pinking. Used to make a huge difference in my old golf 16V, I figured if I bought an expensive sports car there was no point scrimping on fuel for the thing, or for that matter putting in cheap oil, crap tyres etc.

Z

[virtualfern]

just been down to check out the fluid level - on the dip stick section it seems level with where the start of the indentation is (minimum I guess?)

Hoping the dealer is right that its just an added feature (couple of posts here seem to agree).

Final question on this one - is the steering on these cars noticeably heavier than say a standard car (been borrowing the missus' Polo recently & its much easier)

Cheers All

[count duckula]

It will be heavier than the polo, my other-halves MGF has lighter steering than the Chim.

Malc