Please Help - Engine (Sp6 ) Woes

[stub101]

Hi All

Wonder if I can get some advice from you all.

I bout my 54 reg T350c back in October and have been absolutely loving it since. It is my everyday driver.

Over the last few weeks or so I have noticed a few problems with it.

- On startup from cold, I have to give it a little throttle to get it to catch and then start the engine. I then sit for about 20s before reversing out of the garage and setting off to work.

- One issue I have noticed is that when the engine is started (and the engine is not warmed up) if I take my foot off the throttle in the first 60s the engine cuts out. This hasnt been too much of a problem as I have simply just re-started it and gone on my way.

- On monday morning I did the same thing in the pouring rain and the engine cut-out. I went to re-start it but it would not catch. it was as if it was flooded. I tried it a couple of more times (probably making things worse) but then left it for 20 mins and it started OK (with a fair bit of coughing and spluttering from unburnt fuel).

- On Tuesday I had used the car about 4 times since the little escapade on Monday and pulled into a petrol station to fill-up. Came back to the car and it would not start at all. The engine was flooded again!!! I left if for about 20 mins to clear but that did not even help. i had to call out the AA to see if they could start it. The AA guy came out and also couldnt start it so he investigated the plugs. THEY WERE NEARLY ALL BLACK!!!!! and he said the car must be running very rich which is causing it to flood.

Removing the plugs must have released the pressure and the car started again afterwards. The next morning and the following few times everything was fine.

- Then again this morning I started the car (no problems at all) and reversed the car out of the garage. I got out to shut the garage door and it cut-out again! Tried to re-start it and nothing - was FLOODED AGAIN!. Didnt even bother to try re-starting, just went upstairs for 20 mins and it was fine afterwards. I have used the car twice since and everything is fine (as long as the car does not stall or cut-out within the first 60s of driving! - or a short stop at a petrol station)

It is booked in with my mechanic next Tuesday but could do with as much assistance as possible PLEASE. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

Stu

[Whitey]

1. There is no cold start/choke circuit on the Sp6 so in the very cold weather it will not idle from cold without a little throttle.
2. Yes you flooded it.
3. Sounds like it needs a tune up, so assuming your mechanic is a TVR specialist he should get you back on the straight and narrow.

Good luck!

[s6boy]

The low idle and engine stopping is almost certainly down to the cold, that is if when up to temp the problem goes.
As for the stalling if you have a laptop and diagnostics and yours is anything like mine you will notice the temperature fluctuating whilst the pod display stays the same, sometimes this isn't noticable straight away but worth monitoring for a while. This I beleive caused the ECU to either over or under fuel. Your symptoms sound similar to mine as when the car was up to temperature or had cooled right down the car started and ran fine.
Solution was to replace the front(ECU) temperature sensor. HTH

[holmsie]

What revs is the car idling at? Your idle may be a bit low, which won't help, especially at this time of year as whitey says!

[EnjyBenjy]

Don't touch the throttle until you hear the engine catch, then give it a little. I used to try starting it with throttle and 99% of the time it'd flood and would be a complete bitch to re-start...

[stub101]

Where can I get the diagnostics kit from for my laptop? that would be much easier?

holmsie said:

What revs is the car idling at? Your idle may be a bit low, which won't help, especially at this time of year as whitey says!

The car idles at about 650-700rpm when cold and 950-1000 when up to temp which I believe is fine.

EnjyBenjy said:

Don't touch the throttle until you hear the engine catch, then give it a little. I used to try starting it with throttle and 99% of the time it'd flood and would be a complete bitch to re-start...

The problem is that it just doesnt catch if I dont give it a bit of throttle! So it does seem like its a vicous circle. The problem is prob made worse by the fact that the plugs are now black due to running rich/flooding which makes starting even harder. But im not replacing them until i have solved / sorted the problem as it will be the same again.

[s6boy]

Is the mechanic you're using familiar with TVR's? If so he should have the software and lead- crucial to anyone servicing an S6 engine. If not try here:

http://www.clever-trevor.net/tvr-part-category/4-e...

[stub101]

Thanks for that - I think I'll have to get me one. Where would I buy / acquire the software from?

s6boy said:

Is the mechanic you're using familiar with TVR's? If so he should have the software and lead- crucial to anyone servicing an S6 engine. If not try here:

http://www.clever-trevor.net/tvr-part-category/4-e...

The mechanic I am using is Andy Turner in Leeds. He came highly recommended by people on here and I would assume he has all the correct software as I beleive he services a number of Tuscans, T350's and older V8's from around the West Yorkshire area.

Im also gonna ask him to check the suspension following the pothole incident.

[fatjon]

A Failed or failing TPS might be the cause. The ecu then has an innacurate throttle position and will fuel incorrectly. Because the EGO sensor is inactive until the engine is warmed up it cant correct the problem. Not a great expert on the 6 pot engine but I think that like the 8 pot all it knows to gauge fueling is coolant temp, air temp, rpm and throttle position, the fault will be one of these parameters. RPM it cant get wrong or the ignition will go to hell. The rest of the sensors are cheap enough to try it and see. TPS is top of the list as it's a moving part and more likely to fail than the solid state temp sensors.



Jon

[s6boy]

If you drop me a PM I'll reply with the software, alternatively do a search on the general forum.

[custardkid]

sounds like you need a software reset.

get it off some one here (like me) and buy a lead from clevor trevor or some one else.

or pop into a specialist who will reset it for a small fee (or free) in less than 5 mins

custard

[stub101]

custardkid said:

sounds like you need a software reset.

get it off some one here (like me) and buy a lead from clevor trevor or some one else.

or pop into a specialist who will reset it for a small fee (or free) in less than 5 mins

custard

Sorry for being stupid but why would it need a software reset and how would that help?

[Fume Troll]

stub101 said:

custardkid said:

sounds like you need a software reset.

get it off some one here (like me) and buy a lead from clevor trevor or some one else.

or pop into a specialist who will reset it for a small fee (or free) in less than 5 mins

custard

Sorry for being stupid but why would it need a software reset and how would that help?

The ECU is adaptive and will adjust its own settings - sometimes (e.g. after a good clean up of the ignition system) it may need reset.

Cheers,

FT.

[Daftlad]

It sounds like it needs a service to me.

[stub101]

Daftlad said:

It sounds like it needs a service to me.

It was serviced not too long ago by Automedon but upon closer inspection a couple of the HT leads have degraded so they will be replaced, and apparently the lambda has been giving out some strange readings.

[willyworm]

Hi Stu, was that you I saw on th M18 going North last Friday about 9.05.35sec am?
If so where was your front number plate? If you get the software let me know how you get on with it, as I am thinking of getting it also.
Car looks good.
John

[stub101]

willyworm said:

Hi Stu, was that you I saw on th M18 going North last Friday about 9.05.35sec am?
If so where was your front number plate? If you get the software let me know how you get on with it, as I am thinking of getting it also.
Car looks good.
John

No it wasnt me im afriad - must have been someone else, although a couple of weeks ago my front plate did fall off. Must be the cold weather and the sticky pads we have to use on the front.

I know there are a few blue ones round the north and must have been one of them.

I will certainly let you know how I get on with the software - hopefully I cant do any damage with it...........

Stu