Discussion
Just got my dec 96' 4.2 back from the garage after having some work done on it. Anyway 1st time i've really driven it at all (since I only bought it 2 days before the work was done).
Are the following things normal or should i be worried?
When in stop-start traffic with temprature about 100, it just stalled on me.
Also when in 5th gear and you put your foot down at anything under 3000rpm it seems to be a bit hesitant, once above 3000rpm then it flys!!
And finally lets say I drop it from 5th to 4th and floor it, i've been told I get a puff of smoke out of the exhausts, but only from one side?
Oh. and it bucks and lurches in any gear at around 30MPH making it difficult to drive smoothly at low speeds.
Please put my mind at rest as i've just spent a £1,000 on it in my 1st week of ownership!
Are the following things normal or should i be worried?
When in stop-start traffic with temprature about 100, it just stalled on me.
Also when in 5th gear and you put your foot down at anything under 3000rpm it seems to be a bit hesitant, once above 3000rpm then it flys!!
And finally lets say I drop it from 5th to 4th and floor it, i've been told I get a puff of smoke out of the exhausts, but only from one side?
Oh. and it bucks and lurches in any gear at around 30MPH making it difficult to drive smoothly at low speeds.
Please put my mind at rest as i've just spent a £1,000 on it in my 1st week of ownership!
I also have a 96 4.2 with about 20k miles on it.
The temperature is normal. Mine will get to about a 100 before the fan begins to have an effect and bring the temp back down to just below 90. Later models have two fans, mine has only one. I was recommedned to have two fans fitted at some stage. I have also had the temp checked via the ECU as the guages can be very unreliable. The stalling definitley isn't normal. Mine had a faulty temp sender which meant that once stopped when hot it wouldn't start again !
>Also when in 5th gear and you put your foot down at
>anything under 3000rpm it seems to be a bit hesitant,
>once above 3000rpm then it flys!!
This behaves as mine does.
>And finally lets say I drop it from 5th to 4th and
>floor it, i've been told I get a puff of smoke out of
>the exhausts, but only from one side?
Mine had "uneven" "sides" to the engine and was very tappety. The readings from the ECU and emmissions also confirmed differences between the two banks, and a resultant in differnces betweent he two tailpipes. It is currently having new camshafts fitted, the old ones were very worn. I was amazed when I saw them.
> Oh. and it bucks and lurches in any gear at
>around30MPH making it difficult to drive smoothly at
>low speeds.
Mine does this too. One of the other things that is being looked at. Apparently, so I have been told, the throttle potentiometers are very cheap and nasty and can cause this problem, or it can be the clutch.
Hopefully when I get it back today/tomorrow (been away over a month because no parts) all problems will be sorted. I gave TVR Racetech a list of 14 things that needed doing.
The temperature is normal. Mine will get to about a 100 before the fan begins to have an effect and bring the temp back down to just below 90. Later models have two fans, mine has only one. I was recommedned to have two fans fitted at some stage. I have also had the temp checked via the ECU as the guages can be very unreliable. The stalling definitley isn't normal. Mine had a faulty temp sender which meant that once stopped when hot it wouldn't start again !
>Also when in 5th gear and you put your foot down at
>anything under 3000rpm it seems to be a bit hesitant,
>once above 3000rpm then it flys!!
This behaves as mine does.
>And finally lets say I drop it from 5th to 4th and
>floor it, i've been told I get a puff of smoke out of
>the exhausts, but only from one side?
Mine had "uneven" "sides" to the engine and was very tappety. The readings from the ECU and emmissions also confirmed differences between the two banks, and a resultant in differnces betweent he two tailpipes. It is currently having new camshafts fitted, the old ones were very worn. I was amazed when I saw them.
> Oh. and it bucks and lurches in any gear at
>around30MPH making it difficult to drive smoothly at
>low speeds.
Mine does this too. One of the other things that is being looked at. Apparently, so I have been told, the throttle potentiometers are very cheap and nasty and can cause this problem, or it can be the clutch.
Hopefully when I get it back today/tomorrow (been away over a month because no parts) all problems will be sorted. I gave TVR Racetech a list of 14 things that needed doing.
Welcome to TVR world.
Driving a cerbie takes some time to get use to, I have had mine now since May 01,
As mine is a 97. I do have two fans at the front and yes it still runs at around 95-100 in traffic.
At low speeds mines a bitch to drive but it makes up for it once you put you foot dowm. These cars weren't designed for driving slow me thinks!!!
It will never be smooth like driving a brand New BM or likewise.
The only advice i can give you is read lots of the other threads such as Back end flipping out etc. That will give you loads of tips on what to do and NOT to do in your cerbie.
Just remember its a BEAST!!
Have Fun
Driving a cerbie takes some time to get use to, I have had mine now since May 01,
As mine is a 97. I do have two fans at the front and yes it still runs at around 95-100 in traffic.
At low speeds mines a bitch to drive but it makes up for it once you put you foot dowm. These cars weren't designed for driving slow me thinks!!!
It will never be smooth like driving a brand New BM or likewise.
The only advice i can give you is read lots of the other threads such as Back end flipping out etc. That will give you loads of tips on what to do and NOT to do in your cerbie.
Just remember its a BEAST!!
Have Fun
Any ideas on my "Suicidal 4.2" topic? As below:
Ok I really need your help guys! (and Girls!)As you may know from "Virgin 4.2" I've just got it back from having work done on it at "Webbs" in Bristol. It went in because intermittently, when I pressed the starter button it would just make the warning lamps on the dash flash, and you would hear a relay type clicking noise from the boot. So they changed the ignition box and seemed to have worked, but I guess not.. as 24hrs later the problem is back again and also it will just cut the engine when driving! then press the button and the warning lamps on the dash flash and you hear a relay type clicking noise from the boot. But it's seems very intermittent! I really need some help! Anyone else had a similar problem? Any suggestions?
Ok I really need your help guys! (and Girls!)As you may know from "Virgin 4.2" I've just got it back from having work done on it at "Webbs" in Bristol. It went in because intermittently, when I pressed the starter button it would just make the warning lamps on the dash flash, and you would hear a relay type clicking noise from the boot. So they changed the ignition box and seemed to have worked, but I guess not.. as 24hrs later the problem is back again and also it will just cut the engine when driving! then press the button and the warning lamps on the dash flash and you hear a relay type clicking noise from the boot. But it's seems very intermittent! I really need some help! Anyone else had a similar problem? Any suggestions?
I live in Bath with a Cerbera 4.5 and have only been to a well known official TVR dealer in my area so far (only had the car a couple of months) They did not really seem that clued up about cerbera's and did not really instill me with much faith-do you know if webbs are familiar with them and what are the address or phone numbers for them?? Finally are they generally good in terms of workmanship???
quote:
How long was your test drive when you bought your car?
Did you not notice some of the problems then?
Buying a TVR HAS to be one of the most difficult purchases you are ever likely to make. Looking at a lot of cars, checking histories etc is all very well, but upon test driving something like a Cerbera after coming out of a Euro box it is very difficult to form any opinion as to the mechanical state of the car because the noise and power instantly removes the ability to think rationally! IMHO only the very experienced (or cold hearted
) would detect the problems Mycerbera has encountered. My story was virtually identical: brought at a reasonable price (from a dealer thank god!), immaculate car, FTVRSH, low miles, went like the clappers, sounded like rolling thunder, purchase made.
It was not until I had drove the car for a couple of days that I noticed problems with my car, but the dealer has rectified all of them to my satisfaction. There's a moral in there somewhere.....
To be fair, there has been a lot of talk about dealers charging over the odds for cars, but looking at the threads on here I think it is easy to see why they feel they need that 5k or so 'cushion'.
"www.webbsautos.com" and "www.tvrbodyshop.com" are there sites.
My Cerbera 4.2 had a cutting out problem shortly after I got it which was caused by the immobiliser. The problem was intermittant; The car would suddenly cut out whilst driving, and restart no problem, go a few miles and would happen again. I don't remember what the warning lights were doing though. New immobiliser fitted, no more problem.
I think though that the 30 mph lurching thing is something I notice on mine after driving the wifes car, although with a steady foot and my favourite pair of trainers I find the car relatively easy to drive at low speed.
My car is Oct 98 4.2
I think though that the 30 mph lurching thing is something I notice on mine after driving the wifes car, although with a steady foot and my favourite pair of trainers I find the car relatively easy to drive at low speed.
My car is Oct 98 4.2
"Alastairm"
Which dealer was this? Where are they based?
quote:
I live in Bath with a Cerbera 4.5 and have only been to a well known official TVR dealer in my area so far (only had the car a couple of months) They did not really seem that clued up about cerbera's and did not really instill me with much faith.
Which dealer was this? Where are they based?
only ones in the bath area are David Hendry or Brooklands at Exeter. I have used DH and they were very good, a friend has used Brooklands and said very good too.
Another Cerby owner swears by peninsular whom are in the SW area and supposedly a good independent.
Webbs i do not believe to be a main TVR agent nor a TVR specialist?? It used to be broughtons in Bristol for TVR service, arent webbs a bodyshop?
Bennno
No, they service and repair too. See there websites www.webbsautos.com and www.tvrbodyshop.com
I use them because they charge £32hr for labour and so must be cheaper than David Hendry and other Dealers?
I use them because they charge £32hr for labour and so must be cheaper than David Hendry and other Dealers?
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