HELP, dead Tamora

[hatchn]

Hi Guys,

I Have been out and about in the Tamora all day today.
Filled up with Optimax this morning and have done about 100 miles since then.
Stopped a couple for times to have lunch in the pub and pop to the shops.

Then about 5 minutes from home I stopped again went into a shop for about 10 minutes came out and got into the car and it would not start.

The dash does it normal start-up thing, the fuel pump primes and runs. When you turn the key the engine fires, catches and runs for about 2 seconds and then dies. This happens every time. If you keep your foot planted on the floor it will keep running at about 600 revs, but it’s very lumpy. I've checked all the fuses and they are all fine. I've reseated all the relays, again they look fine.
I got a tow home and now the car has been banished to the garage.

Has anyone got any clues ?

I've spoken to my dealer and they said get it up to them.
Any help would be great.

Cheers,
Nick

[barefoot]

Sounds like fuel starvation, have you tried taking the petrol cap off to see if you have an air block?

Good luck

[hatchn]

Thanks Barefoot,

Just tried that but no joy.
It now just turns over but will not even start.

Like you say it sounds like a fueling problem but the pump primes up fine.

Any more ideas from anyone woule be great.

Cheers,
Nick

[T88CAN]

Sorry can`t help with your problem, however be careful with the amount of turning over you do, too much unburnt fuel is a sure fire way of knackering the cats Tony

[hatchn]

Cheers T88CAN,

I only tried it a few of times before I gave up.
It always catches and starts first time without any revs when warm normally so I knew somthing was not right.

I'm sure that cats will be fine............ I hope !!!

Cheers,
Nick

[IWish]

It's a long shot especially as your engine was warm, but have you checked your spark plugs?
Had a similar problem with one of my cars - if it didn't fire up straight away it used to soak the plugs. I had to dry them with a hair dryer and turn the engine over (plugs removed and fuel pump disconnected) for about 20 seconds to dry the bores. Put it back together and all was fine.
Like I say, it's a long shot but worth a try

[hatchn]

Thanks for that Iwish,

But I'm not sure that's it, as the car was fine before I turned it off to go into the shop for 5 minutes. Then as soon as I came out and tried it it would not start. I'm sure I did not flood it whilst trying to get it started. I'll leave it to dry out over night and have a look at the plugs in the morning.

Cheers,
Nick

[aromaT]

mine once did this and it was indeed flooding...

[hatchn]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your tips.
I tried it again this morning and it still will not start.

It will not even catch and run for a few seconds now.
It just turns over but nothing more.

Looks like it's going to have to be transported back to the dealer.

Cheers,
Nick

[alt]

Hi Nick, bad news but I think I know what it is.
It sounds like the same thing that happenned to me last year.
Turned out to be the fuel pump relay.

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=36455&f=7&h=0

Hope you get it sorted soon.
Cheers.... Andrew

[plfrench]

Could it be an immobiliser fault? Sounds like similar symptoms...

Paul.

[sacha]

try the emergency breaker/fuel cut off, in the tuscan its a little black button in the boot, if you have a voltmeter check its working, as on my mini it stopped and even though i pushed it it did nothing, good luck

[dougie]

Same thing happened to me last summer and more annoyingly in France last week-end. It happened twice on one day (i) stopped to fill up with petrol, engine temp perfect and running well but as with you she kept firing up for 3 secs then dying. I left it for 10 mins and she fired up, ran badly (seemingly massive fuel starvation) for 5 mins then perfect all the way from Champagne to the tunnel but .... (ii) having stopped to answer nature's call she did the same thing, firing then stalling. Massively embaressed and to the amusement of all, after an hour I gave up and was finally towed onto the train. When we reached the UK she fired up first time and ran perfectly all the way home (oh the joys of TVR). The dealer is looking at it now. I need to get this sorted cos the girlfriend is loosing patience and talking M3s - any news from your dealer would be appreciated.

The other intersting thing that happened in France was the drivers door opening at 90mph on the motorway !!
On the plus side the French LOVED it and we got 80 bottles of champagne, 10 bottles of wine and kit for the w/e in the car - try that in a Boxter !!!

[hatchn]

Just had my car picked up by the AA, it's now on it's way back to the dealers.

Shortly afterwards I whent out in my wifes KA, turned out of my close and what was there ?
Another AA lowlolader with a Silver Griff being loaded on the back of it.

TVR's, don't ya just love them...................

Thanks for all your suggestions guys, When I've got news back from the dealer on the fix I'll let you know.

Cheers,
Nick.

[IWish]

Any news yet Nick????
It's been a week now.
Ian

[hatchn]

Still no news I'm sorry to say.

The car was due in Blackpool next week for it's 12,000 service so I asked the factory to sort it out at the same time.

I've been waiting on the factory to pick the car up from my dealer. Apparantly it's going today.

So I should have some news later next week once they start working on it.

I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,
Nick

[dougie]

Nick - Any news ? Mine is due back this w/e. I don't think they found anything specific but said they have cleaned the "crank sensor", whatever that might be !! Would be interested in what the factory find with yours.

[hatchn]

I spoke to the factory on Wednesday. They said they had got it started. But the person I spoke to was not sure what the problem was but was going to find out for me. All they knew was they had changed the plugs and "something else".

I'll let you have more detail when I know.

Cheers,
Nick

[ricardo]

I had the same problem 40 minutes after I collected my new Tamora, all seemed okay but it wouldn't run - the problem was that the fuel pipe that should be connected to fuel pump had fallen off (all inside the petrol tank). It sorted by re-attaching the pipe with a new clip. Nice TMS chappie stayed late, identified the problem and fixed it (arm fully immersed in the full petrol tank).

It sounds very similar - if it's not completely sorted, get them to check this.

Rich

>> Edited by ricardo on Monday 22 March 12:22