First TVR... Power issues

First TVR... Power issues

Author
Discussion

Stokebloke1

Original Poster:

16 posts

15 months

Tuesday 9th January 2024
quotequote all
Hi guys,

As the title states i've recently bought a Chimaera 1993 4.3 Model.

It is a bit rough around the edges but all in all I love it.

Managed to get her through it's MOT in December and have been enjoying a few blasts about in her.

Unfortunately i've now lost all power to the dash, dials and push button ignition.

The issues started when I put the blower on, i could see it was dropping volts on the dial but not actually blowing, then everything went.

Managed to get the car home, but nothing from the ignition button.

Looking through the forum i'm reading about 100amp fuses and ignition relays???

Any advice would be a huge help, i really need to get it moving again.

KugaWestie

127 posts

103 months

Tuesday 9th January 2024
quotequote all
Have you checked all your fuses in the passenger footwell?

PabloGee

543 posts

32 months

Tuesday 9th January 2024
quotequote all
The 100amp fuse is under the car, mine is mounted just in front of the starter motor on the fat cable that goes to the alternator from the starter motor.

They cost pennies, so you might as well to eliminate the concern.

There's also a 70 or 80A fuse from the battery to the fuse board (and everything else thereafter), you'll find it above the battery (in the passenger footwell) on the red cable to the positive connection that then splits to two brown cables.

But maybe before that, get some spade fuses from wherever, and do some swaps on the fuse board - also above the battery.
Awkward to get to, but not complicated.
You'll find the layout of the fuseboard via google if you don't have the user manual.

Stokebloke1

Original Poster:

16 posts

15 months

Tuesday 9th January 2024
quotequote all
My battery has been moved to the boot, i'll start checking the fuses tonight.

Also, to confirm, a 93 4.3 will have the 100amp fuse where you stated??

Thanks again

Zeb74

415 posts

141 months

Tuesday 9th January 2024
quotequote all
I think that pre-serp cars do not have the main fuse on the chassis, so check but don't spend hours, it could be that none are located there.
And stupid question, have you checked your battery?


Stokebloke1

Original Poster:

16 posts

15 months

Tuesday 9th January 2024
quotequote all
Thanks...

Yes, the battery had just come off a full charge, all lights/horn etc working fine... Just nothing on the dash and wont turn over from the Ignition switch..

sixor8

6,864 posts

280 months

Tuesday 9th January 2024
quotequote all
Is the ignition button to start the car? The 'push button' start could be an issue. This is aftermarket, since all RV8 engine TVRs start on a turn of the key. The wiring would need a good check. frown

PabloGee

543 posts

32 months

Tuesday 9th January 2024
quotequote all
Very good point on the 100A fuse, not sure about the 93, mine's a late 95.

Have you contacted the previous owner? I have had a few chats with the guy who used to own mine, though to be honest my own research and digging around has served me best.

Let us know what you find. There are some much more knowledgeable folk on here who might be able to help. It's unlikely that you won't be able to solve it.

Belle427

10,219 posts

245 months

Tuesday 9th January 2024
quotequote all
Check the basics first such as battery connections etc and then have a look in the passenger footwell for any poor or loose connections.
Try to identify where the start button has been fed from and you may uncover something.

pmc_3

137 posts

200 months

Wednesday 10th January 2024
quotequote all
There is a shared fuse for the heater and the gauges so you might have popped that one, it's a 15A one from memory. Mine popped when the blower motor was seized and I tried turning it on. Wouldn't explain why it won't turn over though.

Stokebloke1

Original Poster:

16 posts

15 months

Wednesday 10th January 2024
quotequote all
@PMC...

That sound like mine..

Where is the fuse located??

PabloGee

543 posts

32 months

Wednesday 10th January 2024
quotequote all
Forgive me if you know this:

Look at the deep end of the passenger footwell, there's a panel there probably with a small hole at the top.
Put your finger through that hole and pull it towards you, it should just come out.
Behind there you'll find a comedy nest of wires sitting on top of a box with the battery in it.
Jammed down the side of the battery box should be a black metal case - that's the car ECU, a very important object that looks like an afterthought.
Carefully pull those wires into the footwell (there's enough there to get it 99% out)
Beyond that, as far as the cavity goes is the fuse board with square block relays and a row of 21 or so fuses.

If you don't have the original handbook, there are plenty of threads about the contents of that fuse board on here, but to save you digging, here's an image that might get you started (earlier cars may differ)




and this thread for example:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by PabloGee on Wednesday 10th January 16:41

Stokebloke1

Original Poster:

16 posts

15 months

Wednesday 10th January 2024
quotequote all
Pablo,

Thats awesome, thankyou..

QBee

21,601 posts

156 months

Wednesday 10th January 2024
quotequote all
My distant memory of this kind of fault, is if you have things like lights and horn working, but not the rest, then it is something that is ignition switch related. That 80 amp fuse in the wire nest in the passenger footwell is ringing a distant bell with me, I think it protects the ignition switch side of the car, and it may have been blown if the blower motor is siezing and drawing too much current.
That fuse is in a holder in the long tangle of wires that has several relays hanging off it, IIRC

Using the search, I found this;

"Hi,

Found the fault to be to be a blown 80amp strip fuse with a slightly melted casing. It comes of the positive terminal on the battery on a pair of brown wires about 6 inches long.

I'll order some new ones and see how I get on.

Just some quick questions:

Why has this fuse blown?
Could the heater fan on full power have over loaded the system?
I know it shouldn't have, but these cars seem to have thier own rules
(I had stereo and lights on as well)."

This is what it looks like:



The person who took this has tidies things up I think. It should be connected to the positive battery terminal, and will still most likely be in the fotwell, even if the battery has been moved to the boot

PabloGee

543 posts

32 months

Wednesday 10th January 2024
quotequote all
I believe that 80A fuse protects a lot more than the ignition, so I'd start with the fuses on the board (standard blade fuses you'll buy from many places including Screwfix, Euro Car Parts, Halfords etc)

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/streetwize-120pcs-z...

The 80A strip fuse is also a cheap item, first link I found, can probably get it cheaper.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295893035824?chn=ps&amp...

Belle427

10,219 posts

245 months

Thursday 11th January 2024
quotequote all
Called midi link fuses they are worth changing if they are original, both the 80 amp inside and 100 amp on the chassis if your car has it.
Im not sure if the type with plastic body are more robust but most use those.

pmc_3

137 posts

200 months

Friday 12th January 2024
quotequote all
Stokebloke1 said:
@PMC...

That sound like mine..

Where is the fuse located??
Different ages of cars have different fuse box layouts. This is the layout in my 94 Chimaera

Stokebloke1

Original Poster:

16 posts

15 months

Wednesday 24th January 2024
quotequote all
Hi guys, I can’t find the fuse box…

This is the footwell.


sixor8

6,864 posts

280 months

Wednesday 24th January 2024
quotequote all
If the fusebox has been moved, it may be behind the flap that is behind the passenger seat. If not, perhaps in the boot?

Belle427

10,219 posts

245 months

Thursday 25th January 2024
quotequote all
Looks like you have a Megasquirt conversion there, hard to tell from the photos but the fusebox usually lives roughly where that Ecu is, just check its not above it.
As suggested check behind both seats too in the compartments.
Looks a right mess that!