Depressed - broke down again
Discussion
My Chimaera 500 has let me down again. I think this is 4 times in 5 months of ownership now. Had yet another overheating problem on the way to work that stranded me with 120+ degC showing on the gauge and steam billowing out from the bonnet vents (again).
So far in 5 months of ownership it has had a new otter switch, a new radiator, a "loose connection" found on the fans and also a fan override switch fitted. The latter was no good in this case as the fans wouldn't switch on even with the override (blown fuse to the fans, perhaps?)
Anyway, its on its way to Hawthorns on a recovery vehicle to be looked at under warranty (again), so I guess that's my TVR ownership suspended for a few weeks (again).
God, I'm depressed. :-(
Regards
Jon
So far in 5 months of ownership it has had a new otter switch, a new radiator, a "loose connection" found on the fans and also a fan override switch fitted. The latter was no good in this case as the fans wouldn't switch on even with the override (blown fuse to the fans, perhaps?)
Anyway, its on its way to Hawthorns on a recovery vehicle to be looked at under warranty (again), so I guess that's my TVR ownership suspended for a few weeks (again).
God, I'm depressed. :-(
Regards
Jon
Sorry to hear of your overheating problems. My 450 has boiled 3 or 4 times in traffic, particularly when hitting a motorway jam, but also once when chuffing around in a car park looking for a spot. Embarrassing or what!!! Have always been able to carry on after waiting for it to cool. Back to the dealers soon.
Boiling is my big worry... The cara is booked into Dave Batty's The Garage, in a couple of days to sort a few bits, clean + waxoil the chassis and install a fan overide switch !
Jon, I hope you get your beast back rapidly.
Rgds
Roms
Antigua Blue Chimaera 450
MCC Smart Passion Grey with Bungee Red interior ;o)
Jon, I hope you get your beast back rapidly.
Rgds
Roms
Antigua Blue Chimaera 450
MCC Smart Passion Grey with Bungee Red interior ;o)
Where did you break down?
I saw a red Chimaera parked up on the central reservation on the A33 south of the motorway junction Friday morning (about 9:30 am). Classic overheating territory - a big queue of traffic.
Might be worth checking out this thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=4887&f=9&h=0
Duncan
Edited by duncan m on Saturday 12th January 14:18
I saw a red Chimaera parked up on the central reservation on the A33 south of the motorway junction Friday morning (about 9:30 am). Classic overheating territory - a big queue of traffic.
Might be worth checking out this thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=4887&f=9&h=0
Duncan
Edited by duncan m on Saturday 12th January 14:18
quote:
My Chimaera 500 has let me down again. I think this is 4 times in 5 months of ownership now. Had yet another overheating problem on the way to work that stranded me with 120+ degC showing on the gauge and steam billowing out from the bonnet vents (again).
Consider getting your radiator flushed and descaled? Limescale and crud on the inside acts as an insulator.
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
While not wishing to cover ground that has no doubt been covered in numerous threads before but...why is it that so many of us suffer from engines that either overheat or get nine-tenths of the way there?
Is it something to do with the way the cars are maintained - I know Chimaeras / Griffs drink oil and water - are we just not keeping up on the daily checks?
Is it something fundamental in the design of the cooling system - the volume of water, the temp at which the fans come on (or don't), the power of the fans...etc?
Go on, please someone tell me
Duncan
Is it something to do with the way the cars are maintained - I know Chimaeras / Griffs drink oil and water - are we just not keeping up on the daily checks?
Is it something fundamental in the design of the cooling system - the volume of water, the temp at which the fans come on (or don't), the power of the fans...etc?
Go on, please someone tell me
Duncan
I don't think the Chimaeras are generally prone to overheating. OK, I have a 4.0 which runs a bit cooler than a 5.0 but even so. Compared to a Griff with its shoehorned, tilted rad the Chimaera's rad is upright and gets plenty of airflow.
The only two occasions I've ever had such a problem was a) in traffic when the otter switch (for the cooling fans) failed and b) after a long very high-speed run but with no splitter and a large number plate -- both since fixed.
If you've got a problem I'm sympathetic of course, but inclined to think it's specific not endemic.
-Manek-
The only two occasions I've ever had such a problem was a) in traffic when the otter switch (for the cooling fans) failed and b) after a long very high-speed run but with no splitter and a large number plate -- both since fixed.
If you've got a problem I'm sympathetic of course, but inclined to think it's specific not endemic.
-Manek-
It was mentioned that i have a two stage cooling system.
Iam afraid this would not cure any overheating problem. All it does is introduce half speed fans when under bonnet temps rise and if the full speed is required, switches to them. The full speed cut in is as standard otter.
David
Iam afraid this would not cure any overheating problem. All it does is introduce half speed fans when under bonnet temps rise and if the full speed is required, switches to them. The full speed cut in is as standard otter.
David
quote:
It was mentioned that i have a two stage cooling system.
Iam afraid this would not cure any overheating problem. All it does is introduce half speed fans when under bonnet temps rise and if the full speed is required, switches to them. The full speed cut in is as standard otter.
David
Don't have one of these but I guess there are several advantages: if the main otter switch fails you get half speed fans rather than nothing; going from half speed to full speed is less of an electrical jolt than from nothing to full speed, might reduce the number of blown fuses; it is a fine line between having just enough cooling and not quite enough, switching the fans on five minutes earlier could just give you the edge to keep on top of the heat. I'll get one of these one day, quite a few other jobs to sort out first though.
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
quote:
Is it something to do with the way the cars are maintained - I know Chimaeras / Griffs drink oil and water - are we just not keeping up on the daily checks?
I don't think so - most of us look after our cars like babies. There's nothing wrong with the Chimaera cooling system if everything is functioning as it should be. JonRB's problem is unlucky and it may be something simple - sounds like the car is fine otherwise. Hopefully it will be resolved for once and for all this time!
Chimaeras may use a drip or 3 of water but no more than other cars I've known. As for oil, if you don't rev it much (such as in this weather with slippery roads) then you'll not be using much of that either. Unless you're doing galactic mileages then I reckon a once-a-week check of fluids is OK. Obviously if you know its using oil/water at a faster rate then check more often.
In 4 years with my Chimaera I have had 1 failed otter switch - this was how it was when I got the car. Hit 120deg sitting in a jam on the M4 - I took the decision to drive down the sliproad (close to an exit anyway) and drive along the A4 instead to get some cool air into the engine. It would have boiled if I'd just sat on the hard shoulder. It worked, but I think I was lucky, something else could easily have been damaged. The car has survived some pretty hot temperatures in summertime France (3-4 times a year) and I know lots of others with no overheating problems.
Trefor/.
I agree with Manek. Given that the car is under warranty you'd think your dealer would make damn sure they fixed this once and for all. Must be costing them to keep tinkering with it. I'd be loosing my rag by now. Sure, there are several things that can go wrong with the cooling system, but its basically pretty bloody simple. Either the heat isn't getting carried to the rad, or the rad can't loose the heat to the air. Too little coolant circulation (could be volume of fluid or rate of circulation) or too little air flow through the rad. And how easy is it for them to test? Turn engine on and stand back. Maybe even shove a brick on the accelerator.
quote:I'm heading in that general direction, I must say, particularly since it is now Wednesday morning and I haven't heard anything about their investigative work that was "pencilled in" for "first thing" Monday morning. They've had the car since mid-morning last Friday, BTW.
I'd be loosing my rag by now.
I do object to having to phone them for a progress report. Or am I being unreasonable here?
You deserve a call. I hate it when dealers don't keep you in the loop. Is the warranty with the dealer or is it with a third party?
If third party then call Harry/Steve at Thames Valley Racetech - they can probably help out. They're based about 5 miles away from your office. They may even collect/deliver (I used to work in Dell - Network House and they did then). A lot of people on the list use them.
T/.
If third party then call Harry/Steve at Thames Valley Racetech - they can probably help out. They're based about 5 miles away from your office. They may even collect/deliver (I used to work in Dell - Network House and they did then). A lot of people on the list use them.
T/.
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