picked up sat am. overheated pm!
Discussion
the deed is done. I collected my 93L Griff 500 on Saturday morning, and had a (nearly) fantastic weekend of careering around the place. It was great (and I mean GREAT) going down the M1 then M4, but after sitting in traffic for no more than 2 minutes in W.London, the temp guage went from just below the ideal temp marker, and soared into the red. I had about 1 mile to go, so sat there for a bit longer (maybe 1 minute?), nudging along in 1st / 2nd, until a little steam started coming up through the bonnet. I immediatley pulled over, and switched off. I opened the bonnet (hey, nifty runners!) and there was a lot of steam coming form the top of the expansion tank, and there was a bit coming from the fans at the front. I sat there for 25 mins or so as it gradually sent out less and less steam, then checked the level of coolant in the expansion tank - there was about 3 or 4 inches space at the top. I switched on again - all seemed fine - and limped the remaining couple of miles. Temperature started rising quite quickly though. An hour or so later, I started the car again, and drove maybe 2 miles through traffic, and exactly the same thing happened (but right outside Bluebird on the Kings Road...quite embarrassing). Parked the car round the corner overnight, and when I drove back north last night (left it late so there wouldn't be much traffic) it got very hot very quickly. Cue the same routine all over agin, but I noticed it earlier this time, so minimal steam. Once on the M-way, temp dropped down to normal all the way home. I stopped at services for some petrol and when i turned the car on again, the temp went straight into the red - but this dropped as soon as I got onto the slip road.
Am worried that I could have a major problem (have read loads of past threads about overheating), but it seems likely that the fans aren't kicking in (couldn't hear them particularly). 2 questions chaps:
1) Should I expect the garage to fix the car for me f.o.c seeing as I had only covered 50 odd miles since purchase?
2) If not, how much will it cost for a specialist to diagnose the problem and fix it for me?
And another thing, how do you put the front spots on? Should they come on automatically with the headlights? The instruction manual brilliantly fails to mention them. There is a switch immediately to the left of the sidelights and headlight switches that appears to do nothing - is this it?
Apart from that, it was great! Roof off on Saturday, and smiles and waves from everyone - definitely gets more attention than the Chimaera in my opinion.
Bouffy
Am worried that I could have a major problem (have read loads of past threads about overheating), but it seems likely that the fans aren't kicking in (couldn't hear them particularly). 2 questions chaps:
1) Should I expect the garage to fix the car for me f.o.c seeing as I had only covered 50 odd miles since purchase?
2) If not, how much will it cost for a specialist to diagnose the problem and fix it for me?
And another thing, how do you put the front spots on? Should they come on automatically with the headlights? The instruction manual brilliantly fails to mention them. There is a switch immediately to the left of the sidelights and headlight switches that appears to do nothing - is this it?
Apart from that, it was great! Roof off on Saturday, and smiles and waves from everyone - definitely gets more attention than the Chimaera in my opinion.
Bouffy
It definitely sounds like your fans aren't coming on. Fire up the engine with the car stationary, and watch as the temperature rises. The fans should come on long before the gauge reaches the red - mine kick in almost immediately if I hit traffic after a long run.
The problem's only likely to be a fuse, relay, or the otter switch. The otter switch should be at the bottom of the expansion tank, or on the radiator somewhere, and has a two-wire connection. Short the terminals while the ignition's on - if the fan comes on, the problem's the otter switch. If it doesn't, the problem could be a fuse or relay. Early Griff 500s were famed for blowing their weedy 25A fan fuses. Regardless, I'd get your garage to sort it out if the car is a recent purchase.
The front "spots" are in fact the main beam lights (the ones under the perspex are dipped beam only). They'll come on when you push the lighting stalk forward for main beam!
The switch next to the side and dipped beam switches is for the rear fog lamps. IIRC they only work when the dipped beams are on.
Good luck with the overheating, and congrats on the purchase!
Cheers,
Pete
The problem's only likely to be a fuse, relay, or the otter switch. The otter switch should be at the bottom of the expansion tank, or on the radiator somewhere, and has a two-wire connection. Short the terminals while the ignition's on - if the fan comes on, the problem's the otter switch. If it doesn't, the problem could be a fuse or relay. Early Griff 500s were famed for blowing their weedy 25A fan fuses. Regardless, I'd get your garage to sort it out if the car is a recent purchase.
The front "spots" are in fact the main beam lights (the ones under the perspex are dipped beam only). They'll come on when you push the lighting stalk forward for main beam!
The switch next to the side and dipped beam switches is for the rear fog lamps. IIRC they only work when the dipped beams are on.
Good luck with the overheating, and congrats on the purchase!
Cheers,
Pete
good man pete - you've reassured me. I'll speak to the garage tomorrow morning, and talk them through it. Presumably fixing it won't take more than a day or so? I'll have a dig around tonight, start her up and do what you suggested. God, the neighbours are going to love me!
And thanks for 'throwing light' on the front 'spots' / fog light issue. I did feel like a bit of an idiot asking that, but i just couldn't work it out...
Apart from this minor drama, it was pretty fantastic hooning around in it. I filled up for petrol twice (the first time I'd forgotten my wallet and only had £7 in loose change), and both petrol station people spoke to me about the car.
"It's alright for some"
&
"That's nice. What is it?" (girl asked that)
I can't get over how much more mid-range beef there is than in my 4.0 chimaera. Having read literally 100s of threads about the diffence between the 2, I didn't expect there to be such a difference, but there really is. And it's pretty effortless as well - even accelerating in gear is damned quick. I love it. I can't believe it's taken me so long to get one - but that hood is bl**dy annoying. I suppose you get used to it..?!
Bouffy
And thanks for 'throwing light' on the front 'spots' / fog light issue. I did feel like a bit of an idiot asking that, but i just couldn't work it out...
Apart from this minor drama, it was pretty fantastic hooning around in it. I filled up for petrol twice (the first time I'd forgotten my wallet and only had £7 in loose change), and both petrol station people spoke to me about the car.
"It's alright for some"
&
"That's nice. What is it?" (girl asked that)
I can't get over how much more mid-range beef there is than in my 4.0 chimaera. Having read literally 100s of threads about the diffence between the 2, I didn't expect there to be such a difference, but there really is. And it's pretty effortless as well - even accelerating in gear is damned quick. I love it. I can't believe it's taken me so long to get one - but that hood is bl**dy annoying. I suppose you get used to it..?!
Bouffy
Make sure the garage check that the rad isn't blocked in the core,I had similar overheating problems when I bought mine checked the usual stuff fans otter switch etc even removed the stat with no joy,then noticed a slight leak lower N/S corner of the rad,had the rad recored (with an extra row in the core)now it stays between 80-90 regardless of traffic jams and ambient temps.When the rad was serviced they found the core over a 1/3 blocked with Rad weld.If the electrics prove to be OK check the rad.
Hi Bouffy.Nice to hear some enjoying their Griff with the "I can't help the silly grin factor" whilst driving the beast.Sorry to read about the overheating snag but whilst the Griff is in the garage ask them to fit a fan over ride switch so that you can turn on and off the rad fans when ever you are in slow moving traffic.Sould cost about £25-£35 fitted. 
I thought the general idea if the car is overheating, is to fix the problem. Not to add a fan overide switch.
I've had 2 griffs and they would both sit quite happily in traffic on the hottest day, and not go over an indicated 90 on the gauge. Most cars sit an an operating temp of 90 (my wifes 406 coupe for example)and no gets remotely stressed by it.
The griff 500 cooling system works fine, if everything is ok (I've had one otter switch go, shorted it to get home, replace switch)
B
I've had 2 griffs and they would both sit quite happily in traffic on the hottest day, and not go over an indicated 90 on the gauge. Most cars sit an an operating temp of 90 (my wifes 406 coupe for example)and no gets remotely stressed by it.
The griff 500 cooling system works fine, if everything is ok (I've had one otter switch go, shorted it to get home, replace switch)
B
Bouffy,
Did you buy it from a Trevor dealer? The most common problem with the Griff o'heat problem is 'air locking'.
Unless the person who dealt with the prob. knows the quirk, you'll be adding water to the top up tank untill the cows come home but you will not cure the prob.
If you choose to tackle the thing yourself, I'll gladly talk you through it
Mav
Did you buy it from a Trevor dealer? The most common problem with the Griff o'heat problem is 'air locking'.
Unless the person who dealt with the prob. knows the quirk, you'll be adding water to the top up tank untill the cows come home but you will not cure the prob.
If you choose to tackle the thing yourself, I'll gladly talk you through it
Mav
I'd agree with that. The hottest my Griff has been was sat in traffic in Reims (bloody hot day), a couple of years ago, sat at 95 deg for ages but soon cooled down on the move. The 500 double fan system is pretty well sorted - I have a mod-wise 2 stage fan installed sinmply to keep the "under bonnet" temp down a bit in summer as much as anything to keep the cockpit cooler, not because I worry about overheating. Rich...
thanks chaps - left the car running last night, and the fans definitely aren't coming on. Being a electrical disaster zone (once electrocuted myself strimming a hedge, and again changing a light switch at uni), I think I'll leave the exact diagnosis to the experts, but it seems likely to be otter switch or fuse. I bought it from a TVR specialist, so they should get to the bottom of it pretty quickly.
Mixed views on the over ride switch - some say it's a good thing, some say it's not needed. For the price mentioned, it seems like it's worth doing for the peace of mind...must admit that I'm tempted. What do you think?
And yes, I still have the grin left over from the weekend. I smoke al my ciggies near the garage now - just so that I can gawp at the car. Sad I know, but I'm guessing that you lot are in a similar boat!
Bouffy
Mixed views on the over ride switch - some say it's a good thing, some say it's not needed. For the price mentioned, it seems like it's worth doing for the peace of mind...must admit that I'm tempted. What do you think?
And yes, I still have the grin left over from the weekend. I smoke al my ciggies near the garage now - just so that I can gawp at the car. Sad I know, but I'm guessing that you lot are in a similar boat!
Bouffy
Whilst I agree that when the cooling system is set up and working correctly you do not need an override switch. I would still recommend having one fitted as a confidence boost and for use when stopped in heavy traffic. This prevents the fans cutting in and out constantly switching all that current through the relays and fuses. On my Griff if you time it wrong and set off just as the fans cut in the sudden power surge causes an engine hick-up and an embarrassing Kangaroo moment.
Cheers,
Simon.
Cheers,
Simon.
Sorry Bjwoods but fan over ride switch is NOT the solution BUT an after thought. ONLY TRYING TO HELP!!!! 
You must be Mr Bloody wonderful to own 2 Griffs and not have one of them over heat!!!
Don't get stressed 'Just Trouble', not having a dig, I was just emphasising what a lot of threads have said in the past, that if the cooling system is fully sorted, there is no need for it. i.e. in the past their seens to ne theassumption that the cooling system was notup to the job (not true)
Peace of mind perhaps, but I personally expect/treat my griffs to behave like any other car and not be too precious with it, driving them keeps them working not sitting in a garage, which seems to be the cause of lots of the common problems.
Just enjoy
B
Peace of mind perhaps, but I personally expect/treat my griffs to behave like any other car and not be too precious with it, driving them keeps them working not sitting in a garage, which seems to be the cause of lots of the common problems.
Just enjoy
B
Jeez Just Trouble, are your anal warts playing you up today? The guy was only offering an opinion and you launch into finger wagging picture mode ... chill out. I had an overide switch in my Chimaera, and yes the fans would cut in at 90, but if I hit backed up traffic I'd switch the fans on rather than wait five minutes for the inevitable will they/won't they worry. Peace of mind mate ... cheap at half the price.
well, I've spoken to my man and he's doing the override switch for me. I'd rather have it for the peace of mind, knowing that on a hot sunny day in traffic, I can switch the fans on a little earlier than wait for them to start up automatically. I agree that the standard stuff should be sufficient, but these aren't ultra-perfect, ultra boring beemers we're talking about.
I can't wait to get the car back - it overheated within 5 minutes (2miles) of starting up last night...not good. I took it over to the specialist last night and will probably pick it up on Saturday morning. Roll on the sunshine!
Bouffy
I can't wait to get the car back - it overheated within 5 minutes (2miles) of starting up last night...not good. I took it over to the specialist last night and will probably pick it up on Saturday morning. Roll on the sunshine!
Bouffy
'You must be Mr Bloody wonderful to own 2 Griffs and not have one of them over heat!!!'
Same here, two Griffs (4.0 and 500) and no overheating problems. Normally about 70 cruising in cool/cold weather, 80 in summer. Goes up in traffic, fans cut in around 90, temp comes down a bit, then you move off and it's OK. From what I read, most problems are casued by fans not cutting in for various reasons, usually a fuse. Mind you I don't spend hours stuck in traffic - doubtless an M25 extra-thick jam might push it a bit.
Same here, two Griffs (4.0 and 500) and no overheating problems. Normally about 70 cruising in cool/cold weather, 80 in summer. Goes up in traffic, fans cut in around 90, temp comes down a bit, then you move off and it's OK. From what I read, most problems are casued by fans not cutting in for various reasons, usually a fuse. Mind you I don't spend hours stuck in traffic - doubtless an M25 extra-thick jam might push it a bit.
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