New to the TVR S Series
Discussion
Hi All,
My Dad has recently been looking at buying a TVR S1, after looking for a few months he finally bit the bullet and purchased one. This has had a body off restoration but still has a few small issues.
I am wondering whether you would be able to point us in the right direction?
1. There is a misfire when the car reaches approximately 30 mph. We have had someone look at this and they believe this to be a faulty HT Lead as there is a slight ticking noise.
2. When we turn the ignition, the cooling fan starts, this runs constantly and doesn't allow the car to reach temperature. I have had a look on other feeds and the most common answer is an 'Otter Switch' is there anything else we should be looking at to test this?
3. On the passenger side of the car under the carpet, there is some dampness. I know there could be a long list of causes for this but has anyone else had this problem and resolved it?
Thank you and sorry for the mammoth first post.
Rus
My Dad has recently been looking at buying a TVR S1, after looking for a few months he finally bit the bullet and purchased one. This has had a body off restoration but still has a few small issues.
I am wondering whether you would be able to point us in the right direction?
1. There is a misfire when the car reaches approximately 30 mph. We have had someone look at this and they believe this to be a faulty HT Lead as there is a slight ticking noise.
2. When we turn the ignition, the cooling fan starts, this runs constantly and doesn't allow the car to reach temperature. I have had a look on other feeds and the most common answer is an 'Otter Switch' is there anything else we should be looking at to test this?
3. On the passenger side of the car under the carpet, there is some dampness. I know there could be a long list of causes for this but has anyone else had this problem and resolved it?
Thank you and sorry for the mammoth first post.
Rus
1. ticking would be a lead shorting out, try running the engine in the dark and look for a spark.
2.Otter switch could be faulty and previous owner has by-passed it or they may have fitted a by-pass switch somewhere and not told you ?
3. Get inside the car, maybe with a torch, and get someone to "make rain" with a hose pipe, see if you can see it coming in anywhere? Don't blast the car directly, it will leak then, but spray hose up in the air so water falls downward like rain would.
Under the bonnet there is a big grommet where a lot of wiring passes into the car (near screenwash bottle), wiring loom is neither round nor a good fit in the grommet and usually sealed (or not) with a dollop of something gooey.
Mine has two grommets in each footwell (handy for draining water back out), if missing water will get in when driving in rain.
Good luck
2.Otter switch could be faulty and previous owner has by-passed it or they may have fitted a by-pass switch somewhere and not told you ?
3. Get inside the car, maybe with a torch, and get someone to "make rain" with a hose pipe, see if you can see it coming in anywhere? Don't blast the car directly, it will leak then, but spray hose up in the air so water falls downward like rain would.
Under the bonnet there is a big grommet where a lot of wiring passes into the car (near screenwash bottle), wiring loom is neither round nor a good fit in the grommet and usually sealed (or not) with a dollop of something gooey.
Mine has two grommets in each footwell (handy for draining water back out), if missing water will get in when driving in rain.
Good luck

MrRussells said:
Do you know whether it is possible to purchase the pegs for the Targa Roof?
Find the "useful links" wiki, about fourth one down at top of this forum.Under owners blogs and stuff look for Mep12345 (gbsportscar.com)
There you'll find a very useful article about how to change them. Mentions TVR car parts as a supplier, they are now no more but a lot of their stock was bought by David Gerald TVR
Shouldn't the fan circuit be energized even when the key is off? It sounds like more than just the otter switch, maybe someone 'fixed' the cooling problem by having the fan run at all times that the ignition is on?
I had a misfire that sounds similar to yours on my S1. I did a lot of things, but in the end I think the main issue was the distributor cap/rotor arm.
My car leaks so badly that I have to keep it out of the rain as much as possible. When forced to leave it out overnight in a downpour, water passed between the door wiper seal and the glass, out of the holes in the door bottom, then rather than going out, it came over the aperture seal and flooded the passenger floor.
David
I had a misfire that sounds similar to yours on my S1. I did a lot of things, but in the end I think the main issue was the distributor cap/rotor arm.
My car leaks so badly that I have to keep it out of the rain as much as possible. When forced to leave it out overnight in a downpour, water passed between the door wiper seal and the glass, out of the holes in the door bottom, then rather than going out, it came over the aperture seal and flooded the passenger floor.
David
Looks like someone has cherished the car - upgraded headlights and side mirrors that actually work.
With regards to the misfire its often in my view easier just to change plugs leads rotor arm and diz cap.
Look at plugs if one is different to the rest theres the cylinder that had the problem.
With regards to the misfire its often in my view easier just to change plugs leads rotor arm and diz cap.
Look at plugs if one is different to the rest theres the cylinder that had the problem.
Edited by Barkychoc on Monday 29th April 22:25
Loach1 said:
Shouldn't the fan circuit be energized even when the key is off? It sounds like more than just the otter switch, maybe someone 'fixed' the cooling problem by having the fan run at all times that the ignition is on?
I had a misfire that sounds similar to yours on my S1. I did a lot of things, but in the end I think the main issue was the distributor cap/rotor arm.
My car leaks so badly that I have to keep it out of the rain as much as possible. When forced to leave it out overnight in a downpour, water passed between the door wiper seal and the glass, out of the holes in the door bottom, then rather than going out, it came over the aperture seal and flooded the passenger floor.
David
I haver a fans override switch fitted to my car, but the fan always goes off with ignition which is a worry when it's hot...I had a misfire that sounds similar to yours on my S1. I did a lot of things, but in the end I think the main issue was the distributor cap/rotor arm.
My car leaks so badly that I have to keep it out of the rain as much as possible. When forced to leave it out overnight in a downpour, water passed between the door wiper seal and the glass, out of the holes in the door bottom, then rather than going out, it came over the aperture seal and flooded the passenger floor.
David
Hi All.
Thank you for all getting back so quickly. I can see if we ever have an issue there is a wealth of knowledge on this forum. We have seen a few posts about the Essex Meet and plan on going along to one soon.
I have contacted TVR Parts and they have confirmed that they have these pegs in stock so I will be placing an order for them. With regards to the fan, I have had a look around for a switch but can not see anything obvious. Is there normally a common place for these to be fitted. I know there is a Cold Start button that has been fitted.
I was aware that the S1 had MX5 Wing Mirrors fitted however did not know the lights had been upgraded. Is there much difference from the originals?
Kind Regards
Russ
Thank you for all getting back so quickly. I can see if we ever have an issue there is a wealth of knowledge on this forum. We have seen a few posts about the Essex Meet and plan on going along to one soon.
I have contacted TVR Parts and they have confirmed that they have these pegs in stock so I will be placing an order for them. With regards to the fan, I have had a look around for a switch but can not see anything obvious. Is there normally a common place for these to be fitted. I know there is a Cold Start button that has been fitted.
I was aware that the S1 had MX5 Wing Mirrors fitted however did not know the lights had been upgraded. Is there much difference from the originals?
Kind Regards
Russ
I had a tricky to solve leak (into footwell) on my V8S. Water was running off the bonnet, above where the door hinges. It then dripped from the bonnet onto the flat, top front edge of the door where the hinge is mounted. This part of the door is angled inward to encourage water to run off, and around the door seal. The problem was that the door seal was puckered where it bent at tight angles around the door frame. The water was able to seep under and around the door seal and drop directly onto the carpet beneath.
Solved this problem by filling the gaps where the door seal was puckered with silicon sealer. I also put a small bead of sealer along the edge of the top of the door body to redirect the water away from the puckered area of door seal. I suppose an easier fix would be to buy a new length of door seal!
Steve
Solved this problem by filling the gaps where the door seal was puckered with silicon sealer. I also put a small bead of sealer along the edge of the top of the door body to redirect the water away from the puckered area of door seal. I suppose an easier fix would be to buy a new length of door seal!
Steve
Hi Russ,
On my early S1 the otter switch is positioned on the top RH side of the radiator, held in place with a special clip.
On later cars, it is usually attached to the coolant pipe between the radiator & the swirl pot, either a clip-on type or screw in.
It has two electrical spade terminals.
Water leaks pretty much come as standard & are difficult to eliminate completely.
If your Dad's S lives outside, I strongly recommend a Leven car hood cover which is tailored for the S, and keeps out 100% of the rain. I've tried a few covers, this is the best, nor cheap but worth every penny.
HTH,
Glen
On my early S1 the otter switch is positioned on the top RH side of the radiator, held in place with a special clip.
On later cars, it is usually attached to the coolant pipe between the radiator & the swirl pot, either a clip-on type or screw in.
It has two electrical spade terminals.
Water leaks pretty much come as standard & are difficult to eliminate completely.
If your Dad's S lives outside, I strongly recommend a Leven car hood cover which is tailored for the S, and keeps out 100% of the rain. I've tried a few covers, this is the best, nor cheap but worth every penny.
HTH,
Glen
Hi All,
Thank you for all the reply's after having a look, the override switch for the fan as located. Do you know if this is a common thing to be done or should we investigate into why this switch has been put in place?
Sorry for all the questions, just unsure whether there are more pro's for having this switch.
Kind Regards
Russ
Thank you for all the reply's after having a look, the override switch for the fan as located. Do you know if this is a common thing to be done or should we investigate into why this switch has been put in place?
Sorry for all the questions, just unsure whether there are more pro's for having this switch.
Kind Regards
Russ
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