First TVR... Power issues
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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&...
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
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
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
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&...
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&...
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