4.5 under dashboard switch
Discussion
Hi all,
First time poster, recent v.heavy consumer of the forum. I’ve recently received my dad’s 4.5 Cerbera after him owning it for about 17 years. I’d be interested to know if anyone here happened to be a previous owner (don’t know the protocol for sharing prior registration) and had any information.
It needs a little work, mostly on the interior I’m hoping as immediately visible - bolster repair, arm rest dent, but some paint stuff too. It has never been out in anything other than sun in his ownership so I’m (probably foolishly) hopeful the chassis is ok.
Anyway the particular immediate question I have is about a little toggle switch on the dash under the steering wheel. The old eBay printout for when he had the car suggests it had a red rose conversation but he / I’m not sure and he wasn’t sure what the switch did - it isn’t labelled.
If anyone has any advice it would be hugely helpful. I’d attach a picture but don’t think I can yet.
(This is a massively different car for me, I’m more of a M car / Porsche kind of guy normally!)
First time poster, recent v.heavy consumer of the forum. I’ve recently received my dad’s 4.5 Cerbera after him owning it for about 17 years. I’d be interested to know if anyone here happened to be a previous owner (don’t know the protocol for sharing prior registration) and had any information.
It needs a little work, mostly on the interior I’m hoping as immediately visible - bolster repair, arm rest dent, but some paint stuff too. It has never been out in anything other than sun in his ownership so I’m (probably foolishly) hopeful the chassis is ok.
Anyway the particular immediate question I have is about a little toggle switch on the dash under the steering wheel. The old eBay printout for when he had the car suggests it had a red rose conversation but he / I’m not sure and he wasn’t sure what the switch did - it isn’t labelled.
If anyone has any advice it would be hugely helpful. I’d attach a picture but don’t think I can yet.
(This is a massively different car for me, I’m more of a M car / Porsche kind of guy normally!)
parfy21 said:
Hi all,
First time poster, recent v.heavy consumer of the forum. I’ve recently received my dad’s 4.5 Cerbera after him owning it for about 17 years. I’d be interested to know if anyone here happened to be a previous owner (don’t know the protocol for sharing prior registration) and had any information.
It needs a little work, mostly on the interior I’m hoping as immediately visible - bolster repair, arm rest dent, but some paint stuff too. It has never been out in anything other than sun in his ownership so I’m (probably foolishly) hopeful the chassis is ok.
Anyway the particular immediate question I have is about a little toggle switch on the dash under the steering wheel. The old eBay printout for when he had the car suggests it had a red rose conversation but he / I’m not sure and he wasn’t sure what the switch did - it isn’t labelled.
If anyone has any advice it would be hugely helpful. I’d attach a picture but don’t think I can yet.
(This is a massively different car for me, I’m more of a M car / Porsche kind of guy normally!)
my old cerbera had one installed to turn the interior fan on, presumably the ribbon cable failed and was a quick fix. First time poster, recent v.heavy consumer of the forum. I’ve recently received my dad’s 4.5 Cerbera after him owning it for about 17 years. I’d be interested to know if anyone here happened to be a previous owner (don’t know the protocol for sharing prior registration) and had any information.
It needs a little work, mostly on the interior I’m hoping as immediately visible - bolster repair, arm rest dent, but some paint stuff too. It has never been out in anything other than sun in his ownership so I’m (probably foolishly) hopeful the chassis is ok.
Anyway the particular immediate question I have is about a little toggle switch on the dash under the steering wheel. The old eBay printout for when he had the car suggests it had a red rose conversation but he / I’m not sure and he wasn’t sure what the switch did - it isn’t labelled.
If anyone has any advice it would be hugely helpful. I’d attach a picture but don’t think I can yet.
(This is a massively different car for me, I’m more of a M car / Porsche kind of guy normally!)
Why don't you give it a flick!
Something added on. Perhaps turn the radiator fan on (or one of them?)
Photos might help. What colour is the car, got any photos of it, oh and whereabouts in the UK/world are you? Might be an owner local who could run you through things
Welcome anyway - oh and don't touch the silver key
Photos might help. What colour is the car, got any photos of it, oh and whereabouts in the UK/world are you? Might be an owner local who could run you through things
Welcome anyway - oh and don't touch the silver key
Edited by Byker28i on Monday 5th August 13:59
Byker28i said:
Something added on. Perhaps turn the radiator fan on (or one of them?)
Photos might help. What colour is the car, got any photos of it, oh and whereabouts in the UK/world are you? Might be an owner local who could run you through things
Welcome anyway - oh and don't touch the silver key
According to the order details it is camel yellow, although that would be a darker / duller yellow than it is. I’d add a picture but it isn’t letting me yet and I can’t share links either. Photos might help. What colour is the car, got any photos of it, oh and whereabouts in the UK/world are you? Might be an owner local who could run you through things
Welcome anyway - oh and don't touch the silver key
Edited by Byker28i on Monday 5th August 13:59
I’m in South Wales, not far from Cowbridge - I think broadly im ok with the car and everything works as it should apart from this switch. I was wondering if it was a red rose conversion that had been done so it was to switch RON ratings (could be talking nonsense here..!) but i would know which way was which as it isn’t labelled.
That silver key - in what scenario would you actually use it? I guess if you were slightly worried about it or leaving it for a long time maybe?
Silver key. Just leave it alone.
Is the switch on the left side of the steering column? If so, it probably turns the dash lights on and off when the side/headlights are on.
Red Rose buttons tended to be on the side of the centre console by the gearstick, driver's side. Or at least all the ones I've seen were there.
Is the switch on the left side of the steering column? If so, it probably turns the dash lights on and off when the side/headlights are on.
Red Rose buttons tended to be on the side of the centre console by the gearstick, driver's side. Or at least all the ones I've seen were there.
It is the "Ignition Failsafe Key"...
M
The Manual said:
Please note: This key overrides all normal operation of the electronic immobiliser, and the vehicle will be inoperable unless this key is inserted. It is not essential to remove this key to immobilise the vehicle.
It's probably through lack of use but there have been numerous examples of people turning this key, only to find the vehicle remains immobilised. The Manual said:
Under normal conditions please leave this switch turned to ON even on leaving the vehicle.
You have been warned. M
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Silver key. Just leave it alone.
Is the switch on the left side of the steering column? If so, it probably turns the dash lights on and off when the side/headlights are on.
Red Rose buttons tended to be on the side of the centre console by the gearstick, driver's side. Or at least all the ones I've seen were there.
Right, near your right knee as you sit in the car. I can't see any discernible use to it in terms of lights / fans etc - doesn't have any impact. The RR thing is only in my head (as an aftermarket thing not from the factory) as the ebay listing from back in 2007 said "redrose conversation puts up 430BHP" for what that is worth anyway Is the switch on the left side of the steering column? If so, it probably turns the dash lights on and off when the side/headlights are on.
Red Rose buttons tended to be on the side of the centre console by the gearstick, driver's side. Or at least all the ones I've seen were there.
. When my dad got it, he picked it up from Edinburgh - so if anyone knows someone who owned a bright yellow 4.5 from up that way 2006 time let me know!
Byker28i said:
Something added on. Perhaps turn the radiator fan on (or one of them?)
Photos might help. What colour is the car, got any photos of it, oh and whereabouts in the UK/world are you? Might be an owner local who could run you through things
Welcome anyway - oh and don't touch the silver key
I was being stupid and it does seem to turn what I’m guessing is a radiator fan on. I’ve never had a car that needed that, and this next question is going to make me sound stupid, but why would I want to use that? I’m assuming if stationary too long, or pushing the car too hard?Photos might help. What colour is the car, got any photos of it, oh and whereabouts in the UK/world are you? Might be an owner local who could run you through things
Welcome anyway - oh and don't touch the silver key
Edited by Byker28i on Monday 5th August 13:59
Cerbs (and TVRs in general) have marginal cooling in my experience. If the cooling system is not bang on the money, they do tend to overheat. Normally back in the day, there was an otter switch on the radiator that set one fan going at 85° and the other at 90°. The reason for staggering was so the load didn't cause too much of a sudden load on the electrics. A lot of people had an override switch fitted because, well, they didn't trust the fans to cut in on time and for peace of mind.
Unlike most cars, there is no engine-driven fan, so the cooling is reliant on the temp sensor and electrics. Some people fit an override switch for peace of mind.
Note that you need to be doing at least 40mph or so for enough air to be forced through the rad sans fan, at least for cars with a/c which have a dirty great condensor in front of the rad
.
Congratulations on becoming a Cerbera owner/home mechanic
Note that you need to be doing at least 40mph or so for enough air to be forced through the rad sans fan, at least for cars with a/c which have a dirty great condensor in front of the rad
.Congratulations on becoming a Cerbera owner/home mechanic
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Cerbs (and TVRs in general) have marginal cooling in my experience. If the cooling system is not bang on the money, they do tend to overheat. Normally back in the day, there was an otter switch on the radiator that set one fan going at 85° and the other at 90°. The reason for staggering was so the load didn't cause too much of a sudden load on the electrics. A lot of people had an override switch fitted because, well, they didn't trust the fans to cut in on time and for peace of mind.
So, maybe in your experience but not in mine, but then I had my radiator rebuilt shortly after I bought it and now have an alloy one as it worked out about the same cost as getting mine rebuilt again.I believe originally the big fan came on at 95 and the second smaller one (if you have aircon) at 100. Joolz when mapping the systems also included the fans coming on earlier, at 90 and 95. The fans are turned on via the ECU. The diagnostics show whats going on, worth getting a copy of one of the various flavours. There's a windows or an android version.
Issues with the cooling system tend to be the fans not coming on due to dirty connectors as they sit at the front exposed and aren't environment protected.
Mine happily will sit in hot weather in traffic. Point to note here is that you need to use the throttle to up the revs a little (1200 plus) to get full output from the alternator to fully power the fans.
As pointed out, about 40mph and above cools the car fine on a run
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