Slightly Embarrassing ...

[pepsi_x]

I've always been quite defensive about TVR's to non-TVR people, who hold the opinion of "they break down lots", "they're unreliable", "they leak" etc etc.. especially since I've had no problems with mine for 4 years.

Yet isn't it always the way... I'm explaining just how reliable these cars can be, and that a lot of the critisism is unfair to a friend whilst in a queue for the car park in Brighton. After 45 mins in the queue, the temp has crept up to 95 and the nice copper asks me to stop my engine and open the boot and bonnet for a quick search (its the Labour Party Conference of course...)

No probs I'm thinking, one quick search later and I'm allowed to continue, only....nothing happens when you try and start it....no click, no turn over...nothing!

HOW EMBARRASSING....and the slightly smug look on my passengers face says it all, not the mention the coppers "TVR, very nice sir, fast but fragile eh!" comment..grrrrrr!

I assume I've over heated since 15 mins later the car starts no problem.

Still, the nice copper who's obviously into TVR's keeps me company and fends off the ever increasing number of other cops asking why I'm parked there and what exactly do I think I'm doing! lol...

Anyway, this has happened only twice now in the 4 years I've owned the car, so is this a classic hotstart problem? And if so, is there any solution?

Cheers
Jx

[Big Al.]

Do a search in either the Chim or Griff forums quoting "hot start"

When I happened to me with the Chim I had the Starter motor replaced, which solved the problem.

[Wildfire]

There is a classic hot start problem and as Al said search the forums and you'll find a plethora of topics.

I do the same, but then I realise the car does leak, is off the road. But it's still a TVR.

[rev-erend]

You can get a starter motor heat shield .. this only seems to affect some people. Guess it depends on where you drive and how hot it is.

[Big Brin]

Personally, I would suggest that if you are going to voluntarily turn off the engine at high temperatures (or have to as a result of being asked to do so by an officer of the law), wait until the fans engage and then switch off once the've finished. No scientific fact associated with this recommendation. Just a bit of superstition.

[IPAddis]

Big Brin said:

Personally, I would suggest that if you are going to voluntarily turn off the engine at high temperatures (or have to as a result of being asked to do so by an officer of the law), wait until the fans engage and then switch off once the've finished. No scientific fact associated with this recommendation. Just a bit of superstition.

In the summer, if you're stationary and the car is already at 95 degrees, it'll take forever for the fans to switch off, if ever!

Also, high engine temperatures are not the only cause. I'd search the archived as recommended.

Ian A.

[mikedavis1]

I'll say slightly embarrassing - I know exactly how you feel.....

Took an old mate to Le mans this year - unfortunate soul is a porch owner - but we opted for the total TVR experience which he was convinced would include having to get out and push at some point:

It did ! - almost - or rather when stopping for fuel etc we had to take a ten minute coffee break before the Griff would re-start - exactly as you experienced - hadn't happened before and hasn't happened since:

Considered hot start relay, new starter motor, heat shield etc etc....didnt do any.

Now enjoying the added thrill of wondering when / if it will ever happen again. Great adrenalin rush at petrol stations

Your kindred spirit.

Mike

[NJW 77]

Couple of years back, driving through Brighton one evening, got pulled over at a police speed checkpoint (traffic police).

Asked to turn off the car. "S'ok sir, we are only really checking for drink drivers, nice car, mind if I have a look under the bonnet" etc. Obviously a petrol head, going on about the engine in his Volvo

"Thank you sir, have a nice evening" Get back in the car, turn the key...tick tick tick. Bugger, dead battery . Im on a main road, opposite a bus stop full of people..double

The copper then proceeds to collect his Volvo from its place of hiding, his mate stops the traffic so he can get the police car alongside, produces a set of jump leads, hooks me up, car fires and he sends me off down the road with a cheery

Funniest part was my passenger had said, not 20 seconds before being stopped "good job there's no speed cameras on this bit of road"! (was at Preston Park, there's 2 cameras there now!). Luckily I wasnt hugely over the speed limit at the time

[anonymous-user]

Mine did this the other week, in a queue, on the M25/M20 junction roundabout. The thing stalled (as they do) then wouldn't start.

On the way out of Brands Hatch, I got stuck in traffic for about 2 hours, the temp was up to about 100.

I daren't switch it off as it would not start again.

I was there trying to make sure the thing didn't stall, as when it gets hot it doesn't like idling, so I am there driving about 5-10mph, trying to go in and out of first gear, whilst trying to keep the thing idling. I was having to try and stop using the hand brake!! It was a nightmare and the worse time I have ever had driving a car. I wished I was driving anything else but the thing I was in.

I am going to try a different kind of fix in the next couple of weeks to see if that cures the problem.

Driving into work the other day it stalled a couple of times when I slowed to a stop I guess a stepper motor clean is necessary aswell.

Still the Supra is back from it's "temporary fix" work

[SXS]

Cut HUGE holes in the bonnet, place two large 14 inch fans underneath... have an swith on the dash, when stuck in traffic, flick the switch. It works of course.

Positioning of the fans is crucial to allow air to flow through the relevant areas and get sucked out.

Overheating is a design problem, there are a number of alternative ways of preventing failure, but at the end of the day, overheating will remain a problem in traffic, so wny not just bang in some big hefty fans on manual demand?