TVR Chimaera Engine Cutting Out

TVR Chimaera Engine Cutting Out

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jamesmitchell13

Original Poster:

6 posts

Yesterday (12:55)
quotequote all
Hello all,

Just bought my dream car at 21 yesterday in a TVR Chimaera.

It’s a 400 1999 model with PAS.

Took it for a test drive and checked for a hot start issue, everything seemed in order. Left the gentleman’s house and filled it to the brim then set off.

3 minutes later I’d broken down.

Engine is ticking over but not firing. It will start every now and then but cuts out after a few minutes.

Any idea what the issue could be? I’m already fearing the worst.

Drivers side door is also locking intermittently and it has a Clifford alarm which apparently isn’t the best.

Many thanks in advance for any help.

miniman

27,775 posts

275 months

Yesterday (14:24)
quotequote all
Try undoing the fuel cap and seeing if it runs then. It might have a blocked breather. Reason for suggesting this is - it ran ok before you fuelled it up and tightened the fuel cap.

If it runs a bit, then it’s got spark and isn’t immobilised. Could be ignition amp, could be coil.

Worth a chat with Dave at HF Solutions or Carl Baker if you’re concerned with the alarm system but doesn’t sound like there’s anything fundamentally wrong with it.

Drivers door could be dying solenoid.

jamesmitchell13

Original Poster:

6 posts

Yesterday (16:56)
quotequote all
miniman said:
Try undoing the fuel cap and seeing if it runs then. It might have a blocked breather. Reason for suggesting this is - it ran ok before you fuelled it up and tightened the fuel cap.

If it runs a bit, then it’s got spark and isn’t immobilised. Could be ignition amp, could be coil.

Worth a chat with Dave at HF Solutions or Carl Baker if you’re concerned with the alarm system but doesn’t sound like there’s anything fundamentally wrong with it.

Drivers door could be dying solenoid.
Cheers mate,

Took the cap off and it sat and idled for 10 mins or so. This could be the solution.

Can’t find anything online on how to solve this, would you be able to point me anywhere or know yourself how to?

And solenoid must be the door issue, and seems as though Dave at HF has retired sadly.

James

miniman

27,775 posts

275 months

Yesterday (17:23)
quotequote all
There’s some info including rough routing from the breather down to the carbon canister in this thread - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Shame if Dave has retired, fewer and fewer experts on the alarm systems.

PabloGee

563 posts

33 months

Yesterday (17:33)
quotequote all
If the door switch is causing a problem, they are easy to clean up, and if still faulty replace. The part is readily available from TVRSSW or Motaclan at around £20 delivered. I had one that was chattering, and the replacement solved it.
Bridgwater Electronics are a good alternative for alarm support.

The breathing of the tank has three spots - the cork gasket on the underside of the cap, the rollover valve that you’ll find connected to the tank filler neck, and the carbon canister hose that runs from the filler neck down to the NS rear wheel arch the down the chassis rail, but that’s a lot to get your head around in the first breath.
The filler cap should have a sprung underside that you press down to rotate it to lock, but it doesn’t seal fully.

jamesmitchell13

Original Poster:

6 posts

Yesterday (17:34)
quotequote all
Cheers, will have a look.

And yes seems alarm experts are like hens teeth. Hope I can find someone to do the job.

Belle427

10,281 posts

246 months

Yesterday (19:00)
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Clifford brings back some memories of those window stickers back in the 90s!
Did not realise they were still going, did they have the talking alarms or is that someone else?

jamesmitchell13

Original Poster:

6 posts

Yesterday (19:07)
quotequote all
PabloGee said:
If the door switch is causing a problem, they are easy to clean up, and if still faulty replace. The part is readily available from TVRSSW or Motaclan at around £20 delivered. I had one that was chattering, and the replacement solved it.
Bridgwater Electronics are a good alternative for alarm support.

The breathing of the tank has three spots - the cork gasket on the underside of the cap, the rollover valve that you’ll find connected to the tank filler neck, and the carbon canister hose that runs from the filler neck down to the NS rear wheel arch the down the chassis rail, but that’s a lot to get your head around in the first breath.
The filler cap should have a sprung underside that you press down to rotate it to lock, but it doesn’t seal fully.
Cheers mate, was your door not locking either or doing it intermittently.
And many thanks for the help on the breather, it’s proved quite difficult to find anything useful on the internet. Much appreciated

PabloGee

563 posts

33 months

Yesterday (19:17)
quotequote all
Aha, I was thinking of the switch for the alarm - the one on the outside of the sill that the door pushes in.
If it’s the solenoid for the door locking, a different story, but just as simple.
They are available on eBay or otherwise, some folk on FB have had success and can provide a link. Easy swap.

miniman

27,775 posts

275 months

Yesterday (20:01)
quotequote all
OE version is available from Motaclan for circa £45 however I have found these perfectly ok.

https://amzn.eu/d/5z8GYkW

jamesmitchell13

Original Poster:

6 posts

Apologies new members are limited to the amount of posts initially and I can’t quote links for two weeks.

You’ve just saved me £40 as I was about to buy the one from Motaclan!