Engine cutting out - HELP!
Discussion
Hiya,
Coming back from Weston this evening in the rain, no problems until we stopped to get some DVDs. Came out and disarmed the alarm, got in, key in ignition and ....... nothing. No ignition lights, no priming of fuel pump but the interior light worked fine. After about 5 minutes of cursing and headless chickening - turning alarm on and off, opening doors to make sure the alarm isn't playing up - suddenly I got ignition power and the engine started perfectly. Turned the car around and headed home and just about to pull of out of a junction and it dies again. Hazard lights work (will the bloody learner driver behind PLEASE notice and go around instead of waiting!) and the interior lights, alarm can still be armed/unarmed, headlights still work. More headless chicken. Realise my sidelights are on, turn off and... ignition! Tentatively drive off with sidelights on and no wipers, up the hill and just as I'm coming down to a mini roundabout I think I'll try putting my headlights on... big mistake. Engine dies. Trundle to a halt. No iginition lights. [Headless chicken ahoy!] More cursing, more turning alarm on and off, opening doors, switching off everything and anything. We open both doors at once and try again - ignition! I think this was just a fluke though.
Last few weeks I've noticed the volt meter being a bit lower than usual. And the past week I've noticed the battery light will glow dimly with the lights on and the heater on stage 1, and it will glow more on stage 2.
And we realised today that the stereo would keep resetting or changing from CD to radio each time I booted it - I guess putting more strain on the electrics?
I'm thinking it's either the alternator or dodgy fan belt but has anyone else got any ideas? It's piddling down and dark at the mo, but I'm going to check tomorrow morning - hoping I can drive the 74 miles to work!
Suggestions MUCH APPRECIATED!
Coming back from Weston this evening in the rain, no problems until we stopped to get some DVDs. Came out and disarmed the alarm, got in, key in ignition and ....... nothing. No ignition lights, no priming of fuel pump but the interior light worked fine. After about 5 minutes of cursing and headless chickening - turning alarm on and off, opening doors to make sure the alarm isn't playing up - suddenly I got ignition power and the engine started perfectly. Turned the car around and headed home and just about to pull of out of a junction and it dies again. Hazard lights work (will the bloody learner driver behind PLEASE notice and go around instead of waiting!) and the interior lights, alarm can still be armed/unarmed, headlights still work. More headless chicken. Realise my sidelights are on, turn off and... ignition! Tentatively drive off with sidelights on and no wipers, up the hill and just as I'm coming down to a mini roundabout I think I'll try putting my headlights on... big mistake. Engine dies. Trundle to a halt. No iginition lights. [Headless chicken ahoy!] More cursing, more turning alarm on and off, opening doors, switching off everything and anything. We open both doors at once and try again - ignition! I think this was just a fluke though.
Last few weeks I've noticed the volt meter being a bit lower than usual. And the past week I've noticed the battery light will glow dimly with the lights on and the heater on stage 1, and it will glow more on stage 2.
And we realised today that the stereo would keep resetting or changing from CD to radio each time I booted it - I guess putting more strain on the electrics?
I'm thinking it's either the alternator or dodgy fan belt but has anyone else got any ideas? It's piddling down and dark at the mo, but I'm going to check tomorrow morning - hoping I can drive the 74 miles to work!
Suggestions MUCH APPRECIATED!
Under the steering column is a 4-wire connector block that goes to the ignition switch. Pull it apart and check inside. Chances are one or more contacts is burnt out.
Either put a new connector in or connect and solder the wires, and re-insulate from each other.
Temporary repair with tiny piece of kit-kat wrapper pushed into duff contact will last at least 2 months. Don't ask me how I know this...
>> Edited by tvrgit on Sunday 19th February 19:55
Either put a new connector in or connect and solder the wires, and re-insulate from each other.
Temporary repair with tiny piece of kit-kat wrapper pushed into duff contact will last at least 2 months. Don't ask me how I know this...
>> Edited by tvrgit on Sunday 19th February 19:55
Graham, what tvrgit and GreenV8S suggest is indeed the first place to check, however, in your case it may be a bit different. If you remember the day you were coming to collect the car from me it wouldn't start for me. Sods law, the first time it had let me down and it was an hour before you arrived to collect it!
Well, the kind chap from Penninsula came out and had a fiddle with a few wires and we got it started. I drove it the 4 or 5 miles to said garage and they quickly sorted it out for me. The problem: burned out multi-connector under the steering column!
Now I believe they did a repair on this and bypassed it with new wire, but you'll have to check. It may be the same bit of wiring causing you grief, although the 'glowing' battery light does sound a bit odd.
Good luck. Keep us informed.
Pete
Well, the kind chap from Penninsula came out and had a fiddle with a few wires and we got it started. I drove it the 4 or 5 miles to said garage and they quickly sorted it out for me. The problem: burned out multi-connector under the steering column!
Now I believe they did a repair on this and bypassed it with new wire, but you'll have to check. It may be the same bit of wiring causing you grief, although the 'glowing' battery light does sound a bit odd.
Good luck. Keep us informed.
Pete
GI said:
Last few weeks I've noticed the volt meter being a bit lower than usual. And the past week I've noticed the battery light will glow dimly with the lights on and the heater on stage 1, and it will glow more on stage 2.
Classic symptoms.
Did they replace ALL the wires/connections?
Often the battery + looks more burnt and melted than the others and just that one gets done.....
Le TVR said:
Did they replace ALL the wires/connections?...
TBH I'm not really sure. You can imagine the situation - new owner turning up very soon to collect the car. I spent half of the previous day polishing it and having a last (
) drive. Go to get car out of garage and it doesn't start! - :lotsofcussingandswearingturnstheairblue: The mechanic from Penninsula did a great job and got it sorted in a very short time, but all he said was he bypassed the offending item. I guess a close inspection of the suspect area would soon provide the answer though.
Hi all!
I owe people beers!
Due to needing to get up and running as quickly as possible (to get to work 70 miles away!), I called the AA out in the end and outlined problems to the man in the yellow van. Thanks to all of you I was able to point him to the connector block (I plugged Pistonheads shamelessly should he come across other TVR owners on his rounds) as the likely cause and a quick wiggle of the wires showed this was definitely the problem. On closer inspection: wires going into the connector block were melted, the connector block itself won't come apart (probably melted inside too) and dubious amounts of spade / sleeve connections on many of the wires with more melted plastic / exposed wires.
On one piece of wire 20 cm long there was 5 connectors! What on earth?
The nice man then proceeded to snip back and solder all the wires and now I have a working ignition with no odd drops in voltage on the meter - even the indicators don't drop the volt needle as much now. Oh, and I appear to have working rear lights again (had a bad earth or connection - will have to wait to see if it's fixed or just a fluke reprieve).
Hopefully problem solved
I owe people beers!
Due to needing to get up and running as quickly as possible (to get to work 70 miles away!), I called the AA out in the end and outlined problems to the man in the yellow van. Thanks to all of you I was able to point him to the connector block (I plugged Pistonheads shamelessly should he come across other TVR owners on his rounds) as the likely cause and a quick wiggle of the wires showed this was definitely the problem. On closer inspection: wires going into the connector block were melted, the connector block itself won't come apart (probably melted inside too) and dubious amounts of spade / sleeve connections on many of the wires with more melted plastic / exposed wires.
On one piece of wire 20 cm long there was 5 connectors! What on earth?
The nice man then proceeded to snip back and solder all the wires and now I have a working ignition with no odd drops in voltage on the meter - even the indicators don't drop the volt needle as much now. Oh, and I appear to have working rear lights again (had a bad earth or connection - will have to wait to see if it's fixed or just a fluke reprieve).
Hopefully problem solved
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