abandon hope all ye who enter here

[nofinchance]

My TR has found a new and exciting way to drive me mad.I took it for a run over the holidays(for once it was not broken down or stuck in some repair shop) and needed to stop for petrol.Simple task no problem.Except the fuel cap would not let go[:(!].I thought I had the wrong key maybe but no,then it must be frozen or something? tried WD40 that I had to buy from the garage but it still would not open.It is the correct cap and brand new.I have opened it at least 4 times before .loads of other customers at the garage tried things to no avail.Then I got lots of 'advice' as to how bad these cars are and why not give up.And I think they may be correct[:(].I had to be trailerd home by the AA and spent hrs trying to get the damn cap off.Ended up with a hammer and chisel which felt good actualy[;)].So my old chrome cap is back on for now.Unbelivable what these cars put us through[}:)]

[img][IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/nofinchance/DSCF0617.jpg[/img][/img]

[alanjarvis]

You went out in a TR7 without a can of WD40???? Are you CRAZY??? Full tool kit is also recommended, and bus fare home. [:D]

Actually when I called out the AA the other week when my headlights went crazy the man said 'this is the worst car ever made' - i was rather insulted and mumbled something about keeping him in a job. I think I might join the RAC next time.

[Henk]

This has nothing to do with the car it was just a lousy cap.

I use this cap
[img][IMG]http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z26/TRHENK/dop2.jpg[/img][/img]

But put a little oil in the lockhole specially when it's freezing.

Henk

1980 TR7 US Convertible
1978 Mini Clubman Estate

[zoe]

when i broke down the AA man who came out said he offered to come out to my car when it came up on his computer as he loved them so much !!

[Odd]

Steve, why bother with a lockable cap?
It only keeps the owner himself out, like it did for you now.
The lowlife creeps who'd want to siphone your fuel out simply pry it open
- with lots more problems for you to rectify...
Use the oem cap and you will <u>never</u> be locked out of your fill hole!

[nofinchance]

It was the cap and not the car to be fair.It is just when things happen like this you don't need every stranger telling you how terrible your choice of car is and it's your own fault[}:)].I felt like saying something like "at least I don't drive a eurobox are you gonna help or just take the piss?"I only purchased the cap as my tank has been replaced so I wanted to try and keep the rain out.My car came with some crappy ill fitting chrome thing but it is back on now.Odd is correct may as well just get a spin on as if people want to rob you why invite damage? A friend of ours works with trucks and his boss has spent loads fitting ani syphon fuel tank necks.Over night some thief just smashed a hole in the exposed alloy fuel tank and caught the diesel in a bucket or something[V].

[img][IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/nofinchance/DSCF0617.jpg[/img][/img]

[Beans]

The disadvantage from the lockable cap is that water easily can get into the locking mechanism where it can freeze.
Also when there's no frost they will leak (small amounts of) water into the fuel tank.

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, currently being restored)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)</font id="blue">
<b>http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</b></i></center>

[nofinchance]

MMM a spin on no lock cap is the future.My new lock cap even though it was a good fit leaked[:0].I thought when it failed it was frozen but nothing would shift it.Totaly jammed solid must have got water in and rusted up[?].Hammer shifted the pesky thing[;)]

[img][IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/nofinchance/DSCF0617.jpg[/img][/img]

[PeterTR7V8]

A sad story. Somehow it just seems a lot worse when you have car problems in an old car that you are trying to be in love with. It feels like you've married a problem gambler against your families wishes & your own best judgement but once you fix the addiction it will be a match made in heaven. Then the next week they blow the savings on a hot tip.

Cars break down all the time. New, old, German. No car is imune - except my '04 Focus which has never died despite having done 100,000+ Ks. It is just that if that car suffers from a popular misconception that you are trying to dispell it gets depressing very quickly. Nothing to do but grow a thicker skin, fix the problem & move on. Your reward is that time when you are sailing down the road driving the car you keep running, having the time of your life & you notice a BMW on the side of the road with its bonnet up. It will happen.


But baby, I thought I <i>was</i> doing my best.

[swifty]

I had exactly the same problem with my locking cap (Although I had more favourable comments about the car from passers-by as I struggled at the petrol pumps) Mine had been sitting for a while and the problem was it had seized up where the bottom of the cap spins on itself... bit of brute force and then grease solved the issue (that reminds me; I haven't taken the cap off in a few months. I must remember to make sure it's free before I take it out...)

[img][IMG]http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww281/swiftstuff/029-1.jpg[/img]/img]

[FI Spyder]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by PeterTR7V8</i>

Your reward is that time when you are sailing down the road driving the car you keep running, having the time of your life & you notice a BMW on the side of the road with its bonnet up. It will happen.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Not to mention the huge repair bill he/she will face to have some BMW mechanic just to look at not to mention if actual work has to be done. (My sister just sold her 2005 Mini after she bought a new JC Works Mini. She said the old one was sluggish but I think I scared her of it's Peugeot transmission.) While my Spider is reliable it does have a few issues like a fuel delivery problem (dirty tank?) and no juice to dash lights but so does my Toyota, (blows fuel pump every 57,000 Km) and Integra has dodgey ICU (no longer available) and slightly slipping transmission. They all need work done on them but to but a newer car you're looking at huge costs of ECU (if it goes bad), periodic replacement of air bags (if you want them to work), huge costs of replacement of batteries (if hybrid), not to mention lost money of depreciation.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[nofinchance]

Peter hit the nail on the head.I have wanted a TR7 for yrs and the one I have seems to delight in annoying me even after hrs of tinkering and £££s of parts.I feel like basil falty and his austin sometimes.[:)]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78b67l_yxUc


[img][IMG]http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss45/nofinchance/DSCF0617.jpg[/img][/img]

[busheytrader]

I had one of those locking fuel caps when mine was an every day car. I eventually threw it away as it no amount of WD40 and grease kept the lock smooth as it faces up and is open to the elements.

Anyone who's replaced their fuel tank will have wrestled the anti-syphon device out of it. That's the upside down bit similar to a kid's snorkel cage. This will deter everyone but the most determined from taking your petrol. I'm more worried about someone stealing the standard filler cap than my fuel.......

When I last called out the AA man in the 7V8 (furred up connector stopped the current reaching the starter motor) he said he loved working on our cars as they were much easier to fix than the latest techno-cars. Apparently one of the latest Jags has 2 ECU's ?

Adam



TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, S/S Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & PolyBushes all round, Anti- Dive, Strut-Top Roller Bearings, Capri Vented Discs & Calipers, Braided Hoses, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AT 5 Spokes and Cruise Lights, S/S Heater Pipes, Replacement Fuel Tank. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991

[macutmore]

A very interesting tale as last year I bought a brand new lockable late cap from Rimmers. Keeping my original OEM cap mainly for show use. The new cap fitted a treat and I tested its removal using the key and spare which was easy.

However a few days later on my MOT test I had a pass with flying colours “subject to having a word with the testerâ€￾ – He explained that he had tried EVERYTHING to remove the fuel cap to examine its seal for the test but had given up – leaving the job for me as there may be a specific knack to its removal!

I was dumbfounded as the cap was totally brand new and when I had fitted it it was perfect and could be removed with ease. I naturally assumed that the tester had mullered it somewhat or tried to open it with the incorrect key! This was not the case as on my examination the cap was locked on solid and the key shank could not even be moved at all on normal key insertion. I couldn’t believe it!

We wrestled for about ten minutes trying the old WD40 and then as if by magic (not due to the WD40) the key hole magically moved and the cap came off suddenly as easy as anything. I have since tried to replicate the fault but cannot. The cap still fits perfectly and is easily removed. I can only assume it was because it was new. Maybe expansion / contraction / pressure vapour in the tank caused the lock to seize but since running in the lock somewhat it still seems perfect.

As 'Odd' suggested, stick with the original cap where you can. You can’t go wrong!!

[prlee]

I tried a lockable fuel cap from Rimmers. I didn't like it, it just didn't feel like a good fit, after 2 days I went back to the orignal spin on.

I had to call out the AA man when my Spitfire broke down. He preferred the old cars because they could fixed at the road side, modern cars are far more likely to need a garage, he then produced a spare rotor arm and off I went.

There is no real reason why an old car should be unreliable except lack of regular use and servicing.

I found my TR7 "fixes" itself. When I first had it the fuel gauge worked erracticaly, after a couple of months it was fine, recently after refitting the rear lights the left rear side light would not work, I came back about 4 weeks later to fix it but it was now working????

I have decided to leave it alone for a while to see if completes the body restoration by itself!

Pete
81 DHC (Under body resto)
79 Spitfire (Current Main drive)