16 replies to this topic

[Jaxta]

Just thought I'd intro myself and the new motor.

 

I'm on the FB group (eventually!). Had Tesla's for the last 6 years so switching from digital to analogue. The Mrs drives that more than me anyway so I needed a 2nd car for the occasional 'nip to the shops'. She already hates it with a passion.

 

Had the car a week and not really had much time to play - had 2 hours yesterday just cleaning things up a bit and sussing it out. TBH spent more time driving on the lanes around here - the handling is truly amazing. The car seems to really flow with the roads - it's uncanny. Even passengers, who aren't used to cars like this, can feel it. I'm very, very pleased with it. Albeit at 53, feels a bit mid-life crisis but fk it.

 

My gut tells me it's running hot but the data (well, the dashboard) says it's ok. I've bought the ODB MX+ but not really had time to play with it (I'm a data kinda guy) but I'll suss it out.

 

Plan with the car is to bring it up to date a bit - sort of restomod vibes rather than street racer. I want carbon/ally everything and just have it properly sorted. It won't be a garage queen but I want it to feel properly sorted and looked after.

 

Engine spec - K04 turbo,* Klasen Inlet Manifold, Courtney High Flow Plenum, Regelin Intercooler, VXR Injectors, VXR MAF, 2bular 3’’, Courtenay flywheel and clutch, Vibratechnics engine and gearbox mounts.

 

Chassis spec - 4 channel Exige ABS, Nitron, Mintex 1155 pads (are they meant to be noisy/grinder when going slow?), all bushes, etc replaced about 10k miles ago.

 

Bodywork is pretty good - some osmosis near rear spoiler but otherwise, mostly swirling and stuff that'll buff out.

 

So I think most of the main bits are there - I just need to learn it, get underneath it and get to trust it - I do worry about it getting warm but so far, so very good. It's not so fast as to scare ya but has enough to be interesting between the corners. I'm not a 100mph+ kinda bloke - it's the twisties that do it for me. I can see why high revving engines suit these - happy with the mid-range of the turbo though and mine's definitely not reluctant to rev.

 

My next step was going to be a rolling road as I'm not sure it's pulling cleanly all the time - bit worried the map isn't quite right. Any recommendations for Derby/L'boro area?

 

 

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Edited by Jaxta, 29 June 2025 - 08:17 PM.

[Ivor]

Personally I'd steer clear of mmg for mapping

[Jaxta]

Noted. Heard anything about DRS in Derby? I've been recommended EFI Performance but it's a 4 hour round-trip...  

[Ivor]

Noted. Heard anything about DRS in Derby? I've been recommended EFI Performance but it's a 4 hour round-trip...

No sorry, I'm now way out west in Wales, mmg originally mapped my car, awful.

[C8RKH]

Lovely car @jaxta and like you I'm not a 100mph+ guy myself, same as you, I like the B roads and the corners and powering out of them.

 

They really are superb cars though, just love mine to bits and that's after 8 years ow ownership and having a Lotus Evora in the garage too - I drive the VX more.....

[Jaxta]

Lovely car @jaxta and like you I'm not a 100mph+ guy myself, same as you, I like the B roads and the corners and powering out of them.

 

They really are superb cars though, just love mine to bits and that's after 8 years ow ownership and having a Lotus Evora in the garage too - I drive the VX more.....

 

I've had a few more 'leisurely drives' (done 600+ miles in my first week - drinks fuel) and I just can't get over the handling. There's some very tight lanes around here with some small, hump-backed bridges - I got a bit carried away and got full-on air over one of them with a sharp right afterwards - it absolutely lapped it up - not a murmur - just 'come on then! More of that!'. What a belter of a car! I've just got back from my thrash so I'm a bit giddy!

 

I have a (frankly embarrassing) short attention span and takes quite a lot for me to be genuinely impressed (not that I'm used to better, just tend to be disappointed when meeting heroes type thing) but I am very impressed. It's a very, very capable, fun car.

 

It's so chuckable and it's really ticking my boxes when pushing it through the bends - you don't have to be doing Mach 3 to have fun as you would in an M2 or whatever.

 

Need to get rid of the rattles and I'm not sure the suspension is quite right (bangs about a bit more than it should when cruising I feel) but when you're on it, it's sublime. Engine does not like being below 2k rpm - just a bit grumpy. Quite a lot of NVH due to the upgraded engine mounts and everything being a bit... British assembled so everything kinda shudders at low RPM. It's very, very happy to rush (and it is a rush) to the redline but short shifting between corners is a blast. Don't need it any quicker - just want it reliable, safe and feel a bit more quality to the interior. 

 

I've got the ODB MX+ so starting to get some data but enjoying driving it too much to faff about with that right now! I had all sorts of plans but they're all on hold - weather is perfect. I've manufactured a 100 mile trip tomorrow for 'work'... that's actually 5 miles away - tells it's own story.

[Jaxta]

And today it broke down. After much 'effing and jeffing found out that the fuel pump relay started working after a tap so switched it out but then blew 4 20A fuel pump fuses in 8 miles. Could be the swapped relay (unlikely) but I'm thinking more likely buggered fuel pump - anyone had similar issues? I'll do a search....

[Ivor]

Never had a fuel pump issue in 15 years ( turbo), mines just been replaced with the spitfire one when I had the work done

[Jaxta]

That's what I think I'm going to go for - I suspect given the spec, perhaps the standard fuel pump is struggling anyway? 

[Ivor]

That's what I think I'm going to go for - I suspect given the spec, perhaps the standard fuel pump is struggling anyway?

Possibly, updated one on mine now, the stage 4 was fine with the OEM one

[stevieturbo]

And today it broke down. After much 'effing and jeffing found out that the fuel pump relay started working after a tap so switched it out but then blew 4 20A fuel pump fuses in 8 miles. Could be the swapped relay (unlikely) but I'm thinking more likely buggered fuel pump - anyone had similar issues? I'll do a search....

 

 

Diagnose the problem properly.

 

Inspect all wiring. 20A is a huge draw for a standard, or indeed most upgrade pumps. So it should never really be there.

 

So there is a massivley high resistance somewhere, or a short. CHeck all wiring, connectors, relays, fuse holder etc etc etc. Stick a current clamp on to measure current whislt in use and testing.

 

Even unplug the pump and replace with a suitable dummy load before pulling the pump/hanger out etc.

 

Std OE pump will only pull around 5A or so, certainly nowhere near 20A.

 

Basic fault diagnosis....get on it.

[Jaxta]

LOL! Good advice - thanks for that. You're right - I'll do it properly. 

[Ivor]

Impedance check the wires to each other and ground ? After unplugging of course ?

[Jaxta]

Following the sage advice from here and other places, I've gone the for the nuclear option. I'm (in the 'I'm paying someone else' sense) taking the tank out properly (from the bottom), flushing it, replacing the fuel pump with the Spitfire* option and replacing all the relays and having it tested by auto electrician. It's 20 years old - my view is let's get it done right. An important box ticked.

 

Next step - Charge Cooling. It's too hot in there - gonna get that sorted. Dave Hardwick lives near me - his 400bhp+ engineering-work-of-art (ex-MrSimba VX) runs cooler than mine so I'm listening to him. 

 

In the meantime, I'm amassing (well, sort of) a range of spares and upgrades to bring together at a later date.

 

*Gaz sent me some truly terrifying pics of melted top connectors of the OEM fuel pump. There's no way I'm leaving the OEM unit in there. 

 

[oblomov]

 Mintex 1155 pads (are they meant to be noisy/grinder when going slow?), all bushes, etc replaced about 10k miles ago.

 

 

I've just changed to Mintex 1155 from CL RC5+.  they're only just bedded in but so far I don't find them as good as the RC5+.  The Mintex need backing pads to eliminate squeal, but then so do the RC5+.
 

[jonbe]

Hey from derby ish too


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[Jaxta]

Ha, hola John! Fancy fitting me a fuel pump?!