Dear Ride Drive,

I have just purchased a 1997 TVR Chimera with 37,000 recorded miles on the clock.  I have all the receipts, including the original receipt from new, and have researched the history so I know when the service intervals are due.  The last service was carried out at 36,500 miles back in February 2004.

My question is the engine sounds very tappety.  Do these need adjusting or could there be another issue causing this noise?

Look forward to your comments

Thanks in advance

Andrew Hume

Reply

Dear Andrew,

With that mileage it is right in the worn camshaft area of its life.  The tappets are hydraulic, so there is nothing to adjust.  Camshafts typically wear out at this kind of mileage, but the rockers can also suffer likewise.  It is so hard to pin point the exact reason for the engine sounding particularly tappety without having sight of the car.  If Andrew would like to bring it to us we can give him our professional opinion with no obligation.

All the best

Colin Bowler
Racing Green TVR