Overheating issues

[Bully]

I need a bit of help with my TR4a. Back in May, my temperature gauge and fuel gauge stopped working. I also started overheating, and more recently my overdrive has been slow to engage.

I started with the gauges, which were receiving no power. It seems to have broken a wire, so I ran in a new power wire, which has restored working gauges.

The overheating is proving more problematic. I have replaced the rad cap and the thermostat, but the temperature gauge still reads off the gauge, way hotter than normal. This is odd as the radiator is not blowing through the new cap, and the Kenton fan is not kicking in. I can see the pump is working with the cap off.

I initially thought the temperature gauge is over reading, but is this unusual? Have I missed something when I ran the new live feed to the gauges? I don't think the fuel gauge over reads. I'm also using a alternator, so will that cause over reading.

Or is there a problem with the cooling system, perhaps a blocked waterway or blown head gasket? No sign of oil in the water.

Finally there is the slow engagement of the overdrive. Works ok when cold or cool, but becomes sluggish when hot. This makes me think it's an overheating problem rather than a gauge electrical problem.

Any thoughts or comments welcome.

[RobH]

It sounds as though you may have connected the gauges direct to the battery instead of via the gauge voltage-stabiliser. That would make the temperature gauge over-read as it is then powered from 12volts instead of about 10 volts. Is it possible that the original fault was failure of the stabiliser since that powers both the fuel and temperature gauges ? Obviously that is not related to the overdrive problem which could be something to do with solenoid adjustment or that the overdrive oil filter needs cleaning out.

[TR 2100]

++ on RobH post above.

 

Plus - check the gearbox oil level (or drain and re-fill)

 

AlanR

[Bully]

Hi Rob, do you know where the voltage stabiliser is on a TR4a? If it was part of the control box, that was removed when I converted from dynamo to alternator about 10 years ago. So why hasn't it over read during that time? Perhaps there is one hidden under the dash?

[RogerH]

What OD oil do you use?

 

 

The voltage regulator is in the RH footwell - top forward outer corner

Roger

Edited July 14, 2017 by RogerH

[Rob Salisbury]

I'm sure my 4A voltage stabiliser is attached to the back of my rev counter or speedo, ....... funny little silver can thing with wires coming and going

Cheers Rob

[RogerH]

Hi Rob,

the TR6 has it on the speedo. The 4/4A had it originally in the footwell.

 

You may have a TR6 speedo

 

Roger

[Rob Salisbury]

Too many Triumphs!!, .... behind the rev counter on my Pi Saloon, that's where it is!, ....... next to the throttle pedal on TR, ...... funny thing is the Moss Cat. (and web site) for TR 2- 4A shows it behind the rev counter.

[Grahamgl]

Too many Triumphs!!, .... behind the rev counter on my Pi Saloon, that's where it is!, ....... next to the throttle pedal on TR, ...... funny thing is the Moss Cat. (and web site) for TR 2- 4A shows it behind the rev counter.

But Moss do say "It's usually tucked in a particularly inaccessible place on the bulkhead sides, partially hidden by carpeting".

Graham

[ChrisR-4A]

The O/D on my 4A started dropping out when the electric fan came on few years ago and I eventually traced the problem to corroded connections on the back of the Ammeter causing a drop in voltage and current flow. Since cleaning this has never happened again.

Chris

[Rob Salisbury]

I sometimes look at the nightmare nest of wires behind all the instruments and think I must tidy them up, .. I then, very quickly, find something else to do like re-build the gearbox, or change the engine bearings!! .... I'm sure Triumph never ment their cars to last 50+ years!!