Hal Posted September 2, 2017 Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 Hi: I have a '58 TR3a that I have not been using very much. This morning I went out this morning and there was no electrical power - none. There are no lights, no horns (they were not working very well anyway), no power to the starter. I exchanged the battery with one that I know works and have the same problem. There is a 12v drop between the solenold starter switch and ground (on both the battery and frame). Any ideas? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted September 2, 2017 Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 It should be easy to find but guessing won't really help you. Out with the test meter or test lamp. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Icarus60 Posted September 3, 2017 Report Share Posted September 3, 2017 Hal Check the heavy wires at the control box to ensure that they are secure. Check the earthing. Be careful If you have a break in a connection that should be carrying 12v it might be that there is a live wire floating about behind the instrument panel. The live to the ignition switch is permanently live ( or should be ) and also the ammeter connection. Suggest disconnect the battery and have a look behind the panel, iif there is 12v at the control box. Regards Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hal Posted September 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2017 Thanks for the replies. It turned out to be a battery problem after all - or a 2 battery problem. The second one had enough to start my '51 Morris, but died on the TR3. Thanks again... -Hal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Larnder Posted September 4, 2017 Report Share Posted September 4, 2017 Hal Fit one of those "Dis-connect" couplings to the negative terminal, and don´t forget to turn it off at night in the garage to save your battery and the chance of an electrical fire when you aren´t around to tend to it. Money well spent, I turn my off every night to be safe. Dave. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted September 4, 2017 Report Share Posted September 4, 2017 Hal Fit one of those "Dis-connect" couplings to the negative terminal, and don´t forget to turn it off at night in the garage to save your battery and the chance of an electrical fire when you aren´t around to tend to it. Money well spent, I turn my off every night to be safe. Dave. I had one of those years ago, on a Saab 900 Turbo that wasn't a regular driver -- one of the gold-colored zinc castings that looks like brass, with a green knob. It kept getting a bit of corrosion in the switch that would lead to a no-start due to high resistance and low current flow. I got rid of it. Sounds like yours is better than that one, Dave. Most of the time I disconnect the battery ground strap if the car's going to be parked for more than a few days, and connect a Battery Tender to the battery. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hal Posted September 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2017 I installed "Dis-connect" coupling yesterday. I will see how it goes. I have had a trickle charger attached to the battery. It did not seem to help much. Do any of you have experience with them? -Hal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted September 5, 2017 Report Share Posted September 5, 2017 I've used a CTEK battery maintainer on my motorbike for a couple of years, and a Battery Tender Plus on my TR for longer than that. They've worked perfectly. What do you mean, Hal, they "did not seem to help much"? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted September 5, 2017 Report Share Posted September 5, 2017 A 'Dis-connect' won't stop the battery running down. There is internal leakage which does that whether or not the battery is connected to anything. It is important that a lead-acid battery is maintained at full charge even when disused for some time. If it isn't then sulphating of the plates can occur with permanent loss of capacity. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 6, 2017 Report Share Posted September 6, 2017 +1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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