MJerome Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 My '63 TR4 is restored to near original condition. However, I have just discovered a wire mounted to the bell housing at one of the clutch slave cylinder mounting bolts and the other end to a bolt on the body. There are no other electrical connections on either end. Any reason for this wire? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 Not an original feature. However….if there is not a similar earthing cable between the body/chassis and the engine that one will do. It is the electrical return for the starter motor power and the ignition and charging circuits. If it is not there the choke cable becomes the earth return cable causing all manner of issues. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
james christie Posted March 16 Report Share Posted March 16 I can't speak for TR4/4A but on sidescreen cars the original earth strap is around the engine mounting. Many of us have added a further one such as yours. james Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 My 4A has two earth straps, one on the right side from the starter, second from the left side from the timing chain cover Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MJerome Posted March 17 Author Report Share Posted March 17 Thank you. It seems the 4's had only one, on the left front of the engine between the engine mount and the timing chain cover. Mine was missing. I have now installed one and removed the "new" one and the car seems to be working fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
james christie Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 Bit surprised you’ve taken it off. I don’t think you can have enough earths!! james Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 18 hours ago, MJerome said: Thank you. It seems the 4's had only one, on the left front of the engine between the engine mount and the timing chain cover. Mine was missing. I have now installed one and removed the "new" one and the car seems to be working fine. Put it back as its always better to have two. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 Martin Ward has a fire under the bonnet - stuck in traffic with the electric fan and other accessories on thought to have been caused by a missing engine to body earth. This was on a 6 where the battery neg goes to the bell housing and onto the body. His only went to the bell housing. A previous owner had seemingly fitted an earth strap from an earlier car, assuming that was how it was. However the 4a etc have an entirely separate earth strap from the engine block to the body/chassis. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 On 3/18/2024 at 12:10 PM, stuart said: Put it back as its always better to have two. Stuart. Nobody ever had a problem caused by too many earth straps! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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