Fuel or ignition

[simon.williams]

I’m having fun driving the car. Pulls really well, nicer to drive in the higher gears than the lower range. The car likes to go at a brisk speed and sounds great. One or two bedding in issues, the engine seems to want to cut out at low speeds after its had a run. Starts again with a bit of choke but revs high. I think thats probably injection and air set up rather than ignition. The ignition light did come on once or twice when still moving in low gear which made me think might be that. I’ll change the plugs tomorrow (they may be 20 years old, although in my defense they looked good!).

Also changed master cylinder today as had a sinking pedal. I really don’t like bleeding brakes, but at least its done!

[Mike Stevens]

The IGN warning light on just means that the voltage from the alternator is lower than that from the battery.

Slipping fan belt (maybe a 1088 was too long!), Alternator OK? IF needs be they are easy to work on if you can get the bits, or maybe it just needs new brushes. Or perhaps a loose connection somewhere?

I bet it gets a lot of interest from the 'locals'!

[simon.williams]

Full marks, thanks Mike, fan belt had loosened up. Quick fix at least. Yes, you don’t see many (if any) big triumphs on the roads where I am. I know there are members around lyon.

Lots of other classics though, and many weekend meets, where I reckon I will be the only PI. Even Stags are few and far between.

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Simon,

Have you checked fuel the pressure? If the fan belt was slipping and the alternator not charging, the fuel pump might have dropped pressure. Just a thought.

We usually go to a small local classic show in Normandy each year. I've never seen a 2000 or a Stag there, but sometimes Heralds and Spitfires, some even right hand drive but French registered. We have some friends who own a UK London Taxi also now French registered. Lots of Renault 4CVs and of course in 2024 loads of 'traction Avants' as it was 90 years since they came out. Have you seen a Citroen DS convertible? Quite amazing lines! Maybe not the thing to say on a Triumph Forum!

[simon.williams]

Might be fuel pressure, the pump gets super hot and its noisy when idling (maybe my pressure release valve is set at too high a level, goodness knows how to test that without buying yet another expensive bit of kit.
Cleaning up all the contacts in the distributor cap and rotor arm might help. Had a good (shortish) run today with no misbehaving..,

Will take it to my local classic car meet tomorrow and see if I can find a sympathetic TR6 owner.

I do indeed love the lines & elegance of a DS (the convertibles sell for crazy money). I like the idea of panels that clip on. Maybe one day I’ll get a standard one. But the british cars are more my thing. I enjoyed my volvo p1800 shooting break, but that was only sporty looking, it was like driving a very heavy tractor!

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Simon,

I have a pressure gauge fitted onto a 'T' piece that goes between the feed from the pump and the metering units - at the metering unit end. You are welcome to borrow that if you are up this way sometime. I can't see me needing it for some time yet.

Cheers, Mike.

[Alec]

Hello Simon,

a noisy pump is more likely to be a supply restriction, blocked filter or debris in the fuel tank?

A couple of simple fittings and a pressure gauge is not expensive and can be extremely useful.

I have gone to extremes I suppose, part of my nature, I have two pumps in my car selected by a dash switch, either or. This was because in the distant past, when I built my car there was a lot of internet discussion about the unreliability of Lucas pumps and I preferred to stick with the Lucas pumps. In practice I found that the questionable reliability was overstated. I had also fitted relays to supply the pumps with high capacity feed to ensure maximum voltage at the pumps. In addition, I fitted an electrical fuel pressure gauge supplied by a transducer connected to the fuel line. This is for safety as having a mechanical gauge in the cabin, with the chance of a high pressure fuel leak is not recommended.

Alec

[simon.williams]

Thanks Alec, that is a lot of back-up! I will certainly look for a spare pump to carry on long trips / holidays. Relays make sense, I think there was some kind of voltage regulator connected to my old pump, but I chucked it out it my efforts to remove all the previous owners 20+ year old mods. Anyway, it does OK on shorter trips now, maybe I have fixed it - will go for longer blast with a friendly co-pilot this weekend.

[simon.williams]

And thanks Mike for the offer, when I feel brave enough to take the PI to Henley I will definitely look you up!

[Mike Stevens]

The voltage rergulator is an ON/OFF bimetalic strip type of thing which swicthes the 12V on and off so that the average output is a nominal 10V. This might make some electrical noise which the capacitor might reduce a bit. You can fit modern electronic ones which will make hardly any electrical noise.

Please feel free to visit. We're about 10 miles from Henley!

Cheers,
Mike.