The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

The Number One Club for owners of Triumph's range of small saloons from the 1960s and 1970s.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:24 pm

All times are UTC




Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 26 posts ]  Go to page 1 2 Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 10:58 am 
Offline
TDC Cheshire Area Organiser

Joined: Wed May 17, 2017 6:28 pm
Posts: 1405
Location: NANTWICH.
HI FOLKS,
OUT IN MY DOLLY 1850 LAST NIGHT AND WHEN I PUT MY HEADLIGHTS ON THE TEMP GAUGE GOES UP AND VOLTS GO DOWN :?
I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT EVEN THE HRW OR THE HEATER BLOWER CAUSE THE SAME FAULT.
DOES NOT OVERHEAT AND HAVE CHECKED THE ALT AND IT IS CHARGING PERFECTLY.
IF NO ELECTRICS ARE BEING USED EVERYTHING IS OK.
ANY IDEAS :?:
CHEERS,
TONY.

_________________
NOW A CLUB MEMBER 2017057 :bluewave:


Top
   
PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 11:49 am 
Offline
TDC Member

Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2016 9:53 pm
Posts: 1699
Location: Harrow Middlesex
Tony

I think you have a bad earth connection,clean the earth connection for the lights,also check the earth wire has not come of the voltage stabilizer

Dave


Top
   
PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 12:42 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 04, 2010 10:42 am
Posts: 980
Tony

Check the all internal connections there are three connector blocks behind the dash and three at the bottom of the steering column - seem like a poor connection in one of these connectors and I'm going to say the ones at the back of the dashboard.

How's the fuel gauge performing does that alter when the headlights are on - the fuel & temp gauge are require a constant voltage the voltage regulator (next to the fuse box) gives this - if its faulty the fuel gauge and temp will give wrong readings ie 1/2 a tank of fuel, start the car up, registors half a tank then the needle drops back the zero ( no fuel in tank according to the gauge.

Paul

_________________
Image


Top
   
PostPosted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 6:33 pm 
Offline
TDC Cheshire Area Organiser

Joined: Wed May 17, 2017 6:28 pm
Posts: 1405
Location: NANTWICH.
HI DAVE AND PAUL,
HAVE CHECKED ALL THE EARTHS AND THE VOLTAGE STABLISER ALL OK :)
WILL NOW HAVE TO REMOVE DASH TO CHECK ALL CONNECTIONS :(
STRANGELY THE FUEL GAUGE IS BEHAVING AS IT SHOULD.
I TOOK THE CAR FOR A RUN TODAY, JUST TO CHECK IT WAS NOT OVERHEATING, AND NOTICED THAT EVEN USING THE INDICATORS OR BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN SAT AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS CAUSED THE SAME PROBLEM :?:
I DID LEAVE THE CAR TICKING OVER WHEN I GOT BACK FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR!! AND NO OVER HEATING OR VOLTAGE LOSS. PUT ANYTHING ELSE ON ELECTRICAL AND SAME THING HAPPENS.
ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD LOOK FOR WHEN I TAKE THE DASH OUT?
MANY THANKS,
TONY.

_________________
NOW A CLUB MEMBER 2017057 :bluewave:


Top
   
PostPosted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 6:55 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:48 pm
Posts: 8446
Location: Winscombe, North Somerset, England
Have you checked the alternator charge at idle with all electrics on, headlights, blower HRW, radio etc. It should still be giving a good charge.

_________________
Sprintless for the first time in 35+ years. :boggle2: ... Still Sprintless.

Engines, Gearboxes, Overdrives etc. rebuilt. PM me.


1997 TVR Chimaera 450


Image


Top
   
PostPosted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 8:26 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:13 am
Posts: 3173
Location: The continent
Looks like the gauges are earthed by the panel lights. When putting the lights on the earth isn't there anymore and takes a new path.


Jeroen

_________________
Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com


Top
   
PostPosted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 11:01 pm 
Offline
TDC Cheshire Area Organiser

Joined: Wed May 17, 2017 6:28 pm
Posts: 1405
Location: NANTWICH.
Quote:
Looks like the gauges are earthed by the panel lights. When putting the lights on the earth isn't there anymore and takes a new path.


Jeroen
HI JEROEN, IT DOES IT EVEN IF JUST THE BLOWER IS ON OR THE WIPERS:(
BUT HAVE GOT TO SAY PANEL LIGHTS ARE NOT VERY BRIGHT.
WILL CHECK CHARGING WITH EVERYTHING ON AGAIN, IT WAS OK (14.8 VOLTS) AT 1500RPM, BUT WILL CHECK AGAIN. VERY PUZZLEING WHY FUEL GAUGE IS OK THOUGH :?
CHEERS, TONY.

_________________
NOW A CLUB MEMBER 2017057 :bluewave:


Top
   
PostPosted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 11:07 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 12:58 pm
Posts: 1293
Location: London
Almost sounds like you have water trapped somewhere, grounding when you use anything.

Have you cleaned out the fuse box and alternator plug.

Before going too far, remove one fuse and see if the problem
changes.

_________________
NRW 581W Sprint


On the motorway no one can hear me sing!
Construed as a public service, self preservation in reality.


Top
   
PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 1:26 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:45 pm
Posts: 11179
Location: Middlesex
There is a common earth point behind the dash IIRC. A bunch of black wires are all crimped together.

But before going there I'd look at the instrument voltage stabiliser and note that it earths out through the casing and mounting screws. Give that a clean and see how you do.

Never a bad thing to clean out the fuse box either.


Jonners

_________________
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.


Top
   
PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:12 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 04, 2010 10:42 am
Posts: 980
Quote:
VERY PUZZLEING WHY FUEL GAUGE IS OK THOUGH :?
CHEERS, TONY.
Jonners - if the fuel gauge is working fine it cannot be the voltage stabilizer at fault.

Paul

_________________
Image


Top
   
PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 11:17 pm 
Offline
TDC Shropshire Area Organiser

Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:12 pm
Posts: 7014
Location: Highley, Shropshire
It's not something as stupid as the knurled nut loose on the retaining bracket of the temp guage which retains the earth wire as well?

Steve

_________________
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.


Top
   
PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 11:24 am 
Offline
TDC Cheshire Area Organiser

Joined: Wed May 17, 2017 6:28 pm
Posts: 1405
Location: NANTWICH.
well folks, i have done everything that you all kindly told me about :D bad earths, cleaned multi plugs, fuse box even earthed every gauge seperately :D
still have same problem :(
anyone got any other ideas before taking the dash out again?
would it be a simple job to wire the temp gauge seperate from the loom? as this is the thing that bothers me :?:
thanks everyone.
cheers, tony.
ps, met some really nice members at capesthorne hall show yesterday :D

_________________
NOW A CLUB MEMBER 2017057 :bluewave:


Top
   
PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:34 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 12:58 pm
Posts: 1293
Location: London
Still sounds like something is grounding when you activate it.

A multimeter in the right hands would possibly have it sorted in minutes.

_________________
NRW 581W Sprint


On the motorway no one can hear me sing!
Construed as a public service, self preservation in reality.


Top
   
PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 6:39 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:45 pm
Posts: 11179
Location: Middlesex
Both fuel and temp gauges are fed from the voltage stabiliser, and will appear to work even if the stabiliser is delivering full volts.

Multimeter needed...


Jonners

_________________
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.


Top
   
PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 6:46 pm 
Offline
TDC Cheshire Area Organiser

Joined: Wed May 17, 2017 6:28 pm
Posts: 1405
Location: NANTWICH.
Quote:
Both fuel and temp gauges are fed from the voltage stabiliser, and will appear to work even if the stabiliser is delivering full volts.

Multimeter needed...
thanks jonners, but fuel gauge is perfect :) just the temp and volt gauge :(
have done all earths inc
headlights, back lights and put seperate earths to all gauges.
tony.

Jonners

_________________
NOW A CLUB MEMBER 2017057 :bluewave:


Top
   
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 26 posts ]  Go to page 1 2 Next

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing, Google and 20 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited