New Sprint Owner, Things Not Going Well!!!

[hillman666]

Hi all,<br>
Well Im not sure Ive done the right thing but Ive just bought my first Dolly. Its a 1976 sprint in mimosa yellow. I really enjoy driving it as its such great fun but its already started to play up! Obviously likes the attention! I went to the Bromley motor pageant in it, a little under 300 mile round trip from where I live, and it went really well but cost me a small fortune in petrol as overdrive packed up! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :eek --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/eek.gif ALT=":eek"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
Still Im sure Ill get it sorted eventually! maybe! I hope! <br>
Hi to all fellow dolly owners! Im glad I found a site full of helpfull info. Keep up the good work. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
All the best!

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[SMIFTER]

Welcome to the joys of Sprint ownership!! Of course you've done the right thing!<br>
<br>
We seem to be getting a lot of new owners lately which can only be a good thing.<br>
<br>
As for your overdrive problem 9 times out of 10 its the wiring loom to the gearbox as it tends to fall apart at the base of the gearstick. An easy rewire job should sort it out.<br>


<p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.smifter1971.pwp.blueyonder.c ... >Smifter's Dolomite Sprint Website</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>

[alun n]

.........or it could be low gearbox oil level giving an insufficient operating presure.<br>
<br>
Tell us more; how did it pack up? Was it an intermittent fault which is no longer intermittent, or was it slow to engage before finally refusing to engage? Can you hear the solenoid clicking still? (Test with ignition on engine off, select third gear and flick your switch listening around the rear of the transmission tunnel. If you can hear the solenoid then the wiring/switch is OK. The switches also get problematic when dirty.<br>
<br>
If it has packed up whilst engaged and it didn't disengage DO NOT reverse the car.<br>
<br>
300 miles before your first minor fault? Things are going exceedingly well; you get to play with it sooner than expected!!

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[Jon Tilson]

aka customers tee hee...<br>
I'm in west london and could probably help you out it if the unit is not terminaly ill....<br>
call me if you want...<br>
0208<br>
941<br>
6651<br>
Jonners

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[Dave]

this gent said he lived 150 miles from Bromley Jonners! Not exactly local business,mind you the name hillman666 suggests that he will no doubt have a close association with spanners already,and if it was an Imp,he probably got a sprint because he is used to cars with interesting cooling systems!

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[hillman666]

Hi all,<br>
Many thanks for all your comments. My overdrive was working ok to start with then it started to kind of jump in and out of overdrive. Then it wouldnt ingauge at all. Ive tried the switch and it seems ok. The wiring does look a bit dodgy. Havent checked the gearbox oil as to be totally honest I wouldnt know how! Best invest in a haynes manual! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Dave, you are spot on mate! Ive had two imps! As if I didnt learn from the first one! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rolleyes --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> I had a stiletto which had a 666 number plate hence the user name.<br>
<br>


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[alun n]

Low oil is usually typified by slow but eventual engaging - unless you have no oil at all!. Jumping in and out followed by no action whatsoever might indicate the solenoid has failed.<br>
<br>
Have you tested for the 'click' of the solenoid yet? If you can still hear the click then.......oh dear! No click, then either wiring, switch or solenoid.

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[hillman666]

Alun, Ive tried listening for the solenoid but didnt hear a thing. Ive checked the switch and thats ok so it has to be a wiring fault or the solenoid itself. Can these be repaired or is it a case of bin it and source a replacement?<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START : --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ohwell.gif ALT=":"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[alun n]

The car was in 3rd or 4th when you tried wasn't it?<br>
<br>
First I'd make sure you have a live feed to the switch. The connectors to the switch are nasty little push on things that break easily so then check the integrity of these. If one of these shorts out on the stick casing then you will blow one of the two fuses - does anything else not work?<br>
<br>
Beneath the black plastic tray and beneath the rubber stick shroud the two wires which feed to the stick are connected to the sub loom with bullet type connectors; check these too, and the wiring generally for any compromise. Its a simple circuit down here - it must be as I can understand it!<br>
<br>
The solenoid is bolted to the base of the overdrive, you can see it from underneath, check the manual for what it looks like. With car in 3 or 4 test it with a direct feed, if it works then look again at the wires, if it don't then it probably needs replacing.<br>
<br>
Good luck!<br>
<br>


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[Richard the old one]

One thing that is worth looking at is the inhibit switch. I had a problem on a 1500HL O/D which turned out to be the inhibit switch. It would go open circuit when it got hot. O.D would work ok on a short run but once the gearbox got nice and warm the switch would go open circuit. If the car was left for a time the switch would cool down and remake contact. The O/D was changed before the problem was descovered.

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[ANTHONY RLD 900R]

Was this car the one sold in Southampton on ebay by a certain mr P Ed****ton on behalf of it's owner????<br>
<br>
An early mimosa sprint in suppossedly v good condition?

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[alun n]

.......the J type solenoid DOESN"T make an audible click! (I only ever had trouble with the A type on my TR6, which does). So sorry, you've been pressing your head against the transmission tunnel for no reason!!<br>
<br>
To test you need to put 12v across it and it should then, if OK, draw about 2 amps. The plunger operation can be checked visually - but you have to remove it for this. If removing, do not try to clamp the cylinder of the solenoid as this will damage it.

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[MaddMart]

You were correct in the first place Alun, it does make an audible click, I tested mine on Saturday.

<p>1974 French Blue Sprint</p><i></i>