• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

TR6 TR6 won't start when hot?

Alfasudcrazy

Member
Offline
I have just had my TR6 out today - the first time this year with the roof down and I just stopped at a shop and when I get back into it - it won't start.
This is a long time problem with this car but I don't know what's causing it?
It starts fine when cold and as long as you don't drive it too far (hence does not get too hot) it will perform great. However if you stop it at all when hot you can forget about starting it again until its cold?
Can some one give me some ideas as to what to do - I am at my wits end over this and my precious TR6 is now as we speak still stranded outside this shop. (I should have left it in the garage of course - it being a national holiday weekend here over flippin St Patrick. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 

vettedog72

Jedi Knight
Offline
Assuming the batt spins the motor at a normal rate and you don't have gasoline running out of the carb's, you have either a fuel problem (lack of fuel at the cylinders) or an ignition problem but likely will not be both.

Further assuming that you do not have PI (if you do have petrol injection stop reading this because I have no clue about that type of system); my first thought is a vapor lock in the fuel line. I find a spray can of starter fluid will resolve the question about no fuel at the cylinders. Just a little spray at the intake orifice will make the engine fire if the ignition is working. If a little spray does not make the engine fire, you have ignition problems, mainly no spark at the plugs. If there is an ignition problem, I suspect the primary supply for the ignition coil in the start mode is some how sensitive to heat and will not conduct there by not allowing any power to the coil. If it is just in the start mode you should be able to restart the car with a push and trouble shoot the specific problem in the primary feed to the coil.
 
OP
Alfasudcrazy

Alfasudcrazy

Member
Offline
Thanks for that - I should have said I think it is an ignition related problem as there is no spark to the plugs at all when it is hot. I have switched coil's a few times with no improvement.
I don't understand what you mean exactly by this vette

"I suspect the primary supply for the ignition coil in the start mode is some how sensitive to heat and will not conduct there by not allowing any power to the coil."

I am not too well up on cars but do all my own basic servicing.
I am afraid to give my TR6 to any mechanic as if they start messing with the PI fuel injection system its a ship to the UK job to get fixed.
 

vettedog72

Jedi Knight
Offline
Al, I don’t know any thing about the PI models. But you should be able to check the primary side of the coil (the low voltage side) and see if it is getting any voltage. If is not getting any voltage at the primary side of the coil you need not change coils as you will not get the high voltage out of the secondary side of the coil. When you car is hot, will it car start when pushed?

Some Triumphs supply the coil with 12volts only when cranking and then drops to less voltage when running giving a very hot spark for cranking and less spark for running. This 12v to less voltage is a function of the ignition key in the start position vs. the run position. If it will crank when pushed, I think you will know what sub system is giving you problems.
 

sammyb

Luke Skywalker
Offline
Wasn't that one of the noted problems of the original Lucas PI system? If memory serves, that was one of the single largest gripes, and I can't remember the fix.
 

AltaKnight

Jedi Knight
Offline
You're post certainly seems to point to an ignition problem since you have no spark and you've pulled the plugs to check there is fuel on the end of them, so let's assume it's an electrical issue. Do all these checks when the car is in it's no start mode.
1) Check the points (assuming it's still on points and not electronic) are opening/closing by putting a multimeter (set to measure resistance) on the small wire coming from the distributor (temp disconnect it at the coil. As you crank the engine the meter should cycle between zero and full scale, if it stays at either zero or full scale then the points are your problem area.
2) Another area of problem is the condenser inside the distributor (the cylindrical thingy with a wire attached) this can fail giving the kind of problem you are encountering. I would change that as a matter of course just to eliminate it.
3) check with the multimeter set for +volts DC whether you have power at the +ve (or SW) connection on the coil with the ignition key in the CRANKING position. You should have FULL battery voltage there, about 13.8volts, anything less might mean the ballast resistor is shot as someone mentioned above.
4) Substitute the battery fo a known good one just to check.
5) check the continuity and terminals on the low voltage wires to the coil and from the distributor, they're known to crack and fail from heat/vibration.
6) Check the distributor cap and HT wires (particularly the one to the coil) replacing these might be the only sure way to check them.
7) Check the condition and gaps on the plugs, shud be 25 thou.
8) Last thing to chek on ignition is the timing (although if you have no spark it won't help), if all else is correct, try rotating the distributor about 5 degrees either way and see if you get anything better.
9) If it's no better then start looking at the PI

Let us know how you make out with it and whether you got it back from the pub allright. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 

bobh

Jedi Warrior
Country flag
Offline
You didn't say whether it turns over when it's hot. If it turns over and starts when cold, but will not turn over when hot. Your battery is beginning to fail.
 

tr6lover

Jedi Trainee
Offline
wait a minute, im confused here is it or is it not the pi model? if so they had a problem with fuel vaporization in the lines, if not then im sure it is a simple problem with an easy fix. let us know
Randy
 

RobT

Jedi Warrior
Offline
If it is a PI, it could be fuel vapourization in the petrol pump with hot weather. I know thist was always an issue with our 2500 PI sedan. Used to keep a jug of water in the boot to pour over the fuel pump and cool it down on those hot days. Crude but it worked!
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Gerry M TR6 TR6 Won't Start Just Clicks Triumph 17
J TR6 TR6 died/ won't start Triumph 30
S TR6 1975 TR6 won't start Triumph 3
Phil73 TR6 TR6 won't start Triumph 41
F TR6 Help..TR6 won't start after months of sitting Triumph 33
T TR6 My TR6 won't start Triumph 15
D TR6 TR6 Won't Start Triumph 6
Coyote1 TR6 TR6 Dash Support won't go in Triumph 9
D TR6 TR6 won't turn over -Rookie TR6 owner Triumph 12
roofman TR6 Tr6 won't go into gear Triumph 15
B TR6 1971 TR6 won't idle. Triumph 35
B TR6 "New" TR6 Hood Release Cable Won't Open Triumph 7
tr6web TR6 Rheostat TR6 - won't come off Triumph 6
R TR6 Crazy Ignition Failure in TR6 engine… Triumph 7
mctriumph For Sale 69 Tr6 Triumph Classifieds 0
B TR6 TR6 block decking Triumph 2
A TR6 How many fuel filters-TR6 Triumph 20
Got_All_4 General Tech TR6 Transmission Troubles Pops Out of 3rd gear Triumph 2
J TR6 Repadding TR6 frame Triumph 0
S Wanted Need an HVDA conversion kit for 73 TR6 Triumph Classifieds 3
M TR6 Sorting out new TR6 Triumph 10
tr6nitjulius For Sale TR6 Clutch Master Cylinder $40 Triumph Classifieds 0
S TR6 '72 TR6 distributor issues Triumph 3
R TR6 Limit Mechanical Advance on TR6 distributor? Triumph 8
RonC General TR TR3 Shifter on TR6 Triumph 8
B TR6 TR6 convertible top frame Triumph 0
K TR2/3/3A The TR6 gearbox Ist gear.... Triumph 1
tr6nitjulius For Sale TR6 tail light assemby & Resurfaced/New Ring Gear Flywheel Triumph Classifieds 0
tr6nitjulius TR6 TRIUMPH TR6 Triumph 7
S TR6 New tr6 purchase Triumph 31
Jim_Stevens TR6 Barn find of TR6 and many TR3 parts Triumph 9
nichola TR6 Hot spot on cylinder head - 1973 TR6 Triumph 2
R TR6 Heater control bezels TR6 Triumph 2
L For Sale 1974 Tr6 for sale Triumph Classifieds 0
tr6nitjulius TR6 TR6 Parts Visualization Triumph 0
Got_All_4 For Sale 1969 TR6 Driver Seat Triumph Classifieds 0
R TR6 TR6 Choke Cable Triumph 11
Got_All_4 For Sale TR6 TR250 TR4 parts for sale Triumph Classifieds 2
B For Sale TR6 Carburetors Triumph Classifieds 0
R TR6 TR6 Triumph 6
Chrisc9 TR6 TR6 brake light Triumph 6
glemon TR5/TR250 Answering My Own Question Rear Tube Shock Conversion Numbers TR4a-TR6 Triumph 0
tr6nitjulius General TR TRIUMPH TR6 the possibilities! Triumph 12
SherpaPilot TR6 Unidentified fitting on TR6 Engine Triumph 3
Got_All_4 TR6 Need 1969 TR6 Expert Got Questions Triumph 17
tr6nitjulius General TR 6/24/23 TRIUMPH TR6 (5) TR8 (2) Spitfire (1 RHD of 2) TR3A (1) Triumph 0
AngliaGT ANOTHER TR6,& an MGB Spotted 0
A For Sale 1974 TR6 Triumph Classifieds 1
Got_All_4 TR6 Triumph TR6 PDWA Brake Question Triumph 1
EWD For Sale ‘74 TR6 original wheel trim rings Triumph Classifieds 3

Similar threads

Top