Electrical malfunction

[reavestr6]

My 1974 TR6 has a puzzling problem(imagine that).I can be driving along with the car running perfectly fine and I will suddenly lose all electrical power to the vehicle.Most of the time,it is only momentary and the power comes right back,but one time the car totally quit.No electrical power of any kind.I pushed the car off the road and checked the obvious places(battery cables,engine ground,fusible link,fuses etc.)and found no apparent cause.After jiggling wires around a few minutes,it fired up and I drove home.I then checked things again,but still found no problem.This has happened once more since then.I did a frame off,total restoration on the car,so I know my way around it pretty well,but i am stumped.Any suggestions of obvious places to look that I have overlooked would be appreciated. <font color="red"> </font>

 

[lesingepsycho]

Perhaps the ignition switch? It sounds like you've already checked most everything else that would control the whole electrical system, but if you think about it, the ignition switch is a big switch that controls the whole electrical system too.

JACK

 

[piman]

Hello ReavesTR6,
all the power, lights included? If it just stops, I would go with Jack and look to the ignition switch or the feed to it.

Alec

 

[dklawson]

I had a problem like this but it WAS related to the battery cables. The wire was broken under the insulation. Sometimes when I hit a bump the joint would "open" and I'd loose all power and the engine would die. I like the idea of the ignition switch better, but be sure to go back and actually push/pull on the battery cables to make sure they are intact under the insulation.

 

[stob62]

This was actually a special option offered by Triumph (@ $150). It was for that special buyer who liked to live on the edge & who didn't think the car was unreliable enough.
I think you need to remove the engine and use a special tool that costs $5,000 to disabable the feature.

 

[Guest]

Had a similar problem on my 73, ignition switch was the culprit. If the power died I would just jiggle the key vigorously or jiggle the wires behind the switch and it would restart. The switch finally died though, couldn't start the car at all.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Probably the ignition switch but in the meantime get yourself about 3' of 14 gauge wire, put an alligator clip on each end and know where to connect it to the battery & coil so you don't get stranded when the switch gets to a 100% failure.

If you never use the wire that's okay; toss it in the boot... you'll need someday.

 

[sammyb]

Don't discount the wires at the ammeter -- if the wires come loose, or the ammeter itself is on the fritz, that will kill all power to the car.

 

[piman]

Hello Sam,
surely a 1974 TR6 doesn't have an ammeter?

Alec

 

[ROAR]

I had a problem with my 74 TR6 when it was new...seems there is a connector on the positive side of the battery thet was defective (big red plug thing) and when it moved a certain way the power went off...might check it out...