TR2/3/3A TR3A Electrical and Missing Problem

[Got_All_4]

I guess I'd better get these questions in before it's too late. Bummer! Any way my 1960 TR3 has developed a missing problem on the way back from a car show a few weeks ago. It ran like a champ on the way there. I guess you can't even think it that how well ones car is running. Serves me right. Going down the highway at 55 it' starts missing. As I would slow down and after turning mainly to the left it would smooth out and run great for a 1/4 mile. Then start missing again until I turned. Sounds like a float problem? I did have to replace the float valve on the front carb last year.

The second is an electrical problem where the car lights dim and it's hard to keep it running then it just shuts down completely. No ignition lights. No nothing! I try to fiddle with the ignition wires and wiggle the key while down with no results. In a few minutes it comes back to life. What's going on?

 

[TR3driver]

Any way my 1960 TR3 has developed a missing problem

Leave it alone, and it will come home ...



Sorry, couldn't resist.

Don't recognize the missing problem (do you have a photograph ?), but the electrical one sounds like a bad connection at the battery clamps. Remove them from the battery, clean both surfaces until they are bright, apply a light layer of battery terminal spray (or Vaseline will do in a pinch), and make sure the clamps are actually clamping on the posts.

Could be a bad connection somewhere else (do the horns still work ?) but that's where I would start. Next suspect would be where the battery ground strap attaches to the body.

 

[Got_All_4]

Maybe I should leave my coat where I saw it last and it will return and wait for me like a lost hunting beagle?

 

[DougF]

When you find that coat, the car keys in the pocket are mine!

 

[Andrew Mace]

I think you might be right about the "missing" problem being somehow float or otherwise fuel-related. Do you have any inline fuel filters? Could be as simple as a filter needing to be changed, but somewhat more likely could be a float not at the proper level or possibly a touch of dirt in the needle valve. The left-turn aspect is what does make me lean more towards the float possibility, but that's just a guess....

 

[Got_All_4]

I do have a in line filter just before the carb inlet. I will check it and the bowl on the pump. Been a long time since that's been check. Thanks! I had to move it last night and it started right up and was going to take it for a spin when it shut down again. No electrical power. I haven't checked it today to see if it's come back.

 

[tom628]

I don't remember which side of the SU carbs the float bowls are on, but does the problem occur on right turns also?
How about under acceleration or fairly hard braking?

Tom

 

[Got_All_4]

I notice it more on left turns but yes right turns also. When it would start missing it was continuous with short interruptions of smoothness. I tried to pull out the choke and that did not help while missing.

 

[Got_All_4]

Float bowls are on the right side of the carbs.