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Triumph TR6 - INDICATORS NOT WORKING

I am new to the TR6 with little know how! But I want to do the work my self....


My gas and temp indicators are not working at all where should I start my search?


Can anyone recommend a few goog mechanics and parts stores in the Toronto GTA?
JEFF

Jeff

The thing that the gas gauge and the temp gauge have in common is the voltage stabilizer which if I remember correctly is mounted behind the speedometer. You could check the fuses first for a bad connection or blown. However I believe the brakes lights are on the same fuse so if they are working, unlikely your problem is there. Pull the speedo out and check to see if voltage is coming into and leaving the stabilizer, which kind of looks like a relay.
The speedo has 3 thumbscrew nuts which you have to reach under the dash to undo, plus of course, the cable. If I'm wrong and it is mounted on the back of the tach I'm sure someone on the site will correct me.

Doug, 73 TR6
Doug Campbell

Jeff

Doug is correct the voltage stableizer is on the back of the speedo but it only controls the gas and temp gauges.so if your turn signals dont work or the wind sheild wipers and and I think the heater fan then it is probably a fuse or in my case it was just a loose connection on the clip that held the fuse. The fuse box
is under the hood on the left side against the fender well and it's either the first or second fuse from the top.


Tom B.
T. W. Brown

two words...

dielectric grease

Check every connection if you've got time on your hands.

I'm missing my fusebox cover which let everything get pretty ugly. Cleaning on the fusebox contacts fixed my dash illumination problems.
D Hasara

This sounds familiar! Jeff, it is probably an electrical issue. When I got my 71 TR6, now more than a year ago, I had similar problems. A member here, Dan Masters, has a very modestly priced book on these electrical issues--it is worth its weight in gold!

Check your fuses. The same one works both gauges. Be careful about the fuses--american fuses aren't rated the same as the Brit fuses. You should probably just go ahead and order a bunch of new fuses from Moss or LBC or whomever.

Also, you need to start pulling apart the plug together electrical connections. Clean them really good and put them back together with a nice coat of dilectric grease. I used a dremel with a little wire brush to clean all of mine.

Welcome to the wonderful, wacky world of little British cars!

John
JL Bryan

Jeff
Welcome. Register on this BBS so you have access to the Archives.
Indeed sounds like a voltage stabilizer (VS) issue. Doug is correct, if you have brake lights, wiper/washer, Over drive,turn, 4 way flashers, and heater motor the fuse is OK. Or could simply be bad/dirty connections at the VS. Removing the spedo unfortunately is not as simple as it sounds. There is very little room up behind the dash for a hand to "blindly" feel for the thumb screws. I beleive there is only 2 thumb screws holding the 2 major gauges in-place. One is at "2 o-clock" the other at "7 o-clock" when looking at face of the gauge. Yes the spedo cable has to be unscrewed along with the trip reset knob. The big problem is getting the illumination bulbs back into the correct sockets. It is very easy to dislodge the bulbs from the gauge as you feel for the thumb nuts or even pull a wire off a connection....bin-there-dun-that!! This is not a fun job. You are almost further ahead to pull the dash out and look at wiring connections. The VS is mounted at the top of the spedo. You will also have access to the connections on the temp. and fuel gauges. Only the spedo and tach cables need to be unscrewed then the screws holding the dash inplace and pull the dash out from the top. Oh Ya, the glove box door hinge needs to be unscrewed from the door and the door left open.
Jeff, I can only say good luck and have fun.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Be careful removing the trip odometer reset cable. The plastic retaining fitting that holds it in is tricky to disconnect without breaking.

Forgive me if you are already aware that The Roaster Factory once distributed an excellent 2 volume catalog that contains detailed drawings of nearly every OEM part in the TR6 by year and approximate serial number. I can't express how valuable they have been to me. If you have a Triumph or British car club in your area, some member is likely to have a set.

Have fun!

Charlie Smith
EC Smith

Jeff,
Had the same problem myself when I got my car. Only the cause was was bad temp. and fuel senders. Temp. is easy to replace, still using a yardstick to check fuel level!
ED Edward Dorsch

I'm able to get to the back of my speedo and the V/S without removing it. Then again, I've got scrawny computer geek hands...
D Hasara

Charlie S
My preference is to remove the trip odometer from the thumb screw clamp at the dash bracket. I would not want to attempt to remove it from the back of the spedo. Also I can not agree more on the value of the 2 "bibles". I would have been lost without them during my restore. Jeff, Charlie is refering to, 2 volumes from TRF (Green Vol 2, and Blue Vol 1)
http://www.the-roadster-factory.com/
Unfortunately, one of the volumes is out of print but will be back. FREE for the asking.
Jeff, if you can get your hand up behind the spedo, try just pulling the 3 connections on and off several times to "wipe" the contacts. Do not pull off too far or you might not be able to get back on...you will be doing this "blind".
Rick C
Rick Crawford

This thread was discussed between 16/08/2004 and 17/08/2004

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