tr7triumph.com

Even though I'd decided to use one of my TR7's as transport to work each day, it has coincided with my Merc. deciding that it doesn't want to go!

The Merc is a 1998 E55 AMG (V8) that cost nearly £80k new and now the on-board computer has decided there's a problem, but it won't tell us what the problem is, and doesn't want to travel for more than 5 minutes before shutting down.

Meanwhile, the 36 year old (non-computerised) TR7 continues to get me to work each day with a smile on my face - apart from needing that extra gear.

I even get physical comments from other road users, like thumbs up, that I never get in the Merc.

Can't wait for the nice weather so I can tax the V8 DHC nd really enjoy the daily commute even more.

My first ever foray into German motoring has certainly been tarnished.

Cheers Paul,

1976 TR7 FHC (ACG 3115)
1977 TR7V8 3.9 FHC rally car (ACG 35005)
1980 TR7V8 3.5 DHC

www.Triumph-Cars.co.uk

Wife's friend's 2007 Dodge Caravan shut down coming back from Victoria (everything went dead). After coasting to a stop, she restarted it a it's worked fine since but she's selling it as you don't want to be replacing computers on these things. No check engine light and don't have a code reader to see if there's a code in the memory. I'm fixing a few things on it so she can sell it. Give me an old car any time that you can fix without shelling out big bucks.



- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT

Had a Peugeot 206 for two years now and it has done 15000 miles in that time, it's a gti annd doesn't get spared when I'm allowed to drive it. all it has had is tyres, brake discs/pads, exhaust and a coilpack, that can't be bad for a 2003 Peugeot.
on the other hand, I'm still unravelling the mistakes of the previous owner with the tr7v8 so can't call it reliable at all! Not the cars fault though.
Clayps.

What's that coming over the hill? Is it a monster?

Oo-err,

Reminds me of my 7V8 when I'd just converted it.

The heat sensitive Opus distributor shut down after 10 minutes, had to cool for 15 mins before it would function again , run again for 5 minutes till shutdown etc etc.

Hope the Merc is a cheap fix.

Adam



TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, S/S Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & PolyBushes all round, Anti- Dive, Strut-Top Roller Bearings, Capri Vented Discs & Calipers, Braided Hoses, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AT 14" 5 Spokes or Maestro Turbo 15" Alloys, Cruise Lights, S/S Heater Pipes, Replacement Fuel Tank. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991 courtesy of S&S V8 conversion and big brake kits.

Clearly the Merc doesn't like a proper car as stable mate, and wants to be sold to another home [:P]
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by paulheritage</i>

... I even get physical comments from other road users, like thumbs up, that I never get in the Merc ... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
In the Merc that's probably thumps down or the middle finger [:D]


<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)</font id="blue">
<b>[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]<u><b><font size="3"><font color="red">My Weblog</font id="red"></font id="size3"></b></u>[/url]</b></i></center>

It's definately outnumbered !

Bought a D900 diagnostic scanner (£30) and now tells me that cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4 (out of are misfiring, and because each cylinder has 2 plugs and it's own coil I can work out it isn't ignition. Online experts are saying the Cat(s) are the likely problem, but I guess this is for another forum....

Cheers Paul,

1976 TR7 FHC (ACG 3115)
1977 TR7V8 3.9 FHC rally car (ACG 35005)
1980 TR7V8 3.5 DHC

www.Triumph-Cars.co.uk

Fuel Pump? or Fuel pump Relay/relays?

1975 TR7
1977 TR7 Sprint

When I had a misfire on my modern car I replaced the coil packs. It cured the problem, been fine ever since.

www.triumphtrs.co.uk
THE Coca Cola car
The C+C Conversions rally car
TR7 Sprint
TR7V8 rally car

Swap the coil packs about and see if the faulty/misfiring follows the packs......or just set it on fire!

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by paulheritage</i>

It's definately outnumbered !

Bought a D900 diagnostic scanner (£30) and now tells me that cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4 (out of are misfiring, and because each cylinder has 2 plugs and it's own coil I can work out it isn't ignition. Online experts are saying the Cat(s) are the likely problem, but I guess this is for another forum....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Didn't Clarkson have a similar problem with an old Merc on Top Gear recently? It turned out that the 'cheap' Merc. needed £800 of coil packs!

Here's another very good reason why I prefer the TR7 to modern cars; a charming lack of plastic in the engine and drive train!

Case in point, my lovely niece has a 1998 BMW 318i with a standard 5-speed gearbox. This car has more fragile plastic used on critical parts than I care to imagine. And, as time passes, the effects of age and/or heat degrades the plastic causing various catastrophic failures. The plastic water hose spigot on the back of the head is one. The plastic clutch lever pivot pin is another. The plastic oil filter cap I anticipate to blow like Vesuvius any day now.

Mind you, remember the Great TR7 Recall Campaign wherein the boffins at Triumph sent out bushel baskets of ALUMINIUM thermostat housing plugs to replace the plastic plugs that were popping like champagne corks causing the cylinder heads to warp into scrap metal? I do!

I am currently researching an improved Clutch Pivot pin made in a silicone bronze for the BMW as the plastic item has collapsed into small chunks. I am so thankful the pivot pin inside our TR7 is 100% steel and threaded into the front of the gearbox, both 4 and 5 speed. It will NEVER fail. It may/will wear a hole thru the dimple in the clutch lever, but that pivot pin will remain ready for the next lever.

I have come to hate plastic parts. I could go on with other nightmares in this theme, but you get the general idea why I like the TR7.

Mildred Hargis

trash in the fuel tank is a very difficult problem to analyze. as you run the car for a short time, the garbage in the tank clogs the filter sack that protects the fuel pump (which is inside the fuel tank) and stops fuel flow to the engine. later, after the engine stops, and you allow the trash to fall away from the fuel pump sock or screen. the engine may run again. there is no majic engine analysis that will diagnose this problem. only your brain. secondly, the ignition amplifier, or the majic box that has replaced old style points ignition may be a problem. this is almost impossible to detect also, but is a symptom of your scenario. i have had these problems here in the usa and in england. sometimes diagnosis is 90 percent of the cure. cheers, jeff.

Yep, turned out the experts were a bit baffled by the codes being given out, so they decided to cut the exhaust near the right side cat. Turns out the material was gone, and had broken up and moved down and blocked the rear cat. This is what caused the computer to shut down the right bank, lack of exhaust.

Merc. main dealer wanted £2500 for replacement cats (right side only, not including left side cats) ! My garage got non-branded for £250 and now fitted and working perfect, although still using the TR7 for work, because my wife's Isuzu Trooper has now given up and she's using the Merc.

Cheers, Paul.

Cheers Paul,

1976 TR7 FHC (ACG 3115)
1977 TR7V8 3.9 FHC rally car (ACG 35005)
1980 TR7V8 3.5 DHC

www.Triumph-Cars.co.uk