Troubleshooting Guide

First published in "Abingdon Classics" November, 1981
From the NAMGBR

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Brakes | Engine | Steering | Fuel | Electrical | Clutch | Cooling

Brakes Problem Solvers
PROBLEM	CAUSE	CURE
Excessive brake pedal travel	Brakes need adjusting or replacement. Air in system. Faulty master cylinder. Leaking or contaminated fluid.	Adjust or renew brake shoes. Bleed hydraulic system. Fit new master cylinder. Bleed hydraulic system.
Brake fade	Incorrect pad or lining material. Old or contaminated fluid. Excessive use of brakes or car overloaded.	Fit new pads or shoes. Renew brake fluid. Check vehicle load.
Spongy brake pedal	Air in hydraulic system. Shoes badly lined or distored. Faulty hydraulic cylinder.	Bleed system. Fit new pads or shoes. Check hydraulic circuit.
Brake pedal too hard	Seized wheel cylinder or caliper piston Glazed fiction material	Replace seized component. Fit new shoes/pads.
Brake pedal requires pumping or loss of pedal	Brakes wrongly adjusted Air in hydraulic system Fluid leak from component or brake pipe Loss of fluid from master cylinder	Adjust brakes. Bleed system. Check hydraulic circuit and replace parts as necessary. Check hydraulic circuit and replace parts as necessary.
Brakes grab when applied	Contaminated friction material Wrong linings fitted Scored drums or discs	Replace (don't clean) pads or shoes. Replace (don't clean) pads or shoes. Fit new drum or disc.
Brake squeal	Worn retaining pins (disc) Faulty damping shims or shoe retaining clips Dust in drum Loose backplate or caliper	Fit new pins. Fit new shims or clips. Remove dust from drums and shoe. Tighten caliper or backplate.
Brake shudder	No clearance at master cylinder operating rod Shoe tension springs either broken or week Wheel cylinder or caliper piston seizing Faulty self-adjusting mechanism Seized handbrake mechanism	Adjust rod if possible. Replace tension springs Fit new caliper or cylinder. Check mechanism. Check handbrake operation.
Brake pull to one side only	Contaminated friction material on one side (grease, oil or brake fluid> Loose backplate Seized cylinder Faulty suspension or steering	Replace shoes/pads all around. Tighten backplate. Replace seized cylinder. Check suspension and steering.
Handbrake ineffective	Worn rear shoes or pads Brakes require adjusting Faulty handbrake linkage Cable or rod requires adjustment	Fit new pads/shoes. Adjust brakes Check linkage and operating mechanism. Adjust cable or rod.
Servo (where fitted) late in operation	blocked filter Bad vacuum sealing or restricted air inlet	Clean or replace filter. Tighted vacuum hose connections and check hoses
Loss of servo action when braking heavily	Air leak in servo-vacuum low	Either overhaul servo or replace
Loss of fluid (servo only)	Seal failure Scored servo bores Damaged or corroded fluid pipes	Replace or overhaul servo. Replace or overhaul servo. Inspect and fit new pipes.

Index | Engine | Steering | Fuel | Electrical | Clutch | Cooling

Engine Problem Solvers
PROBLEM	CAUSE	CURE
Lack of compression	Faulty valve seat, excessive wear in stem or guide. Faulty head gasket. Worn pistons, rings and bores.	Recut seat and valve, fit new guide and valve. Fit new gasket or reface head. Either fit new rings, or if badly worn, fit new pistions and rings, and have block rebored.
Piston slap	As #3 above.	As #3 above.
Smoke from exhaust Lack of power	As above. Blocked crankcase breather.	As above. Check breathing apparatus.
Noisy tappet (with correct clearance)	Wear in rocker pad face and/or rocker sleeve and shaft (OHV). Worn cam follower (OHC).	Reface pad surface, replace rockers or shaft (OHV). Fit new followers (OHC).
Big-end knock	Wear between big-end shell and crankcase. Wrong torque on bolts.	Depending on wear, fit new shells, regrind crankshaft and check torqu
Mains rumble	Wear between main bearing shells and crankshaft.	As Above
Cam follower tap	Camshaft worn or follower dished.	Examine and replace followers or camshaft. Or Both
Knocking when clutch depressed. Movement at crank pulley	Excessive crankshaft end-float. Wear between crank and thrust washer.	Fit new thrust washers and recheck clearance.
Clattering from fron of engine	Excessive or slack timing chain, worn chain tensioner.	Fit new chain and tensioner. Adjust chain were necessary.
Small-end or gudgion pin knock	Excessive wear between gudgeon pin and con-rod.	Fit new bush or con-rod.
Lack of oil pressure	Excessive wear in crankshaft journals. Faulty oil pump. Blocked oil pick-up strainer. Faulty pressure-relief valve. Blocked oil filter. Lack of oil	Overhaul engine. Fit new pump. Clean pick-up. Fit new relief valve. Fit new filter. Install fresh oil.
Oil leaks	Sump gaskets or packings. Front and rear crankshaft oil seal. rocker or camshaft gasket. Oil filter.	Fit new gaskets. Fit new seals. Fit new gasket. Check filter seal.
Lack of power (engine in good condition)	Faulty ignition timing. Faulty sparking plugs, points or condenser. Wrong valve clearance.	Tune engine.

Brakes | Index | Steering | Fuel | Electrical | Clutch | Cooling

Steering Problem Solvers
PROBLEM	CAUSE	CURE
Steering feels stiff	Low tire presures Incorrect wheel alignment Stiff track rod ends Steering box/rack needs adjustment	Correct tire pressures. Correct wheel alignment. Check and replace if necessary. Adjust if necessary.
Steering wheel shake	Wheels and tires need balancing Tire pressures incorrect Incorrect wheel aligment Wheel hub nut loose Wheel bearings damaged Front suspension distored Steering box/rack needs adjustment Shock absorbers faulty	Correct. Correct alignment. Adjust wheel bearings. replace wheel bearings. Check, repair or replace. Adjust as necessary.
Steering pulls to one side	Uneven tire pressure Wheel alignment incorrect Wheel bearings worn or damaged Brakes imporperly adjusted Shock absorbers faulty Suspension distorted Steering box/rack worn	Correct. Correct. Replace and adjust. Adjust brakes. Check and rectify. Check and rectifly. Adjust and replace.
Wheel tramp	Over-inflated tires Unbalanced tire and wheel Defective shock absorber Defective tire	Correct pressure. Check and balance if necessary. Check and rectify. Repair or replace.
Abnormal tire wear	Incorrect tire pressure Incorrect wheel alignment Excessive wheel bearing play Improper driving	Check pressures. Check wheel alignment. Adjust wheel bearings. Avoid sharp turning at high speeds, rapid starting and braking, etc.
Tire noises	Improper tire inflation Incorrect wheel alignment	Correct tire pressures. Correct wheel alignment.

Brakes | Engine | Index | Fuel | Electrical | Clutch | Cooling

	Fuel Problem Solvers
PROBLEM	CAUSE	CURE
Flooding	Improper seating or damaged float needle valve or seat Incorrect float level Fuel pump has excessive pressure	Check and replace parts as necessary. Adjust float level. Check fuel pump.
Excessive fuel consumption	Engine out of tune Float level too high Loose plug or jet Defective gasket Fuel leaks at pipes or connections Choke valve operates improperly Obstructed air bleed	Tune engine. Adjust float leverl. Tighten plug or jet. Replace gaskets. Trace leak and rectify. Check choke valve. Check and clear.
Stalling	Main jet obstructed Incorrect throttle opening Slow-running adjustment incorrect Slow-running fuel jet blocked Incorrect float level	Clean main jet. Adjust throttle. Adjust slow-running. Clean jet. Adjust float leverl.
Poor acceleration	Defective accelerator pump (if fitted) float level too low Incorrect throttle opening Defective accelerator linkage blocked pump jet	Overhaul pump. Adjust float lever. Adjust throttle. Adjust accelerator linkage. Clean pumpjet.
Spitting	Lean mixture Dirty Carburetor Clogged fuel pipes Manifold draws secondary air	Clean and adjust carburetor. Clean carburetor. Clean and replace pipes. Tighten or replace gasket.
Insufficient fuel supply	Clogged carburtor Clogged fuel pipe Dirty fuel Air in fuel system Defective fuel pump Clogged fuel filter	Dismantle and clean carburetor. Clean fuel pipe. Clean fuel tank. Check connections and tighten. repair or replace fuel pump. Clean or replace filter.
Loss of fuel delivery	Pump faulty (electric) Slotted body screws loose Diaphragm cracked Loose fuel pipe connections Defective valves Cracked fuel pipes	replace pump. Tighten body screws. Overhaul fuel pump. Tighten fuel pipe connections. Replace valves. Replace fuel pipes.
Noisy pump	Loose pump mounting worn or defective rocker arm (if manual) Broken rocker arm spring (if manual)	Tighten mounting bolts. Replace rocker arm. Replace spring.

Brakes | Engine | Steering | Index | Electrical | Clutch | Cooling

Electrical Problem Solvers
PROBLEM	CAUSE	CURE
STARTER
Starter doesn't turn (lights dim)	Battery flat or worn Bad connection in battery circuit	Charge or fit new battery. Check all feed and earth connections.
starter doesn't turn (lights stay bright)	Faulty ignition switch Broken starter circuit	Check switch. Check starter circuit.
Solenoid switch chatters	Flat battery	Charge or replace battery
Starter just spins	Bendix gear sticking	Remove starter and clean or replace Bendix gear.
CHARGING CIRCUIT
Low or no charge rate	Broken or slipping drive belt Poor connections on or faulty alternator.	Fit new belt. Check and replace alternator.
LIGHTING CIRCUIT
No lights (or very dim)	Flat or faulty battery, bad battery connections	Check battery and connections.
side and rear lights inoperative although stoplights and flashers work	Fuse blown	Fit correct value fuse
One lamp fails	Blown bulb Poor bulb contact Bad earth connection Broken feed	Fit new bulb. Check connections. Check connection. Check feed.
Flasher wrning bulb stays on or flashers twice as fast	Faulty bulb or connection on front or rear of offending side	Fit new bulb, make good connection.
Lights dim when idling or at low speed	Loose drive belt Flat battery Faulty charging circuit	Tighten belt. Check charge output and battery. Check charge output and battery.
One dim light	Blackened bulb Bad earth Tarnished reflector	fit new bulb or sealed-beam. Check earth connections. Fit new bulb or sealed-beam.
WINDSCREEN WIPERS
Wipers do not work	Blown fuse Poor connection Faulty switch Faulty motor	Fit fuse. Check connections Check switch. remove and examine motor.
Motor operates slowly	Excessive resistance in circuit or wiper drive worn brushes	Check wiper circuit. Remove motor and check brushes.

	Clutch Problem Solvers
PROBLEM	CAUSE	CURE
Clutch slips	Clutch facing worn Clutch facing contaminated Warped clutch cover or pressure plate Incorrect adjustment (if adjustable)	replace clutch assembly. replace Clutch assembly. Replace clutch assembly.
Clutch drags	faulty clutch hydraulics (if hydraulic) Faulty clutch adjustment (if adjustable) Clutch disc warped Clutch hub spines worn or rusty diaphragm worn or mal-adjusted	Overhaul or replace clutch hydraulics. Adjust clutch. replace clutch disc. replace or lubricate clutch. Replace pressure plate
Clutch chatter	Faulty pressure plate Faulty clutch discLoose or worn engine mounting	Replace pressure plate. Replace clutch disc. Replace mounting.
Clutch noise	Insufficient grease on bearing sleeve Clutch installed incorrectly	Lubricate Check installation.
Clutch noise (pedal down)	Faulty release bearing	Replace bearing
Clutch noise (pedal on the way up)	Damaged or worn pilot bearing	Fit new bearing
Clutch grabs	Contaminated clutch lining Clutch worn or loose rivets Clutch splines worn or rusted Warped flywheel or pressure plate Loose mountings on engine or power unit.	replace clutch. replace clutch. Clean or replace. Repair or replace. Tighten or replace.

Brakes | Engine | Steering | Fuel | Electrical | Index | Cooling

Cooling Problem Solvers
PROBLEM	CAUSE	CURE
Overheating	Inoperative thermostat Radiator fin choked with mud, leaves, etc. Incorrect ignition and valve timing Dirty oil and sludge in engine Inoperative water pump Loose fan bels Restricted radiator Inaccurate temperature gauge Impurtiy in water	Replace thermostat Clean out air passage. Tune engine. Change engine oil and filter. Replace (or check electrical). Adjust tension. Flush Radiatro. Replace temperature gauge. Use sofe, clean water.
Loss of coolant	Leaking radiator hose(s) Damaged radiator Leak at heater connection or plug damaged cylinder head gasket Cracked cylinder block Cracked cylinder head Loose cylinder head bolts	Replace. Repair or replace radiator. Repair or replace. Replace gasket. Check engine oil and refill as necessary. Replace cylinder block. Check engine oil in crankcase for mixing with water. Replace cylinder head. Tighten cylinder head bolts.
Overcooling	Inoperative thermostat Inaccurate temperature gauge	Replace thermostat. Replace temperature gauge.
Poor circulation	Restriction in system Insufficient coolant Inoperative water pump Loose fan belt Inoperative thermostat	Check hoses for crimping. Clear the system of rust and sludge. Replenish. Replace water pump. Adjust fan belt. Replace thermostat
Corrosion	Excessive impurity in water Infrequent flushing and draining of system	Use soft, clean water. Flush thoroughly at least twice a year.

From the NAMGBR.

Article by Abingdon Classics
Posted on: 2006-04-02

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