How To Use the Diagnostic Pages

1. Go to the Main Diagnostics Page. The link should open in a new window.
   
2. Determine which section your problem falls under (Engine, Electrical, Mechanical, Body).
   
3. Look at the symptom descriptions under each section heading. Find the one that best corresponds to your problem. If it is hyperlinked, there is information related to that problem posted on the section sub-page. If it is not hyperlinked, then there is no information on that problem as of yet; see more help for further assistance.
   
4. Click on the hyperlink, if it is available. This should bring up a checklist roughly akin to the one presented below. Follow the checklist! There is more detailed information on following the list immediately following it, below.
   
5. The checklists will not go into detail on how to perform various procedures. For more detailed information on these procedures, check out the procedures or reference pages. For 'official' reference material, see the Bentley Manual (BL Shop manual) or the Haynes manual. Those titles (and others) are available in the TR6 Bookstore.

Example Checklist:

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My TR6 runs too hot/too cold.

• It runs too hot.(1)
  • (2)First of all, what's normal? If your gauge is reading correctly, your should see your temp needle hang out around the middle of the dial, drifting upwards when stopped in traffic. TR6's should have a radiator shroud in the engine compartment to channel cool air over the radiator. These resemble three panels of plyboard or vinyl which fit create a 'duct' between your radiator front and the front grille. If you don't have one, you may wish to consider getting one. This solution is only recommended if the TR is overheating during hard use, or normal use in hot weather! Check Chris Kantarjiev's article on achieving better cooling. If the TR is overheating under relatively benign conditions, or has suddenly begun overheating, run the checklist below.
  • Do you have an oil cooler?(3)
    • (4)Yes: Do you have a thermostat in the oil lines?
      • Yes: Check it to make sure it is functioning, and opening when warm.
      • No: Continue.
    • No: Continue.
  • (5)Check your instrumentation. Try this: check your fuel and amperage gauges. Are they reading correctly?
    • No: These three instruments share an electrical circuit (fuse) and voltage regulator. Something may be wrong there; jump to Instrument Trouble.(6)
    • Yes: Continue.
  • It's possible that your temp sensor is not operating correctly. Does it work correctly?
    • No: This may be your problem. Replace it and see if that helps. If not, continue with checklist below.
    • Yes: Continue with checklist.

In the example checklist above, the first heading is the symptom header, which corresponds to the original link on the main diagnostics page. The heading in red text(1) is the specific problem; in this case, the TR is running at too high a temp. Immediately below the specific problem, there may be introductory information(2) which offers background info or general advice which you should examine before delving into your car's systems. In our example above, the intro material offers advice on what 'normal' temp readings are in a TR6, and general suggestions for improving cooling, if your overheating problem is not acute or sudden.

The checklist itself will be (usually) formatted around a series of yes/no questions (3). Read the question, then go to the subsection which corresponds to your answer(4). When you finish with the subsection, skip the other subsection answer and continue downwards to the next step(5).

Occasionally, you will be directed to jump to another section of the diagnostics pages, in order to follow a more appropriate checklist(6).

If the checklists do not help you solve your problem, you should check out the Getting More Help page.

Thanks for stopping by! Please, read the warnings page before attempting any work on your car; it contains two sections.. The most important, shown first, pertains to your physical safety! The second (important to me) offers information about the limits of my legal responsibility in the event of mishap.

These pages, hopefully, will only get better. How? By my sneaking more time, but most importantly through the efforts of those on the net. I will do my best to keep abreast of the triumphs mailing list and to nab advice offered there for inclusion into these pages; however, as a grad student I don't always have time to keep up. If you've faced an annoying problem that you've solved and want to help others, by all means write me with a brief description of your diagnosis and fix (including failed diagnoses!) and I'll happily put it up here. If you catch errors above, the mistake is mine; email me and let me know ASAP and I'll change it. Thanks to all, and keep your TR6's proudly rolling.

J.B. Zimmerman zimerman@mit.edu
70 TR6 CC58880 'Amanda' (below).

• Return to Diagnostics Page

J.B. Zimmerman / MIT / zimerman@mit.edu