Anyone experience this.....?

[Gliderman8]

Hello all-
I usually post on the Triumph section but have a Austin Healy friend in need of help from you guys.
This is the car: Austin Healy MKII Series BJ7
This is the problem as described to me by my friend:
He says "when the car is hot" and he applies the brakes causing the brake lights to illuminate or sometimes the turn-signals it disengages the OD solenoid.
When the engine cools down, things work as they should and applying the brakes has no effect on the OD solenoid.
He thinks it may be related to the flasher relay but I've checked it and it seems to be working just fine.
Anyone else have this problem?
What's the best way to fix the problem?
Thanks for any help!

 

[Jerry]

I will take the first guess!
CHeck the wire where it exits the steering shaft through the steering box. If it has a frayed cover, you could have a short that will draw amps from the OD relay.

good luck , sounds like a tough one.

Jerry

 

[Gliderman8]

Jerry- Thanks for the quick reply. I told my friend almost the same thing last night. My feeling was that it might be "something else" drawing current away from the OD solenoid.
Hopefully others will offer their suggestions as well.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

Run a temp power source to the OD sw and drive the car to "hot" conditions and see if it still happens. That will at least give you idea if the power side is grounding or ground side is opening.

Marv

 

[Gliderman8]

Thanks Marv.... Good suggestion!

 

[dancrim]

Could be a generator or regulator problem. I would put a voltmeter on any hot point and ground and see if the voltage decreases when the car becomes hot or decreases when the brake pedal is pushed. The regulator should maintain Approx. 13.5 volts above 800 RPM. If you have a decrease, you can
investigate from there. Solenoids need 11+ volts to stay pulled in.

 

[Johnny]

Could be a generator or regulator problem. I would put a voltmeter on any hot point and ground and see if the voltage decreases when the car becomes hot or decreases when the brake pedal is pushed. The regulator should maintain Approx. 13.5 volts above 800 RPM. If you have a decrease, you can
investigate from there. Solenoids need 11+ volts to stay pulled in.

I think your friend needs a new battery. I used to use two six volt batteries and experienced the same problem. Changed to a single 12V all fine. Not that 2 six volt batteries don't work, just to many other connections need to be perfect.