Quick queries before I leave for Classic

[The Beaver King]

Morning,

I'm taking my old man's Wedge to Classic tomorrow and I've got a few quick questions before I go. Apparently rebuilding the car and actually driving the car are not the same thing, so I need to check what is 'normal'

1) The voltmeter. Does the needle ever go above 13V on the gauge? On my S series, when the battery is charging, the voltmeter goers up to 15V to show it is charging the battery. The wedge appears to sit at 13V (midway) even when I've had the ignition on for 25 mins and the battery low. The battery light fades, but never seems to go out when driving. So, is this normal?

2) Suction noise from engine bay when at low revs, normal? I think it's just the air filter breathing in, but I can actually hear it over the engine when at 2k rpm in 5th gear.

3) Reverse lights flick on everytime I change gear. I've checked the earths, so I'm guessing a dodgy switch? I managed to reach under the car and shake the connections to the switch, but this didn't do anything, so I guess the switch will need replacing?

4) Running very cool. Not something I'd ever thought would worry me in a TVR, but the wedge seems to sit at 60 degrees while cruising. It does have a pretty new ally rad though...

All stupid things really, but I just wanted to get expert advice on what is considered normal for a wedge. Not that any TVR is normal...

Cheers

[mrzigazaga]

The Beaver King said:

Morning,

I'm taking my old man's Wedge to Classic tomorrow and I've got a few quick questions before I go. Apparently rebuilding the car and actually driving the car are not the same thing, so I need to check what is 'normal'

1) The voltmeter. Does the needle ever go above 13V on the gauge? On my S series, when the battery is charging, the voltmeter goers up to 15V to show it is charging the battery. The wedge appears to sit at 13V (midway) even when I've had the ignition on for 25 mins and the battery low. The battery light fades, but never seems to go out when driving. So, is this normal?

2) Suction noise from engine bay when at low revs, normal? I think it's just the air filter breathing in, but I can actually hear it over the engine when at 2k rpm in 5th gear.

3) Reverse lights flick on everytime I change gear. I've checked the earths, so I'm guessing a dodgy switch? I managed to reach under the car and shake the connections to the switch, but this didn't do anything, so I guess the switch will need replacing?

4) Running very cool. Not something I'd ever thought would worry me in a TVR, but the wedge seems to sit at 60 degrees while cruising. It does have a pretty new ally rad though...

All stupid things really, but I just wanted to get expert advice on what is considered normal for a wedge. Not that any TVR is normal...

Cheers

Hi mate...Im no expert but have seen and learnt quite a bit as regards to the Wedges....


1. The voltmeter on my 350i sits a tad over the 13v but thats only recently as i have just changed the battery, Before that it sat about a mm under.
However i have seen some nearer 14v..Please remember the gauges in these cars are not always accurate...Physically test the output as it sounds like the battery might not be holding a charge or the alternator is not charging, The ignition light is the charge light in effect.

2. There is a lot of suction and my air filter sounds like a turbo when i floor it...Pop the bonnet and listen while its running...Give it a little blip manually with the throttle and listen out for any suction from any where else...Check for air leaks around the plenum.

3. Its a matter of adjustment...If too much then it will come on as you change gear...Not enough and it will only come on if you hold the gear stick against it....Like mine.

4. Running cool could be down to a couple of factors but if you have cooling fans on a thermostat controller then that should be set to kick the fans in just after the thermostat has opened...I think its around 88 Degrees...60 sounds a bit too cool...When cruising without the fans on i would of thought that the temp would be more like 80- 90 degrees...
Alloy rads are good but they can be too efficient sometimes....


Hope this helps...Ziga

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

on point 4 temp below 8x should be controlled by the thermostat, so should not matter what rad you have.
Did you fit a thermostat ?

[The Beaver King]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi mate...Im no expert but have seen and learnt quite a bit as regards to the Wedges....


1. The voltmeter on my 350i sits a tad over the 13v but thats only recently as i have just changed the battery, Before that it sat about a mm under.
However i have seen some nearer 14v..Please remember the gauges in these cars are not always accurate...Physically test the output.

This sounds very similar. I'll run the voltmeter across the alternator tonight and check; although I haven't had any issues starting it as yet.

mrzigazaga said:

2. There is a lot of suction and my air filter sounds like a turbo when i floor it...Pop the bonnet and listen while its running...Give it a little blip manually with the throttle and listen out for any suction from any where else...Check for air leaks around the plenum.

Check. Pretty sure it's the air filter, just wanted to make sure this was normal behaviour.

mrzigazaga said:

3. Its a matter of adjustment...If too much then it will come on as you change gear...Not enough and it will only come on if you hold the gear stick against it....Like mine.

Ok, well I'm not going to get a chance to adjust it before I leave (interior out job?) so I've removed the reverse bulbs

mrzigazaga said:

4. Running cool could be down to a couple of factors but if you have cooling fans on a thermostat controller then that should be set to kick the fans in just after the thermostat has opened...I think its around 88 Degrees...60 sounds a bit too cool...When cruising without the fans on i would of thought that the temp would be more like 80- 90 degrees...
Alloy rads are good but they can be too efficient sometimes....

Thermostat is set to kick in just before the red and is working well. The fan only kicks in when the engine is running at stationary, any kind of driving results in the temperature sitting at 60-70 degrees maximum. My S runs at 90 degrees normally, which is why I thought this was a bit low.

Indeed, I think it is doing its job a little too well

mrzigazaga said:

Hope this helps...Ziga

Ziga, you're a gent as usually. Thanks for the info; looks like I haven't got too much to worry about then

[The Beaver King]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

on point 4 temp below 8x should be controlled by the thermostat, so should not matter what rad you have.
Did you fit a thermostat ?

The car has a thermostat and electric fan.

While driving the temperature sits around the 60-70 mark until I stop, at which point it climbs slowly into the red and the fan kicks in. The temp then drops and holds until I start moving again, then it drops back to 60-70 again.

The thermostatic valve is definitely opening and closing (as the temp gauge is moving and the sensor is in the pipe connecting to the top of the rad).

[mrzigazaga]

No problem mate...There is always something to worry about on these cars.....Whether its trivial or gut wrenching...It seems to be the nature of the beast....Think how boring it would be if nothing went wrong with them...They make you feel alive in more than one sense of the word....


Enjoy the Classic...Plenty of pics are optional but we do love a pic on here......Cheers...Ziga

[The Beaver King]

Indeed, I think I've been spoilt with my S. Aside from a few blown hoses in France, it has generally been trouble free.

The wedge on the other hand is a little more 'dramatic'

A couple of pics, post-wash from Staurday:

[dixiebabes]

On point number 4 mine does exactly the same and has been for the 10 years iv had it. I have changed the thermostat before with no difference.

Dix

[Trickie Dickie]

On point 4 also

Mine seemed to be running too hot in France recently
BUT when back I have now found it was just the gauge that was faulty

All the gauges seem very inaccurate and temperamental from 12 years of Wedging!!!

Have a good safe trip

Just make sure you have taken out European Breakdown (or is included in your classic insurance)
as I found out it is worth it's weight in gold!!!!!

trickie

[V8 Fettler]

Laser thermometer is useful.

[mrzigazaga]

That is a nice 460SE....Very nice....Ziga