Mystery Pipes and dodgy rev counter

[niva441]

Hello

I've just managed to find some time for my recently acquired +2 and try to sort out some of the problems with it.

Whilst looking round it I noticed there were 2 pipes on each side emerging from the boot floor behind the rear wheels. I've managed to trace one back to the rear hatch but haven't managed to remove the trim panel to trace the other one, that disappears ahead of the wheel and fuel tank. I'd have left them alone but the one on the nearside can be pulled through. Can anyone help me with what it does and where it goes.

I'm also trying to work out what is up with the rev counter. It reacts slightly to engine revs, but never reads more than 2000 rpm. I've tried to remove the dash, but the Wedge bible advice of just pulling the veneer away doesn't seem to work (it may be someone has been there before me).

From referencing the wedge bible I'm guessing my 83 registered car is actually an 81 build S1 as it has all black wiring.

[leorest]

niva441 said:

Whilst looking round it I noticed there were 2 pipes on each side emerging from the boot floor behind the rear wheels. I've managed to trace one back to the rear hatch but haven't managed to remove the trim panel to trace the other one, that disappears ahead of the wheel and fuel tank. I'd have left them alone but the one on the nearside can be pulled through. Can anyone help me with what it does and where it goes.

Might be a fuel tank breather. Mine(series 2 350)has a nylon pipe (5mm dia IIRC)connected to the fuel filler neck (or tank, can't exactly remember) which goes into the boot near the wheel arch then goes up and over to the other side before disapearing out near the other wheel arch. I guess the idea is to keep any venting gasses away from the tail pipe.

niva441 said:

I'm also trying to work out what is up with the rev counter. It reacts slightly to engine revs, but never reads more than 2000 rpm. I've tried to remove the dash, but the Wedge bible advice of just pulling the veneer away doesn't seem to work (it may be someone has been there before me).

Try checking engine and dash earthing. Run a fat wire directly from a suspect earth to the battery. If it starts to behave you've found it! Same can be done bypassing suspect signal wires. Removing the veneer wont help this is just a trim panel. You need to get up behind the dash. Best of luck. I used a lot of swear words last time I was up there!
Leo

[jchase]

On the +2 I had (Great little car by the way) - it had two filler necks, and each neck had a vent tube that ran up over the top seat belt anchor on each side, and then back out to the road behind the wheels. So I had four tubes comming out, two tiny ones for the hatch drains, and two for the fuel vents.

hope this helps.

[SEvans]

niva441 said:

I've tried to remove the dash, but the Wedge bible advice of just pulling the veneer away doesn't seem to work (it may be someone has been there before me).

If the dash is the same as my 83 200 then you need to remove the whole dash to get at anything. The veneer panel has studs grafted in which are bolted from the back. To remove the dash there are two bolts, one at either end, access is from underneath, but they are not easy to get at. There are also two brackets, one near the drivers door and one on the passenger side of the centre console.
When I put the dash back in I used drilled core plugs as washers on the difficult to access bolts. If you tighten these so the dash is a 'snug' fit it's possible to remove/install it without having to access these again.

[jchase]

oh yes, I found that it saves time to remove the entire steering column to access the dash (this was with the early TR7 column). If you simply drop the column it can damage the bulkhead steering axle seal.

good luck.

[wedg1e]

The all-black wiring persisted for some time, so it may be OK for your '83 car.

[MJG280]

The two pipes behind the rear wheels will be the drains from the rear hatch. Pour some water onto the glass to see if they are running free. If you have to replace them the trim will have to be removed and will tear.

The two pipes appearing in front of the rear wheels through the sills are the overflows for the petrol tank

[niva441]

Thanks for all your help

At least I've got some idea what I'm looking for now. I'm particularly surprised that the fuel tank vent takes such a convoluted route.

[gemini]

The guys are correct about the pipes exceptthe lst comment on overflow for fuel - they are breathers as mentioned by some previously
The breather takes a weird route, it does go up and overte seat belt mounting and back to infront of the rear wheel
I had a problem with mine leaking fuel and found that a bigger breather cured it
It can be seen through removal of the B pillar cover / vent

[degz]

when I had to replace my speedo cable, I found I could just reach the back of the clocks without removing the dash, you may also be lucky, as you may only be checking the earth. Also Mk1 wedges have longer front wings, 1565 cm. with a door size of 1133 cm. Mk2 tasmin wings are smaller, not sure about the door size. Not sure when the change took place, I am guessing mid 1982, but someone will no doubt correct that.