Crazy speedo and starter or bad earth?
Discussion
The speedo on my 94 Griff 500 reads erratically particularly when the cooling fans cut in or the heater is switched on. It can read anything between 10 & 30 mph when at a standstill, not too accurate when at speed either (when comparing with a Road Angel).
Also suffered from a hot start problem, namely slow cranking when hot (Seperate thread on this).
The battery and starter have been replaced and the speedo re-calibrated but I am still having problems and am wondering if these symptoms point to a bad earth.
Having checked the bible it explains about the front earth bolt accessed just beneath the radiator (driver side) and I can access this ok with a long 17mm socket from the front. The only 'earths' I can see, seem to be a bunch bolted to the lower Anti Roll Bar bolt (drivers side), which is a true swine to get at (looks like rad out to get access). Can anyone confirm I am on the right track here?
Also had a look at getting to the earths either side of the transmission tunnel but cant figure out how the console comes out, can anyone help as its a real niggle.
Also suffered from a hot start problem, namely slow cranking when hot (Seperate thread on this).
The battery and starter have been replaced and the speedo re-calibrated but I am still having problems and am wondering if these symptoms point to a bad earth.
Having checked the bible it explains about the front earth bolt accessed just beneath the radiator (driver side) and I can access this ok with a long 17mm socket from the front. The only 'earths' I can see, seem to be a bunch bolted to the lower Anti Roll Bar bolt (drivers side), which is a true swine to get at (looks like rad out to get access). Can anyone confirm I am on the right track here?
Also had a look at getting to the earths either side of the transmission tunnel but cant figure out how the console comes out, can anyone help as its a real niggle.
If you cant get a slim socket it on the one ynder the RAD you may have to cut a slot in the GRP under the Bolt and get an open ended spanner on it through the slot. I had to do this on my old Nose cone, but with the new one a socket goes on OK.
Not sure this would cause the speedo to go wonky though but worth a check.
To get at the ones under the Centre console you have to under the screws behind each seat holding the centre console. Also you may have to release the Handbrake Cable as when you lift the Console up you may not be able to lift it high enough to get to the two bolts. Undoing The Handbrake Cable means you can lift the console over the HB handle and easily get to the Bolts.
Hope that helps and makes sense
BB
Not sure this would cause the speedo to go wonky though but worth a check.
To get at the ones under the Centre console you have to under the screws behind each seat holding the centre console. Also you may have to release the Handbrake Cable as when you lift the Console up you may not be able to lift it high enough to get to the two bolts. Undoing The Handbrake Cable means you can lift the console over the HB handle and easily get to the Bolts.
Hope that helps and makes sense
BB
Thanks BB,
I can access the bolt ok under the rad but cannot see the earth cables, are they that obvious?
Does the lower Anti Roll bar bolt normally have what looks like a bunch of earth cables on it or have mine been repositioned I wonder??? Also on the console, do you have to disconnect the door openers and switch panel (heater etc) or should there be enough movement by just disconnecting the HBrake and lifting up just high enough?
Thanks David for the starter tip, I know you mentioned it to me before but I was convinced it may be an earth thing (maybe wishful thinking) as when cold its great. So will look at that mod too soon as I have checked out the earths.
I can access the bolt ok under the rad but cannot see the earth cables, are they that obvious?
Does the lower Anti Roll bar bolt normally have what looks like a bunch of earth cables on it or have mine been repositioned I wonder??? Also on the console, do you have to disconnect the door openers and switch panel (heater etc) or should there be enough movement by just disconnecting the HBrake and lifting up just high enough?
Thanks David for the starter tip, I know you mentioned it to me before but I was convinced it may be an earth thing (maybe wishful thinking) as when cold its great. So will look at that mod too soon as I have checked out the earths.
Glad I am not the only one - thought I was going mad! 'A right bugger' you are not kidding!!! I replaced the bolt which had the earths after removing the Rad today! (Lower Anti Roll bar bolt) and cleaned everything up.
Still the same, so next is to get to the other earths under the console along with the starter mod.
Still the same, so next is to get to the other earths under the console along with the starter mod.
I know that really one should find the problem rather than "mask" it, but if its been like it since it was made, maybe, just maybe it was not quite right to start with ! I can not believe the difference, even from cold it spins over twice as fast, when hot 400 times as fast. Halfords sell many "earth straps", i made mine from "jump start" cable, go to Halfords !
Thanks for the tip David, will do that. How long was the strap you fitted and where did you fit it to on the Engine?
Also, I cant figure out how this console/transmission cover comes out even after reading the bible. As I have removed the two screws behind the seats and released the HBrake but I am sure it is fixed at the front below the dash, it still wont budge and I dont want to force much more for fear of breaking something (its creaking under pressure).
The door release handles are obviously attached together with the switch panel but is there enough give in those items for it still to move clear enough to offer access to the earth points beneath?
Any more help is greatly appreciated.
Also, I cant figure out how this console/transmission cover comes out even after reading the bible. As I have removed the two screws behind the seats and released the HBrake but I am sure it is fixed at the front below the dash, it still wont budge and I dont want to force much more for fear of breaking something (its creaking under pressure).
The door release handles are obviously attached together with the switch panel but is there enough give in those items for it still to move clear enough to offer access to the earth points beneath?
Any more help is greatly appreciated.
Think from memory if you tilt the seats forward and then as you lift the rear of the console up and pull to the rear of the car too it should lift up and over the HB. Dont think it is attached anywhere else but then its a TVR and may be
the Door openers should come out with the console.
Also I never lifted mine out completely to reach the earthing bolts just up enough to get to the earths.
BB
the Door openers should come out with the console. Also I never lifted mine out completely to reach the earthing bolts just up enough to get to the earths.
BB
FWIW:
It may be overkill, but in attempts to circumnavigate the dreaded earthing problems I duplicated the front, dash and transmission tunnel chassis earth points.
I added extra earths, by adding a link cable between both sides of the transmission tunnel mounting bolts. In addition I ran an extra one to the lower dash to make a terminal post (bolt through under dash for instruments etc...). This replaced the steering column earth point - just linked a small earth cable back to the column.
I did similar with the front earths (mine was also on the ARB) by using 2 straps to the front chassis mounts to a terminal post (bolt) through the undertray to pick up all the front earths.
Regarding the starter / engine connection I noted whilst replacing engine mounts that my engine strap went to the outside of the rubber of the engine mount. I reconnected it on the engine side of the rubber, the starter certainly seemed to have a bit more oomph then.
Of course YMMV depending on how your car was built - and how many 'auto-electricians' have 'operated' on the wiring, but I found them to be practical, particularly if you had to open the said areas up to check/clean/apply contact grease.
To avoid the weight penalty of the few extra cables and bolts, I watch my doughnut intake very carefully :-)
Dave
It may be overkill, but in attempts to circumnavigate the dreaded earthing problems I duplicated the front, dash and transmission tunnel chassis earth points.
I added extra earths, by adding a link cable between both sides of the transmission tunnel mounting bolts. In addition I ran an extra one to the lower dash to make a terminal post (bolt through under dash for instruments etc...). This replaced the steering column earth point - just linked a small earth cable back to the column.
I did similar with the front earths (mine was also on the ARB) by using 2 straps to the front chassis mounts to a terminal post (bolt) through the undertray to pick up all the front earths.
Regarding the starter / engine connection I noted whilst replacing engine mounts that my engine strap went to the outside of the rubber of the engine mount. I reconnected it on the engine side of the rubber, the starter certainly seemed to have a bit more oomph then.
Of course YMMV depending on how your car was built - and how many 'auto-electricians' have 'operated' on the wiring, but I found them to be practical, particularly if you had to open the said areas up to check/clean/apply contact grease.
To avoid the weight penalty of the few extra cables and bolts, I watch my doughnut intake very carefully :-)
Dave
I seem to have found the culprit 
once I got the consol out the way. As suspected it turned out to be the drivers side transmission tunnel earth point was loose.
Took the bolt out, cleaned it all up and bingo seems to have steadied the speedo (not perfect but much better than before). Starter seems to turn much faster too particularly when hot
I may just do the adiitional earth mods as suggested tho, as this may cure the speedo completely. All guages seems much more reliable too. Amazing what a difference this has made!
Having owned a Griff for just six months, this forum makes life much easier when things do go wrong.
Thanks again to you all
once I got the consol out the way. As suspected it turned out to be the drivers side transmission tunnel earth point was loose. Took the bolt out, cleaned it all up and bingo seems to have steadied the speedo (not perfect but much better than before). Starter seems to turn much faster too particularly when hot
I may just do the adiitional earth mods as suggested tho, as this may cure the speedo completely. All guages seems much more reliable too. Amazing what a difference this has made!
Having owned a Griff for just six months, this forum makes life much easier when things do go wrong.
Thanks again to you all
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