one step forward two back

[nofinchance]

Feeling realy pleased with myself after mending my windows I took the chance of the first dry no snow day in weeks to have a drive of my TR.I Was just begining to enjoy myself when a small person sounded like they wanted to get out from under the bonnet and were using a lump hammer to do it I stopped and the car died.On trying to restart it was like having a flat battery it did fire but would not run for long.I got towed home and the car ran on tickover all the way and powerd itself up my slope into my garage still banging like a good un so engine trouble is a good bet.Anyway It is the last straw for me and I will not be repairing it.The car is in the for sale section here and also elsewhere.I want to thank you all for your kind help,support and advice during my dip into 'world triumph' Please do not tell me to keep going as I have made up my mind to sell and get either a mx5,mr2 or Z3.Wish me more luck with these as every trip in my TR has ended with the AA[xx(].Thankyou all again
steph [:X] xx

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[stevie_a]

<font color="teal"><b>Good luck with the sale Steph

also I hope you have fun in the modern world

don't be a stranger and look in on us now and again.</b></font id="teal">

...........................

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<font size="4"><font color="green"><i>If it's not broke don't fix it.</i></font id="green"></font id="size4">

[FI Spyder]

Sorry to hear that. A woman walked up to me while I was waiting outside the library in my Spider and asked me about my car as she was thinking of buying one from a friend. I told her not to unless she did her own work (unlikely as she was dressed in her business suit.) She suggested a British car repair place near here and I told her not to go anywhere near it and told her some of the horror stories from people I knew who had delt with them. (I wonder if it was Yellow TCT I picked up for $100 the following Spring.)

My brother-in-law (who used to own a Sprite many years ago) was looking for a sports car and I directed him toward a Miata (MX5) as he does not do car work (he's a carpenter in the movie business). These cars (any classic British car) aren't for everyone and I don't hesitate to direct people away from them if I don't think they have the aptitude/fortitude to have a successful relatinship.

That being said my Spider is about as reliable as my Acura (currently no TR7 dash lights but the ICU on Integra is corroded/NFG and not available, comparable problem) or my Toyota (TR7 needs fuel pump but I've replaced the fuel pump on the Toyota twice already.)

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[nofinchance]

Apptitude and Fortitude I have.It is the bottomless purse and endless disapointment I can no longer deal with.I prefer classic cars to modern and have owned more one or two before my TR7.I have worked on them all even if at times I am only making the tea and passing the spanners.None of them have tried my patience,sanity,bank balance and even marridge like the TR7 has.It is a great car and tremedous fun when I am able to drive it however for me it is the end of our relationship.I will have some happy memories of my ownership and will look back with a smile on the time I got the car I had always wanted.

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[birminghamtr7]

OH No that sounds like your giving up, trust ive been there and back over the years, take a break walk away recharge your batteries i once walked away for 9 months in one session and weeks at a time when it got me down on many occasion, trust me once spring time comes lighter evenings not cold and damp your enthusiasm will return
dont give up

if you factor in the earth's rotation, we are all speeding

[Beans]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by nofinchance</i>

... made up my mind to sell and get either a mx5,mr2 or Z3.Wish me more luck with these <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You'll need a lot of luck with these cars as they are much more difficult to work on yourself when they fail (and of course much more expensive[:p])
And of course going to a workshop because you can't do certain jobs yourself is even more expensive ...

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, currently being restored)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)</font id="blue">
<b>[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]<u><b><font size="2"><font color="red">My Weblog</font id="red"></font id="size2"></b></u>[/url]</b></i></center>

[Jolyon39]

Hi Steph,

I am going to miss your humorous comments like "a small person sounded..." as written at the begining of this thread.

The Mazda MX5 Miata is just a pleasure to drive and own, I had one and only have great memories of it! Modern ignition and Japanese versus Lucas electrics made it great.

The Z3 has also caught my eye as has an E-Type but I'm totally hooked on 7's. For me the TR7 (or TR88) is just so unique and I enjoy mechanical work.

Have fun with your new car and hopefully you will get a good buyer for your TR.

Jolyon

[Cobber]

<font size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS">Out of the three I'd go for the MX5, it's a well engineered good fun little car and the maintenance costs and parts prices shouldn't be as horrific a the other two! Sorry to see your leaving us [:(] but I do understand that enough is enough!. You've not had a very good run outta your 7, have you.
Maybe some day you'll be all cashed up and return to the fold with a TR that you can afford the time and expense involved, in which case I suggest a TR-8. More grunt that the sprint engine and less fiddly to work on. The V8 is a good old fashioned blunt instrument of a thing therefore no science degrees are necessary to maintain it.</font id="Comic Sans MS"></font id="size2">

80'Triumph TR7, , 73'Land Rover (Ford 351. V8),
'89 Ford Fairlane
85'Alfa 90, 69'Ford F250.
76' Ford F100

[John Clancy]

I'd like to know what has caused the banging before you retire from TR7 life completely. So one last investigation then!!!

<center><b>[url="http://www.triumphtr7.com/documents/sales/codenamebullet.asp"]Buy the story of the Triumph TR7/8 on DVD here[/url]</b></center>

[nofinchance]

Sounds kinda 'cammy' or like a load of bolts on spin in the washer machine[:)].worse under load so I was thinking electrical lack of spark? or something? Car will start and tick over but when revved bang bang rattle[B)].When it started I pulled over and it conked so I tried to restart and it turned over realy hard like the battery was flat heat seize maybe? Anyway by the time the AA came about an hour later it flew over and will tick over.When I first got the car the oil pressure light would come on an off so after trying myself and paying two people,one auto electrician and a 'specialist'HA!! I gave up with the investigation as no one could tell me why it lit or could mend it just told that the pressure was ok.After this episode I think not engine may be dead? Anyway no sprint engines I can find to replace but loads of Rover V8,s anyone wanna try?

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[saabfast]

Sounds bad like big ends or cam especially if the oil pressure was dodgy, but what did the AA guy reckon? Sometimes a broken bracket or something simple can make a terminal sounding noise but I assume he looked for that sort of thing? I had a Carlton years ago which gave up on the A21 and sounded dreadful. The recovery guy tried to start it and then just declared the engine wrecked. Turned out to be the oil seal in the distributor gone.
Sorry to hear you are giving up. The MX5 is a great little car but there is nothing to do on it, they just start and go. I keep the Saabs for daily drivers knowing that I can go out any time, any weather and it will start and go like a train. I know a number use the TR7 as a daily driver but I like to think of it as a displacement activity. There is always something you can do or fix. Think about keeping the TR7 in the garage and working on it when you need to get out from the norm or have a bit of time. If you are not relying on it there is less stress when it dosen't work, just irritation and a determination to fix it!

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
Saab 9000 2.3 FPT Auto
'81 TR7 DHC

[nofinchance]

AA man didn't say what he thought.He just was keen to tow me away as I was stuck in the middle of a motorway juntion[:0].When we got home he just dropped it and went.As It was a Saturday There must have been a footy match on the big screen telly down the depot cuz he seemed in a tearing hurry[:D].I never asked him what he thought because at the time I just wanted to leave the car there or tow it to the nearest scrapyard[:(!].The car was a weekend fun item not only to drive but to work on however it's constant unreliability has taken all the fun out of it for me.The only tool I want to go near it with now is a disc cutter and a bloody great hammer! If it doesn't sell I may get around to it one day but it is more likely it will sit in my garage for yrs then go for scrap[}:)].The go anywhere anytime lure of a japaneese convertable is very appealing[^]

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[Bobbieslandy]

My TR7 has been off the road for about 2 years because it was running like a bag of poo. i totally lost interest and came close to selling it. i know where you're coming from though, a work collegue had a mint MGB and spent a fortune on it. He'd also say how he'd never get a modern sports car because you can't work on them. About 6 months ago he rolled up in a bronze coloured MX5. i questioned his decision and he basically said he was fed up constantly fettling the MGB to keep it running, the MX5 is just completely reliable and he loves it to bits although saying that my neighbour has a 1960 Rover P4 which is more reliable than any modern car he's ever owned, he just has it serviced once a year. i'm really interested to know what the problem is with you TR7 though!

[REPLIC8]

Maybe you just bought a really bad example & no matter how hard you try you'll just be chasing the next problem. Short of a complete nut & bolt restoration it's probably never going to be a relliable car. That said it doesn't have to be the end of TR's for you. Spend a bit of time searching & theres allways a good example out there for sale. Try & get something that's got years of known history, either well restored or very original. They're a bit more expensive initially but cheaper in the long run. I quite enjoy working on my car in the winter fixing last years problems ready for next summer, If you've got a good base & keep on top of the little things as they occur it's not too bad. [;)]

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8

[Underdog]

I can certainly understand Steph. If I were not in the auto repair bussiness myself, I could never afford the TR8 or MGB. Actually, that goes for some of the other toys I have accumulated over the years.

Interesting the comments on the modern cars being hard to work on. Sort of a catch 22 when you think of it. Perhaps the TR is a simpler car to work on but if you have a Miata and don't have to work on it [?][?]

Many enjoy the tinkering on these cars as a hobby. I do get satisfaction from completeing tasks and being able to say I built it from the ground up. Because I work on cars every day though, it isn't quite the thrill to be in the garage for me.[:(]

Whatever you end up doing, I hope your luck improves![:D]

Jim Underwood
72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.