SECTION 3.
LOCATION AND REMEDY OF FAULTS
Although every precaution is taken to eliminate all possible causes of
trouble, failure may occasionally develop through lack of attention to
the equipment, or damage to the wiring. The following pages set out the
recommended procedure for a systematic examination to locate and remedy
the causes of some of the more probable faults. The sources of many troubles
are by no means obvious, and in some cases a considerable amount of deduction
from the symptoms is needed before the cause of the trouble is disclosed.
For instance, the engine might not respond to the starter switch; a hasty inference would be that the starter motor is at fault. However, as the motor is dependent on the battery, it may be that the battery is exhausted. This, in turn, may he due to the dynamo failing to charge, and the final cause of the trouble may be, perhaps, a loose terminal nut either at the battery or elsewhere in the charging circuit.
If, after carrying out the examination, the cause of the trouble is not found, the owner is advised to get in touch with the nearest Lucas Service Depot or Agent.
IGNITION CIRCUIT
1. Engine Will Not Fire.
(a) See that the battery terminals are secure and that the battery is
in a charged condition, either by use of a hydrometer or by checking that
the starter will turn the engine and the lamps give good light.
If the battery is discharged, it must be recharged from an independent
electrical supply.
(b) See that the controls are correctly set for starting. (See Page 16).
(c) Remove the cable from the centre distributor terminal and hold it
so that the end is about 0.25 in. (7 mm.) away from some metal part of
the chassis while the engine is turned slowly over. If sparks jump the
gap regularly, the coil and distributor are functioning correctly, and
the sparking plugs must be examined. If these are clean, and the gaps
correct, the trouble is due to carburettor, petrol supply, etc.
(d) If the coil does not spark in test (c), check for a fault in the low
tension wiring. This will be indicated by (i) no ammeter reading when
the engine is slowly turned and. the ignition switch is on, or (ii) no
spark occurring between the distributor contacts when quickly separated
by the fingers when the ignition is switched on. Examine all cables in
the ignition circuit and see that all connections are tight.
(e) If the wiring proves to be in order, examine the distributor contacts,
if necessary cleaning them and adjusting the gap as described on Page
76.
2. Engine Misfires.
(a) Examine the distributor contacts, if necessary cleaning them and adjusting
the gap as described on Page 76.
(b) Remove each sparking plug in turn, rest it on the cylinder head and
observe whether a spark occurs at the points when the engine is turned.
Irregular sparking may be due to dirty plugs, which must be cleaned and
adjusted, or defective high tension cables. Any cable on which the insulation
shows signs of deterioration or cracking should be renewed. (See Page
87).
(c) If sparking is regular at each plug when tested as described in (b),
the trouble is probably due to engine defects, and the carburettor, petrol
supply, etc.
CHARGING CIRCUIT
1. Battery in Low State of Charge.
(a) This state will be shown by lack of power when starting poor light
from the lamps, and hydrometer readings below 1.200, and may be due to
the dynamo either not charging or giving low or intermittent output. Check
the ammeter reading when the car is running steadily in top gear with
no lights in use; a definite steady charge is indicated. The ignition
warning light will not go out if the dynamo fails to charge, or will flicker
on and off in the event of intermittent output.
(b) Examine the charging and field circuit wiring, tightening any loose
connections, or replacing broken cables. Pay particular attention to the
battery connections.
(c) Examine the dynamo driving belt; take up any undue slackness by turning
the dynamo on its mounting. (See Page 65).
(d) If the cause of the trouble is not apparent, have the equipment examined
by a Lucas Service Depot or Agent.
2. Battery Overcharged.
This will be indicated by burnt-out bulbs, very frequent need for topping-up
of battery, and high hydrometer readings. Check the ammeter reading when
the car is running steadily-with a fully charged battery and no lights
or accessories in use, the charge reading should be of the order of only
3-4 amperes. If the ammeter reading is in excess of this value, it is
advisable to have the regulator setting tested, and adjusted if necessary
by a Service Depot or Agent.
STARTER MOTOR
1. Starter Motor Lacks Power or Fails to Turn Engine.
(a) See if the engine can be turned over by hand. If not, the cause, of
the stiffness of the engine must be located and remedied.
(b) If the engine can be turned by hand, first check that the trouble
is not due to a discharged battery.
(c) Examine the connections to battery, starter and starter switch, making
sure that they are tight and that the cables connecting these units are
not damaged.
(d) It is also possible that the starter pinion may have jammed in mesh
with the flywheel, although this is by no means a common occurrence. To
disengage the pinion, rotate the squared end of the starter shaft by means
of a spanner in the opposite direction to normal rotation.
2. Starter Operates, but
Does Not Crank Engine.
This fault will occur if the pinion of the starter drive is not allowed
to move along the screwed sleeve into engagement with the flywheel, due
to dirt having collected on the screwed sleeve. Clean the sleeve carefully
with paraffin.
3. Starter Pinion Will Not Disengage from Flywheel When Engine is Running.
Stop the engine, and see if the starter pinion is jammed in mesh with the flywheel, releasing it if necessary by rotation of the squared end of the starter shaft in the opposite direction to normal rotation. If the pinion persists in sticking in mesh, have the equipment examined at a Service Depot. Serious damage may result to the starter if it is driven by the flywheel.
LIGHTING CIRCUITS
1. Lamps Give Insufficient Illumination.
(a) Test the state of charge of the battery, recharging it if necessary
either by a long period of day-time running or from an independent electrical
supply.
(b) Check the setting of the lamps, and that the headlamp bulbs are in
focus. (See Page 82).
(c) If the bulbs are discoloured as a result of long service, they should
be replaced. On lamps in which the reflector surface, is accessible, see
that it is clean.
2. Lamps Light When Switched
On, but Gradually Fade Out.
As para. 1. (a).
3. Brilliance Varies With
Speed of Car.
(a) As para. 1. (a).
(b) Examine the battery connections, making sure that they are tight,
and replacing faulty cables.
4. Lights Flicker.
Examine the circuits of the lamps for loose connections.
5. Failure of Lights.
(a) Blown fuse. Inspect and
replace as necessary.
(b) As para. 1. (a).
(c) Examine the wiring for a loose or broken connection, and remedy.
TECHNICAL SERVICE
Instructions are given in this
book for items of routine maintenance to which due attention should be
paid if smooth and efficient running of your car is to be ensured.
In addition, however, there may be times when you desire additional information,
either on repair work beyond the scope of this manual or when some difficulty
is experienced.
We are always pleased to give such cases our special attention and to
reply as fully as possible to any queries you may raise by letter or when
you visit either of our Service Depots at Solihull and London. The map
on the opposite page may assist you in finding our Solihull factory.
Complete instructions can be supplied for any operation which you may
desire to carry out on your car.
Should you contemplate taking your car overseas we can give assistance
both from the point of yew of the location of- our dealers throughout
the world as well as advice on spare parts, etc.
Please address enquiries under all these headings to
THE ROVER
CO. LTD.,
TECHNICAL SERVICE DEPT.,
SOLIHULL,
BIRMINGHAM,
ENGLAND.
Telephone: SHELDON 2461.
