Anything and everything Herald. Talk about anything from the first 948s to the last 13/60s.

Section : Engine

Engine, cooling system, fuel system, exhaust system.

Speed Loss

Posted By : Erica Ogawa-Wiggin, 28-Nov-2005, 08:31pm

Hi

I am new to Herald AND I am new to all cars.

Would like to work on my Herald and learn more but so far I have been heavily relying on my mechanic. if you could teach me some tips (like I'm 5 yrs old) that would save me some doughs for my turkey!!

Legality aside, my Herald used to do 90mph, but lately it's doing 75mph at MAX and it takes ages to get that fast. Sometimes it only does 60+ for what seems like forever.

I do suspect it's weather as the problem is more apparent in early mornings. But I do fear for sudden break-downs, and would like to cheack up on it if I could. (And more than anything, 60mph is way too slow to do motorways.)

What is the good starting point to look? I have Haynes, but cannot understand anything in it, or even where to look!

Any tips or suggestions appreciated.

Thank you xx

Followups :

Speed Loss

Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 28-Nov-2005, 10:26pm

My first thought are ... when was the car last serviced? Parts like spark plugs, HT leads, points and the like do wear out and need replacing every so often. Wear in these components can easily show up as a loss of power or intermittant running. If this hasn't been done recently then I would suggest you get it done as a matter of course. Even if it does not turn out to be the complete solution you won't have wasted any cash as it should be a regular job every few thousand miles or so.
- Speed Loss
  
  Posted By : John Davies, 28-Nov-2005, 11:17pm
  
  Erica,
  Like Nigel, we are all here to help the 'newbie', but we can't really give you a basic course in car maintenance here!
  
  But you can, at your local Adult Education college! Eg: http://www1.surreycc.gov.uk/aclcoursefinder/csedet...
  
  I just Googled for Adult Education, selected Surrey (as you come from there) chose the first item and searched there for 'DiY car maintenance'. I bet if you tell the teacher you have a Herald, he will be a lot more interested in that than anyone else's modern rotbox, as yours will be so much easier to teach on and about!
  
  AND - if you don't already - go to your local TSSC Group meetings. In your car, so the local gurus can poke and pry and deliver a better verdict than even, say Nigel, can!
  
  Welcome to Triumphs!
  
  John
Speed Loss

Posted By : William Davies, 29-Nov-2005, 11:42am

Hi Erica,
Check out local charity shops for a copy of "The AA Book of The Car". This is a fantastic book, published around the start of the 1970s, it treats "our" cars as current, so the information is perfect for the beginner. There's one on ebay right now. just so you can see what you're looking for:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AA-Book-of-the-Car-1970-Firs...
Cheers,
Bill.
- Speed Loss
  
  Posted By : Jason Chinn, 29-Nov-2005, 06:04pm
  
  An excellent book - their "typical" car is a white Vitesse, they use it to illustrate most things, except for rotted sills, for that they use a Moggy Minor
  - Speed Loss
    
    Posted By : Erica Ogawa-Wiggin, 29-Nov-2005, 06:58pm
    
    Hi Everyone!!
    
    Thank you for the kind replies.
    Thought there might be a typical Herald problems which everyone knows about, or something, but clearly it's not that simple!
    
    I took my car to full service 7 months ago, and for half service a month ago. Then I got a new job so am driving so much more now and the loss seems more obvious now. Think I just have to take it back to garage again if loss will continue to increase. (It's changes day to day though.)
    
    Did consider taking the course, but I simply cannot afford it. (They are so cheap for resident, but not for me! I have to pay triple!!) That's why I bought Haynes, as I was told it's a good starter book, but noooo, I am too simple for the book!!! I can't even fix the window. I must be really stupid!!
    
    The AA book sounds fab, I think I will buy this one. Really want to learn more. It's so much cheaper than relying on garages, too.
    
    Am planning to go to meeting once I am settled in with the new job and stuff. Really looking forward to it, actually xx
    
    SO... it's not weather thing then? (lol)
    
    Thank you again.
    - Latest!!
      
      Posted By : Erica Ogawa-Wiggin, 30-Nov-2005, 06:39pm
      
      Oh, winter morning nightmare, the engine wouldn't start this morning and then battery goes flat.
      
      So I called the recovery and he told me that spark hole thingy was too narrow / dirty.
      (I don't know the proper name but I know what he was talking about.)
      
      Then he fixed it, and left choke fully out and engine running for a few minutes while checking the connecton to the engine (by polking things, and just pressing gas from bonnet side).
      
      As that was all wrong with the car I set off to work, and OHH MY. It was just back to normal.
      I could do 75mph without gas pedal touching the floor.
      
      What happened? Could it be just the matter of proper warming up? Or was there a loose wire or something? (Could a car run with loose wire??)
      
      Anyway, it's running fine, and gpm is also better.
      
      I tried to get as much info as I can from the recovery guy, but he said he just tweaked the hole and that's it, nothing else.
      
      I am puzzled. But thought I should update.
      
      Thank you again.
      - Latest!!
        
        Posted By : Colin Wake, 30-Nov-2005, 07:00pm
        
        Either the points gap had closed up, or the spark plug gaps had closed up.
        
        Probably the former.
        
        Colin
      - Latest!!
        
        Posted By : Ian Mulford, 30-Nov-2005, 07:01pm
        
        That'll be the spark plug gap then
        
        Ok, on reading Colins post which was posted whilst I was typing mine, I tend to agree with him.
        
        Thank you
        
        Posted By : Erica Ogawa-Wiggin, 10-Dec-2005, 11:04pm
        
        Thank you Ian and Colin,
        
        I went out and got myself the gauge thingy today,
        so I could keeep an eye on it. (The recovery guy told me
        "It's not something you can adjust yourself" but I will try!)
        
        My Herald is being so good, and I will look after her.
        
        Thank you xx
        
        Erica
        
        Thank you
        
        Posted By : Jonathan Reed, 10-Dec-2005, 11:21pm
        
        Good for you....
        
        Don't be shy to add some pics of the car and/or yourself to your profile ..
        
        Always nice to put a face to a cyber name (note Bill hasn't - just as well.... sic.. see my profile)
        
        LOL
        
        Thank you
        
        Posted By : William Davies, 11-Dec-2005, 00:12am
        
        There are still lots of people who've no idea what I look like, so far I've managed to avoid getting my picture in the club mag, except once when I appeared in disguise. Not bad after 6 years of writing a regular column....
        I can't see me adding a picture to my profile, though I must get round to photographing some of my more "unusual" Heralds.
        Cheers,
        Bill.
        
        Thank you
        
        Posted By : David Rumens, 11-Dec-2005, 09:55am
        
        Who is the real Bill Davies, we will never know?
        
        Thank you
        
        Posted By : Colin Wake, 11-Dec-2005, 10:22am
        
        Who is this super hero?
        Sarge?
        No
        Rosemary the Telephone Operator?
        No
        Penry the mild mannered Janitor?
        Could be....
        
        Sorry, just showing my age....
        
        Colin
        
        Thank you
        
        Posted By : William Davies, 11-Dec-2005, 10:26am
        
        Hi Colin,
        Guess you remember Stafford 2003......
        Cheers,
        H.K.F.
        
        Thank you
        
        Posted By : Craig Gingell, 11-Dec-2005, 11:10am
        
        I met Williamina Davies at Stafford a few years back, but it's a vision I'm trying to forget...
        
        Thank you
        
        Posted By : William Davies, 11-Dec-2005, 12:19pm
        
        It wasn't drag, it was GLAM! I thought the comments about the Bounty adverts were quite unfair.....
        Cheers,
        Bill.
        
        Thank you
        
        Posted By : David Rumens, 11-Dec-2005, 12:37pm
        
        Frightening man total Frightening!!!