Felix

problem solved: it was a dodgy top fuse connection causing me this grief. I’ll remember that for future.

and of course my rear lights (incl break) are not working either. I’m pulling my hair out trying to find the solution….

update: there is an earth lead coming from the wiring loom under the bonnet which attaches to the side of the engine block. The cable looked frayed behind the connector plug so I was about to re-fit it and clean it up. I disconnected this earth cable and bizarrely, all my other electrical problems go away: the hazards, the horn, the interior lights all function correctly when this earth cable is disconnected.  But now the indicator lights no longer work?

How can that work?

Hi Rob

thanks for your reply. The interior light is working but only when (like the hazards and horn) the dash light switch is on full beam, light stick is on full beam position and the flashers pulled on.

The three fuses appear to be in tact and I have cleaned the contacts with electrical contact spray.

Any other suggestions? Could there be a broken earth somewhere that these things depend on?

felix

Hi, I have an odd problem with my mk2 GT6… The horn and hazards only function when the light rocker switch is in full-beam position, the light stick on the steering wheel is on full beam position and the headlight flasher is pulled on! I’m not that hot on wiring diagrams but I think there is a common purple/black cable to these, but I just can’t find the fault. 

Any help appreciated!

felix

can you give me an idea of the cost for the foams and leather?

Are the seats for a GT6 mk2 by any chance? I would love to do the same for mine, replacing the Spitfire seats with a pair of proper GT6 mk2 facelift recliners. Do post pics please!

Here's a pic of my GT6 Mk2 on the passenger side, just to complete the post, now that I'm getting the hang of resizing and sending images to the forum.
Nothing to worry about on this side, if you half close your eyes!

Well, somebody wants them: the black rear seat sold on eBay for £221, and the bids on the tan seat have gone from 99p at the time of my original post, to £181.
As much as they might look good, I think I'll skip, and keep my kids in the front seat safely buckled into their kid seats.

I'll focus my efforts on finding two reclining front seats for my Mk2 GT6 facelift model. I'm sure someone must have a pair of those knocking about in their shed somewhere?

That's a great photo of your GT6 in the parking lot, Docman. It feels a bit like that stuck in traffic on the M25 motorway around London.

Felix

I've been looking out for a rear seat to add to my mk2 gt6, and then two come along at the same time (on eBay this week). Funnily enough, the black one is already up to £128, but the tan one is still at 99p. Are they really worth it? I've got two young kids who love to sit in the front, strapped in their kid chairs, and having a back seat would be marvelous until they get too big. But without the option of rear seat belts, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with them riding in the back. The GT6 is not the family car, so the rear seat would be nice to have, but not essential.

What's the verdict? Are they really worth it? Can an adult use it?

Felix

Thanks for the replies. I believe the doors are not the originals, and were added during the last major bit of restoration four years ago.
I don't know if the sills were changed at that time.

The car looks great from the passenger side, but the driver's side looks better when the door is open!
I'll probably get used to it and live with it. (I've only had it since April).

Felix

What's the secret for getting precise panel gaps?
Are mine beyond saving, do you think?
I don't know where to start.
The passenger side is passable but the driver's door
sticks out like a sore thumb.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. The car is a mk2 gt6.
First two photos are driver's side, next one is passenger side.

Thanks!

Felix

Thanks for the advice.

I took the car out today, armed with a hammer, but the overdrive worked fine. However after a few miles in 4th with the overdrive engaged, there was a distinctive electrical burning smell. After I got it home, I noticed that the solenoid was hot to touch (no surprise there) but when I tested the overdrive switch in 3rd with ignition on, the solenoid was moving slightly then getting stuck. It wouldn't return to its original position. A tap on the overdrive housing released it, but when o/d switched again, it would stick. I'm guessing this is definitely a sign that I need a new J Type solenoid.

So, does anyone know where I can get a Laycock Type J solenoid? Canleys are out of stock.

thanks again!

felix

how easy is it to get to them? ... and clean them out?

I thought the filters on a j-type overdrive are better than d-type and there's not much to gain from going  the huge effort of cleaning them out? I haven't tried, but I'm running out of options.

felix

well that didn't last long. I took the car out twice today. The overdrive worked fine on my first trip, but by the second journey (10min later) it stopped working again. Now where did I put my hammer?

I was expecting to find a D type overdrive, but the lack of a relay and the clunk coming from the passenger side of the tunnel made me suspicious. And with the tunnel off, it confirmed my suspicions. I'm guessing the overdrive was fitted to the car at some stage in its history, since the j-type can't be original for a J Reg facelift mk2.

I'm going to make a note of revs at certain speeds with overdrive on and off so I can look out for it if it happens again. If only the speedo was accurate, but that's a separate thread (it is about 10mph higher than the speed on a satnav).

thanks for all of the advice.

I stripped the tunnel off and topped up the gearbox oil. It was fairly low, but took about half a litre to fill it up. However, the overdrive was still not working... at least now I could double check all of the electrical cables and actually see the solenoid move when overdrive was switched on in 3rd and 4th. I was still scratching my head, wondering what to do next. J Type overdrives are supposed to be more reliable, aren't they?

Finally, with further friendly advise, I took it for a spin and hit the side of the overdrive casing with a hammer when I was out for a short drive. Well, well, well, the overdrive was stuck on, and a little tap released it. I'm not sure what the technical term is for "hit it with a hammer" but it worked first time! I'll leave the tunnel off for a bit longer just to make sure it doesn't get stuck.

Thanks again for the help,

Felix

the reverse light isn't working either. Hmm, makes me think the two are connected? Could this be an electrical fault after all?

that last link is an incredibly useful blog, thank you for that. My next step is to check the oil and hope that it is the possible cause of my problem.

I'll update the thread with the results.

Felix

Hi, my overdrive on a mk2 gt6 has stopped working. It had been running perfectly for a while, but has suddenly stopped, and with no burning smell. The switch is the stick type on the steering column. I've tried testing it in 3rd with ignition on and there is definitely a clunk coming from the left side of the tunnel in the passenger footwell. Originally I thought this was just the relay on the bulkhead clicking, but oddly, there's no overdrive relay beside the battery, just the horn relay. Does this sound like it is more likely to be a J Type overdrive with no relay and the solenoid on the LHS of the overdrive unit? What's the next logical step? Tunnel off?

Thanks!

Felix

thanks for all your help! I think I'll skip on this one. The car looks pretty but that extra bulge (and odd choice of carb mod) just doesn't do it for me.
F

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience of running "large SU carbs" in a mk3 gt6? There's an interesting looking mk3 for sale in Folkestone with a "sculpted" bonnet that has an extra bulge to accommodate the huge SU's. I haven't seen these before so I wondered if it was a fairly common mod before I go to see the metal in the flesh. The car is on CarandClassic website:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C472534#

Thanks,

Felix

Can anyone tell me if a black painted window surround on a Mk2 GT6 Facelift model (H reg) is as rare as hens' teeth? Most Mk2s I have seen (facelift models with the single reverse light over the number plate) have this detail painted to match the body work.

thanks!