Technical info required please

[bfr123]

Can anyone tell me if you can get a seal kit for the master /slave cylinder on the 412 LE? Mine has started to leak and I have to keep topping it up every couple of weeks or so. Also, still not sorted my heating out, I have checked all relevant parts and repaired / replaced where necessary. When I switch on the heater nothing happens, no illumination from the switch (this does work as I have tested it) and I know it sends some feed to the sensor in the sill as I have also tested that.

[937carrera]

Is this the brake or clutch system ?

[bfr123]

I believe it does both Dave.

[937carrera]

The brake and clutch system share the same reservoir but have separate master and slave cylinders. The master cylinders are on the top of the pedal box, do either of them look damp with brake fluid.

[shawn71]

As David said with the fluid reservoir

And as for your heating, at the risk of stating the obvious, you are trying to turn it on with the heating levers between the seats in the up position as this completes the circuit...

[bfr123]

yes, I know about the lever being in the upright position but where is the switch situated which completes the circuit?

[shawn71]

Its just an earth contact, its been a while since I last looked but I think there's a connecting wire at the top end of the mounting point. Another thing is the crash relay, under the rear seat of a variant and in the engine bay of a sedan, with the trip switch and the 3 safety fuses which are all the obvious suspects.

There is a troubleshooting guide for the BA4 somewhere, if you haven't already got it I'll find the link for it

[937carrera]

The site seems to be down at the moment but there's a workshop manual here https://manuals.type4.org/

[bfr123]

No problem dave, I have the link and I have checked everything on it, the only thing I couldnt find was this contact switch, or earth wire which you mention. I will see if I can locate it and see if its that which is causing me all this hassle. Once aGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INFO.

[bfr123]

Hi David,
Apologies for the late reply on the Master / Slave Cylinder issue it is the slave cylinder which is leaking. you may be able to help me on another issue I have just experienced. I went to Bus Types this week end and I towed my Microlite Caravan with my 412 (its only 650kg). Pulled it ok going but on the way back it started to miss on low revs. It seemed to disappear the higher you revved but it gradually got worse and was definitely missing on tickover. This was after about an hour of driving and luckily I was only about 8 miles from home. after leaving it, ie the next day, it is working fine again. This happened the same last year but that was down to a plug going down which I thought was the problem as it has been running fine. If you or any of the other members have experienced similar, it would be great to know what the cause was.

[purplepeter]

Battery drain caused by the lights on the caravan!

[937carrera]

Do you really think so Peter, I thought that would be more likely if the car had a dynamo rather than an alternator (unless the alternator is in poor nick)

If you have a multimeter Brian it might be worthwhile checking the voltage at the battery on tickover and higher revs

[purplepeter]

I've experienced a severe drain on long night time journeys pulling the chateau mobile, Admittedly with Headlights & Stereo on, as well as the trailer lights.(I may have had the Supplementary Driving lights on as well, but don't actually recall)
The FI engines are supposed to be susceptible to poor running caused by low battery voltages

[bfr123]

Hi guys,
I have just tested the output on the battery and it is giving 12.9 with engine off and 14.2 when engine is on and revving so it seems there must be something else causing it to miss when been travelling for long period.

I was wandering if there might be a crack in the cylinder head!! One thing is for definite, its when the engine is at its max temp and been running for an hour or so.

Strange though how it works perfect once it has cooled down! Any more ideas guys before I go bald with pulling my hair out

[937carrera]

The battery voltage / output look pretty fine to me

What's the alternator output showing on tickover with lights, windscreen wipers (pull them off the screen) and heated rear window (as a surrogate for trailer lights) on

[bfr123]

will check them tomorrow Dave and post the results.

[bfr123]

Hi Dave,
Unable to check Alternator as only had chance half hour ago but there is a constant 13.64 at the coil. Should be able to get it checked tomorrow.

I purchased a 1700 engine off Kieron some weeks ago now and I have been collecting the necessary parts to convert it to a twin carb. Almost there now and today I put some oil in the engine and cranked it over with plugs out just to get the oil circulated. There doesnt seem to be anything untoward with it in relation to knocking noises etc so I thought I would check the compressions. I got 8 and 4 bar from one side and 4 + 2 from the other side.

My gut feeling tells me the valves need re-seating as I am led to believe it has been standing for quite a long time, would you agree with this or do you have other thoughts as to why its so low. Just thought I would get your opinion on it.

Regards

[937carrera]

On the engine, it depends how long it has been standing and in what conditions. It could be that the rings have become stuck, some diesel in the bores may help. 8 bar is about the minimum you need for a decent engine I think. Do you have access to a leak tester ?