Where Do I Look to Prevent Trouble?

Where do I look to prevent trouble? Steve Day British Car Ranch

With the winter weather all around us, it’s comforting to think about spring sunshine and the next Healey road trip. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a crystal ball, look into it, be able to see impending trouble, and then take action to avoid it? I don’t know of a traditional “crystal ball”, but our Healey’s do give us clues and warnings of breakdown trouble coming, all we have to do is know where to look, and what to look for. There are countless places to look at, and dozens of important things to check on our cars, but I have chosen these 7 as a great starting point. They also represent the most frequent items that show up on British cars that come into my shop. This article is written to encourage the Healey owners that have limited knowledge or mechanical skills and still want to stay connected to their Healey. No tools or experience are necessary, just some enjoyable time on a Sunday afternoon. Even so, you could pass on the actual inspection yourself, and write them on a checklist for your professional to look at on your next visit. You do have a yearly check-up don’t you?! By the way, in this context, “professional” could be a friend with good mechanical skills and a knowledge of Healey`s.

Every car that comes into British Car Ranch gets this quick checklist used on it:

1) With the engine COLD, I repeat, COLD. NOT, soon after it has been run, remove the radiator cap and check both the color and the level of the coolant in the radiator. It should be bright green and within an inch of the inside lip of the neck. The further from bright green, the worse the trouble. Healey’s need coolant topped up semi-frequently, but if you see exposed fins or tubes in there, it means possible trouble, and it may not even be overheating in cooler weather!

2) While still cold, open the brake/clutch reservoir, and notice the color and level. It should be amber (unless you know you are using “silicone“ fluid, then it will be purple). The closer to black the fluid is the more trouble. The black color comes from decaying rubber seals in the brake/clutch system. If it`s brown, it`s moisture contamination and age. A flashlight helps see the shade more clearly inside that dark can. The lower the level or darker the colors, the closer to trouble you are, even though the clutch works and the car stops.

With both item 1) and 2) above, if levels are low, refill and watch very closely. If a repeat within a couple of weeks shows up, see your professional soon.

3) Check the water level in the battery; it should always cover the “plates” inside the battery. Topping off once a season is normal. Check the date code on the battery, average battery life is 4-5 years, and can be significantly lower if the battery sits for long periods of time unused. The code is a sticker, usually on the end/side, and it’s alphanumeric, like “A5”, telling the month first and the year second. “A” is Jan., “B” is Feb., “C” is March, ECT. My example would be Jan of 05 manufacturing date. “H9” would be August of 09. Batteries can fail gradually or from one start to the next with no warning at all.

4) Turn the ignition key on, but don’t start it. Does the little red “IGN”light at the bottom of the large gauge come on? Now start the engine and idle up to 1500 rpm, does the light go out? A “no” to either means battery/generator problems, even though it did start.

5) With the car still running, step firmly on the brake pedal, and notice if it feels like it goes too far down or too close to the floor. Then step on the brake pedal 3 more times and see if it gets a little firmer or higher than before. A “yes“here means potentially serious hydraulic brake problems, even though the car still stops.

6) Now, open the driver’s door and position yourself so you can see/feel the carpet behind the brake and clutch pedals. If you haven’t been out in the rain recently, it should be dry. Peel back the carpet a bit at the top, it should be dry. An early sign of trouble here is brake fluid that leaks out of the master cylinder, and drips down and is absorbed by the carpets.

7) From either side of the car, kneel down and look under the car to the opposite wheels. There should be no sign of wetness running down onto the tire. Repeat from the opposite side. Wetness indicates either a recent drive in the rain, or brake or oil seal trouble developing. Investigate immediately

The newest of our Healey’s are 42 years old, (the Sprite), the oldest almost 60. To expand on that even more, time sitting is much more damaging than miles driven to all the systems on our cars. We need to be mindful of these two things, and be very proactive by inspecting and performing preventative maintenance to get the maximum fun and safety from these beautiful classics! And drive them more!

Steve [email protected]