Wellm this has been a learning experience... the Very DPO (I think acctually
two DPO's ago, maybe three) acctually removed the column switch. The car
has NO column switch and one toggle switch which turns on the lights. the
dimmer is on the floor - so my options are - lights (dip or high depending
on the floor switch). parking lights are on wit the lights, or off, flash
the brights? not a chance. I guess thats why the wiring diagram's colors
were so far off of what I had on the back of the little toggle switch...
I guess my options to "restore" (rather then upgrade) my lights to some
cembalance of normal functionality would include finding a new column switch
(Joe Curry tells me he has an extra column switch he might be willing to
sell me - a newer model with the dimmer switch on it - any ideas on the
lagistics of figuring out what goes where?) and probably also replace the
toggle switch (as it has been completely mangled by the DPO's apparent
attempt to make things difficult)
or,,, just rewire like I came up with. Of course, doing that is much more
involved, and I have three ugly switches rather then a nice column switch...
of course, I will have new wiring for the lights while I am at it.
Question, btw - does anyone know what that 14A fuse sitting ontop of the
starter solinoid is for? My horn doesnt work, and the fuse is blown (it
looks as if, acctually, the fuse and relay are shot - but I have a
replavement relay here)
Thanks a lot
-Andrew
-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Mace <amace@unix2.nysed.gov>
To: Andrew J. Braverman <ajb23@dunx1.ocs.drexel.edu>
Cc: spitfires@autox.team.net <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, July 07, 1998 10:14 AM
Subject: Re: Forget my Light Switch Question... but take a look at this
>On Tue, 7 Jul 1998, Andrew J. Braverman wrote:
>
>> ...decided that those old wiring parts for the lights are just not
>> worth it...
>
>Depends. Unless the switches are completely worn out or there are bits
>broken, it shouldn't be too difficult to simply replace any bad wiring on
>the switches. I suspect that it probably isn't all that easy to find the
>"correct" column switch (see below), but NOS ones do turn up from time to
>time at auto flea markets, etc. And there might be some good used ones
>around.
>
>> I have come up with a wiring plan to rewire the lights with all
>> new wire and some new conveniences...
>> basically, as long as everything is OK (I am going to test it personally)
>> this can be used as a good way of upgrading the older (Mk. I, II)
lighting
>> for those of us who want parking lights, and a non-floor mounted dimmer
>> switch (that is one thing that I dont thnk fits too well in this tiny
>> car)... also, I have incorporated a momentary switch for "flashing" the
>> brights....
>
>Uh, I'm a bit confused here. First off, is this a U.S.-specification
>Spitfire Mk.2? I'm assuming it is, since you mention the floor-mounted
>dimmer switch. Regardless, I don't understand the comments about wanting
>parking lights and a "flashing" the brights switch; your car should have
>both of these features. That is, of course, so long as some DPO didn't
>already disable these features.
>
>It is useful to note that the U.S.-bound cars were wired differently in
>the light circuits. Home market cars had a two-position dash switch: first
>position turned on the "main lighting" and second position illuminated the
>gauges. The column switch on this setup had three positions: side, main,
>dip (i.e., parking, high beam, low beam).
>
>U.S. cars were a bit different. The column switch acted as the main
>lighting switch -- off, side, head -- with the dimmer switch on the floor,
>and a switch on the dashboard that would control only the gauge
>illumination.
>
>But even the U.S. Mk.2 Spitfires I've known of over the years had a
>flash-to-pass feature built into the column stalk -- simply pull the lever
>towards you. And the side (parking) lamps do remain illuminated once the
>headlamps are on -- unusual at the time, although nowadays it is the
>"norm."
>
>So exactly what is it you plan to upgrade? :-)
>
>BTW, even the factory workshop manual wiring diagrams tended NOT to
>show correct switches and wiring for the earlier U.S. Spitfires, with the
>notable exception of the original _Owner's Handbook_, which DOES detail
>the LHD, U.S. light circuit wiring correctly.
>
>> Next plan is to figure out how to add hazards to the turn signals
>> :)
>
>That, too, should be pretty simple. Take a look at a later Spitfire wiring
>diagram (or TR6, or any later Triumph) to see how it was done. Basically,
>the switch for the "hazards" simply has to disconnect the turn signal
>circuits and activate all four lamps (and a warning lamp) at once -- the
>hazard function should override the regular turn signal function.
>
>--Andy
>
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>* Andrew Mace, President and *
>* 10/Herald/Vitesse (Sports 6) Consultant *
>* Vintage Triumph Register *
>* amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>
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