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Re: [TR] TR6: gauge LEDs and headlight switches

To: "triumphs@autox.team.net" <triumphs@autox.team.net>, Tim Gaines <mtgaines@presby.edu>
Subject: Re: [TR] TR6: gauge LEDs and headlight switches
From: robert rudolphi <robertrudolphi@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2021 19:13:48 +0000 (UTC)
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: triumphs@autox.team.net
References: <eme7064870-326e-46fb-aa64-7212f179d3b2@laptop-lkrq9kmj>
One thing I have heard is to go in through the ash tray but never tried it 
myself. Also I would highly recommend the Moss headlight relay kit if you have 
not already installed. Easy to hook up and pulls a lot of power away from the 
switches. 

Robert






On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 11:53:00 AM EST, Tim Gaines 
<mtgaines@presby.edu> wrote: 





  
Despite some difficulties I'm making progress in installing LiteZupp LEDs into 
the instruments in my 1974 LHD TR6. The difficulties stem from my (possibly 
foolish) decision to do the job without removing the dash. With the help of a 
couple of long-reach needle nose pliers I've replaced the two illumination 
bulbs in each of the speedo and tach and the single ones in the temperature and 
oil pressure gauges, not without several scrapes to my fingers. However, I 
really don't think that will work with the fuel and temperature gauges on the 
right. There are just too many obstacles, so something is going to have to be 
removed, likely either the radio or the glove box or both. It looks to me as if 
the glove box space would provide the best access, but I have read of some 
difficulties in getting it back in place after removal. I would appreciate any 
advice from those who have done these bulb replacements or taken out the glove 
box.

In the process of doing this bulb job I came across another problem. The new 
LED for the high beam indicator just wouldn't light, and it didn't matter which 
of the new LEDs I put in. So I went back to the old incandescent bulb and it 
didn't light either despite having worked a short time earlier. After checking 
the wiring to the socket and finding no issues I decided that the problem must 
be the iffy headlight dimmer switch on the right side of the steering column. I 
say "iffy" because occasionally I had found that switching to high beam left me 
with no headlights at all! I took off the plastic cowlings and got access to 
the switch though I couldn't pull it out because its wires are clamped within a 
channel under the steering column. Nevertheless, I could pivot the switch out 
to get a narrow view of its innards and insert the thin nozzle from a can of 
WD40, hoping for a lucky fix. The result was that the switch, when re-attached 
with its retaining screws, would now pivot toward me, something it never would 
do before. With the battery re-attached as well, that pivot action produced a 
high beam flash that also lit the beam indicator! I never knew I had a high 
beam flash in this old car! So, everything was fixed!? Not so much. The light 
switch on the dash wouldn't give me headlights at all despite the fact that it 
would give me interior lights and the other exterior ones. 

It was time to get out Dan Masters' guide to electronics, and as always with 
this manual, I now understand the circuitry and my remaining problem. When 
everything is working, the flash function of the dimmer switch takes voltage 
from a fuse to the high beams directly regardless of whether the light switch 
on the dash is set for headlights. When the dash switch is set for headlights 
the voltage is taken directly from the battery to the column switch that 
determines whether low or high beams are activated. In following Masters' 
troubleshooting steps, I found that my dash light switch was bad. It must have 
failed as I repeatedly flipped it off and on to test all the new LEDs going in! 
I removed it, verified with a meter that it was bad but managed to clean it up 
inside, and it now tests okay. Today I plan to spray some electronic contact 
cleaner (not just WD40) into the dimmer switch and hope that all of its 
settings will work okay after I put the dash switch back in.

I'm sorry for the diversion into headlights. What I really want to know now is 
how to get those last two gauges illuminated with new LEDs.

Tim   
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