MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Directional relay location

What is the correct location for the Direction Indicator Relay Unit? My harness has tge bundle of 8 wires coming out right at the firewall. Would be hard to put it under the dash where I thought it should go. Any help appreciated!
T Capehart

On TD s it mounted inside the tub on the underside of the tool box. TFs was in the engine compartment. Depending on which wiring harness you bought for a TD it may have been loomed either way.
W A Chasser

Thanks W.A.! I’ll check my harness. I’m hoping to keep it on tge inside
T Capehart

At one time I had a harness that the leads were too short to make it to the correct location on the toolbox. So I mounted the relay in the correct location and then mounted a terminal strip with screws on the toolbox and made a mini harness to go between the terminal strip, that the loom could reach, to the relay. Since I have an underdash shield no one is the wiser.

This was with an older Moss harness and I replaced it back in 2013 with one of their newer cloth ones and I think they would have been OK but I just kept the same configuration.
Christopher Couper

Only the later TDs (don't have time to look up car #) had turns. So there is no original location on earlier cars. The later ones had the relay under dash in a nearly impossible location to work on. It will need to be worked on! Likely why moved to the firewall on the TF. For years the replacement harnesses to add turns to an early TD had wires to put relay on the firewall. My opinion: if going for an original restoration, put where it went on later TDs, though that is still not original. If not, put on the firewall, you will be glad later! George
George Butz III

That
Nims for the helpful suggestions. I’m beginning to ge a perspective on this. I’ll check out my harness and let the wire lengths decide.

Thanks again!
T Capehart

For what it is worth - I mounted mine on the inside on passengers' side (R H Drive car) It is out the way and I think the harness fit OK there. Half under the under dash cover. Easy to work on if needed.
Rod

Rod Jones

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

Tom
T Capehart

The relay box on my '53 TD (25009 EXLNA) is located way up in the middle under the toolbox. I suspect it's never been touched, much less moved. It's only worked for 71 years so I guess I can't complain too much. Sadly, to quote George: "It will need to be worked on!" Last week the right side turn signal quit. I have LEDs in the rear but incandescents in the front. Today's inspection shows that when I turn on the right signal, the rear glows steady and the front does not glow at all. I checked the bulb and both filaments are good. When I found the relay box and found out that the number 2 terminal is supposed to feed the right front and number 1 feeds the right rear. When I turn the switch I can hear the relay click and I get power at terminal 1 but none at terminal 2. Should be an easy fix once I have the relay box out. Oops, that's the issue. I need a double elbow arm to get to it. Oh, well, gotta start somewhere. I'll let you know what I find when I get it out.

Jud
J K Chapin

Well, I was totally screwed up both in my terminal numbers and my analysis of the problem. Turns out I had the diagram upside down so please ignore any reference I made to terminal numbers. We started tracing wires to see where there might be a break and found a place just inches up and out of sight from where I had looked this morning. It appears that the wire bundle had drooped enough that the tire was rubbing on it and it wore through the wire to the flasher terminal in the bulb holder. Clean up the bundle, put in a new splice, tie-wrap the bundle well away from the tire and, as they say, Bob's your uncle. My 73 year old relay box works like a charm.

Safety Fast!!!

Jud
J K Chapin

This thread was discussed between 22/06/2024 and 16/07/2024

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now