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MG TD TF 1500 - Mystery Turn blinker on dash only one side

When I turn my turn signal on the green light on dash for left blinks one time bright then barely visible. Right works fine. Outside actual lights work fine. Reason? Now to add to the mystery - installed an old Flash Stat 4 way blinker. It used to work when turned on. Now for some reason works only when the turn signals are on! PLUS the both dash green lights work fine when used with the 4 way! Any answers. Mainly for now interested in the low/no blink on left green dash light. Was that way even before the 4 way was installed.
K E MURPHY

So the green (1 ) light will flash for the right, but strange for the left?
Or do you have a right AND left light? I have seen both before but not factory.

I would open and clean the relay contacts and check that the bulbs are OK and installed to correct way.

TD ? TC? year?
M Grogan

Hi Grogan,
the dash light for left turn only gives one quick blink, then goes dim to cant see. I have a TF. We are talking only the dash blinker light. Can't be the bulb as it works fine for right.

Where is the relay you are talking about - the round cylinder on the firewall? don't know that it can be the contacts. would it have a different contact for left? I guess we are looking for something that would work on only one of the directions. What would that something be?
K E MURPHY

The relay is a rectangular box about 3" X 5" and maybe 2" high. Not sure where the relay resides in a TF (our TD has it on the backside of the battery box) Your problem could be the contacts in the relay or the wires connected to it. Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

A lot of weird electrical issues are often caused by a bad earth (ground). Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Have you checked all the signal bulbs involved, to see if they are lighting up when they should? Switched to led's recently?
tables1

Here is a photo of the relay that Dave mentioned.

Larry

LD Kanaster

When light goes dim, could ANY other lights go dim? If a bulb is in wrong, you could send power to all other lights. That would be very dim.

But more likely its the relay box.
Also check the grounds all over.
Could have a little rust and the ground fades away.

M Grogan

Turn signal relay info:

> Turn Signal Relay From the Inside Out
by Gene Burgess on Bud Krueger's Ttalk.info
http://www.ttalk.info/Directionals.htm

> TD/TF Turn Signals (Text)
by Gene Burgess on Bud Krueger's Ttalk.info
http://www.ttalk.info/Burgess.html

> Turn Signal - Relay, (MGA) 1500 only
by Barney Gaylord, mgaguru.com
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et105.htm

> How Turn Signals Work in our Classic British cars
Moss Motors video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmko2_7xceo

> 141-400 8 Terminal Turn Signal Relay - How it works
Moss Motors video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gohbQXC-5wQ

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Keith, I would check the grounds first. Do you have a ground wire on the front turn signal lamps? If I didn't get results with that I would remove the front left bulb and try it again. If no change I would replace that bulb and do the same test with the left rear bulb. If still no change I would head to the parts store and buy an electronic flasher...they can be bought for about 10 bucks.... and see if that cures the issue.
L E D LaVerne

I find the EL13 NOVITA flasher to be a good replacement. I used one of the hand crank holders for a flasher holder.


M Grogan

Great idea
SPW Wincze

The "voltage" to flash the lights come from the flasher itself, confirm that the left system is fully operational as the bulbs must be correct 21w rating for it to work,

Swap left and right bulbs would be a good step.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

This thread was discussed between 21/01/2017 and 25/01/2017

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