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Triumph TR6 - Headlight Problem

Recently purchased a 1972 TR6 and before putting it to sleep for the winter I changed all the vital fluids. While doing this I disconnected the battery, after finishing I reconnected the battery and started it up for 1 last run everything was fine ie:pressure, temp. etc. but my headlights stopped working on low beam setting. I was careful to make sure that all switches were off before starting fluid change. Any tips on where to start on this would be appreciated. My lights work but only on high beam setting. Thanks, Keith
KBD Dixon

Keith,
Mine is a '71 with a floor switch for hi/lo beams, not sure about a '72, but I have both schematics and they look the same. Just got done rewiring though so pretty fresh. From a probability point of view, its hard to imagine both lamps failing at the same time, so I'd start with the switch. It has three connections, blue is hot when the lights are turned on, and it feeds one or the other of the two (blue-red or blue-white) for high or low beams. If you test those two output leads as you operate the switch, if the blue red ('dip beam')is dead, sounds like the switch. If not, the next stop for the blue-red on my harness appeared to be the left lamp. This is closer to where you were working (my coolant overflow bottle is right here) so maybe you knocked it loose.

Anyway, these are the two places I'd start. Looking back, maybe look for the loose wire by the left lamp first, its easier than crawling under the dash and you'd see it right away. You can also test for current to the blue-red right there, and more comfortably.

Good luck,
Mark
Mark H

Keith
As Mark says 71 & 72 are the same as far as floor dip switch is concerned. Also agree probability of both lamps failing at same time, low. But then there is Mr Murphy that likes to help us on our cars. Mark and I are saying the same process. I am starting at the other end so you do not have to lay on your back on the drivers side and try to reach up under dash and push this and that wire out of the way to try to get at the Blue/Red (U/R)low beam wire.It is not fuse at all as Red/Green feeds both high and low beams to column switch. Mark not sure what u mean "U/R is left lamp". Me thinks your fingers misread your brain. U/R is low beam regardless of left or right. I am sure that is what you meant. Keith, I think you have bad connection in the U/R wiring. Mark help me out here: can not remember if Ground is common connection (high and low beam)on ground tab at front grill (do not have x-ray vision to see past my air duct assembly). If is common ( If I remember correctly, it is()then ground can be eliminated as problem. Even my double connector that splits U/R to left and right side head lights is behind my air duct. Look at this double connector. This is only connector back to floor dip switch. Dip switch to column switch has one single connector for U/R and a double connector for U/W (blue white-high beam)....the high beam warning light. So check voltage at the double connector front of car that splits the main harness U/R to left and right headlights. If voltage there go back to the floor dip switch and measure voltage there. If voltage then go back to (under dash and on your back)connector from column switch. If voltage then your problem is in the column switch. Do not panic..you simply might have a broken connection to the switch. These connections are flimsy to the switch.
Keith, try something real simple to start of with. press the floor dip switch many times to see if maybe you have a dirty connection within the switch. Remember if you take a connection apart..reassemble using dielectric grease. The lords gift to Mr Lucas to make him look better.
Good luck and let us know your results.
Regards
Rick
Hay Mark, Did u ever get those schematics I sent u?
Rick Crawford

Keith
Forgot to say this. The single wire for the low beam from the column switch to the dip switch (through a single connector) is blue. After the dip switch it changes to Blue/ Red (U/R).
Rick
Rick Crawford

Thanks for the advice, it's great to have found this resource, I will get back with results. Keith
KBD Dixon

Rick,
Didn't get the schematics, but finished up anyway. The TRF harness was really quite good and needed very little tweaking. Missing the master light and wipers, but am working on some substitutes. Have a Volvo intermittent wiper switch I got on ebay to try (the 'Lucas' variety of intermittent was not appealing).

Just to clear up, the U/R (blue-red) connection on the left I was referring to was the connector that splits my harness between the left and right lamps. It is near the left lamp, but could be under the shroud for you guys with intact cars. It would have to have been that connector to knock out both lamps at the same time.
Mark H

Mark
Sorry u did not get them but sounds like you probably have the same ones I sent u anyway. I knew you knew. Damn fingers getting in the way again. So I guess u better add a duct to your need list. Yes the connection is behind the duct. Mark, is the ground a common connection between rightr and left lights (since you can see in there)?
Keith, u are welcome. I bet you find a dirty connection at the foot switch. If the car was ever winter driven then you can imagine what the switch might look like inside. Also do a clean of the connection at front left.
Regards
Rick
Rick Crawford

Rick and Mark, I found the problem it was right where you said. That is right where both of you said, Rick the dimmer switch did seem to be gummed up, nothing a tube of dielectric couldn't cure and Mark there was a cracked and exposed connection at the junction front left right where you mentioned. 2 fixes and lights on, Thanks again for your help.
Regards, Keith
Also I am looking for 2 good steel wheels for my 6 if anyone out there has decent wheels available.
KBD Dixon

This thread was discussed between 24/02/2002 and 25/02/2002

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