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Triumph TR6 - No headlights


Hello all!

Car is a 1975 TR6. When I go to use the headlights they will only operate when switched in high beam mode. Both bulbs are brand new Sylvania halogens.

TIA,
Rob
Rob

Hi Rob

First check fo a good ground. If thats ok
Check wires. Blue/red for low beam and test light or meter to ground from dimmer or close. If that doesn't work?

Likely your dimmer flash to pass switch. Flip on and off a bit may kick in.

All above thanks to Dan Masters Schematics. Credit were credits due.

http://www.britishv8.org/techhome.htm

Bill
Bill Brayford

Yeh, the Dan Masters book is worth every cent. Peter
Peter Gooch

Just ordered the Masters book too, when I had this problem it was my floor mounted dimmer switch dissassemble liberal use of dielectric grease and lights on. Not sure if 75 is the same.
Regards, Keith
K.B.Dixon

Rob
Bill has it. Suspect your steering column high low "flash to pass" switch. ( Keith, from CF1XXXX on, 1973, the control of lights, parking and low beam, is a dash "clear hooters" switch and high low/beam "flash" a steering column switch).
It will not be the clear hooters switch.
If DR. Bills' suggestion does not work, like Bill says, Blue/red wire is the low beam wire...pull apart the butt connector (under dash out of steering column)and apply some dielectric grease to it. If still no joy, (blue/red) butt connector at front left of car ( will have one B/R wire in with 2 B/R wires out) clean it as well. The only things after this is the connectors to the bulbs. Sounds like an easy find and fix.
Have fun
Rick C
My OE schematics have been filed under G. Thank you Dan.
Rick Crawford

Thanks for this post. I had this problem arise the other evening (runnig lights worked, but no headlights) The previous day I had to retighten the antenna, and I thougt maybe I had dislodged something when I had gotten into the side wall. I did the obvious and checked fuses but they were fine. I looked for broken wires to the headlights, but they were good. Luckily before I removed swithches, I saw this post. As suggested, I found that by flipping the high/low beam switch it was corrected.

ANOTHER PROBLEM: I just encountered another problem this morning however. Neither the temperature guage nor the fuel guage is working. They have been functioning fine up to now. Any suggestions on what the problem is, and the fix for it? Thanks.
John Burke

Hi John what year is your car? Wiring differs year to year.

Bill
Bill Brayford

Hi Bill. My TR6 is a 1974. I should have thought to include that bit of information before, sorry.

Any suggestions you can offer will be appreciated. Thanks.
John Burke

John

Sorry to take so long getting back. Cutting back a 50 foot by 8 tall cedar hedge. Didn't realize you were right there by our post timings or I would have replied.

The problem area is the dark green feed wiring The fuse box will have a white going in and 2 gark green wires going out.

Check that first for power? Do you have a meter or a test light? Powered only in the run position of the ignition. Check if your wipers work in all speeds.

That green feeds most of the device switches in the car interior and the voltage stabilizer for the temp and gas. The stabilizer is on the back of the speedometer and moving wires around may have disconnected that feed alone?

The speedo comes out of the dash quite easy 2 thumb nuts with clamps hold it in loosen them off tilt them in and slide gauge towards you. The speedo cable will come out a fair amount letting you check the back. Reg. looks like a block 1 screw holds it to the speedo. connections should be 2 dark green unregulated voltage and one light green regulated to your gauges. Turn ign. to run and test for voltage.

From what your describing there may be a multi pin connector on the 74 although the schematic shows a bonded connection. 1 wire in 5 out all green. In real life it may have multi wires in.

Take a look back were you were on the antenna for a connector with dark green wires. And under the dash. You may have to stand on your head under the dash with a good light.

Hard to see from here so take a look and let me know what you find. Maybe some of the other guys with 74s might enlighten on a connector?

Bill






Bill Brayford

Hi Bill. Thanks for the information.

Last Friday night I was driving the car -- the headlights were working fine again. Along with the the temp and fuel guage not working, I noticed that the turn signals weren't working. Again, I found that confusing because they had been working fine. So, always starting with the simple thing first, I checked the fuses again. None of them had failed, so I just wiggled them a bit -- presto, the turn signals worked and the guages worked.

While I am pleased that they all work again, I figure something must be a bit loose. So armed with the information you have given me, I am going to check things out some more and see if I can find the problem.

Thank you for the information, and taking to time to pass it along.
John Burke

Hi john

The cradles actually get corroded. Clean them up and the fuse ends and then coat with dialectric grease to prevent them going bad again. Permatex is the brand I use but any will do.

Do the terminals to fuse holder as well.

Bill
Bill Brayford

Hello,
If you have a dremel type tool buy the small soft wire brush for it ( less than $2 ) they are about 1/2 diameter and are great for cleaning up the corrosion on the spade and bullet connectors. You may have to take the fuse holder completely apart..I found my cradles sloppy so after cleaning I applied a drop of solder at the base which stiffened them back up, and don't forget a dab of dielectric grease at all your connections!!
Charlie
Charlie Ballard

This thread was discussed between 23/05/2003 and 10/06/2003

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