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MG TD TF 1500 - Headlights

Where to Start? My headlights don't work and I have traced the problem back to the horn/dimmer switch. (The horn itself is inop as the spring failed and shorted but I believe that is a different problem.) What I don't see is a lead from the ignition/light switch to the horn/dimmer switch which provides power to the lights. According to the Shop Manual schematic I should have four wires in/out of the horn/dimmer switch - I only have three: high beam; low beam; horn.
Is there any reference out there that I can go to that describes/explains the Lights-horn-ignition interface?

Walter 51TD
Walter Thompson

Walter,

I am looking at the rear of a dip / horn switch off a 1951 TD right now. There are indeed four wires but they are easy to identify. The horn wire which is purple with a black stripe goes through a hole in the bakelite base and connects to the horn contacts at the front of the switch. The other side of the horn switch earths through the securing screws. A the rear of the switch you will see three brass sleves into which the head lamp wires go. They form a "Y" shape with a spring attached to the upright of the "Y". If you flick the switch you will see the spring go from one of the sleeves to the other. A thick blue wire goes from the ignition / light switch to the sleeve which is connected to the spring i.e. the common connection. To the other two contacts there should be a blue/white wire and a blue / red wire and these go to the head lamps. The blue wire attaches to the "H" contact at the rear of the ignition / lamp switch. Looking at this from the rear with the switch in its normal orientation the "H" terminal is at about 5 o'clock.

I suggest you take a live feed to the base of the "Y" as above and see if the headlamps work. Then connect a bulb to the "H" terminal on the ignition switch and connect the other side to earth. If the bulb lights when the switch is turned to H the switch is OK. Its then a simple matter to connect a new wire from the "H" to the dipper switch.

If the head lamps or the test lamp don't work let me know.


Jan t
J Targosz

Jan,

Thank you for your explaination. I believe I can take it from here. I'll let you know if I run into problems.

Walter
Walter Thompson

This thread was discussed between 02/09/2003 and 03/09/2003

MG TD TF 1500 index

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