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MG TD TF 1500 - Help with 1954 TF indicators

Hi

I bought a TF about 3 weeks ago and it drove fine on the way home.

Now when I check the electrics in the garage the indicators don't seem to be working.

Signalling either left or right, all I get is a pathetic click from the relay. No other lights do anything, including the dashboard light.

So where do I start?

Thanks Chris
CE Valder

Probably the flasher. The "click/clunk" you hear is a good sign, it is removing brake light power from the light to allow flasher power to the light.

The X terminal of the flasher should get 12V from A3-A4 fuse when the ignition is ON. Check that first.

The L terminal of the flasher feeds power to Pin 1 on the relay box under the hood.

On a good flasher I had just under 12V on the L terminal until I operated the turn signal switch and it then pulsed with the flashers.

I bought 2 flashers from Moss, both were bad. I went to the local parts store and got and old fashioned one with the 3 contacts and it worked. Of course you may need the screw terminals and not push-on terminals.

It looks complicated but it is really simple if you have a voltmeter or test lamp.

Good luck.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

The cover on the relay box can be on wrong.

You can identify Pin 5 if you put your foot on the brakes. It will have 12V.

Make sure the cover is oriented correctly or you will end up chasing your tail.

Also Pin 4 and Pin 8 get power via the turn signal switch, 4 for a left turn, 8 for a right turn.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Thanks Peter

Doing electrics is my least favourite bit of DIY :(

At present I am charging the battery, which after standing for 3 weeks had dropped a little voltage. I am hoping by some miracle that the indicators will spring into life. :) Can you just confirm that the indicators should work without the engine running as my engine is out of commission at present.

My flasher unit has no markings on it, but I will print out your replies and work slowly through it.

I'm sure I have seen advice that the relay switches may need cleaning, but how do you get into the relay box?
CE Valder

You will need to have the ignition switched on for them to work, engines does not have to run.

The lid should just pop off the box, make sure you get it back on correctly.

I was an electronics technician trained in the 60s so I love old fashioned electrics, I just don't speak voltage regulator.
P G Gilvarry

Chris,

Send my your email address to my email (address beside my name at the top of this post), and I will send you some links and data about your turn signals.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Unless you know exactly what you are doing do not touch the relay box (the one with 8 terminals). the fault is probably in the small one with 3 terminals. They are very fragile.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Hi Peter

My flasher unit is very modern (cheap Chinese ??) and has no markings on it at all. In removing it to find out what might be written on it, it started working.:) :) :)

Don't think its a bad contact anywhere so will order another one anyway.

Does this one look OK?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MINI-MK1-INDICATOR-RELAY-3-TERMINAL-FREEPOST-/310985452793?hash=item48682d6cf9:m:myY850R4DC-ynoUcHnTqSJw

Cheers Chris
CE Valder

Hi Lonnie

I have e mailed you my personal e mail. I would love any info you have.

Cheers Chris
CE Valder

CE - "Can you just confirm that the indicators should work without the engine running"

Yes, they will work without the engine running and just the ignition turned on. If you do that, make sure that you disconnect the primary wire between the distributor and the coil is disconnected so that the coil and the points are not overheated. Cheers - Dave
D.W. DuBois

Thanks Dave

Good advice.
CE Valder

Yes, that flasher will work, and it has the mounting tab too.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Peter - Yes, that flasher will work, and it has the mounting tab too.

Thanks again Peter. Its ordered :)
CE Valder

Did the new flasher solve the issue?

Peter
P G Gilvarry

This thread was discussed between 04/05/2017 and 10/05/2017

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.