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MG TD TF 1500 - Moss wiring loom

Bought this a couple of years ago and only now looking at it closely and noticed a few things.

First the loom comes in 2 parts. The length that runs along the chassis and serves the the rear lights petrol pump etc. The 2nd part looks far more complicated and there doesn't appear to be any connectors to join the 2. I had assumed it was just 1 loom.

Second there is no way the wires to the front lights are going to reach. There must be some sort of extension here although I don't see it on the Moss website.

Finally the foot dip swith is also to short and would only fit a left had drive car although there is only 1 loom sold. No right hand drive or left hand drive versions.

Just what I have initially noticed and I could be wrong.

D Lamb

If you find you have to send it back Rhode Island Wiring makes quality T Type looms & wiring components. I purchased the correct black cloth covered helmet headed leads for the battery & for the starter motor from them. Very knowledgeable people & great to deal with. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Thanks Peter interesting to know. Not sure if I will get away with sending it back after this time.
I do some work for an Auto Electrician so we will probably make it work.
Thought they were some interesting points to make to help anyone purchasing one. It looks like a decent loom otherwise just hate having to buy additional parts seperately. And trying to work out exactly what extra is needed!
D Lamb

My TF utilises a vintage Moss harness that my father had set aside in storage for several decades. During a winter years ago (upon my rediscovery of this harness), I labeled each wire end according to the TF wiring diagram. I also soldered bullet connectors onto most of the wire ends (a few wire ends came with bullets conns on).

I purchased Lucas-style bullet & barrel connectors to accomplish this task.

The headlights & front turn signals utilise separate pigtails that connect to the main harness thru a round access hole in the engine compartment side panel.

I obtained my necessary components Stateside from British Wiring.

http://www.britishwiring.com/category-s/114.htm

I recall there was certainly no excess slack in this vintage Moss harness upon installation.

A TD, however, has several main harness variations to choose from depending on early/late production & dipper location...and of course RHD/LHD. It sounds like you may have a variant harness.
T.A. Sirp

Yes, there are two parts to the loom, and it isn't altogether clear how they go together at first, but they do! The smaller loom is for under the dash. The connectors for the front lights should terminate under the bonnet, close to an aperture that receives the trailing leads from the light fittings. It won't be difficult to extend the wires to reach a rhs foot switch if you need to, but I recommend you leave that until later and if needed do it in matching wire colours.
As a first step look at the wiring diagram and label up what you can.
If you are going to fit halogen headlights then you need relays - very easy to wire up. If you are going to use LEDs its less necessary.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Fit the loom from the engine compartment through to the tub.
I know it looks wrong but trying to get it the other way is a pig, as I found out when I did mine. Also the loom goes over the roll hoop not under. Another thing I found out when I had to remove the body from the chassis. I did not think you could lift a chassis on a wiring loom!!!
I keep thinking after 40+ years of ownership I could not find any other things to do wrong, but probably not.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Thanks guys good advice. I am going to try to get to this during the week if time allows.
D Lamb

Darryl, My harness was in two pieces and from Moss. It came to me with most of the wires tagged and numbered. As Ray said, put the under dash harness through the firewall from the inside out. The new harness looks like a pile of spaghetti at first and makes you wonder if you'll ever get it right! Patience is the virtue, it will all come together. Once you stretch the chassis harness out in the chassis, things kinda fall in place. The brake switch wires will pretty much locate the harness position along the chassis. I know your car is right hand drive, but the basics are pretty much the same, just flipped. Keep plugging, you have to get that thing back on the road! Grin. PJ
Paul Jennings

I bought my loom from a specialist in UK and fitted it myself. the only issues I had was that I ordered some non standard bits. headlamp flashers and separate indicator lamps for the rear. What the supplier didn't tell me was that all the standard bits on the loom were to the original MG colour code whilst the non-standard bits are to current[excuse pun] EU wiring regs.
The most difficult bit on a LHD is getting the loom down onto the chassis near the clutch pedal shaft
Eddie
E I Buckley

This thread was discussed between 07/01/2017 and 10/01/2017

MG TD TF 1500 index

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