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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - stop lamp switch

I have just acquired a 1955 TF 1500. the stoplamps don't work. The bulbs light up when I activate the turn signals, but don't flash, so the wires and the relay seem to be intact. This appears to focus the problem to the stop lamp switch and the connection between the swithch and the relay. I don't have a service manual and am unable to locate the stop lamp switch. an anyone tell me where to find it? Also, is the flasher a standard unit that can be replaced at any auto parts store, or must it be a special unit?

On another note, the car is very hard to start and I have determined that the engine was reassembled wilth no gasket between the manifolds and the block. Will that expllain the starting problem?
Thanks.
Mike Munson
Mike Munson

Mike,
Welcome to the TF owners club! On to your problem.....
First thing you must do is set a fresh beer somewhere where it can rise to room temprature. (IMPORT ONLY...OSH is best!)
Jack up your TF (you'll need to get under her)....follow your brake line from the master cyc (under drivers
side floorboard) across frame to passanger side frame member...there you will find a 4-way union in the
brake line. The brake switch is located on the bottom of this union. Another thing you will want to check
is if the tail light bulbs are installed correctly. (On the TF bulbs can be in socket wrong so that "brite" fillament will light from running lights instead of brake lights). If I have failed to make this clear (where
switch is) ...Order, if you haven't allready catalogs from Abingdon Spares & Moss Motors. The catalog
from Abingdon shows the location of this in the TF Brake exploded view.Here's a link to both of these sites: http://www.abingdonspares.com/ http://www.mossmotors.com/ You can order
them on line ...and they can be a great help in lue of service manual...although you will need that at some point! On the flasher ...you can purchase one that will work from an auto parts store...but it will probley
have push on terminals instead on screw type as orginal....both of these are avaible from the vendors
above in either model.Hopefully the "timed turn lever switch" on dash is still functing..they are not cheap.
Not real sure what gaskets you are talking about...been lucky in that I haven't had to take my 1500 down
that far yet. I do know some of the gaskets are very thin copper plates..(looking at my spare set)..maybe someone else can help you here. As to starting hard....I am sometimes amazed talking to owners of TF's
that they are unaware once you engage the choke you turn it to the left to increase the mix for cold starts! My source of "hard starting" turned out to be a missadjusted valve....these are easy to set if you
have the hand crank. Another big mistake on these is missadjustment of the points as these cars have
3 types of distributers that could be fitted to them...(SYMMETRIC / ASYMMETRIC / HIGH LIFT) so you need to know what one you have before you set these! Best advise I could offer you here is check up and do some reading on these BEFORE you mess with the carb settings!
Hope this helps you .....Welcome to the dark world of Lucas Electrics.
David
David Sheward

Mike,
Forgot the most important thing!...........
You may now drink the beer...it should be warm by now!
Repet above as needed...it will enhance the experance!
David
David Sheward

Mike you will find the stoplamp switch screwed into a fitting placed near the inboard side of the left side of the frame. Just trace the brake line from the master cylinder and you'll find it. To test the switch, turn on the ignition switch and carefully connect the two posts on top of the switch. Dont short it to ground! A helper can tell you if the lights are working or a reflection on a nearby wall.
The flasher relay is peculiar to our LBCs and cannot be bought at a neighborhood parts store. They are expensive. The brake light switch is a far more likely cause of your problem.
Without a manifold gasket, there is no way the carbs can deliver a proper fuel/air mixture. Put one on asap.
You are already finding the necessity of buying a shop manual. Bite the bullet and buy one, it'll be well worth it!
Jim Merz

The flasher can (the round thing with three wires) is available as David says, but the relay (rectangular box with 8 wires) is not. Jim is right on- test the brake light switch first. I don't think this has to do with not blinking however. Check all bulbs (front too)- they should all light with turns on. I would change the flasher first. Then, look at the relay box-there are a bunch of contact arms and points inside the box- with carefull study, they can be adjusted/cleaned, etc. Try to find someone nearby with a TD or TF- they would be a tremendous help.
George Butz

Dave, Jim and George: Thanks for the help. I am amazed at how quickly MG owsners come to offer help.
Mike Munson
Mike Munson

This thread was discussed on 04/12/2000

MG TD TF 1500 index

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