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MG TD TF 1500 - tail light ground question

My car came with the tail light ground wired to the bottom rear bolt that holds the rear wing to the chasis below the gas tank - picture attached. There were 2 rotted rubber washers that don't seem to serve any purpose. Does anyone have a better picture of how this bolt and wire is supposed to be affixed to the car? (Believe it or not I couldn't find one at Dave's site!) The Horst book mentions this setup but doesn't go into much detail.

Thanks as always,
Ed



efh Haskell

Doesn't belong there. At the rear of the left frame rail is a large bundle of wires and connectors. This are the ones shown on the wiring diagram just under the caption "SNAP CONNECTORS". One of the wires coming out of that bundle goes to a ground lug screwed into the frame rail. I may have an image around somewhere that shows it. I'll look. Bud
Bud Krueger (TD10855)

It's in this mess:



Bud Krueger (TD10855)

Pretty sure my car has the ground wire with loop terminal that goes under one of the shock mount bolts or nut (the ones that go through the frame). I'll try to crawl under tonight and look. George
George Butz

All the rear grounds go into a pigtail that goes to a lug on the left rear shock, under the forward nut
D. Sander

Ed, I believe the rubber washers were installed to bring the outer edges of the front and rear fenders into alignment. Years ago, I noticed that the rear edges of both my rear fenders were pulled inward. This was confirmed using a helper and a long piece of string stretched from front to back. I used one of the same type washers that are inserted between the running board and the forward of the rear fender. The washer was installed between the bracket shown in your photo and the fender to protect the painted surface. I guess it was not a factory installed item but now all the fender edges are in a straight line.
Jim Merz

Ed, here is a picture of my ground wire mounted on the shock mount bolt. Mike


Mike Hart (52 TD 16378)

My Bad, Ed.

I have an aftermarket wiring loom from British Wiring. To me, it was so obvious once you laid the loom along the chassis that I didn't bother to photgraph some details. When the ground wire parted with the harness at the rear shock... I grounded it there. A bullet connector in the loom (as everyone mentioned) provides the grounds on the rear harness to the tail lights, rear turns, license plate light. The fuel sender has its ground through the fuel line, so it must be continuous or you have to provide a separate ground.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Ah yes, now I do remember installing that ground near rear shock. I totally forgot it existed, probably because the "harness" PO installed was totally different than the standard. It's good to know I don't have to fool with ground in that manner!

While we're back there, how did you guys waterproof/protect that bundle of snap connectors where rear subharness attaches to main harness? I just used elec. tape but seems kind of "crude".

Thanks gents,
Ed
efh Haskell

The fuel pump (late TF) and fuel sender each also have a ground that terminates at the shock bolt ground lug.
D. Sander

Ed,

If you use a liberal amount of dielectric grease at each connection you will seal out any moisture and the messy electrical tape will not be needed.

When using dielectric grease the connection squeezes out the grease at the contact points of the bullet and socket (or grub screw) and leaves the grease surrounding the rest of the connection, preventing moisture and dirt ingress. Note that the grease itself does not conduct electricity (as opposed to a product such as KopperShield- sp?) so it can be used on connections that are in close proximity to each other without causing stray currents, as well as at grounds and other connections you wish to protect. Dielectric grease is on every connection on my TD, and at every ground.

You can get dielectric grease from Permatex. A small tube will protect several car's worth of connections.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

This thread was discussed between 18/07/2011 and 20/07/2011

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