MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 - TF indicators

I thought I was on top of my electrical, in particular the Traffic indicators, now for some reason they have gone haywire,
when I turn the key on and activate the indicator switch the indicators work as they should ,when I activate the headlamp switch, first position the side lights, tail lights and number plate light work as they should (parking mode) but when I pull the switch to the second position and turn, the headlamps,side lights, tail lights and number plate light comes on.
and that is not right the front park / indicator lamps should not come on . right


Any clues

Thanks

George
G Mills

Hi George,I'm not too sure what mode you are in your sequence.
Position 1 is front park light, rear tail light and number plate light.
Turn the indicator on and the front light flashes and the rear BRAKE light flashes, position 2, the same except the headlights come on.
Regards Don TF 4887 "Figaro"
Don Walker

Hi Don thanks mate, that is correct Number 1 is as you say, second position and a slight turn clockwise is again as you say except for me at position two with Headlamps on, the front park lights on + tail+ number plate the indicators will not flash, they are on but won't flash
indicators flash as they should if I just turn the key on ( without touching the headlamp switch)


Regards
G Mills

Thanks George, now I am understood what you are meanting, or better still 'I see'.

1. Indicators work with key on, yes.
2. Indicators work with sidelights on yes/no.
3. Indicators work with headlights on, no.

I had problems with mine of a similar nature and I think it came down to earthing points (it's an 'age' thing)

Regards, Don TF 4887 'Figaro'
Don Walker

Don omitted to point out that the rear flasher work it is only the front that won't work
No Don if the front side light are illuminated then they will not blink, turn them off and select left or right and away they go.
I don't know about the Earth thing mate all my earths go back to the Battery not to the body prior to me doing that I had a lot of earthing problems.

Regards
G Mills

That makes it a bit different George, if I remember correctly the earthing of the front light/indicator is through the body of the bulb holder, thus through the guard and chassis.
You say you have all earths back to the battery.
Have you tried having a good earth connected to a long wire and go around the various local earth points.
It still sounds like an earth problem to me.
Regards, Don
Don Walker

Hi George,

I note you say you have checked all the earths but what about the one going to the relay box? It sounds as though the left and right solenoids aren't pulling in the contacts. If you take the cover off you should see them working as you flick the indicator switch. I have queried electrical problems on these pages a few times and lots of owners have kindly made suggestions but the only real solution is a methodical check of everything with the circuit diagram in front of you. I don't know if you have the manual but there is an excellent diagram on page N29. I don't have the facilities to scan the one I have but I am certain someone has and can attach a copy.

Good luck

Jan T
J Targosz

I do have that diagram and will check through the system tomorrow.
But what confuses me is that the indicators work perfectly it's only when the headlights are on.

Thanks Jan
G Mills

Try opening up the turn signal relay (that silver box marked DB10) and clean the contacts. If one of those contacts is not making good contact, the symptoms will be just as described.
Lew3

Hi George (again!)

I love these queries - they are better than a souduko for brain exercise. The fact that the flashers work without the headlamps is puzzling. This means the relay coils are pulling the reeds over so it looks as though everything inside this is OK. There is no commonality of circuit between the side lamps and headlamps unless you are earthing them through the same wires. I know that flasher units are susceptible to both current and voltage flow. Is it possible you battery is at fault and the voltage is dropping when the head lamp load is switched on? Do you have the problem when the engine is running and the dynamo is charging?

Please let us know the answer to the problem when you eventually sort it

Cheers

Jan
J Targosz

George,

IMHO Jan is close to the solution . The two filaments in the bulb both are earthed through the brass bayonet base. If the earth is less than perfect the voltage applied to the side lamp filament can raise the brass shell to a voltage level slightly higher than 0 volts as with a good earth. Current flow through the turn signal circuit is reduced to the point where the illumination of the turn signal is hard to see. Check that the earth is perfect and the socket is wired correctly.

Good hunting,

Jim Haskins 1953 TD
J M Haskins

Thanks to those that have attempted to help me with this, your input is greatly appreciated.
This morning I double checked all the earths and connections, all was good, and so it should be as I spent quite a bit of time tidying up others shonky wiring, everything worked as it should, including the trafficators when the headlamps were on, so what changed to bring me to this problem of the front indicators not working when the headlights are on, well a few weeks or so ago I changed the globes in the front indicator lamps AND I put the globes in back to front, this meant the brighter side of the globe was being illuminated when the headlamps came on , in fact the flashers were operating all the time except you could not see it without looking very very close at the lamp and just see a slight change in the illumination.
I reversed the globes and presto all started working as it should.
Trap for young players.
G Mills

This thread was discussed between 04/04/2016 and 05/04/2016

MG TD TF 1500 index

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