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MG TD TF 1500 - Turn signal problems

Hi Folks,

Took my '53 TD out at dusk last night for a Dairy Queen trip. My wife, the turn signal specialist operator, noted that the left front turn signal didn't work when the running or headlights were on nor did the dash indicator. Upon checking when we got home I noticed that the left signal didn't flash as rapidly as the right side even with all other lights off although it did operate fairly well. It tried to flash when the headlights were on but all there was was a slight dimming of the light. This morning I took the light assembly apart and cleaned all of the terminals and applied silicone grease to the contact parts. No improvement was noted. The right side continues to operate properly along with the dash indicator. The right side lights, front and back, just don't work when the headlighs or running lights are on. I attached a temporay ground to the assembly and still no improvemnet. I suspect the contacts in the control box are dirty on terminal 2. Can anyone confirm this before I remove the box. It is in a horrible non original location and I don't want to remove it if I don't have to. If you don't think that this is the problem, could someone suggest another possible area to look at.
Thanks,

Mark
Mark Strang

How's about swapping the leads (right & left) at the control box?
that should tell you if fault is in the box or the wiring at least.
David Sheward

Same thing at flasher?
David Sheward

mark, before i opened any boxes, i would check your voltages and grounds. this sounds like a possible poor ground issue from the information provided. what voltages are you reading in the sockets? regards, tom
tom peterson

Dave/Tom,
I swapped the leads on the directional relay box with no change in the results. The right directionals flashed properly but the left side stayed the same. I then checked the voltage on each terminal. I had 12+ volts on both the side lamp circuits and the directional circuits. Any other ideas?
Mark
Mark Strang

What is the wattage printed on the bulbs ? have you changed them lately ? Try to change the left with the right bulb and see what happens

Cheers

Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Gerard, that brings up a good question. Do you know what the correct replacement number should be for the front and back bulbs?
Mark
Mark Strang

mark, there is an old thread where similar symptoms were caused by one of the bayonet bulbs being installed upside down..the socket was worn enough the bulb was inserted without both pins in the correct notches. regards, tom
tom peterson

The front bulbs, although dual filament, do not have staggered pins, 1176 is the number. You have a 50/50 chance to install the bulb correctly the first time. The rear bulbs were 1157 with staggered pins.
Dave Braun

Mark to answer your question front 20 and 5 watts

Cheers Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Mark

When I noted you had used silicon grease on electrical contacts I did some research.

This is what was quoted;

"It is not recommended to be applied to the actual electrical conductive contacts of the connector because it could interfere with the electrical signals passing through the connector in cases where the contact pressure is very low. Products designed as electronic connector lubricants, on the other hand, should be applied to such connector contacts and can dramatically extend their useful life. Polyphenyl Ether, rather than silicone grease, is the active ingredient in some such connector lubricants."

Might have some merit.

Graeme
G Evans

Okay,I'll try the suggested bulbs and clean off some of the grease and see what happens. Thanks, Mark
Mark Strang

I use Dielectric Grease on my contacts. Most auto parts stores will have that.
Sounds like a bad ground somewhere.
David Sheward

I should have stated that I used dielectric grease on my contacts. I got 4 new bulbs and installed them. Still have very strange and erratic light funtions. I guess that I should take the box out and see what I can find in there. The basic problem is that I don't know what did or did not work prior to getting the car. Pretty much starting from scratch. I do have good voltage on all of the terminals and an apparent solid ground from all of the sockets.
Mark
Mark Strang

I got it figured out finally. A new Moss left rear socket assembly had a poor bulb fit causing various problems with the brake light, turn signals and side lamp functions. I was really frustrated and just wiggled the bulb and the light came on! From there I could fix the problem knowing what it was. Sure seems as if new parts should be okay. Thanks for all of your help. Mark
Mark Strang

This thread was discussed between 16/08/2013 and 18/08/2013

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