Section : Electrical Equipment

Alternators, dynamos, lights, wipers, etc.

Lights. It's all gone dark?

Posted By : Glenn Harmer, 16-Jun-2004, 08:04am

Can anyone help. I'm new to this club, and Triumph ownership. We picked up our '78 Spitfire 1500 on Saturday, and have already encountered many problems. The one I can't figure out though is the dissapearance of all the lights? The side, rear, headlamps have all given up the ghost? The headlamps lasted the longest, but eventually they went as well. I have checked the fuses (all three of 'em) they seem ok. I have sprayed contact cleaner into the fusebox, and the light switch. I have yet to check the switch with a tester though. The dash lights have also gone west!! Please somebody tell me this is a "common" fault with these cars and easily repairable!!!

Thanks for your help, and Hello!!!

Followups :

Lights. It's all gone dark?

Posted By : Ian Mulford, 16-Jun-2004, 08:34am

Most probably the switch on the dashboard, take it apart and give it a good clean. It happened on mine when all I got was either side lights and dash lights or headlights only, cleaned the switch and has worked fine ever since.

Cheers!

Ian
- Lights. It's all gone dark?
  
  Posted By : Glenn Harmer, 16-Jun-2004, 09:39am
  
  Thanks Ian.
  
  I cleaned the switch thouroughly, but still no lights? The "flash" main beam works, but no main beam when light switch is turned to headlights? So it would suggest the switch, but I'm stumped? Is there any other fuse, apart from the three on the n/s bulkhead?
  
  Cheers,
  
  Glenn.
  - Lights. It's all gone dark?
    
    Posted By : Brendan Delaney, 16-Jun-2004, 09:58am
    
    Dear Glenn,
    Same happened to me. I would suspect the fuse box first. Check it with a tester or try bypassing the fuse with a short length of wire. Llightly sandpaper all the contacts and change all the fuses. If the car has been standing for a while these contacts tend to get a bit 'dull' - more than contact cleaner can deal with!
    If the car has been rebuilt and resprayed you might have an earthing problem, check that the earth contacts have good metal contact.
    Any 'newly acquired' spitfire will throw up a fair few faults.... it is 26 years old after all!
    Good luck
    - Lights. It's all gone dark?
      
      Posted By : Michael Davis, 16-Jun-2004, 02:53pm
      
      More unlikely but worth mentioning...
      
      The three fuses you mention are the only *original* ones but it is always possible that something else has been added sometime in the cars 20-odd year history...
      - Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Glenn Harmer, 16-Jun-2004, 02:56pm
        
        Thanks everyone. I have cleaned the contacts, and rechecked all the fuses. Only now the stereo has packed in as well as the interior light, oh yes, and the main beam.
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Tim Everitt, 17-Jun-2004, 11:53am
        
        In that case, I would suspect either the fuse box itself, or the connections to it, which are inside the car.
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Glenn Harmer, 17-Jun-2004, 02:45pm
        
        I've had the fuse box out, and everything seems ok. I have cleaned the earth's to the body and engine. As I say. The brake lights and indicators still work. But no side, head, main beam, interior, reverse light or stereo work any more. When I get the heater water valve back on!!, I'll take it to an auto electrician. And just think the guy who I bought it off is a club member!!! Shame really.
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Brendan Delaney, 17-Jun-2004, 03:44pm
        
        Glenn, It has to be the fuse box.....
        The brake lights, indicators and voltage regulator to temp and fuel guage go on one fuse - wipers and tacho another - and all other lights and stereo another. so it all fits.
        
        These fuse boxes are really temperamental - I spent all morning stripping, cleaning and fiddling with mine, changed all the fuses (the old ones can develop an intermittent contact inside) and it still took a lot of 'fiddling' with the fuses in the holders to get everything working - and I still loose something occasionally!
        
        Its a really cheap and horrible set up with lots of wires hanging on the spades at the back of the box behind the parcel shelf. If its not the contacts to the fuses, it might be a poor contact at the back, and its really hard to pick up.....
        
        Don't bother with an auto electrician (they only use laptops thesedays!) - do you have a friendly local workshop with someone who's prepared to fiddle around a bit and not charge you a packet?
        
        Best wishes
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Glenn Harmer, 17-Jun-2004, 04:22pm
        
        Thanks Brendan. From what you say, it has to be the fuse box. I checked a lot of the connections (the ones I could reach) while I had the fuse box unscrewed from the bulkhead. As I say, they looked "fine" But I will give it another go. I'm trying my hardest to continue liking my 6 day old car!!!!! I'll let you know how I get on.
        
        Glenn.
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Tim Everitt, 17-Jun-2004, 04:39pm
        
        Lovely picture - are they US indicator repeaters ? I had trouble with my main beam headlights, followed by intermittent failure of the dipped ones to the point where I was suddenly driving in the dark. The fuse box was so hot you could (and I did) burn yourself - but all the contacts appeared good and clean. I replaced the box and all has been well ever since. But the box had already started to melt in places etc etc. Without doing anything silly, I do think you should try by- passing the fuse box for at least one low(ish) current circuit (perhaps the sidelights) and see what happens.
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Glenn Harmer, 17-Jun-2004, 07:08pm
        
        Tim.
        
        Yes they are "cruising lights" apparently. The bonnet is an American replacement. If it behaves itself, I might wire those in to become side repeaters. THanks for oyur help.
        
        Glenn.
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Brendan Delaney, 18-Jun-2004, 11:50am
        
        Glenn,
        Excellent news!
        If you haven't done so already go down to 'Hal***ds' and get a set of new fuses. I have been told the old ones may look OK, but have failed inside. Also perhaps the silver paper is just providing a 'better' contact and just leave a little bit round the end.....
        Lovely spit - nice door gaps. Get the hood down find an open country road and forget about your problems!
        I took mine Birmingham-Dover and back last weekend 450 miles round trip without a grumble.
        
        PS Here it is.
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Christopher How, 18-Jun-2004, 12:12pm
        
        Sorry to go off topic, but Brendan, lovely looking car biscuit and Burgandy look great together, how have you mounted your number plate so low down? Any chance of a close up?
        what is the clearance like, does it catch on kerbs etc?
        
        Chris
        
        78' 1500
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Brendan Delaney, 18-Jun-2004, 12:25pm
        
        Hi Chris,
        It was in the Courier about 7-8 yrs ago. Its just a couple of metal brackets and 4 bolts that bolt onto the existing number plate bracket and lower the plate.
        
        I can't claim any credit, it was done about 8 yrs ago by the previous owner as a cheaper alternative to fitting a full width radiator - seems to work fine I have no overheating problems and it doesn't kerb as it sits just level with the intake/underrider.
        
        I feel a little ambivalent about it as I think it makes the car a little less 'pointed'...... but have decised to leave it as it works!
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Christopher How, 18-Jun-2004, 12:55pm
        
        I personally much prefer the less 'pointedness' of the earlier spitfires, one of the things that changed is the fact you cant see the grille on the 1500.
        
        I think i prefer it with the number plate low down like that. A much better alternative would be to throw the number plate in the bin, but i dont think that's too clever!
        
        So you have 2 longer brackets that just effectively extend the existing ones off the bumper yeah? Think i might have a go at that, does it look tacky being able to see the brackets though?
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Brendan Delaney, 18-Jun-2004, 01:38pm
        
        Not tacky, he's done a good job. Brackets same width as the original parts, nuts on the back and whole thing painted matt black. You wouldn't notice unless you knew it was different.
        B/W
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Glenn Harmer, 18-Jun-2004, 02:53pm
        
        Great car Brendan. Would you believe it, I went and bought some coolant flush and antifreeze, plus some other bits and bobs, but forgot the fuses!! Oh well. The foil is holding it's own.
        
        Thanks again for your help.
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : James Carruthers, 17-Jun-2004, 06:03pm
        
        You're finding it hard to like that car! It looks gorgeous!
        
        Electrical problems are always a pain - but you will get it sorted...
        
        You wait until a wheel falls off or your UJs snap in half - then you can start disliking her...
        
        James
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Glenn Harmer, 17-Jun-2004, 07:04pm
        
        Right then!! Wait for it......WE HAVE LIGHT!!!!!
        
        I hardly dare admit it, but, Brendan was right (not that I doubted him or any of you) I did the old trick of putting silver foil round each fuse. Hey Presto...All lights and stereo back on. p.s. I think the Spit looks gorgeous as well, but when you have paid quite a lot for something that isn't as it was advertised, you start to get a bit fed up. I can't thank you lot enough. Mind you, if the new heater water valve leaks after I refit it tomorrow, I 'll be back on.
        
        Thanks again. Have a drink on me!!!!!
        
        Lights. It's all gone dark?
        
        Posted By : Michael Davis, 18-Jun-2004, 11:35am
        
        So if bypassing the fuse makes it work, the fuse itself must have had a problem. So now you need to know whether you have a fault causing the fuses to blow (or, since they're now bypassed, melt your wiring!) or whether you just had something odd with your fuses in the first place.