Graze Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 As per previous post on headlights I'm no electrical whizz My tail lights work My brake lights work if my lights aren't on If my lights are on, my passenger brake light works, but my driver side one just goes out I've replaced the globes Only one filament on the drivers side lights up - the same one when the brake light goes on and when the taillights are on Any ideas? Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Check that the earths are sound. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted November 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Pete Thanks, I must say the lights, bulb holders and boot cavities had never been cleaned in 38 years, so this could be the problem Will go over it tomorrow Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 (edited) Graze As has Pete said, have a good look at the earths, have had this on mine, and its strange how it manifests itself. http://www.buckeyetriumphs.org/technical/Electrical/TR6Sockets/TR6Sockets.htm http://tr6.danielsonfamily.org/TailLights.htm Cheers Guy Edited November 3, 2013 by Jersey Royal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
flatlandsman Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 You have an earth problem in one or more of the bulb holders. It's nothing -usually- to do with the bulb itself. The problem is well known on TR 6 as, even if the main metal tail light assembly is earthed, each individual bulb holder needs to earth to the assembly. Each bilb holder has a small earth strap which connect to the bulb barrel by contact but the thin steel strip that runs up the side of the bulb holder makes its earth to the tag by contact only and this corrodes and loses contact very readily. The trick is to take out the bulb holder, remove bulb and plastic shroud and examine the earth connectiion. If possible, bead blast it and SOLDER the tag connection to the thin strip, reassemble and all will be well. If you can't bead blast, then simply abrade the connections using a small screwdriver or stanley knife, resolder etc. Good luck Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Cobbold Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Long ago I fitted an extra earth circuit to all the push-in bulb holders, soldered on as above. Been OK since. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted November 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Again thanks gents Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johncracknell Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 I've used this test often, a length of cable with a croc clip at one end, attach it to a known earth point and use the other end to prove Or disprove the earth problem by simply supplying a proved earth to the bulb holder.. Works for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 All sorted last night Cleaned the earths, cleaned the bulb holders and reassembled All now working Many thanks guys Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Cobbold Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 All sorted last night Cleaned the earths, cleaned the bulb holders and reassembled All now working Many thanks guys Graze "All now working" - for the time being!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlejim Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 You've reminded me of the electrics on the caravan we bought in the UK in '76. It had one common earth for all the lights via a brass ring connector bolted to aluminium. Over time the galvanic action would build up a pile of insulating crud that made the path to earth rather tortuous. On one of our trips coming through northern Holland, just at knock-off time, I noticed I was getting weird reactions to my turn signals from the hundreds of pushbike riders. I pulled over as soon as I could and found that when I put a turn signal on, all the lights on the van flashed in time with the flasher, as the current tried to get back to earth through all the filaments it could find. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.