TR Rob Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 New to TR3A ownership, and am concerned about rear visibility. My rear side/brake lights are 5/21watt bulbs , but on investigation the side lights are considerably brighter than the brake lights. This means at night the side light completely masks the brake light output. This can’t be correct. iIt would appear the side lights are using the 21watt side of the bulb and the brake lights the 5 watt side. If this is incorrect and it should be the other way round ie 21watt brake and 5watt side light , do I just swap the wires in the tail light chassis to get to what I think is a more normal position of brighter brake lights than side lights. I think LED’s are needed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 (edited) Well the wires are certainly crossed somewhere swapping in the lamps is probably the quickest fix, but I would check the wire colours, to see if the fault is elsewhere. The tail lights (6W) should be fed by the red wire, & the stop lights(21W) by purple with black stripe. The third black wire is earth. Bob Edited September 2, 2023 by Lebro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 (edited) Hi Rob, just swap the wires over. Given time owners fiddle with things - not always for the better. PM Lebro and ask about his rear light modification - it really is very good. PS - Bob got there before I pressed 'GO' Roger Edited September 2, 2023 by RogerH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deggers Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 (edited) . . . (edit) You beat me to it Bob! Quick on the draw today! Edited September 2, 2023 by Deggers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR Rob Posted September 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 Just as I thought, swapped the wires over, sidelights now less bright (5 watt) but the brake lights don’t work at all ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 Did they actually work before you swapped the wires? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR Rob Posted September 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 1 minute ago, TR Rob said: Just as I thought, swapped the wires over, sidelights now less bright (5 watt) but the brake lights don’t work at all ! Here are pictures of wiring….nearside Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR Rob Posted September 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 Everything worked perfectly, in that I had bright side lights and dim brake lights. Swapped over wires to then get dim sidelights and no brake lights. Swap wires over and everything goes back to dim brake lights and bright side lights …. a bit of a mystery Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 Wires now look the wrong way round to me, red should be on the left. suspect it's wrong somewhere else. as for brake lights, are sure the bulb holder contacts are clean & actually pushing onto the bulb ? Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 You top photo appears to show a black wire connected to the left side of the bulb (should go to earth) & no purple black wire at all? Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR Rob Posted September 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 10 minutes ago, Lebro said: Wires now look the wrong way round to me, red should be on the left. suspect it's wrong somewhere else. as for brake lights, are sure the bulb holder contacts are clean & actually pushing onto the bulb ? Bob Bob, that was a bit embarrassing, over the last few days I had taken both tail lights off and installed new gaskets and soldered the wires to the brass ferrules , previous owner had just trapped wires in ferrules ! So I thought I was improving the electrical continuity….they were also wired the wrong way round, in wiring them the correct way round the brake wires were not making a good contact with the bulb holder, as you suggested gave them a good clean and everything now works correctly Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Lebro said: You top photo appears to show a black wire connected to the left side of the bulb (should go to earth) & no purple black wire at all? That wire looks to be purple/green Bob, which is correct. It comes across from the other light cluster. There is no black earth wire. It does look as though the wires have been wrongly connected elsewhere - as you say they are now on the wrong sides. It has most likely been done in the mass of connections down by the horns. It needs sorting out there as the wiring as it is now will light the numberplate lamp with the brakes, since supply for that that is picked off from the red wires. Edited September 2, 2023 by RobH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 (edited) The LH lamp is missing its earth wire. That said the lamp base screws may be doing the job of the missing wire. Notvwiring related. The lower rear wing beads are upside down. The flattened bit should be under the tail lamp gasket……or loose a point at concourse. Edited September 2, 2023 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 FWIW the original fitment of the wires was with the wire through the brass ferrule and then the bare ends bent back on themselves and then the whole thing pushed into the connectors, the ferrules arent bullet connectors as such. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR Rob Posted September 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 Thanks for all your help, I thought, in taking everything apart replacing old gaskets and removing some black sealant that had been used to repair gaskets, and soldering on the ferrules I would be improving things ! Short term it was not to be, cleaning the contacts even more thoroughly and putting wires back in their rightful places had now got everything working as it should… thanks again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 Before relaxing Rob, check that the numberplate lamps come on with the sidelights and not with the brakes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR Rob Posted September 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 5 hours ago, RobH said: Before relaxing Rob, check that the numberplate lamps come on with the sidelights and not with the brakes. Hi Rob, checked, and number plate lights come on with the side lights…..thank God ! Realising now how good the wiring is on modern cars !! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted September 2, 2023 Report Share Posted September 2, 2023 The problem with TR wiring is that there has been 60 years for various owners to fiddle with it ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR Rob Posted September 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2023 On 9/2/2023 at 1:04 PM, Lebro said: Well the wires are certainly crossed somewhere swapping in the lamps is probably the quickest fix, but I would check the wire colours, to see if the fault is elsewhere. The tail lights (6W) should be fed by the red wire, & the stop lights(21W) by purple with black stripe. The third black wire is earth. Bob Hi Bob, hopefully I have sent you a PM regarding supply of two of your rear LED lights… Robert Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR Rob Posted September 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2023 Well, wiring issue resolved, it would appear the PO had wired the rear lights incorrectly and after rectifying this and thoroughly cleaning all contacts they are now working perfectly. Also installed a pair of Bobs (“Lebro”) LED side/brake lights. They are extremely well made and address the bulb orientation problem in the TR3 light cluster admirably . Delivery was prompt and I can certainly recommend this bulb set up over others that are available. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 5, 2023 Report Share Posted September 5, 2023 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Blue Sky Posted September 5, 2023 Report Share Posted September 5, 2023 I can second the quality and output of Bob's LED's - gives me peace of mind that some numpty won't drive into the back of me and claim my tail/stop lights couldn't be seen - no chance of that with Bob's bulbs! So impressed I refitted the centre brake light too - just have to fit the original Lucas 525 unit with the Fresnel lens for the ultimate set-up. See what you think of this............. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Arrowsmith Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 +1 for Bob’s fantastic LEDs. They are really well made and even in bright sunlight they really stand out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 ohhh stop it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 That said…..I know a Sprite owner who fitted them, pushed them in a bit enthusiastically, bent the bulb holder backwards shorting it on the brass contacts. On testing the lamps the loom in the boot started to smoke. All fixed now The Lucas lamp is not at its best when over 60 years old. Peter W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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