Club Triumph

Hello,
Long time lurker, first time poster here!
My '79 Spitfire is having the classic Winter electrical dramatics. Yesterday front headlights stopped working and I resolved the issue but now the back ones and the dashboard light have stopped playing ball. I loathe to take out the dash and deal with that can of worms so I wondered if there were any other diagnostics/easy areas to check the wiring to both these locations in the meantime?
The front headlights had a simple case of a blown fuse so that's been an easy fix, I do wonder though what caused this fuse to go so am predicting a larger electrical job on the horizon after Christmas, a job I confess I've been putting off for a while.
Any advice much appreciated!

The first port of call is the fuse box...with only three fuses serving the whole car its one of the regular `features` on this forum as a point of discussion. The contacts are always suspect and I loathed taking the original out, but eventually it had to be done to ensure perfect continuity.
First just turn various things on , and with your manual, jiggle each fuse/wire contact and see what happens

Thanks, this is essentially where I got to yesterday and everything worked after replacing the fuse and testing a couple of points but then low and behold this morning - no back lights or dash light. Where's the best place to chase the wiring to the back? I'm also assuming the two lighting failures aren't connected so its a bit bizarre as to why both have now gone.

I'm not sure how it's wired on the later ones but my Spitfire has a fuse specifically for the side-light circuit. As Mike says, the fuse box is a common problem area and can, on occasion, lose half the protected circuit while leaving the rest working. So that could explain the loss of tail and dash lights but not front sides.

The best place to start is a copy of the wiring diagram from the BL workshop manual. These are also available online so give Google a try. From there you can identify the most likely common failure point.

http://www.andystanton.co.uk/spitfire/wiring.jpg

Have lost side and tail or just tail? Dash side and tail lights all feed from the same fuse, all of which are fed from the light switch in the centre section of the dash. I'd pull the 4 screws and lift the centre dash section forward and check volts in and out of the switch.

Cheers,
Sam

Thanks all, will check the fuses more thoroughly when it gets light tomorrow (still dreaming of that perfectly lit garage to fix these problems in) Its side, tail, brake and dash lights I have lost. Only got the reverse, front headlights and indicators functioning currently.

Very helpful to have the wiring diagram, have just moved to a new house and all the cars paraphernalia is still to be moved so am cursing all the things I don't have at the new place yet (like the manual etc)

To answer the question and cut the time...the rear loom joins with a rubber plug behind the lh parcel shelf ( take out)
This then goes down the A post/footwell and then in a trough in the floor under the carpet  and seat then rear wheel arch and into boot along the rear inner wing
Put a feed onto the rear rubber plug to try and test all the rear lights /indicators/etc and if they work then the problem lies with the fuse box

Great - will try this first thing tomorrow and let you know how I get on

Success - some very questionable wiring behind the lh parcel shelf and I'm back to full strength - thanks all! Full re-wiring job now on the list for 2018 ...

Success - some very questionable wiring behind the lh parcel shelf and I'm back to full strength - thanks all! Full re-wiring job now on the list for 2018 ...

Quoted from 13067

Success - some very questionable wiring behind the lh parcel shelf and I'm back to full strength - thanks all! Full re-wiring job now on the list for 2018 ...

Sorry to bump an old thread but I have a headlight related question and info from the older thread might be pertinent to some new users. I'm looking at buying these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Valeo-082440-Front-Headlights/dp/B008DQV88Q/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=triumph+spitfire+headllights&qid=1573482821&sr=8-1-spell

I have Amazon vouchers and I'd like to use them for something that I actually need for a change. Has anyone had any experience of these actual items?

I thoroughly recommend these excellent light units, particularly with uprated halogen or even LED H4 bulbs; they give a really good spread of light and a sharp cut-off on dip. Unfortunately the Valeo part no. 082440 refers to right hand traffic, i.e. CONTINENTAL or right hand dip. You need 082441 as I have in my TR4A.

Tim

Yes they are Ok ....but a bit expensive

I've got the Valeo/Cibie unit to + osram night breakers + relais at the front.

Works good !

I do have seen now that the reflector is starting to rust on the outside of the light.

But mind you, mine are 6years old and done over 100.000miles in all kind of weather.

So not to bad.

Awesome, thanks for the guidance everyone...

I understand from the TR Register Forum that Valeo 082441 may unfortunately have been discontinued. It might be a good idea Wim to buy a pair of 082440 for stock while you still can.

Tim

What do we think of these? Anyone had any experience of fitting them in a Spitfire? 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-LED-2-X-BLACK-HALO-HEADLIGHTS-E-MARKED-RHD-FOR-LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-90-110/193151864291?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3Da55036694e4c4d838fcd28e9548d1718%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D401155954112%26itm%3D193151864291%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2060778&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507

A bit more expensive but very distinctive. Do you think the headlight bowl would have to be modified at all?

People have fitted them (or ones like them). Personally I think they're pig ugly and totally unsuitable but it's your car.

I have to agree with Rob not my cup of tea. But its your car so your choice. 

What is this currant obsession with super bright, ultra white LED lights on classic cars. They just look completely wrong. I much prefer the nice soft amber colour you get from traditional lights. Yes make them brighter with halogen bulbs so you can see further, if you want DLRL's then do it the way that it would have been done when our cars where built and turn your headlights on like they did in Sweden. 

Having said this after some research I did pickup an LED festoon bulb for my Vitesse interior dash mounted courtesy light,  but it is not white it's soft amber colour so in keeping with the car and does not get red-hot when the door has been open for sometime. 

I have LED's bulbs fitted to all the original lights on my 7. The side lights are warm white and are similar in colour to the originals, but noticeably brighter & as are the  red LED rear / brake lights.

Headlights are from Better Car Lighting and are pure white colour (no hint of LED / HID blue) so acceptable and again the improved light and lower power requirement is a sensible benefit IMHO.