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MG TD TF 1500 - Rogue TF direction indicator

Happy New Year everyone.

I have pretty much completed the restoration of the TF (gave her the first wax polish today!) but I have a gremlin in the direction indicators. Firstly they work when ever the indicator lever is moved to either the left or right.
However I then began to notice that when I go up a steep hill, the indicator light on the dash panel flashes (presumably showing that one of the indicators are going). Then today when I was driving along a flat road, the right hand indicator began to intermittently flash for 5 or 6 flashes then it would stop. Then perhaps a kilometer or so along it would do it again. It seems that it is only the right hand side that this happens.
does this mean I have a loose connection in the indicator switch or in the flasher unit?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Regards,
Bill
TF9901
Bill Tutty

Bill, I should think the fault is in the indicator switch. The flasher can gets its power from the switch and the relay box gets the indication of which coil to energize from the indicator switch.

You can pick up a single pole double throw sitch (on-off-on) and hook it up in lieu of the indicator switch. The problem should go away. Then, fix the indicator switch. They are really simple but have two functions. The first is to switch and the second is the pnuematic feature. I was more concerned about the pneumatic when I rebuilt mine, and for the life of me, I can't remember how the electrical contacts were arranged inside.

warmly,
dave


Dave Braun

Bill,

It could also be the relays in the control box. You might want to open the box and see if the relays contacts are opening. Be sure to disconnect the battery before opening the box. The cover will short against the internals while removing the lid.

I would remove the box from the car to inspect and clean the contacts. It is much easier to work on the box without laying under the dash...

Good luck,
Evan
Evan Ford

Could it be that when you are going up hill the green light for the petrol level warning is flashing? This would make a little sense.

I presume that you have 2 indicators, one for the directionals (usually green) and one for the petrol, also green.

I have a TD, so a TF may be somewhat different.
L Ayres

Bill,
Two or more years ago I had the same phenom occur in my TF and it drove me crazy.You'd be driving along nicely only to notice that one turn signal would flash three or four times only to stop and do the same thing in another 3 miles down the road. I tore the relay box apart, I bought a new flasher unit, and I even took the turn signal switch apart, all to no avail. Then, on a suggestion very similar to Dave's (and it may well have been from Dave)I took a closer look at the turn signal switch after removing it from the car. On the bench, with a test light and separate 12 volt source, I found that it reproduced the phantom flash whenever I shook or jarred the switch. Culprit found, I took the entire switch apart and attempted to rebend the "S" shaped copper contact that was allowing the intermittent flash, but to no avail. It was just too thin to rebend without destrying it. I then had a brainstorm and entirely removed the two "S" shaped spring contacts, turned them over and reversed their positions back in the switch's plastic body (essentially I just put the one from the right turn circuit into the spot for the left turn circuit, and vice versa for the other spring contact.) Once back together and in the car, my phantom flasher never returned, and my turn signals have worked properly to this day. This was some time ago, but I seem to recall that taking the contacts out was very simple to do, as the small bold heads (3 of them?)that you see in the top of the switch go through the entire length of the switch holding the contacts in place as well as the vaccuum base plate. Hope this helps you quell your demons.
Gene
Gene Burgess

Thanks guys for the suggestions.
Gene, your experience just perfectly describes what is happening! I will remove the switch and see what I can find inside. I'll keep you posted.
Kind regards,
Bill
TF9901
Bill Tutty

Bill,

I probably can't take credit for Gene's epiphany, but I can recommend my favorite technical site, Barney Gaylord's MGA site. Except for the engine, many of the design features of the MGA were lifted from the TD-TF and so his insights are invaluable. Here is his info on the Turn Indicator Switch:

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/ts101.htm

Have fun with the trouble shooting.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Bill,
On my TF the switch is somewhat "haunted".
(My right turn signal will come on for no reason....if I "tap" it ...it cycles and goes off)

I have had it off the car several times and (of course) can be be made to function with no worries on my bench! As many times as I have done this I have come to the felling that it may actually have something to do with the mounting nut!

One "mod" I did was go to Radio Shack and for a few dollars purchased a piezoelectric "beeper" and a small toggle switch.
Because in bright light it is sometimes hard to see the dash indicator and/or the "eye" on the wing lamps. I now have an audible "beep" for daylight but can switch it off at night if it becomes irritating.

If you follow this link...click on the car-toon pic of Izzy..2nd pic (aux) panel) you can see the "piezo beeper" mounted under the dash "follow the steering wheel to it"...the switch is mounted to the under dash cover rail near the driver.

http://www.ttalk.info/picture_this.htm#Sheward%20TF

Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

This thread was discussed between 12/01/2009 and 14/01/2009

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