Dim Dolomite

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80sprint · #1 Post by **80sprint** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:45 pm

Thought i would take the Sprint for it's MOT tomorrow and just had to fit the horns. 
The horns now make the faintest of a short hoot. Are these earthed through the bracket as paint may be stopping this.? 
 
I also have one headlight working , main beam is ok but no rear lights. The number plate lights work ok. Swapped lights round and still no drivers side working. 
 
Indicators almost do not flash on ignition. New flasher unit? 
 
Worryingly i have found some wires not attached but may have nothing to do with this.. 
 
One black wire coming out of the loom at the back of the alternator , it may not be original but looks like an earth , but for what. 
 
Three round connectors under the dash near the column. Red , black and what looks like red/orange. Again coming out of a main loom. Could these be to do with the seat belt indicator as i have aftermarket seats and the sensor has gone.? 
 
I have the day off tomorrow and any pointers will save me some time. 
 
Thanks 
 
Mike

dollyboy · #2 Post by **dollyboy** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:14 pm

<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/frown.gif ALT=":("> headache - a - rama. 
 
ref horns - thought there were 2 terminals on the horn (s)? I might be wrong. theres also a little screw to adjust horn output that may need tweaking - a good clean up may also help this. 
 
flashers - whats the battery voltage? a few seconds after you start the car you should notice them flash more quickly as the regulator on the alt ramps up the voltage. do front and rear indicators on both sides work? 
 
earthing is a common problem, mainly due to corrosion of terminals, a good clean with fine grit wet n dry /wd40 usually solves most problems of this nature 
 
wire at back of alt - no idea, its been soooooo long since my car was in one piece i cant remember... 
 
<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes">

project orange - slow progress 
project black - coming on, could be sold... 
project white - pimp my tolly, next year!

MaddMart · #3 Post by **MaddMart** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:24 pm

Re: horns, you should have a seperate earth.

Martin 
 
<a href="http://www.dolomitesprint.com/" target="top">www.dolomitesprint.com</a>

2F45T4U · #4 Post by **2F45T4U** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:02 pm

Un-do the black boot trim by the rear lights. Reach down and rotate the bulb holders. That should scratch the metal enough and earth them. Maybe not the reason all of them are out but worth a try...

80sprint · #5 Post by **80sprint** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:09 pm

Thanks for the tips. 
 
I will certainly try a separate earth on the horns. 
I have not tried anything with the rears yet and i am sure they were working a couple of months ago but not been on the road yet. 
The front headlight has 10.5 volts at the middle of the three terminals with the tester to earth. Not sure what the others do. 
 
Still puzzled as to what the 3 connectors are ? 
 
Mike

davepoth · #6 Post by **davepoth** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:25 pm

Here's a question. Are you getting good voltage off the alternator and battery? You should see something around 13-14v with the engine running, anything less will mean something is amiss. Check that all the earth straps are in place and servicable as well, I've seen bad earths cause lots of electrical woes on old cars.

Jon Tilson · #7 Post by **Jon Tilson** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:41 am

You need the engine running and a good voltage to get tired indicators to flash. If they flash slowly its a sure sign of dodgy earths. Clean out the connectors in the front light units and particulary note the earth connection crimped to a bullet connector on the back of the units. This alone will stuff the front lights up. These in turn go back to the mian loom at the front.. all black wires and lead back to the big earth near the battery on the wing. 
As Adam says wiggle the bulb holders in the light units at the back. 
The horns are earthed by wores, not through the body. The loom should have 4 wires...purple and trace for the feed form the switch and black to earth. Cant remember what the trace horn colour is...if at all. 
Good luck...Lee and Mark at Autodrive in Hanworth are near you and very old car friendly. They will be amused to find a Dolomite not being presented by me. 
Jonners

alun n · #8 Post by **alun n** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:44 am

Black out of alternator seems to be standard; don't know why/what, but it sparks if you touch earth with it! 
 
3 empty connectors by column also seem to be standard <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/ohwell.gif ALT=":"> 
 
It will be an earth somewhere; and the horn adjust is a good tip...

tinweevil · #9 Post by **tinweevil** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:26 am

There's two adjustments on a horn. Coarse is central to the body and has a pressed sheet lock nut on it. Often giving this a wiggle helps dislodge the rust inside. Return it to the original spot. Fine is the little hex head screw off centre. Caution advised freeing this, they break. Again a good wiggle and return to original position then 'tune' once reconnected. 
 
Failing that drill out the rivets to 6mm, clean and reassemble with stainless M6 panheads. 
 
Tinweevil

1978 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a> Blue, a bit tetley. 
1972 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a> No name, in bits. 
1968 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a> Little blue, nice! 
1973 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a> VA41, seriously tetley. 
1980 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/864">Dolomite 1500HL</a> Orange, current daily drive.

80sprint · #10 Post by **80sprint** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:36 pm

One horn now working , neither worked when both connected but one gives agood blast which will do for me ( more engine bay space as well) 
Headlight sorted as well. Problem with the connector behind the spoiler and also a dodgy solder on the lamp ( strange as both were new/old stock) 
Still working on the rear lights and so far i seem to have voltage at the bulkhead connector, now just have to work my way back. 
I am sure the indicators were new some time back but i will check them just in case, if not i may try a new flasher unit as i think this has been a similar problem before. 
 
Mike

80sprint · #11 Post by **80sprint** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 10:39 am

Got everything sorted now except for the indicators. I bought a new flasher unit just in case it was playing up but the indicators still just come on but do not flash. If the lights come on i assume the earths must be ok. Any other idea's why they are not working properly ? 
 
I had planned to get it MOT'd today but along with the indicators and the fact that my insurance company only works Mon- Fri i will have to wait until next week now . 
 
Mike 
80 Sprint

tinweevil · #12 Post by **tinweevil** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 2:05 pm

Try wiggling the hazard light switch, when off it has to make a connection to re-enable the indicators. If I turn the one on Orange so that the triangle is not on the piss the indicators stop working. Solution - triangle remains on the piss <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"> 
 
Tinweevil

1978 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a> Blue, a bit tetley. 
1972 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a> No name, in bits. 
1968 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a> Little blue, nice! 
1973 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a> VA41, seriously tetley. 
1980 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/864">Dolomite 1500HL</a> Orange, current daily drive.

80sprint · #13 Post by **80sprint** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:16 pm

Tinwevil 
 
Thanks for the tip, i tried it, but alas no difference. I turned on the hazards and they seem to run quite fast and at times seem to be speeding up and slowing down. With all the messing about i have done so far there is a little more life in them ( maybe 3 flashes in 15 sec ), but then dies to nothing. If all the lights work and they are just slow this seemed like a good case for a new flasher unit to me but after trying two they still do not flash. 
 
Mike 
80Sprint

MaddMart · #14 Post by **MaddMart** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:58 pm

The indicators will still flash even with a dodgy earth. What you need to do (which has already been mentioned) is to take out the front indicators & give the bullet connector a good clean. I actually soldered mine in & now they work a treat. If it's not the fronts, try the rears.

Martin 
 
<a href="http://www.dolomitesprint.com/" target="top">www.dolomitesprint.com</a>

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