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A PS and update to this, Martin brought the car over to mine, clearly displaying the symptoms described, but the indicator repeater and main beam warning lights functioning correctly.
Which took me, as I suspected, to the (white) unfused ignition live through the 9 pin plug to the dash warning light cluster and voltmeter. So I removed the dash assembly completely and examined it. Finding no obvious fault, I put the voltmeter into the white wire in the socket on the loom and got a fairly healthy 11.83v (ign on, engine not running)
So far, so good, I next made a jumper lead to go between the white wire in the socket in the car and it's corresponding pole in the dash plug, this so I could check the dash fittings easily without having the dash mostly in place to make the plugs reach.
Earthing the multimeter back to the body, I was getting 11.79v at the voltmeter +ve and a similar reading at the input plug to the WLC, which surprised me somewhat as I was expecting a drop! Slightly confused and because I could, I next removed and dismantled the WLC to check the pathways within but found no fault besides a blackened bulb in the choke warning light which I replaced.
So I reassembled and replaced the dash, firmly closing the 3 plugs together but paying special attention to the 9 pin that carries that white lead. And normal operation was immediately restored and has stayed that way.
My conclusion is that there was a bad connection in the 9 pin plug and disturbing it was all the fixing it needed! Either that or the duff bulb in the choke light was somehow responsible (is this possible, you "real" sparkies out there?)
There is, however, a sting in the tail here! Just before Martin was leaving, he was idly flicking switches to test other circuits. And when he switched the sidelights on, the rev counter dropped to zero! Switched them off and the rev counter resumed! did this several times with the same result. At the time I was very puzzled as I couldn't see any obvious connection between the 2 functions, I now think the obvious one is the panel light in the rev counter which shares it's earth with the instrument. I reckon I somehow knocked the earth wire off the rev counter when replacing the dash! And the rev counter was earthing through the sidelight wiring, which would work until the sidelights were switched on!
So if you're reading this Martin, pop the dash out again, (you know how now) and check the earth connection to the rev counter, it's 2 black wires on a spade connector going to a tag on the rev counter case!
Steve
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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!
Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
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and now all fixed by myself I now have an annoying electrical issue with the volt gauge and instrument cluster, what's happening is the volt gauge drops and at the same time the cluster(all segments) fade or go dim, at first it was intermittent but now seems all the time, i have pulled the dash out slightly to look at the earth's? Also because I use the choke each morning is it this or when i apply the handbrake,?? Some times i think maybe it's the ignition switch /barrel, sorry for my grammar, but it's starting to anoy me now.. 
.. Oh by the way i have measured the battery output when the voltage is low on the gauge (11-12volts) which on the multimeter read 14.3v. Because i thought it was the alternater.. So it can't be that,, right??
as I'm using the car for my brothers wedding in a few weeks so want to be reliable if you know what I mean, so anybody out there that could pin point the problem as i want to post pictures in the club magazine too
Still the same 
So far, i have replaced the gauges voltage stabiliser inc transistor type and a new alternator and it's still the same. cleaned every earth i can find 
