[Spits] Tail and dash light Gremlins

[Joe Curry]

Paul,
As a Spitfire owner you are a charter member of a very elite group (Scions
of Lucas)  also called SOL.  The main problem that causes these issues is
the typr of unprotected connector that is used to get the power and ground
connections to the various circuits.  These bullet connectors are very
succeptable to corrosion and loss of contact.  If you go through the system
and replace the connectors with modern ones you will likely resolve the
problem instead of putting them off for a while longer.

Good Luck,
Joe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Meyer" <paulfmeyer at msn.com>
To: <spitfires at autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 9:12 AM
Subject: [Spits] Tail and dash light Gremlins


> Guys,
>
> When I first got my '78 Spitfire in 2000, I had intermittent electrical
> problems, most of which cleared up when I replaced the old frame ground
> strap.  I later upgraded to a GM alternator which improved most of the
> remaining, occasional problems.
>
> I have had one issue, though, that got worse.  Years ago, the dash and
tail
> lights would go out simultaneously.  The next day, they'd work.  This
> happened 6 or 7 times in the first two years of ownership.  So, I
dismantled
> all the lights, cleaned the contact surfaces, applied dielectric grease
and
> re-assembled.  It appeared to solve the problem for a while.  Then it
> returned.  Recently I can't get the dash or tail-lights to work at all.
> Oddly, my left turn signal works in the rear, but not the right.
>
> I'd really like some feedback on this.  Has anyone had the same problem?
>
> I've pored over the wiring diagrams in the Haynes manual, and a really
great
> one that has the wiring in color that I found on-line.
>
> It appears that all the affected lights share one common red wire that
> travels from the body harness under the dash to the rear of the car.  This
> doesn't explain the dash lights, though.  I jumpered the red wire at the
> harness plug to the rear of the car, and it didn't improve.  I unwrapped
the
> tape over most of the harness wiring, but couldn't find any obvious
exposed
> copper or damaged insulation.  I'm stumped.
>
> There is a black wire, the ground, that runs from the tail lamp housings
> toward the front of the car, but doesn't seem to have a pin in the body
> harness connector.  I tried tracing it, and I think it terminates at a nut
> on the firewall brace near the battery - several black wires join there
and
> are linked by a cable on the same nut to the black Battery terminal.
>
> At the tail, some wires have power - specifically, the fuel guage sender.
I
> was not able to get the light to come on at any of the lamp positions
> affected.
>
> I gently pulled the fuse box out to look over the harness connections.
They
> all appear ok, but the middle fuse is connected to only one green wire
with
> a red stripe.  Seems odd.
>
> In desperation, I ordered a new body harness, 6 new lamp sockets, and new
> bulbs.  I also ordered a new dimmer for the dash lights, as it's part of
the
> same red-wire circuit.  I hate taking the shotgun approach, but I'm out of
> ideas and will need an inspection sticker next month.
>
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