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Taxes the TR7 today. Its MOTd

As soon as it started driving it was hesitating like a missfire. Took it to the petrol station and filled it up.

Then my indicators stopped working then only one headlamp came up although both light

Kind of wondering if I'll ever get it running properly.

Any tips? Are there usual suspects I should check?

That is the question I am sure lots of us ask. However, it is also the thing that keeps me going at least, hoping one day I will get that nice open road drive.

With only one headlight coming up, the good news is that you have both lights still working. I would start by swapping the lifter motor relays over and see if that has any effect. I had this some time ago. After swapping the relays over, it proved that one needed replacing. I got a new one and since then no issue.

For the indicators, have a look at the connections on the flasher unit. Always worth going back to basics, but it does sound like a bit of a bad earth connection. Finding it may be fun though. Bit of a strange question but do your hazards work?

I presume you have disassembled the switch & cleaned it thoroughly.

When I put my 7 on the road I had to go through cleaning those connecters on each side of the front of the engine bay a number of times before I got my head lights reliable. I had done everything before this, but those took a number of goes to become reliable.

I also had to remove, clean & refit the whole tail light assemblies. They were not making the earth return to the body until the bolt holes in them & the body were very clean, & new bolts were fitted. I still had a problem with a couple of globe holders which were not making reliable contact with the castings until cleaned again.

Good luck.

Hasbeen

No. The hazards don't work. They sort of try but click like mad. A dodgy relay?

Can I go to a normal car accessories place and buy these or is it all mail order now from specialists?

I'll get some proper electrical contact cleaner today. Is there some special grease I should get at the same time?

Haven't looked at or cleaned anything. The car had a new fusebox put in before I bought it as it was experiencing electrical issues
They did mention some connection for the lights behind the fuse box but I can't find it

Where are these relays and how do I know what's what? I found 3 that are are just dangling behind the dash.

The connectors I'm talking about are [should be] in the front of the engine compartment, just be hind the front bulk head. The lights are bolted to the front of that bulk head.

It is these connectors that lose connectivity, & cause most of the head light problems.

The switches also grow green copper corrosion & verdigris that renders them troublesome.

With any 7 that has not run for some time, expect to have to clean all electric terminals & earths to get reliable operation.

Hasbeen

Hasbeen

Indicators go through the hazard switch and/or circuit somewhere so the problem you have with them won't be anything serious and should be relatively easy to sort out. When one works and the other doesn't is when things get tricky.

Indicators seem to be working but only the left one flashes on the dash. Can live with that until the MOT next year.

I've bought some electrical connection cleaner today. Can't get dielectric grease. Is there an alternative?

Is there some connection for the lights behind the dashboard above the fuse box. If so I can't​find it. Apparently that was an issue with this car before I bought it.

There are a few relays I've found but they are not connected to anything as in dangling with small brackets. I can't work out what does what.


I think I've 35 years worth of bodges to work out.

Is there a book I can read that will help me learn electrical stuff?

The relay brackets you mention are screwed to the fuse box on either side. As for electrical help, the OEM manual has circuit diagrams that you can follow (some have problems, but being used to following diagrams of a 1970's IBM Copier I & II that were many multiple pages, the TR7's seem pretty tinker toy). That being said, any connection should be cleaned and greased as if they are not causing a problem now, they will later (more or less). You want dielectric grease so there is no galvanic action what with electrical current going through them. If you can't get it at an auto parts store you might try an electronics store although these are becoming less common as we get away from circuit boards and go to buy and toss devices. There is also on line. As you are using very little it goes a long way. Some have used Vaseline but I can't advise as to the capability of it. Here's a picture of what the hazard or signal light switch look like before cleaning.

Like has been said above, most headlight problems are down to bad connections. Always worth checking for bad connections first before getting complicated and taking everything apart. One place that is a common problem area is the earth connections on top of the chassis rails on each side of the car (see picture) and the other connectors close by as well. There will usually be a red multi one, a white multi one and two single ones. Checking and cleaning those often works.

The fuse box was replaced so I take it that's why they are left dangling. I can't work out what they are for?

I'll slowly work my way round the car cleaning and treating connections.

I need to try learn how to fix electrics. Starting to think I've bitten off more than I can chew on this one.

Its now not running right. An intermittent misfire. Oh where to start.

I realise how little I know about cars. I hope I can learn fast!!!

Where are the lifter relays?

I don't know how to read a wiring diagram so that's not great. How do I find out where all the relays are. Particularly the usual suspects when things go wrong!!

As per F1Spyder, the relays are attached to the side of the fuse box. If you unscrew the fuse box from the back of the glove box, you should be able to slide it around so you can see the relays through the glove box. There aren't that many and can be heard clicking with engine off.

I'll see if I can photo the wiring diagram from Haynes and post it.

The hazard light flasher unit is also clipped up there as is the headlamp lift circuit breaker
https://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID006242


Adam

Dielectric grease is sold in Maplins as Silicon Grease. I stripped all my switches down last year, cleaned them all inside and coated in silicon grease and they all still worked this year. Only problem I had was the hazard telltale, eventually fixed with a bit of card in the peanut bulb holder to push the contact against the bulb wire.
While apart I decided to upgrade the LED instrument lighting to superbright green LED bulbs (used white last time and it just gave a dull blue light with the green globes). That was fine and all worked - until I had it all screwed together again and the LH indicator telltale stopped working although all the lights worked. Opened up again and the bulb holder was a bit loose against the printed circuit. So, all ready to tax it and run out on May 1st - except it then rained all day! Next weekend hopefully the weather will be better.
I would also recommend electronic ignition. I have Pertronix replacing the points. Installed about 5 years ago and never looked at since, much more stable idle and no missing.

Well tonight I started cleaning connections. Most were fine.

I've taken a picture of a load of relays just dangling above the footwell. Unfortunately it keeps saying the files too big to attach.

I took a relay out and swapped it with another the same. Now neither light lifts. So decided to leave it tonight. Where can I buy others and how do you know what ones for what if they are just dangling?

Sorry to keep asking questions. This is turning into a nightmare. My excitement of TR7 ownership is passing quickly!!!

I will go research books on the subject