Wiring a TRiumph or other British Car

One of the tasks that you'll face as you work on a British car is the need to solder on a new bullet connector. Its an easy task, but it helps to use the right technique.

I documented my technique below. Maybe this video will help you or someone you know.

Intermittent Connections

So, I've been driving the TR6 every few days to work. This is a 13 mile drive over some billiard smooth roads and some trashed, worn out potholed roads.

The drive has gone well most of the time. However, those potholed roads are a bit of a mess. When I'm riding down those roads, I've found that the car regularly jumps out of overdrive when going over bumps. Pretty annoying, but more than that, it possibly is tearing up the driveline of the car. Definitely a problem I want to get fixed quickly.

To that end, I checked out the 6-Pack forum and only found one picture of the switch disassembled.

I figured it was a connection somewhere between the switch and the solenoid. The quickest thing I was able to check out was the column mounted switch. I checked it and quickly found that one of the two wires was loose. It was riveted to the switch, and the rivet was loose.

I pulled out my pistol grip Weller and some solder and soldered the connection up. Interestingly enough, I found that I had done the other connection years ago. I guess I should have done the second one when I did the first.

Buttoned everything back up and it works perfectly again.

Another Fix, and a Great Reference!

First off, my wipers have not been 'parking' lately. They'll turn on, I just can't get them to turn off! I've had the problem before, so I knew where the problem was, but never understood how to fix it.

It was really pretty easy. I popped the wiper motor out, and quickly found that was not necessary. Instead, the 'parking switch' unclips from the bottom of the motor gearbox. It just slides out after unplugging the connections from it.

Once out, I took my favorite wiring tool, my stainless brush on my Dremel, and brushed all of the connections off completely. Then I sprayed rubbing alcohol inside and worked the 'finger' that sticks out of the switch. This 'finger' is pushed on by the lump or cam to disturb the circuit and 'park' the wipers. I then hooked the switch up to my multimeter and began triggering the switch with my hand. It did operate as expected and the switch disturbed the circuit when tested on the buzzer in my multimeter.

I plugged everything back up and she runs and parks like a champ.

The other thing I found this evening (thanks again to the guys on the 6-Pack forum) is the wiring diagrams at Advanced Auto Wire. Check them out, and if you own a Six, then bookmark this site!

http://www.advanceautowire.com/tr2506.pdf