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Spitfire Frustrating Spitfire tailight problem

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M

myspitfire

Jedi Warrior
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/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gifVery frustrating;Tailights were working fine all of a sudden when i turn just the parking/tail lights on they stay on for a few seconds & then turn off?I've got headlights & boot lamp & stop lights;its just the tailights.
I installed a new headlight switch & its been in their for 3 months without a problem,I've got voltage in the rear wire bundle.When the tailights do go on every light works even the markers.NOW i need my friends here to give me some advice.I pretty sure its a grounding problem but why would they stay on for a few seconds & then go off.Is it a RESISTENCE problem? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Electric things are a real problem... getting all those electrons to line up can be quite a feat. Do you think there is a short in the tail lights? I agree a bad ground could be the culprit. I had a similar problem but it turned out to be a sloppy connection near the switch. I cleaned all the connectors and while i wa doing that the splice that I had made fell apart in my hand. I soldered the connector in place of the solderless things. Made a big difference. T.T.
 
I had a Spitfire and now have a 69 TR6 and had the same problem with both cars. I found the problem to be in the socket where the bulb holder plugs in. A simple and quick check is to wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the outside of the prongs of the bulb holder to make sure it makes a good connection with the socket. This will at least let you know if this is the problem. Make sure that the foil does not get in to the socket and cause a short. Hope this helps
 
I will check THOSE two details firmly;Before anything happened i had a bad ground & a bad bulb in the left rear marker light & since worked thru & finished with that,but the problem is persisting,the next walk-thru would be a burned out 'LEFT'(side)license plate light,which may be the problem i'm not their yet.I'm replaceing the BLACK license plate bulb enclosures with NOS CHROME enclosures.,So it may be the problem is surrounding the license plate lights.It seem whem the lights do go out they flicker dim & then go out.Thanks for the VALUABLE input,VERY frustrating when your the only one troubleshooting,THATS WHY this forum is SO WELCOME in many ways.Keep the SUGGESTIONS COMING. Ken
PS;Their is one other question i think the STOP/BRAKE lights are hot off the GREEN/PURPLE STRIP is this correct?
Ken (Myspitfire)1500 1980......STAY COOL!
 
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