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TR6 TR6 Dash replacement, now only the horn works

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Colin_D

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OK so now that I am in way over my head, who wants to buy a '69 TR6?? Kidding.

So I was replacing my clutch hydraulics with my brother in law and we got the bright idea to put the new dash in. It sounded good until we forgot to disconnect the battery, I think the fuel guage arced against the metal dash. Long story short the only electrical thing that work is the horn. When I turn the ignition key I get nothing. Where do I start to trouble shoot???

The best part is that I am slightly color blind and can't tell which color is which (I bring my wife shopping with me), I'm sure she will help ID the colors for me.

Any advice is appreciated.

Cheer,
Colin
 
Hey Colin,
I just took my dash out and put it back for the first time. Luckily no shorts. I did notice that some of those gauge connections get perilously close to the medal dash frame in the process of putting everything in. I'll just start with the obvious...did you check the fuses?
I'm sure it has got to be extra tough being color blind because those colors can be hard enough to discern when one is NOT colorblind. Also, sometimes a green/light green wire is pretty hard to tell from a light green/green! Do you have a good accurate wiring diagram?
 
Hi John,

All of the fuses look good, that's the weird thing. I have the "repair operation manual" that my Dad gave me with the car, I can't say that the diagrams give me a warm fuzzy feeling. Is there a better diagram?

Colin
 
Colin_D said:
Is there a better diagram?
Click to expand...
By far the best diagram I know of is at
https://www.advanceautowire.com/schematics.htm
Better grab it now, no telling how long the site will remain up.

The ignition switch gets power directly from the ammeter, no fuses involved.

I'd probably check first at the battery cables, just because they are easier to get at. Turn the key on (just to present some load) and confirm you've got power between the hot cable and the body or engine. Then repeat the test at either the ammeter terminals or the ignition switch terminals, whichever is easier to get at. Keep doing the "divide and conquer" thing until you locate the problem.

The fuel gauge should not have been hot with the key off; so likely it was something else that arced.

While chasing down bad connections is no fun; it could have been worse. I had the steering column pulled apart on the Stag without disconnecting the battery, and the brown wire (unfused always hot) shorted inside the steering column. Pretty much let the smoke out before I could jump out and yank the battery terminal.
 
That wiring diagram from Advance Auto Wire was a real lifesaver for me. All I had prior was the Haynes Manual which was filled with inaccuracies. There is one page missing from the color PDF diagram that was in the black and white PDF and that was a wiring code that clarified some of the symbols. I'll figure out a way to post it or send it to you.
 
Now we're getting somwhere, 2 years ago the Ammeter got fried, and the mechanic rewired around it. I may have connected everything "correctly". I downloaded the diagram.

Cheers,
Colin
 
I would suggest your buying Dan Masters' book on TR6 electricals. Basically the bible of electric issues with every year's diagram in foldout format. Moss sells it. Everything you can possibly need, and readable.
 
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