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Turn signal electrical circuit

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bluemiata90

bluemiata90

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Maybe someone can lead me in the right direction. I have a 1961 TR3a and the turn signals won't flash. The flasher is new and it seems to be working and the the dash indicator light turns off and on, but the turn signals don't flash. I bought a colored copy of a TR3 electrical system, but it doesn't even show the 4 different lights in the front or back and the color codes seem off. My first question is what are the center 2 red light in the rear for?. Do the rear outside red lights control the brake and turn signals and where can I find a correct schematic that will show the turn signal circuit. Thanks
 
The two outer lights on the rear wings (fenders) are combination tail and brake lights. The two inner lights are the directionals.

Here is a link for wiring diagrams with color coding from Advance Auto Wire.

Also, most light failures on the TR's are due to bad grounds at the light sockets.
 
This is great information and will be very helpful.
thanks again
 
You <span style='font-size: 20pt'>BOUGHT</span> a color schematic ???
 
I would normally suspect the bullet connectors as they can corrode inside, but if none of your indicators are flashing it sounds more like a wiring fault. If your front side lights are OK, then the earth for the front indicators will be OK too. If the wiring seems to trace as per the diagram try taking the wires out of the connectors, cleaning them up and putting some electrical grease on them. Could also be corrosion in the end of the wire where it is soldered into the connectors.
Good luck.
 
BTW bluemiata90, do you still have the Smurf Blue Miata?? I have a red (what else) '92 with a JRSC. Fun cars.
 
Martx-5,, Yes I still have the smurf blue miata. I've owned that for over 10 years and I think my children will get getting it someday. Originally it was red, but I got hit twice by hit and run drivers, so I will never have a red car again. Actually the one TR3 (I own 2) that I'm trying to fix the turn signals on was also red and is now Sky blue metallic. I know some people will find that anti-british to paint it a metallic, but I like blue sparkles. Also DNK, Yes, I bought a laminated color coded electrical schematic, that doesn't seem to be accurate for my car. I own several older cars, so I suppose it won't be the last thing I'll buy that doesn't work the way I hoped it would. Anyways, thanks again for all the great input and I hope I can trace it all down.If you'd like to see the cars I own and am working on, you can go to https://www.cardomain.com/ride/816145
thanks again
 
WOW, bluemiata90 what a stable full of great cars you have. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif

The rack and pinion steering on the TR3 you're doing is differnet from the one I got. I see you got it from Moss/UK. I got mine from the guy in Roanoke VA. I think it's the Racetorations kit from the UK. The brackets on mine are bolted in. Is your's the setup the gets welded in?? Do you also have to go to an electric fan??
 
Mine is also bolted in and seemed to be a very straight forward install, of course I haven't driven it yet, but the steering moves as smooth as butter. As for the electric fan, Moss/UK never mentioned anything about that, but I'm going to be going with it anyways. I had the engine opened up to the size of a TR4, so it wouldn't hurt to give it a little extra cooling. I am going to use the fan with a manual switch and not a thermo. I've had this set up on other cars and it worked fine. Usually when it's hot out, I just turned it on a let it run until I turned the car off. As you can see, the tan TR3 is going to be a much nicer car when done, but with all the other projects and upkeep, it might be another summer till I'm driving it. I wanted to build the engine this past winter, but I think I'm going to source it out to a guy that builds engine for a living this summer. The machine work has already been done, so all he has to do is put all the new stuff in and set it up to run. JUST TO MANY PROJECTS, BUT IT KIND OF KEEPS ME OUT OF TROUBLE. Also, It had been some time since I looked at the site, the Auburn and Vette were sold, I just updated the site and deleted those 2, but I can't delete the Mustang that I just sold 2 weeks ago. I'm trying to downsize, cause I truly can't afford the upkeep on all of them.
 
bluemiata90:

There is a difference on wireing diagrams between a TR-3 And a TR-3a. Could you possibly have an early TR-3 diagram? Some {early} 57`s are TR-3`s and some {late} 57`s are TR-3a`s The early TR`s don`t have the two inboard lights on the rear and they have only one brake/license plate light in the center of the rear.
And yes a thourough inspection of the connector bullets is in order these connections are notorious for failure as well as the bulb holders.
 
Yes, the wirers should have been soldered into the bullet connectors.
 
There are quite a number of differences between the TR3 and 3A wiring. The wiper motor wiring changed and the wires to the ignition and instrument lights. I was stumped for a while until I discovered that!
 
The wiring diagram that Martx-5 directed me to from advance auto wire was right on target. The color codes all match and everything seems to be the same. I discovered that the laminated diagram I bought was from a repair manual that I actually have(but not in color) and it might have been for different year TR3s. The main point is, I found the one I need and got some great information and all is good. Thanks for all the input.
 
Dont ever foreget that there are BAD flashers on the market by the thousands!! If you cant get either side to work,then suspect the new part!! Get an original flasher known to work and try it first before fiddling with wires. Complain about Lucas if you want,but when it comes to flashers, get the OE.
MD(mad dog)
 
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