Mk1 68 .electrical questions

[NogE]

Doug...
Everything in the clock seems to be ok except the main beam window light..I only seem to get 9 to 10 volts across the pcb for that window....the clocks out of its housing though wired up...might sound like a silly question but does the clock get it's earth when bolted to dash somewhere by chance

[DougT]

The earth comes in on the round multi pin plug with everything else. So no it does not need to be bolted to the dash.

I had a look at some photos of the back of the speedo and the earth comes from a pin near the edge and goes all the way round the outside so all the bulbs apart from the alternator can attach to it. So if all the other bulbs are working fine then that suggests the earth is ok.

But looking at the photo, it occurs to me that the contact between the pin for the main beam light and the circuit board could be dodgy. The pins are effectively only "riveted" so any corrosion between the surfaces will cause a voltage drop. And it has to be the one for the main beam as everything else works OK.

speedometer back.jpg

So a good clean up in that area might help or better still, scrape a bit of the blue stuff off the circuit board in the area around the pin and add a dot of solder between the base of the pin and the circuit board.

You can see in the photo (grabbed off ebay so sorry to whoever selling it !) that there is certainly discolouration around some of the pins.If that fails then have a good look at the multi pin plug itself for corrosion or the wire being loose.

Doug

[NogE]

Again,so detailed on yr help info doug..thank you...can't do this today..I'll get into that tomorrow..
Also..I did notice slight movement in some of the pins when the plug is out..great idea...many thanks again

[NogE]

Doug....
So I did remove the pcb. Cleaned it then soldered a tiny piece of solder from pin down to board...100%Good continuity....tho still only 9.57volts.....
I thought I'd test down at male end of loom that plugs into indicator stalk..so..stalk unplugged ..and yes I'm getting same voltage there. 9.57volts..looks like iv got to go back to fuse board...and earths for main beam..
Noticed to that I get main beam when indi arm is pushed forward but when I pull arm back to get that quick main beam flash and return the main beam don't work..

[DougT]

It shouldn't be the main beam earth as the speedo earth is separate so it has to be on the +12v side somewhere.

Main beam fuse is fuse 5 and that is where the main beam feed from the dip switch splits to feed the main beam itself and the blue speedo light. Are you getting +12v at fuse 5 ?

If main beam is bright enough and so you are getting proper 12v to the main beam then maybe dodgy spade connection at the Fuse 5 to feed the blue lamp ?

(Off topic but the Wipac Crystal 7inch replacement headlamps are a good alternative headlamp unit although maybe look a little odd as beam is in the reflector not the lens).

Doug

[dumper]

Back then when H4 headlights became available we replaced loads with Wipac units at the time at work very good lights had a set on my mk1 escort we had different makes over he years they seamed the best by far.

[NogE]

Thanks guys...something to look at over the weekend....
I recently replaced the headlamps with Halogen units..I'm guessing there wouldn't be a problem hear..

[DougT]

At the risk of hijacking the thread....

Nog, I am sure those Halogen units will do you fine and crossed fingers that you find the problem.

Dumper, I agree Wipac units are generally good. The Crystal units are pretty recent and special in that they use the "modern" system where the reflector is profiled and focusses the beam rather than the lens, which is clear plastic in this case. They have become a standard upgrade for the old Land Rovers. But they do look different which some people may not like on old vehicles.

Doug

[NogE]

thumbs up..