dash wiring

[Kleykamp]

'61 TR3. I will be replacing a headlight switch, because one terminal is broken off the existing switch. The broken terminal is missing. One terminal is blue/brown,one is blue and the third is ??? as I have no visible wire that is not accounted for, except a red wire with half of a fuse holder attached, which appears to go to the dash light switch which is a rheostat. I dont recall my two previous '59 TR3's having that type of switch and Haynes manual schematic shows more than one red wire out of that terminal to tail/park lights. Does the red wire with fuse link go to the light switch terminal and clip into the space at the bottom of the dash? If so, what amp fuse? I guess I need one of those handy color wiring diagrams,but until I can get one,maybe someone remembers how this goes. Also there are several(maybe 5) red or red and white wires attached to the rheostat. Is this correct or something that was rigged through? Sorry to be so wordy. Thanks,Joe

 

[TR3driver]

The in-line fuse is correct; a factory addition to the later cars. The Haynes diagram is for an earlier car (and contains many other things that are not correct for later cars). The wire from the fuse holder does go to the 3rd terminal, and there are a bunch of red wires attached to the rheostat (so they get power from the fuse but not from the rheostat). The rheostat only supplies power to the two red/white wires, which go to two strings of small lamps behind the dash.

There is a diagram you can download at
https://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh260...alHints6the.jpg
which is close to correct for your car (except it shows the gauges in the wrong place and the wiring for RHS).

There is also a copy of the later owner's manual at https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2H2NJt34OffNjQ4MTkyNjItZTVmYi00M2U2LWJhYWUtMjEyZDgxMzUyNzUw
It specifies the in-line fuse as "25 amps", but that is in the old Lucas rating system. If you want to use a modern AGC type fuse, I would suggest 10 or 15 amps.

 

[Kleykamp]

Wow, thanks for the link! I did find a thread with nice wiring diagram thru a search,but the Owners Manual is a real bonus though. I didn't know that was available. New to LBC forum but not new to LBC's.

 

[TR3driver]

There are a few more odds and ends that you might find helpful at: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2H2NJt34OffMDVmOTZlZWItYTcyMy00ZDhkLTliOWEtOWU1OWRhNDZhYmRl