[TR] 1972 Triumph TR6 - blinker problem

Mon May 12 06:31:12 MDT 2025

I would start by doublechecking the wiring at the lamp holders and make sure there are no stray wires touching ground where they shouldn't be.

Then check where the metal tabs that secure the wiring harness to the body and make sure the sharp edges aren't cutting into the insulation.  The factory put plastic sleeves over these tabs but they become lost quickly.
I don't know how robust these electronic flashers are but there is a standard to which automotive electronics are tested and expected to survive.  Something called load dump voltage surges.  This is where an electrical load switches off and generates a large, typically negative-going voltage spike.  This can be when an electric fan switches off.  The biggest load on a TR3 (or just about any car) is the starter motor.  The starter and solenoid on a TR3 may generate a voltage spike that is destroying the electronic flasher.  I would try an MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) across the the power input to the flasher and ground.  Something like this:https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/bourns-inc/MOV-10D270KTR/2407604
I also like to add a capacitor that will slow the rise time of the spike helping the varistor do its work.  Something like this:https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/kemet/R82DC3470AA60J/2839160 
Dave 

    On Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 03:39:32 PM CDT, rjray.architect at gmail.com <rjray.architect at gmail.com> wrote:   

On to the TR3A lights:

I put LED in front driving/turn signal lights, and the rear brake lights and rear turn signal lights.

It worked great for several years.

Eventually, nothing flashed, and the front driving/turn signal lights would sort of lightly glow/flicker all the time when the key was on. The rears may have done that also, but with the red lenses, I could not see anything in the daylight hours.

I replace the electronic flasher unit, and everything worked for a few days. Then it was back to nothing lashed and the front light s sort of glowing again.

I assumed the electronic flasher unit “blew,” and that somewhere in the system was a short. But with a new wiring harness, I thought that unlikely.

Should I try replacing the front LED bulbs with incandescent?

As TR3 people know, it is a pain getting the lenses back on in the rubber holders.

Thanks.

p.s. Greg is spot on about Randall. His advice here and on British Car Forum, helped me a lot when I first bought my TR3 and was getting it back to driving condition.

From: Triumphs <triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Greg Lemon
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2025 12:06 PM
To: dave northrup <dave at ranteer.com>
Cc: triumphs at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [TR] 1972 Triumph TR6 - blinker problem

I believe I am running rear LEDs and front incandescents for my turn signals too, as well as a LED for my blinker indicator in the dash (so I can see it blinking in the sun).

They electronics all seem to play better together with a couple incandescents in the loop, and I can track what is going on on in front of me better then behind, so the brighter rear lights make sense.

Will just add that Randall (TR3Driver) was a whiz at this stuff, and if you ever had an electrical problem he had a fix.

Many years ago I had a turn signal problem.with.my Ford Ranger, the Ford Ranger forum was no help whatsoever, Randall gave me a part number for a flasher I could get at the local car part shop, problem solved.

Greg Lemon

TR250

On Sun, May 11, 2025, 10:59 AM dave northrup <dave at ranteer.com> wrote:

This makes no sense to me.  Apparently in the last few weeks I replaced the front bulbs with LEDs.  The rear already had them.

Replacing the front bulbs with analog bulbs fixed the problem, and, as a bonus, the green trafficator light is now working.  I haven’t seen that for years.

Now the blinkers work as they should.  

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