74 2500M: connecting rocker switches properly

[Renaldo]

Guys, my next project is replacing my vinyl dash with a nice walnut burl one, being made up for me by a local craftsman.

Goes without saying, I'll need to disconnect the various switches (mostly rockers) and eventually, reconnect them properly.

As an electrical ignoramis, this scares the life out of me.

Other than marking each wire to ensure they're reconnected to the proper connector, is there a way to know which wire goes to which connector on the switch? (some sort of wiring legend/diagram perhaps?)

Any tips?

Ron

[Slow M]

Yup, mark 'em. Mark the switches as well.

Best,
B.

[phillpot]

...........and lots of sketches and photo's

[Renaldo]

Thanks guys. I was hoping there was a less laborious way of doing it, but apparently not...

[GTRene]

something like this?

http://tvr.at/wire.html

or?

[Renaldo]

Rene, I wondered whether the wiring diagram would tell me what I need to know.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it doesn't show specifically which wire connects to which terminal on the switch. (normally there are two or three spade terminals, I think)

Ron

[thegamekeeper]

Unscrew the dash so that you can pull it forward to get behind it. One switch or gauge at a time carefully remove the wires, making a note which wire came off which terminal, sketch and even digital photo. Then when switch free put it behind dash and reconnect the wires as they came off. Do this methodically, switch by switch, instrument by instrument. When you are replacing follow the same procedure

[Renaldo]

Thanks Steve. No short cuts, I reckon.

Ron

[thegamekeeper]

That is a short cut, how short can it get. You,ve got to take it all off before you can put it back on. ITS not difficult and its not mains, it wont kill you. Wire off, wire on.

[Renaldo]

Steve, thanks for the good advice, which I will follow.

However, just curious: if someone were foolish enough not to approach this logically and methodically as suggested, how would you identify which wire connects to which terminal?

[Slow M]

-Trial and error.
or
-A test light.
or
-A multi meter.

Best,
B.

[RCK974X]

If you have the original style rockers, then the centre spade is the one that's switched
(i.e. the power) and the other one (or two) are the load (ie. what is switched on or off).

headlight switches are two stage, so have 5 or 6 connectors, but the centre two are connected together (power) , and then one is sidelights and one is headlights. The heater switch works the same (at least on Vixens anyway)

Once you get your head around how they work it's not that scary - remember all they are is one or two little levers inside. Stalk switches like indicators are much more complicated, but normally have multiplugs so are easy....

A small testmeter is a fantastic little tool, cheap and a massive help with wiring..

[Renaldo]

Andy, thanks. That helps immensely!

Ron

[thegamekeeper]

Your switches are not the same as Vixen (Arrow 240V). If yours are the large illuminated switches with a chrome type bezel be VERY careful how you handle them, they are made of unobtanium.

[Renaldo]

Steve, my switches are not the illuminated type.

My dashboard is the older M version, not the one on the newer Ms.

[thegamekeeper]

There were 3 types of switches fitted to "M" Series cars. Early cars with Vixen type interior had black arrow rocker switches made from virtually unobtanium, the middle ones were large illuminated chrome bezel type made form a mixture of unobtanium and self destructium and the later smaller illuminated type with US style words rather than UK style symbols (Americans apparently couldn,t understand the symbols..... that was a joke if you are American and serious if not).

No doubt Adrian will be along any time soon to say there were 4 cars with "special" switches on, these will be made from Adrianium extracted from a meteorite which crashed into Coventry in the ice age (January 1973).

[Renaldo]

My rocker switches are completely black and unilluminated.

And Steve, I'm proud to offer a Canadian perspective on almost any subject, if anyone happens to be interested.

Can't speak for our American friends.

[thegamekeeper]

27 minutes, he must have been on the loo. Pull it, I couldn,t even lift it.

[RCK974X]

thegamekeeper said:

There were 3 types of switches fitted to "M" Series cars. Early cars with Vixen type interior had black arrow rocker switches made from virtually unobtanium <snip>

I thought one could still find the Arrow switches ? I got some centre-off changover ones, and some toggle head ones from local electronics outlet from the bargain bin at $5 (NZ) each about 2 years ago. OK, I have to swop over innards,levers and fiddle around a bit to get right types, but still good source of spares, and the rocker tops almost perfectly match !!

[Renaldo]

Andy, is it possible to post a photo of the parts you've referred to?

I've often wondered what alternatives I'd have if some of my rocker switches died.

Ron