Triumph GT6 MKIII Ignition Key Lamp

[Eldwick]

Hello, can anyone (Rob Pearce?) help me with the following issues?

I am having problems with the wiring on my GT6 MKIII and as part of the ongoing investigations to solve issues I have come across something that is puzzling me. I have got a wiring diagram and there is one item on there labelled "Ignition Key Lamp". I do not appear to have one of these. My ignition is down on the steering column so any lamp, I assume, would be down there somewhere?

However, in removing the centre part of the dash I found what appears to be a spare bulb holder (wired up) but just rattling around loose. I looked on the original GT6 schematic drawings (Courtesy of Canley Classics Plate T17 [06-27]) and this further confused me. It shows a Bracket Ignition Switch 627318, but this is shown on the passenger side of the dash.

 The drawing also shows yet another bulb holder 160021 (or UKC1562), what the devil is this for? Perversely this is in the position of the holder I found behind my dash but I have nothing in either the passenger or driver’s side for illumination of any kind.

Help! Can you explain any of this?

Kind regards.

[Ben Hutchings]

(I've just moved this topic to Technical > Electrical)

Hi @Eldwick , The Ignition warning lamp is usually in the Speedo, and it's likely the bulb holder you've found has popped out the back of this. Here's a pic I just found (Google image search) showing the 3 locations that the bulb holders go: 

Hopefully you'll be able to plug it back in, and things will be fine. The other two bulb locations are for Oil Pressure warning, and Main Beam I think. 

[Clive]

Not near any books etc, so can't check.

However, spitfires had a pair of interior lights operated by the door switches. Could that be what this refers to? The bulbs are in simple holders, and teh brackets are more or less a simple affair with a hole for the bulb holder to clip in,  just above the H frame on passenger side, and a tad lower on the drivers side.

[RobPearce]

Hi Eldwick

I was going to reply to your PM to say it's better to ask technical questions on the forum, then I saw you had 😁

As Clive said, the interior lights are below the dash. Early Spitfires (up to Mk3) don't have them. My Mk3 GT6 has only one - the "ignition key light" - on a small bracket behind the cross-bar for the parcel shelf, to the left of the steering column. Like yours, this was missing with the bulb holder hanging loose when I bought the car.

The 160021 "lamp holder" looks to be the backlight for the heater controls, possibly.

[Ben Hutchings]

Ah, sorry for the red-herring @Eldwick, I should have read your message more carefully. Also, I've learned something there, had no idea an 'Ignition Key Light' was a thing 😅

[Eldwick]

Thank you all for the replies, Rob can you tell me if the light you have is on the passenger or drivers side?

I will take your word for 160021 being a back light but it is hard to see what it would have lit up back there? The sliding slots perhaps!😄

Thanks,

[RobPearce]

The light on mine is on the driver's side, positioned to give some light to the footwell where the ignition switch is. I'll see if I can get a photo of it.

I'm only guessing on 160021 but the slots was my thought. That said, there are several bits on the parts diagram that look like they connect to it and are marked "USA only".

[Clive]

On my 1500 dash/loom (fitted into a mkIV) there is a small bulb attached to a bit of perspex. It illuminates the perspex, which is for the heater controls, just gives a bit of a glow. Very 1970's

[RobPearce]

25 minutes ago, RobPearce said:

I'll see if I can get a photo of it.

As you can see, it's bolted to the left side of the steering column support (dash is at the top of the photo, ignition key at the bottom). The bracket is home-made in this picture but its location is, I believe, correct.

[RobPearce]

3 hours ago, Eldwick said:

It shows a Bracket Ignition Switch 627318, but this is shown on the passenger side of the dash.

On that, it's worth noting that the parts catalogue marks that "LHS", meaning that it's for "Left Hand Steering" only, so not UK

[Eldwick]

Thank you all for your input here.

I have now solved most of the problem. I put a bulb in the holder and it comes on and off when the courtesy light does and I managed to untangle the wires and it does reach the drivers side, near enough to the steering column. This being the case I think it is almost the same as your fitting Rob. All I need now is to track some sort of bracket down because the major suppliers don't do the part. Anyway, thank you once again for your input.

 

Cheers!

[Don Cook]

It's a daft interior light. It's of little use if you are sitting in the car, ok so it lights up the ignition switch but when you get in you have to fumble to insert the key. Why put the switch down by your calves??? 

So, I got fed up with this and the lack of sensible wiper/washer stalks so fitted a late Spitfire column. Ahh, bliss...ignition switch up where it should be and decent stalks. One of the best modifications I've ever done (actually my mate John did most of it).

[Rubce]

On 26/10/2021 at 16:18, Don Cook said:

It's a daft interior light. It's of little use if you are sitting in the car, ok so it lights up the ignition switch but when you get in you have to fumble to insert the key. Why put the switch down by your calves??? 

So, I got fed up with this and the lack of sensible wiper/washer stalks so fitted a late Spitfire column. Ahh, bliss...ignition switch up where it should be and decent stalks. One of the best modifications I've ever done (actually my mate John did most of it).

 

Hi Don

I am interested in your steering column conversion. Could you advise on whether a GT6 mark 3 steering wheel will fit a late Spitfire steering column?

Thanks

Bruce

[thescrapman]

It wont, different size spline on end of column

 

[Rubce]

1 hour ago, thescrapman said:

It wont, different size spline on end of column

 

Thanks. I won't bother with the mod then.

Cheers

Bruce

[Tim Bancroft]

Does seem worthwhile, nice to have the windscren operation on the column. But the cost of a decent steering wheel is a major factor for not doing the job.

[Rubce]

2 hours ago, Tim Bancroft said:

Does seem worthwhile, nice to have the windscren operation on the column. But the cost of a decent steering wheel is a major factor for not doing the job.

I had our original steering wheel recovered in leather by a local man who works at Bentley. He did a lovely job, hence my desire to retain that wheel. 

He also fitted a new headlining into the car whilst I was doing the restoration in 2013 and be recently lowered the foams in the bases of the MX5 seats I purchased.

Bruce