Spitfire74

Thanks Rob, no worries haha, like I said, the electrical side of this is all new and a learning experience for me (so apologies for any stupid questions haha!) As you say the bulb isn't coming on, there's continuity at the alternator end of the wire on the terminal connection but when I pulled the lamp out the back of the Speedometer I was presented with this (photo taken after removing the bulb!)... So, yeh...I think I may have identified the issue, the yellow/brown wire was hanging on by about two strands and the connection to the bulb holder is tacked on with a small bit of solder!! I'm amazed it's worked in the past since I bought it!! I've taken the bulb out and that looks fine so am thinking I need to get a new bulb holder. I've been looking on Rimmer Bros and Moss-Europe to try and find the right part. I don't suppose anyone has a parts list or happens to know the part code for these bulb holders? It's a screw thread interior/bulb rather than bayonet. Also, was thinking of maybe upgrading the lights to LEDs such as these from Moss https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/led-bulb-screw-mes-e10-12v-2-2w-white-negative-glb987ln.html In order to do that though would I need to put an adapter into the circuit (https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/led-bulb-kit-bayonet-bay15d-12v-21-5w-red-glb380lrk.html ) The only ones I can find are for the bayonet bulbs rather than for the screw bulbs.   Also another (unrelated to original post, sorry!) question. The tachometer hasn't worked since I bought the car and has been on my to do list since then! As I've been getting in and about the electrics I've taken a look at it and I appear to be missing the cables circled in blue and red below. I'm guessing the red one is an earth but can't work out where it then connects to and also what the blue one is and where it is meant to connect to (been studying the wiring diagrams but can't work it out still!) The cable above the blue one is yellow and connects to the coil: Thanks again, Nick

Thanks for the help again guys! Rob, when you say "connect the terminal to ground" can you explain, do you mean just use a cable from the terminal to the earthing cable off the battery and then with the electrics turned on the WL should turn on? Also, are you saying that the two brown wires ought to be going to the same terminal? Slightly confused by what you mean here. Yes, the car does have a working overdrive. Having done some research the car originally left the factory in 1974 as a MkIV but was sold to me as a 1500/MkIV, but still has the MkIV engine in it. I'm guessing you are probably right about it having been converted to a J type overdrive seeing as the overdrive still works correctly and nothing is connected to that relay!  

Thanks for all the help everyone. Which wire is the one that goes to the warning light please? I've got the wiring diagrams but struggling to get my head around them haha! Is it the yellow/brown one? Also, assuming then I'd be alright to remove that random blue wire? The black/green wire doesn't actually go to the alternator, I think it is actually the temperature gauge sender wire. Also, not related to the alternator but I was wondering if anyone could I.D what the relay on the right of this picture (ok, top of the picture, it's rotated it on here!) is for...I know the left hand one is for the horns but curious as to the reason for the right hand one (and why it isn't currently connected to anything!)

Hi Rob Cheers for the reply. Should have mentioned that I took that photo having taken off the alternator and in the process of putting it back on the car...hence the loose fixing at the bottom.  Any idea what that blue wire is/should be doing? Also what's wrong with the black/green wire please? But yes I've not changed anything since it worked. Strangely though the alternator stopped working a few days after I bought the car (a couple of years ago) and I replaced it with a straight swap out for a new alternator (the one currently fitted) which has worked fine for about 3 years now, so I'm hoping it's not a problem with the loom!? The new brushes were from Rimmer Bros and looked decent to me! I've not checked the rectifier and regulator, could you direct me as to how/what I should be looking for with those?

Hi all I have discovered that my alternator does not seem to be charging the battery in my Spitfire MkIV/1500 (Mk IV engine). I have used a voltmeter on the battery to test for charge while running and it displays only around 12V and never over which says to me that it isn't charging. Likewise when using an alternator tester on the negative and positive terminals of the alternator I do not get the 6 lights to indicate correct working.  I have replaced the brushes in the alternator and tested again but still do not get a charge in the battery.  When taking the connector off from the alternator I did notice that one of the cables appears to not be connected to anything. However, there also appears to be no cable for it to connect to and all last summer the battery was charging properly from the alternator so I do not suspect that this is the issue...but maybe it is? The cable I'm referring to is the blue one, that I've circled, in the picture below. I'd be very grateful for any info on the rogue blue cable and any suggestions on what else might not be working in the alternator and need fixing! Cheers, Nick