messy wiring

[TC2000]

Hi All,

my 1973 TCS has suffered from previous owners "upgrades". I can spot several unconnected wires under the dash. The wiper circuit has the original switch plus a kind of timer; the ground wire to the wiper motor is fried (picture); I suspect a bad wiring of the park circuit. Only one speed is running.
An extra switch makes a 20 A drain from the battery without anything energized (suspect a short circuit).
I also found an unknown box (no it is not the ejector seat circuit  ) which is behind the dash, just below the radio (picture, on the left); Is it an original part?

I think I need to pull the dash board and clean up that mess; what needs to be done to get access behind the dash? obviously there are chromed screws on the fascia, but what else need to be disconnected? The steering column?

Thanks for your help and advice,

[BDA]

It sounds like the PO tried to install an intermittent wiper gizmo or some suck. Luckily for us, I believe the Europa shares a wiper motor with Spitfires and some (all?) MGs of the time.

The box you show is definitely not a stock part. I’d chuck it.

I think after you take the console cover off and the radio out, you could probably do what needs to be done. You can take the dash out as a last resort. Taking the dash off requires taking out the screws you mentioned, the bottom of the dash is bolted to the top of the backbone (several grounds live there), the steering column bolts to a mount bolted at the bottom of the dash (IIRC). On either end of the dash, there is a bracket that is bolted to the side of the body and the dash. You’ll also have to take care of the heater/demister controls. Like I said, that should be a last resort.

I’d advise you to try to keep up with the Lucas wiring standard and if that is not possible, at least keep up with the green, white, black, brown part of it, but seeing the cars you have, you were probably way ahead of me on that!

[dakazman]

What is your chassis number before or after 3924?
So we know if it an early or late TCS?
Dakazman

[dakazman]

If it’s a later model it could be the logic box.
Dakazman

[Gary t]

When I cleaned up a similar wiring mess I put all of the gauges and switches in a piece of cheap plywood about the right shape and mounted it in the car 6 or 7 inches back from its location so I had a space to work in. Worked on one CCT ATA time . Then when they were all working moved gauges and switches back to the real panel and bolted it in place. My windscreen was out for this process. Very little time in the lotus position.

[TC2000]

What is your chassis number before or after 3924?
So we know if it an early or late TCS?
Dakazman

chassis number is 12460

I need to know what could be a logic box, because sometimes the logic is not obvious to me 

[Exlimey]

Don’t know about the ‘mystery box’ , but the third fuse down looks to have been seriously overheated and probably near death.

[TC2000]

Don’t know about the ‘mystery box’ , but the third fuse down looks to have been seriously overheated and probably near death.

you are right, it is nearly good for the museum of horrors, but I tested it and it is still conductive.
I will change it during overall check and clean...

[BDA]

Judging from your chassis number (actually, the chassis number is really the last four digits and a letter. The first digits tell the year an month of manufacture and maybe something else. Someone will fill the holes in my memory.) you land in dakazman’s “early” category so you don’t have a logic box.

[dakazman]

  This would be your correct schematic.

   Does your mystery box have any wires connected to it ? Trace the color of the wire back to a connection in the harness other than the fuse.
Dakazman

[4129R]

The logic box was located close to the wiper motor, not behind the dashboard.

The dash is held in by the 4 screws at the top, two pairs of nuts to brackets on each side by the door hinges, and two nuts and bolts to the centre tunnel, and the two nuts on the U clamp to the steering column (a bitch to reconnect).

You have to be careful about the oil pressure pipe, the speedo drive, and the tube to the washer pump, as hey can restrict movement.

If it is a Federal car, the heater control wires need to be disconnected as well.

The dash is a real pig to locate at the ends when re-fitting.

If you can, leave it in.

Working on the dash is easier with both seats out, and the steering wheel off, so you can go upside down into the tunnels with a torch, the full Lotus position.   

[TC2000]

The logic box was located close to the wiper motor, not behind the dashboard.

The dash is held in by the 4 screws at the top, two pairs of nuts to brackets on each side by the door hinges, and two nuts and bolts to the centre tunnel, and the two nuts on the U clamp to the steering column (a bitch to reconnect).

You have to be careful about the oil pressure pipe, the speedo drive, and the tube to the washer pump, as hey can restrict movement.

If it is a Federal car, the heater control wires need to be disconnected as well.

The dash is a real pig to locate at the ends when re-fitting.

If you can, leave it in.

Working on the dash is easier with both seats out, and the steering wheel off, so you can go upside down into the tunnels with a torch, the full Lotus position.

OK, I will first start from underneath. I have some practice of that position in the seven.

Maybe also to access first by removing the radio (I did not find -yet- any speakers in the car).

Thanks all for  your help

[dakazman]

To relocate the dash easily remove the two outer screws and feed safety wire thru the hole with a slight bend in it. Once you feed it thru and catch the end leave enough wire about a foot longer and tie the ends together. Do to both sides . Then remove the center screws and all the above mentioned items .

  When reinstalling pull the safety wire tight on both sides and the two center holes should com real close to the mount holes .

 Dakazman

[TC2000]

I finally took the dashboard off
The box behind the radio was part of the radio: 2.5 kg of blaupunkt useless radio (picture)
50 years of wild wiring, I found a wiper timer, a switch to by pass the thermostat (will keep), an electric washer pump (will keep), a pneumatic horn (will keep), a usb power supply…
I still need to identify a few wires…. and tidy up all the wild connections.

I made a wooden back-plate to go behind the thin and distorted plastic that holds the rev counter and tacho; It makes a plane solid reference to attach the rev and tacho, after cutting away the small ridge on the plastic

[Sherman Kaplan]

Per your first picture your radio is a Blaupunkt Bamberg.  If you check Ebay they go for big money.   They were used on Porsches so if you don't want it I'm sure you could sell it.

Sherman
73 TCS (with Becker Europa stereo)