Rover P5 3-litre Coupe headlamps

[Ken Nelson]

I am restoring my 1966 P5 3-litre Coupe and cannot get the headlights to function. The lights were all disconnected from the 5-way connectors at the front of the car when I got it. Any tips on proper connection and likely problems? The parking lamps and rear lights all work correctly. My car is wired for LHD and moving the dash light toggle to the left turns on just the LF and LR lights, which I assume is correct for European parking? My car was originally sold in Germany. Ken

[Allan NZ P5b]

On the p5b there is an additional switch on the column that turns off the main light circuit and turns on the circuit for the fog lamps. So they can’t be run together. This can lead you to think one or the other doesn’t work if you don’t know it is there.
I don’t know if the p5 has the same switch but it might and it could be the source your problem. Have a good look at the wiring diagram in the work shop manual mine is not at hand I am at work.

Regards

[Phil Nottingham]

The lighting arrangements are the same as the P5B and even including cables for the front optional extra fog/spots.

You must obtain the wiring diagrams

[Ken Nelson]

Thanks Phil; That explains why I have one wire in the wiring harness with nothing to connect to it. I'll have to strip wires back and try to decipher the color code more clearly to be sure I have things connected properly. Seemed like it, but my wiring harness has turned into oil soaked dirty cotton braiding of a uniform gray. Ken

[Deleted]

The old textile covered cable is well past its sell by date and will set alight very easily if overloaded or shorted

This insulation, as does the later PVC also becomes brittle leading to cracks which short out and the strands of the cable oxidise and go black or green giving voltage drop.

Although Mk3's onwards are fully fused its best to replace any frayed or oil soaked cables with modern stuff or even better rewire. Its coming up to 40 years old and house wiring would have been condemned years ago at this age

At a cost full looms are available with or without fake authentic coverings. Very costly though

[Ken Nelson]

Thanks to all for headlamp wiring advice. I now have properly functioning lights all around. It took quite a bit of work with the voltmeter once I learned of the column fog-lamp switch and cleaned and rewiried the foot switch. The precious Lucas smoke hasn't escaped from the wires yet, so I'll keep an eye out for any sparks followed by darkness. ;D Ken