Earths, wiring and the loom

The E-Type's electrics have a reputation they have not entirely earned. The circuits are simple by modern standards, the components are conventional, and the great majority of faults trace back to connections: corroded earths, green bullet connectors, tired fuse boxes and chafed wires rather than failed units.

Earths first

Every circuit returns through the body and engine through earth straps and local earth points. Paint, rust and sixty years intervene. A component that works intermittently, or a circuit in which one fault appears to cause another, is an earth fault until proved otherwise. Cleaning earth points back to bright metal and protecting them costs almost nothing and cures a remarkable share of the car's electrical complaints.

The loom

Original looms are now old: insulation hardens, connectors corrode and past repairs accumulate. Replacement looms are available and follow the original routing and colour codes. Before blaming the loom, though, prove the fault with a multimeter and the wiring diagram for your model, since the diagram, the loom and the car sometimes diverge where a past owner has been creative.

Fuses and additions

The fuse count on an E-Type is small, and many circuits share protection. Accessories added over the years, from extra lights to electric fans, often hang off whichever fuse was nearest. A tidy car has its additions on their own fused feeds; a worrying one has a fuse box sprouting unexplained wires. This is quick to inspect and says much about the care the car has had.