Help - not much working

[MGs]

Just putting the car back together after restoration. I am connecting all of the the lights etc according to the labels I gave
everything when I took it off the car (all working at that stage).

The rear lights are working, as are the wipers and fuel pump. The car starts and runs.

The things which are not working are the front side lights, drivers side head light, indicators and horn.

All of the fuses are fine. Am I looking at a single fault (dodgy earth) or could this be several small faults ?

Thanks

[mogbob]

Hi MG
There is always at least 3 thing that don't work electrically at the end of a restoration in my experience.
A later car I'm assuming.The faults don't appear to be related.Hope you have a multi meter.
Lights..check for a good earth on the units,volts setting positive connected to battery, lights switched on, probe with the black wire to the light unit.
If OK then track from the light switch ( other lights are OK, so power to the switch ) through the connectors ( all pushed home soundly ? ) light switch on, negative lead to battery probe with the red for volts.
horn...power supply to the horn ?, purple lead, negative battery connection, red probe to the lucar connector.Horn push assembled correctly ?
Indicators... power to the flasher unit,you're getting in the swing now, Green wire on the can.All the connections on the steering column sound, etc
It's there somewhere.

Bob

[mike.perry]

If the front side lights and indicators are not working then probably the earth connections.
Does the o/s headlight not work on dip or main beam? If not check the connection to the back of the bulb and the bullet connector were the O/s and N/S wires separate. Also check the earth.
The horn is live and earthed through the horn push. Run an earth wire from the earth terminal of the horn to an earth point. If the horn works the problem is between the horn and push, if not then it is between the fuse and horn. If you have a battery charger connect it to the horn to test.
Since the faults are on different circuits then you are looking for several faults

[MGs]

Thanks. Got a meter. That gives me somewhere to start. I'll give it a go tomorrow.

[bmcecosse]

It's just a bunch of small problems - mostly as already mentioned likely caused by poor earths.... Did you by any chance use Fiberglass front wings ??

[beero]

A lot of wiring problems I have had on my MG and Morris have been down to the bullet connectors. The bullets can be cleaned okay with a wire brush on a dremel but the sleeves rust internally and are best renewed. They can be bought on ebay for as little as 12p each for singles or from Vehicle Wiring products.

[MGs]

OK. Getting somewhere. The headlight was a schoolboy error on my part. Trial fitted the light and housing (needed to
drill new holes) forgot to connect the electrics......Doh.
Problem with the horn solved....it is trash. Touched the connectors on the horn, crumbled in my fingers. Needs replacing.
One now on order.

Sidelights and indicators are a bit more of a problem. The rear indicators are working, so by deduction the flasher unit is OK.
There seems to be current to the lights. One possible option is that I have done a lot of work to the front end, some fibreglass and filler. It is possible that the lights are not earthing properly. Do these lights earth through contact with the body? There is a female bullet connector on the back of the drivers side light, but not the passenger side. This was not connected when I dismantled the car, should it be run to earth? If so, how do you earth the passenger side without the bullet connector?

Cheers

[bmcecosse]

Yes they need good earths - just run cables from connectors attached to the fixing screws - to earth.

[MGs]

Thanks. Next stage tomorrow morning. I'll give everything a good clean, make some new connectors and have another go.

[mogbob]

Keep going, there's great satisfaction in solving these problems....then you can really enjoy your " light bulb moment ".
Bob

[mike.perry]

The lights usually earth through a self tapping screw into the inner wing

[MGs]

Thanks everyone. I'm getting there. The problem with the front indicators and front offside sidelight was poor earthing, now
sorted. The nearside front sidelight was more of a problem. Close inspection showed that the fibre washer holding the spring and wire connector was disintegrating. I trawl round the garage produced a similar plastic item, which fitted with a bit of sanding down. A temporary repair, long term the light will be replaced. As soon as the horn arrives, it will be fitted. Then
only the windows to refit before the MOT

[bmcecosse]

You don't NEED windows for the MOT........

[MGs]

No, but with the weather we have been having the new carpets might get a bit wet without them

[MGs]

I am still having a few problems. I now have the new horn. Tested and working. I have tested both of the wires which
connect to it with my meter (no problem). Using the horn push the horn only works very occasionally. I have taken the horn push apart and cleaned it. the metal contact on top of the spring seems fine and appears to make contact with the brass button at the bottom of the push. This also appears to contact the sprung button in the steering column. My only though is that the out part of the spring (protruding through the push) is not contacting correctly with the steering wheel. Any other thoughts?

I seem to remember in the dim and distant past having to put a piece of rubber (pencil eraser) in the push on either a MGB or Triumph Herald to get it working, but can't recall the exact details

Thanks

[beero]

If you remove the wheel and the cowling covering the indicator unit then you will see a spring touching a ring on the steering column. This could be where you have a bad contact.

[MGs]

Thanks, I'll have a look