Fuel Gauge, Turn Signals and Brake Ligfhts out

[Larryb]

I have a 1967 Morris 1000 Traveler 1098 CC. This morning when I drove it I found that the Fuel Gauge, Turn Signals (stalk lighted) and Brake lights no longer worked. I checked and replaced the only two 35 amp fuses and checked the 10 amp in-line fuse and all is well. I also checked the three ground (earth) locations and all seemed correctly connected. While in the car with the ignition turned on, I turned on the screen wipers and immediately one of the two fuses burned right out. I shut off the ignition and pulled the fuse. Still cannot find the problem. Any suggestions will be much appreciated?

[bmcecosse]

Obviously a problem with the wipers! Probably the motor is seized - but could be seized rack and/or wheel boxes. Remove the cover and disconnect the rack - then try again - briefly! - to see if the motor/gearbox runs with the rack off. If all is well - the problem is in the rack and/or wheelboxes.

[Larryb]

Thank you Bmcecossa but I think it is a short somewhere else. The problem manifested itself well before the wipers were activated. Several electrical items would not work...even after I changed the fuses. The wiper problem came up only when I turned the wipers on to see if they were affected which caused to fuse to melt. That is not to say that the wiper motor isn't frozen. That could be a separate problem.

[bmcecosse]

Switching on the wiper made the fuse blow..........ergo - the wiper has a fault that is causing the fuse to blow....... Disconnect the wipers and put in a new fuse - does everything else work ok now??

[Larryb]

I think you are correct that the wiper is at fault for making the fuse blow. My question was why did the turn signal, brake lights and fuel gauge cease working before the fuse blew. These items were not working before I blew the fuse with the wiper.

[bmcecosse]

Well - I didn't pick that up from the thread......but possible bad connection? And then the dead short pulled such a heavy current it 'fried' the bad connection? Point is - do they all work NOW - except for the wipers.........

[Larryb]

I don't know if the fuel gauge, turn signals and brake lights work or not because I am a little chary about putting the controlling 35 amp fuse (the one that started smoking and melted when I turned on the wipers ) back in until I can get someone to take a peek. I am afraid of a fire. I will post the result if I can find a person who does this kind of thing. Living on the rocky coast of Maine has plenty of advantages. Having access to many commercial and technical experts is not one of them.

[beero]

Turn everything off, take all three green wires off the fuse box, put in a new fuse, turn on the ignition and touch each green wire in turn to the fuse terminal and see if one of them blows the fuse.
If not then turn on the wipers and touch all three wires to the fuse terminal again and see if the fuse blows (which I suspect it will)

[bmcecosse]

There won't be any fire.....at worst another blown fuse - or put an ammeter across the connections instead of the fuse - and observe the current draw. Obviously if in excess of ~ 20 amps -switch off immediately.

[Larryb]

Found a local who works on Morris Minors. He found that I had a faulty fuse block. Waiting for parts now. Might be a n easy fix. Thank you to everyone who helped me with this.

[bmcecosse]

Faulty fuse block??? Pardon my doubts...... Yes - the contacts may need cleaning - can't see much else that can go wrong......

[Larryb]

Fuse block replaced and some wiring mended along with a new flasher. All works well now.

[bmcecosse]

And nothing at all done to the wipers that started all this???