Indicators and wipers stopped working

[Muj]

Hi, just bought my first Morris Minor recently and Love it!

The indicators were intermittent then stopped altogether. I replaced the flasher unit but now they're not working at all (could be a second problem?) and I noticed the wipers aren't working either.

I have a multimeter but what should I test? (Where is the problem isolated to when neither the indicators nor wipers work)?

Thanks!

Muj

By the way, it's been modified a lot, including alternator and I think the guy said negative earth (possibly).

[alexmcguffie]

Check the fuse under the bonnet with the green and white wires going to it. It will be in the little fuse box on the top left of the bulkhead as you look under the bonnet. It might not look blown but could have corroded connections etc. Also, your fuel guage and brake lights might not be working too...

[bmcecosse]

As Alex has explained - they are all fed from that one fuse. New flasher units are often short lived - try the old one again - after replacing the fuse..... A good test is to remove the flasher unit - and join all three wires together -do the lights work now (obviously not flashing..) ?

[Muj]

I should have mentioned I've checked all 3 fuses with the multimeter. I'll double-check the connections are good though, and that's a helpful tip about connecting the 3 flasher wires. Cheers!

[Muj]

Okay, so I tested all the connectors across the fuses -they're fine. But when I disconnect the flasher can and connect all 3 flasher wires there's still nothing lighting up. So where does that leave me? Any ideas?

I'll buy a drink for whoever can help the most (via PayPal).

Cheers,

Muj

[bmcecosse]

Is there 12 volt power at the 3 joined wires?

[Muj]

No, I tested all 3 wires and non has power (even with the indicator switched on).

[alexmcguffie]

Is there 12v at both sides of the fuse with the ignition on?

[bmcecosse]

As above - you need to trace the power feed. have you disturbed the speedo recently? The green wires junction there and may have come loose. Is anything 'Ignition controlled' working? Heater motor? Brake lights? Fuel gauge?

[mike.perry]

Green should be live from fuse with ign on. It is connected to a spur off the fuse. Check the connection

[Muj]

Hmm - noticed the fuse has blown at some point since I first tested. I've ordered more fuses ...

[bmcecosse]

But something must be causing the fuse to blow.....you need to find that... Remove all the green wires from the fuse box - then with a new fuse fitted - connect them one at a time to see what happens.

[alexmcguffie]

Rather than blowing your new fuses to find the fault, use your multimeter....

Disconnect the green wires as mentioned above, connect one lead of the multimeter to the battery ground/chassis and then the other to each green wire in turn. You should be looking at a resistance of less than 1/3 ohm to blow a 35A fuse.

From that point, you could connect the known good green wires back to the fuse box and check what works/doesn't work or use the manual to find out where the dodgy wire goes...

Alex

[Muj]

Thanks for all the help! I've had a chance to look at it again. With new fuses and battery properly charged everything works except if I indicate right it blows the fuse. I'm trying to look at the front right indicator light - how do I get to the bulb to check if there's a short in there? ...

[Muj]

Here's the girl ...[frame][/frame]

[alexmcguffie]

Twist the lens off anti-clockwise using the chrome bezel - its a bayonet fitting. Once you remove the bulb you should be able to push the wiring through from inside the wing. It could be the spring shorting against the wire. ALso check where the wiring goes through the inner wing. It should have a grommet and also be sleeved but that may have been lost over the years...

[Muj]

Hmm, all looks fine in there from what I can tell. Anyone know where I can get a good diagram of the indicator circuits? Maybe that would help?

[bmcecosse]

See Barry's diagram at the top of the electrical section. It's not difficult - ignition-fed power goes to the flasher can - then from the can to the switch - and from the switch to the front and rear lights, whichever side is selected, and thence to earth through the two bulbs. Simples !

[Muj]

Well, I never found the problem but messing about with the wires seems to have somehow fixed it - at least for now

I owe someone a drink! alexmcguffie and bmcecosse - you chaps were both very helpful. Do you have a PayPal account? I'd like to send you a couple of quid to have a drink on me.

Cheers!

[bmcecosse]

No need for anything like that matey, thanks for the thought - but you really should try to track down the problem - it will come back to bite you some dark and stormy night!