Lighting problems.

[Heronwood]

Hi all

I am a newbie . I have recently saved a 1954 series II from certain death,

I have serviced her, new drums cylinders and shoes. Shot blasted wheels and added new tyres.

She runs very well and has minimum corrosion due to being garaged for 40 years.

My problem is the lights I have:

Front side lights work
Retro fitted indicators work.
Trafficators work.
Rear lights, only one works and neither brake light works
Headlights do not work on either beam or dipped.

As i am no electrician can anyone give me any clues as to what the prob might be.

This is the only thing that is stopping me driving her on the road.

Thank you all very much in advance for being here.

Mike

[bmcecosse]

Assuming the bulbs are ok - it's almost certainly 'bad earth' problems. There is no simple cure over than to track each fault down - using a DC meter (or a test lamp). Is there any power going to the dipswitch? Perhaps the wires have been pulled off there?

[Heronwood]

Hi

Thanks for such a speedy reply. Not sure where the dip switch is? Is a floor button?

Would you replace all the lights? Or just re earth each one individually?

Mikw

[biomed32uk]

Yep, go over the wiring and make sure everything is sound. Connections on cars have to be clean, bright and tight.

The bullet connectors used are good sources of trouble, if damp has got in and they are going green and furry then all sorts of strange things can happen. Pull them apart, carefully so as not to pull the wires from the bullet and clean them.

There is a good clump of them on the OS inner wing under the bonnet for the front lights, and the same in the boot in the vicinity of the OS rear light.

If the bullets are loose in the female connectors then carefully squeeze them up slightly.

Good luck.

[mogbob]

On later cars it is floor mounted, just left of the clutch pedal.Surrounded by carpet the fluff gathers there and wires can get knocked off.Have a poke around to see what you can find.
If you're lucky it will just be a simple earth problem so don't rush to buy new lights until you have eliminated other problems first.If the black earth wire and it's connections are clean and sound at each light remove the bolt or screw fixing it to the body work.Clean with emery paper and degrease the ring terminal and bodywork immediately where contact is made.Coat with Electrical grease / copper ease / Vaseline to keep the joint corrosion free.
Work systematically around each problem and test for 12v power source ( lights switched on etc ) and a good earth at each point.
Bob

[mike.perry]

On later cars it is floor mounted, just left of the clutch pedal.
Bob

On all Morris Minors the dip switch is floor mounted