Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello everyone. Yet another query about wiring up the older style, under the dash bakelite switch with centre warning light. I wonder if anyone can help me with mine please? My problem is does or should the switch warning light work in both directions? I would think it should but I’m puzzled. The manual shows the same number of terminals as my switch and I’ve wired it up on the bench to check but the warning light comes on in one direction only. There are 4 terminals in one group and 2 for the bulb in another. The 4 are numbers 2,3,4 & 5. Of these, 3 & 4 are connected together and are live whilst 2 and 5 go to the relevant trafficator. When turned, the switch then bridges across either 2 & 3 or 4 & 5 to work either trafficator which is fine so far. However, the warning bulb is hard wired to terminal 5 so it only lights when that trafficator is operated. Am I missing something? Any help would be much appreciated. Many thanks, Colin.

Very puzzling! Your connections are as per the circuit diagram except that there is a link shown between one side of the pilot bulb and terminal 5. To me this means that when you operate either side of the switch
you will try to activate both arms at the same time via the bulb! This cannot be right so it will be interesting to know the outcome.

Hello Willie,
I've spent the day at work bothering people over this and also browsing the many wiring diagrams in the manual. Basically from the manual, the warning bulb looks to be wired across one trafficator terminal to the other. i.e. terminals 2 and 5. It also looks the same when you consider the diagram for trafficators worked by a column stalk. Anyway, I tried it on the bench and the trafficators pop up sweetly and warning bulb shines perfectly which ever one is selected. It must be that the bulb lights by earthing through the trafficator that isnt selected. I can only assume the current that's left after lighting the bulb doesnt have enough oomph left to pop up the trafficator that isnt selected. Strange but it works. I suppose the only way to confirm it is for some kind soul to unscrew their switch and have a good look in the back but for the moment, that seems to be how it works.
Best wishes, Colin.

That is certainly how it works on my 61 with a stalk. As you say not enough omph to operate the traficator.

The problem I had was I have connected some relays and a flashing circuit for optional indicators. I had to remove the bulb to stop both sides flashing together!

As long as it works Colin. It looked very strange on the diagram.

Well, fingers crossed.
Many thanks for your help both of you.
Cheers, Colin.