Morris Minor Owners Club

As i'm looking at redoing the antifreeze - what are people recommending?

Also any thoughts on why I've just blown a brand new replacement headlight?

thanks as ever

Antifreeze has been covered many times. Drain and flush the system, then mix water and Bluecol Antifreeze at up to 50%. Replace every two years.

Which type of headlamps are you using? The most likely cause is over voltage or poor earth.

It was a Wagner bulb from MMOC spares - how would i check for those two issues before i put a new one in and would that only effect the one headlight? Nothing else has gone.

cheers

It was a Wagner bulb from MMOC spares - how would i check for those two issues before i put a new one in and would that only effect the one headlight? Nothing else has gone.

cheers

Two pieces of wire clipped on the battery (don't let the ends touch , take th bulb in hand ,hold one on the side touching the other on one of the two nodules. If it lights up the filament is ok , then try the other nodule.assuming that the bulb is ok you probably have a bad earth ( a poor connection to the body ) as it is unlikely that both lives would go at the same time. A meter is handy .you only have 3 wires , two lives one for the high beam , one for the dip , the other is the earth ,which should have a good connection to the metal body of the car , not rust or paint. Good luck , let us know how you do

It can't be a faulty earth. You should check the battery volts when charging - in case it is too high, but this is very unlikely (unless the battery lead came off....while the engine was running). But frankly - it was either a faulty bulb (not uncommon with what could be a v old bulb ) or was it rated for only 6 volts??

I just blew 2 new ones in a row in the same fitting - work fine on the first journey, but then blow on the second time they are turned on - no other bulbs are blowing at all, so i'm not sure it's the voltage either (would that not blow the other bulbs on that side?)

If the bulb has excessive vibration it could cause premature failure?

Vibration 'could' do it I suppose.....but sounds like crap bulbs to me........

bmcecosse wrote:Vibration 'could' do it I suppose.....but sounds like crap bulbs to me........

+1.

I've heard it off a few old boys now that bulbs were always failing 'back in the day', even new ones.

And at this age - the internal gas (or vacuum!) may well have leaked away......