Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi guys!

I am the new owner of a 1969 Morris Minor Van. Here she is:

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I've only had her about a month, and I've hit my first problem - a problem I created myself...

I was replacing the bulb in the front left-hand-side side light, and the spring loaded bit behind the bulb would not spring forward. When I "fixed" this I didn't realise I had broken it and created a short. So when I went to turn them on I blew the fuse. I've disconnected that lamp, taken out the spring, and wrapped the wire in electrical tape so that it can't come into contact with anything and create another short. Replaced the fuse, and the other side lamp is working fine.

The problem now is that a lot of the other electrical stuff is not working - I have no indicators, stop lights, fuel gauge, wipers. I've checked all the fuses and they are ok (the fuses are 35A fuses - are they too big? I would only have expected 10A fuses). All of the non-working equipment seems to be in one part of the electrical system. And a different part from where I had the original short. Could it be the voltage regulator? Is there a fuse I missed? Have I fried everything?

Here's a picture of the voltage regulator and the fuses that I have checked.

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Welcome, Van looks good.
Unless modified there are only three fuses, as per your photo. I assume it is the line fuse that blew when the sidelamp shorted. The items not now working are all 'ignition controlled' so it is most likely that the fuse holder and/or fuses are dirty.
Try wiggling the fuses in the main box up and down to see if that helps or better still remove and clean contacts with a piece of 240 ish grade wet and dry.
If that doesn't cure problem you will have to check all connections to fuse box; regulator and ignition switch, together with the earthing points.

Let us all know how you get on.

Hi, all the items you indicate are powered by the fuse with the green wires at top and white at bottom.(left fuse in your picture) These only work when the ignition is on. Check this fuse and clean contacts if necessary

The other fuse with purple wires at top are for horn and interior light, assume these are working as not in your list.

Was typing this when post above was provided.

Thanks for the quick responses!

I will check all that. Just wanted to add that the horn is also not working. Interior light is probably not working (but doesn't have a bulb anyway).

Check all the larger brown wires on the Control box and the connections to the battery and starter solenoid and make sure all connections are clean and tight

The fuses and the terminals were all pretty dirty, and after a thorough clean everything is working again!

Thanks guys! That was an easy fix - I was worried I'd have to replace something.

well done, lets hope any other problems you have are as easy to fix