1957 Traveller mystery wires

[nutmegct]

Back story: the heater fan doesn't turn on. Both firewall fuses show solid continuity.

Are any of the disconnected wires in the two photos related to the heater fan?

Thanks!
Tom M.

[ManyMinors]

The black wires probably relate to the heater. The yellow and yellow and blue are aftermarket cables, added for some reason - who knows what. I'd suggest you get hold of a wiring diagram or a workshop manual? Even the original driver's handbooks had a wiring loom which is great for explaining the various wiring colours

[jaekl]

The heater was an optional installation and is not part of the original harness and was designed to be installed post manufacture. Typical installation as done on most North America market Minors was as follows: A black wire from the green wire terminal of the fuse block and through the bulkhead fed ignition controlled power. The return also went through the bulkhead and was attached the E terminal of the control box. This wire is there and passes under one of the fuses. The wires from the heater are short so there would be a pair of single connectors. For 57 there are not courtesy light door switches but later models will have another earth wire connection under the facia, but you should have three purple wires in a dual connector for the lights. Behind your identified black wire with a connector is another black wire with a connector. They may be part of the heater wiring.

Confirm that you have the two black wires (or other colour) that go through the bulkhead as described above. Then locate the two black wires that come from the back of the heater. As an alternative to the black wires through the bulkhead, I connect the power feed at the common terminal of the fuel gauge and earth the heater at the spring connector at the steering column. The short wires from the heater will reach these points.

I'm always skeptical of any extra wires on a Minor and find returning back to the original harness is the most reliable unless you know exactly what the wires are for and where they go. Previous owner's "fixes" often cause more mysteries.

[nutmegct]

Previous owner's "fixes" often cause more mysteries.

Amen to that! You can see the two black wires from terminal E in one photo, and those same two wires are visible in the other photo.

And I always keep in the back of my mind, there was likely a reason that those wires were disconnected. I wish there were a relatively simply way for me to get to the back of the heater (Smiths) to see those wires.

To be sure I understand, are you saying there should be two black wires coming from the rear of the heater?

Thanks.
Tom M.

[les]

I thought the wires for the heater came out from the side of the unit, which should be accessible.

[nutmegct]

Update: There are two wires attached at the rear of the heater. One wire is black; the other is white. The black wire goes through the firewall. The white wire is patched to a light blue wire, also going through the firewall. That blue wire is the disconnected blue wire you see near the terminal block. I have no idea where that blue wire should run to.

[nutmegct]

Victory! (sorta ...)

The heater fan blows.

As in my photo, the heater fan white wire is connected (for some unknown reason) to the light blue wire which passes through the firewall. On the engine side of the firewall, the blue wire is simply cut and hangs near the terminal block. (other photo)

So I girded my loins, disconnected the battery, and ran a jumper from the battery positive (negative earth car) direct to the blue wire.

Reconnected the battery, and turned the heater switch.

The fan runs as I think it should - fast, then slower as I rotate the switch clockwise. No bearing noise, no sticking. Shuts off when the switch is fully rotated counter clockwise.

Of course, connected directly to the battery, the fan is always powered.

What terminal should that blue wire connect to, so that it's only powered when the ignition is on?

Thanks.
Tom M.

[ManyMinors]

As I said before, the blue cable is aftermarket. I has been added by a previous owner. Repairs should always be made using the correct wiring colours if possible.

[nutmegct]

Thanks again. I can remove the "blue patched wire" and run a continuous white wire from heater fan to power.

But as the erroneous blue wire isn't connected to any power source ... what should I connect the white wire to, so it's only powered when ignition is on?

Tom M.

[jaekl]

To get power connect to one of the two terminals on the fuse block that have green wires. An alternative is to connect to the green wire on the fuel gauge.

[nutmegct]

Just hooked up to the green wire screw on that fuse block. System works as it should now.

Can't figure out why the previous owner just clipped the wire, removing power to the fan. (Hope I don't find out the hard way!)

Thanks all!
Tom M.

[Bill_qaz]

Put an inline fuse at the connection point,just incase of fan or wiring problem!