Help- loss of ignition side elements

[Bawdy2]

I hope for help with this I’m not good on electrics. The problem is whilst driving the car I lost ignition fed elements. Indicators, wipers, brake lights, fuel gauge etc. However I can start and run the car and the ignition light goes out so assuming Dynamo is charging. The lights are all ok as fed from non ignition. I know the hazards work and thus all the indicators are fine. These are fed from the electronics item I purchased from ESM.
So far I’ve checked the fuse which was ok but changed it anyway and checked there was voltage across those terminals. I thought maybe an earth issue but why does everything fail?
I’m wondering if the electronic hazard lights are interfacing in some way although all has been fine for the last few weeks since I installed it.
Any ideas please?

[simmitc]

You say "changed the fuse", but which one? Depending on the year of your car. there may be three. Please confirm the year so that we know which wiring diagram applies. That said, they are all very similar. I think that you need to look at the fuse box that has two fuses in it. One of them will have lots of green wires connected. Check that fuse and also the condition of the contacts - is there a broken clip? Perhaps there is a loose wire?

[oliver90owner]

Please understand the while voltage checks are an important diagnosis tool, voltage alone is not necessarily all of the story. One can measure voltage in a circuit which has no current - simply across the battery terminals is one example. One requires current with voltage to do work. Circuit resistance regulates current and voltage measured depends on the resistance within that circuit, dependent on where the measurements are taken.

An example would be a blown bulb. Voltage tests on the wiring may well indicate voltage, but the resistance is so high (open circuit) that no current can pass. Checking the supply from live to an earth point on the vehicle may give exactly the same reading as measuring across the bulb (as one side should be connected to earth.

Ohm’s Law provides the connection between voltage, current and resistance.

I suspect you have an unacceptably high resistance somewhere in your circuit and just needs finding and reducing to virtually zero. A high resistance connection or a broken connection/wire. The Ohm setting, if you have that on your meter, is useful for finding the resistance across parts of a circuit while no voltage is connected.

Hope this helps.

[geoberni]

So far I’ve checked the fuse which was ok but changed it anyway and checked there was voltage across those terminals.

Changing the fuse in a dirty fuse holder does no good at all. Seen people do that just soooo many times.
Clean the contacts of the fuse holder and if it's at all loose, bend the contacts in a little.

[Bawdy2]

Thanks for replies guys all were useful but explaining about resistance I think has identified what may well be the problem. I’ve got it back having disconnected all the feeds and checking voltage and changing fuses in and out, which I think may have cleaned the contacts in the fuse holder a little. I will now do a thorough clean of contacts and hope for no repeat. Thanks again for you help

[ManyMinors]

You still haven't told us what year/model your car is. Many parts changed on Morris Minors over the years which is why that question was asked. The later cars had "Lucar" push-on wiring connections so changing the fusebox is cheap and simple. If you have this type, my advice would be to purchase a new fusebox as cleaning might only give a short-term cure.

[Bawdy2]

Thanks for advice re changing the fuse board. My Traveller is 1968 so has the three fuses. Two 35amp in fuse board and one inline.

[geoberni]

Thanks for advice re changing the fuse board. My Traveller is 1968 so has the three fuses. Two 35amp in fuse board and one inline.

Yes, but the In-Line one is in a nice holder and all it covers is the Side lights, Number Plates lights and speedo Panel lights...
Which was nothing to do with your described problems.
If you'd said those lights were the only ones affected, we'd have asked 'have you got an in-line fuse?'
That fuse is fed, via the Lights sw, from the input side of the fuse with the purple cable from it.

[Bawdy2]

Thanks for the info and following advice from this forum, I have just ordered a new fuse board because on Sunday coming back from the Morris Registers doo at Thornley Park it stopped three times. However it was nothing to do with the electrics it was the fuel pump and a loose connection which was quickly sorted and we were back on our way. However, as we were back on the move the fuel gauge stopped working plus wipers etc. They then came back on on their own until we got home.That persuaded me that it was an issue with the fuse on the ignition side hence the order to ESM for a new board. Thanks for all your advice, no doubt I’ll be back on soon on some other issue!