MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Headlamps!

MOT due in the morning so the obligatory lights check.
Everything ok except headlamps on main beam. When the indicator stalk is pushed forward, the headlights go out.
No such problem when pulling the indicator stalk backwards i.e. to flash main beam, they work fine. R
Any suggestions for a quick solution in view of the impending MOT?
Thanks.
J Tickle

Sounds like a duff contact in the stalk.

Pull of the shroud and have a rummage? Try cleaning up the contacts?

Malc.
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Cheers Malc,
rummage complete. Turns out it was a lack of use as some serious wriggling did the trick - seems it's a case of use it or lose it and can't remember the last time I used the main beam in the dark!
This may win the shortest thread competition.
J Tickle

No worries.

Allow me to sort the shortest thread problem too.

WHEEL BEARINGS, EU REFERENDUM, TAXES.

That should see it good to 300 posts now! :-)

Cheers,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

I've found that spraying the switches with electrical contact cleaner every spring keeps them in good operating condition.
Trevor Jessie

LOL Malcolm :)
Cheers Trevor, will get some and spray liberally.
J Tickle

I had to strip the main switch on the dash to clean the contact for MOT as the lights worked when the wanted usually after flicking switch several times.Very rarely use it at night so lights not used only for MOT.
mark 1500 on the road Preston Lancs

If it's an early 70s column switch, keep an eye on it. Heat from contact resistance causes everything to go soggy and eventually faily completely. Quite common. Have a good look at the switch around the headlamp contacts for any evidence of overheating (off-colour copper, deformed plastic.
Paul Walbran

adding relays to the circuits is pretty easy, only costs about a tenner and takes the load off the fragile switches if you fancy a wee project.

Malc.
Malcolm Le Chevalier

What Malcolm said. Relays. Easy. Cheap. Brilliant lights. Recommended.
Greybeard

I’d stand by the Relay recommendations too... It makes a hell of a difference to the brightness of your lights, takes the high current draw away from the main switch and just makes perfect sense..

Mount them (one for Dip, one for Main) as close to the headlights as you can and take you live feed from the alternator if you can.

Mark... (full of bright ideas).. lol
Mark T Boldry

Thanks for the relay suggestions.
Something like this? (Thanks to 58custom)




J Tickle

Perfect...

You’ll certainly see the difference..

Mark.
Mark T Boldry

The only problem with that is if something fails and takes out the breaker, you've lost all of your lights.

I favour a relay for each filament, individually fused.

Yes, it's a bit more wire, but well worth it IMHO


Dave O'Neill 2

Mine are (kind of temporarily) mounted to the passenger inner wing. A couple of fused relays, some wire and some connectors and you are set. You don't even need to modify the loom.

+12v came from the solenoid post, earth can go anywhere, blue wires just connect into the loom at the front.

Cheers,
Malc.




Malcolm Le Chevalier

Thanks Dave and Malc,

Like the fused relays Malc :) ebay have them, may invest in a couple!
J Tickle

This thread was discussed between 21/07/2016 and 24/07/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.