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 MGB Technical - 1980 B Electrical Mystery

Spent Friday afternoon driving around town. While backing into the garage, I put the brakes on and slowly pulled up the parking brake. The radio suddenly went dead. I figured I would tackle the problem on Monday, before work. When Monday rolled around, I noticed that "B" had lost more than her radio. Her Back left and front right lights (except headlight), all turn signals, brake lights, tach, fuel and temp gauges were gone too. What stumps me is the signal lights are inoperable unless the hazard switch is turned on. All four fuses are good. Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
Jasson Moore

Two things you might try. There are two drum shaped switches under the glove box. I tested the fix by switching them. The hazards stopped working but the signal then worked fine. I then replaced the bad one and the problem went away.
The second thing to try is to put on the signal lights and see if the rest of your electrics work. If this is the case (and it is on my other MG) the problem is likely by the fuse box. I have not isolated the problem but by cleaning the fuses somehow have gotten the signal lights to come on when the car starts and all the electrics work. The lights shut off when the car is shut off. This "fix" has lasted two years and is free.

I hope someone gives you better advice because I'd like to find out what my original problem was.

Hope this helps.

Jim
Jim McHugh

Don't much about the later 'B, but just because your fuses are good, it doesn't mean that the connections are My wife's '72 had very simialr symptoms which were cured by cleaning the four fuse connections.

Some folks are recommending dielectric grease as a means of maintaining contacts and slowing corrosion. As you live in a salt air environment, I assume, this may be something to investigate. And as a final word, if you still have bullet connectors, the aluminum sleeves they go into have tendency to oxidize and crumble into dust. The white wire lead near the fuse box has a particular tendency to do so (it's connected to the coil and distributor). This may be a good time to audit these items (and don't get Arthur Andersen to do this audit either!)
John Z

John and Jim,
You were both right! I replaced the fuses and no change. So I cleaned the contacts and added a thin coat of dielectric grease (vasoline) to the fuses, said a little MG prayer (something I learned from working on Lockheed aircraft for 8 years) and voila! "B" is back on the road. Thanks to both of you.
Jasson Moore

This thread was discussed between 15/01/2002 and 16/01/2002

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.