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MG MGF Technical - High Level Brake Light Fitting

Hi all,

I'm thinking about braving the cold weather and fitting my HL brake light today. I've read through Rob Bell's instructions but does anyone have any useful tips? Mine's a 1998 1.8i with no ABS hence no wiring loom. I have bought some 5 Amp cable and have the Hella connector for the HL brake light however I've been to various DIY stores plus Halfrauds and cannot find and splice connectors.

Cheers,

Emma Jackman (& Green with Envy ~ S369 FAR)
Emma Jackman

Hi Emma,

http://www.mgfcar.de/banxx/hlbl.html
is the othe reference.
No splice connectors sounds bad news and increased efforts to split the break light signal from the connector.
Could you solder it and isolate with isolation tape ?

Another option only for the ground cable is the ground joint/screw on the left behind the carpet.
That joint is hidden here by the carpet.
http://www.mgfcar.de/banxx/3hlbkab2.jpg

Dieter

Thanks Dieter, that's just what I was after. I have run it through a translator (which was useless - and my German is sketchy at the best of times) but really I just need some more photo's of where to thread the wiring through the boot lid - they say a picture speaks a thousand words. I will continue my search for splice connectors.

Emma Jackman (& Green with Envy ~ S369 FAR)
Emma Jackman

... and while you are on running the wiring matters, check the Y-split of the main harness near the bootlid hinge for smooth curve of the loom running up to the lid.
You remember, it's prone to brak there.

I'd like to seeing an brief Emma-HLBL site later ;)
You could use images from above site if you find some useful. *permission given*
Dieter

OK thanks. You may as well be speaking to me in another language when talking electrical, not one of my strong points. I really should have paid more attention in Physics class at school :-) I'm going to tackle it tomorrow providing I can track down some splice connectors.

I'll try to get something on the site about it if and when I complete the job.

Emma Jackman (& Green with Envy ~ S369 FAR)
Emma Jackman

OT: While you're here, did I send you my VIN details for my F? I can't remember whether I did or not.

Emma
Emma Jackman

Just a thought, but mine had no HLBL when i got the mgf , mines a 1997 without Abs and it had the connector already there when i fitted mine.
Have a read somewhere that this is sometimes the case or is my f a four thirty friday pm throw whats about car.
To state the obvious it might be worth a look first.
Hope it has gone well
..Mel..
m e johnson

> OT: nope, missing. Ends with something like 0281, though. ;-)
http://www.mgfcar.de/vin

Joke: And don't worry, the only difference between knitting and electrical works is: Always run two wires :) isolated, of course. ;-)

Anyway, these Y-crimp joints are most useful.
Dieter

LOL Dieter, where did you get that idea? Knitting's not a strong point either! ;-) I'll send you my F's details when I get time to type them up.

Thanks Mel, I'll have a look, where was the connector located? It's got to be worth a look.

Emma Jackman (& Green with Envy ~ S369 FAR)
Emma Jackman

The presence/ absence of the connector is almost as confusing as the "is the headlamp bulb H1 or H7" debackle... ROFL

How did you get on Emma?
Rob Bell

Err haven't started yet :-/ Now please bear in mind that I have very limited electrical knowledge so I'm going to try to explain the situation. I've got the length of wiring (5 amp) but when I look at the Hella connector for the lamp the wiring coming from that has a set of 2 wires (red and grey) coming from it. The wiring I have is blue but only has a single wire in the loom. Now do I double it up? I have read you instructions repeatedly Rob but I stil can't work it out.

Sorry, I'm not usually this stupid (well I hope not).

Emma
Emma Jackman

Yes, you'll need to double it up Emma.

What I did was to take about 2-3 metres of wire, and fold it in half. I didn't cut it then, but rather used the folded end of the wire to hook onto with the 'wire feed tool' conveniently made from a straightened coat hanger.

Once you've threaded the wire through the boot lid, you can then cut the wire so now you have two lengths: one to splice into the brake lamp feed, the other to a handy earth (I used a bolt in the boot compartment, behind the carpet - as illustrated).

Hope this helps?
Rob Bell

You're a star Rob, thanks for that it makes sense now. Dieter also mentions crimp connectors rather than splice connectors, I assume they are the same thing? It will just help when I come to look for some.

Emma Jackman (& Green with Envy ~ S369 FAR)
Emma Jackman

In terms of tapping into the brake light wiring, you can do it any way you fancy - including stripping a section of insulation, and soldering the wire in and then covering in shrink wrap or similar... what ever way works for you :o)
Rob Bell

>Err haven't started yet :-/

*g* this is the claim to fame of mens works !! :)
Taking about, but doing nothing ;))))


Emma, I admid, I do not know the correct name of this parts :)
http://www.mgfcar.de/power_delay_by_carl/carlsdelay_parts1.jpg
The blue coloured on the left.
Y-bypass, or Y-joint or whatever. No need to cutr the wure were you need to split off another.

Me's sure it is NOT a barrel clamp, though.

Cheers
Dieter
Dieter

Emma,

When I fitted mine, the car also had no wiring, I used these connectors from Maplins.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspxTabID=1&criteria=crimp%20connectors&ModuleNo=1073&doy=27m2

It really is an easy job, sure you'll have no problems!
Graham Martin

ok so link doesn't work, but go to www.maplin.co.uk and search for "Snap-Lock Automotive Cable Connector"
Graham Martin

Hi Emma
It was just tucked up inside the box section on the left hand side of the boot from what i remember, i,ll keep my fingers crossed for you !!
Mel..
m e johnson

Just a quick update since this thread is still active. The wiring loom is now in place, it was much easier than I thought. I kinda invisaged myself not being able to get the cable through the two panels very easily but it was surprisingly simple thanks to the wire hook. Fortunately it's all in now so I just have to wire it in which I will do Thursday. Got driven indoors by the freezing temperatures otherwise I would have finished it today. I couldn't resist putting the lamp in the plastic casing and refitting it just to see what it was like. It looks so much better, even though it doesn't work yet.

Another question, when attaching the new wiring loom to the Hella connector (which has a grey / red wire) does the grey wire attach to earth and the red attach to the brake light wire, the is it the other way around or does it not matter at all?

Emma Jackman (& Green with Envy ~ S369 FAR)
Emma Jackman

Forgot to say thanks Mel, I had a look but mine didn't have one. Is has now though, see above :-)

Graham, I'll look into that again on Thursday, thanks for the link.

Emma
Emma Jackman

Emma,

<<...when attaching the new wiring loom to the Hella connector (which has a grey / red wire) does the grey wire attach to earth and the red attach to the brake light wire, the is it the other way around or does it not matter at all?>>

It doesn't matter at all.

Graham
Graham Martin

Cheers Graham - nice easy answer.

Emma
Emma Jackman

Beat me to it! LOL

BTW if you were to fit the LED version of the HLBL, then polarity would matter - but the lamp on the MGF uses bulbs, so no worries :o)
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 26/02/2006 and 01/03/2006

MG MGF Technical index

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