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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Electrical gremlins !

Hi,
according to my other (better ?) half, I should stop messing about and go to an auto electrician. That, however, is a defeatist attitude and I'd much rather solve this one myself. (with a little help!!)

Have a late 1500 (78) midget. Readying it for MoT later this week. fixed the hazard lights which was a duff switch (in the process changed the flasher unit for a new one which works fine) but the indicators now just flash once and the dash indicator warning just stays on. This affects both sides. Have had the switch unit off and cleaned all the contacts up and all looks ok. (Even got main beam working....result!)

With the hazards working ok, does this rule out a bad earth in the system or do I need to go through the wiring again and clean it all up?

There's plenty of life in the battery and the issue does not go away when the car is running.

Any thoughts??

Cheers

Andy


Andrew Tyson

Andy,
Not sure on your car, but my 72 has two different flasher relays. One is in the console and operates the hazards. The other is under the bonnet on the right side and handles the signalling. It sounds as if you need to replace it. Or it could be that the one you installed is fine for the hazards but not for signals. There are several varieties of flasher relays out there. The old style was current-sensing and the rate varied with the number of bulbs in the circuit. Thus, when you added a trailer, the signals would flash very rapidly. There are new ones available that are voltage sensing and flash at the same rate regardless of load. Perhaps this would sort it for you?
David "not a flasher" Lieb
David Lieb

If they flash once and then stop it is one of two things. Either a bulb has gone so there's not enough current to heat the flasher bimetalic strip and make it flash, or the flasher unit itself is the wrong one or has failed. Suggestion - remove the wires from the flasher and short them together. Then use the stalk switch and whichever side you put on should light up and stay on. That will proove the bulbs and wiring. If that all works then get a new flasher unit and make sure it's for indicators (not hazards) on a 78 midget.

Ant
Ant Allen

There are two flasher units - one for the hazards and one for the indicators. The one for the indicators is clipped onto the bulkhead behind the dashboard close to the steering column.

If your hazard lights are working ok (all four lamps flashing plus dashboard indicators) then the most likely cause of your problem is a faulty indicator flasher unit. (It has two spade connections.)

If you change that and the problem is still there, then it sounds like there is a problem with either the wiring to/from the indicator stalk switch on the column or the stalk switch itself.

Also, bear in mind that the indicator function is wired through the hazard warning rocker switch itself, so if there is an internal contacts problem with that switch then the indicator function will be affected.

Hope that helps.
Andy Hock

I agree with the comments above, and it does sound like it is the second flasher unit that has failed. Should be an easy resolution but keep fingers crossed

That said Andy where abouts are you in Lincs, I am in north Lincs and would love to give you a hand with any issues.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

This thread was discussed on 14/07/2009

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