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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - replace ignition/charge light bulb

79 midget ignition lamp out, the shop manuals want the dashboard removed for this, which seems rather extreme. Can one just reach up behind and make the change?
Thanks
Bob
Bob Ketcham

Depends on how much of a flexable contortionist you are

Just reaching up under the dash from the drivers seat is no small feat, even for a 13 year old

Sometimes its easier to pull the seat in order to bend in the shape of a preztel

So....no, you dont have to pull the dash... but remember... its a bloody job... no seriously its very bloody, I dont mean english slang, there are lots of razor sharp edges to catch your fingers on

Good luck

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

I dont recall exactly where the ignition light is for the 1500....

But I doubt its to hard to reach...you may have to remove some of the metal.straps on the bottom of the dash to reach inside

Worst case... id remove a close by gauge and gain access that way...it is a tight fit

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Okay so are there any clips or release catches I should be feeling for?
Bob Ketcham

I was trying to think if there were... I want to say its just the bulb and holder just pressed in... but I cant remember
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Bob,
before you break your back or neck trying to see up behind the dash, shine a flashlight up behind the dash and use a mirror held below the dash to study the mass of wires in comfort. You should be able to spot which single wire feeds to the ignition warning light.

Once that is established you can then reach up behind the dash and get the right one by feel. The lamp holder should just pull out of its fitting in the back of the speedometer, and bring the bulb with it. Swap in the new bulb and plug it back into its housing.

Guy W

Just back in from the garage and it looks like the radio console will have to come out to have any chance of reaching it. Anyone have LED part #'s (USA) for this thing, the oil warning lamp and high beams? I only want to do this once .
Thanks for the input
Bob
Bob Ketcham

Does your warning lamp have one or two wires going into it? Cars with Lucas ACR alternators have two-wire lamp holders, because the lamp forms part of the control circuit.

ACR alternators rely on current from the warning lamp to excite the coils when you first start the engine. If your bulb burns out*, or is replaced with a bulb of the wrong rating, the alternator won't start. An LED definitely falls under the "bulb of the wrong rating" category.

If you're fitting an LED you'll need to also put a resistor across it to simulate the resistance of an incandescent bulb. In the Mini (16ACR alternator) I'm using a 68 ohm 5 watt resistor wired in parallel with a warning LED (screw in base, code E10 if you're looking on Ebay for them. About $10 for a pack of 10 from China.) The resistor needs to be able to sink at least 3 watts of current, which is why I've gone with a 5 watt one.

Hope that helps.

Growler

Thanks for that, the alt needed a rebuild out of storage and is charging fine with the dash light never coming on, so having yet to pull the console for the job I expect to find 1 wire when I get to it
Bob
Bob Ketcham

This thread was discussed between 01/09/2013 and 04/09/2013

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