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 MGA - Circuit Diagram - Physical Location of Connectors

Started home Thursday night after a dinner meeting and realized I had no tail lights. headlights, brake lights, turn signals and front "parking" lights all functional. A quick check of the circuit diagram shows two connectors that are suspect. The first is where the front and rear sections of the circuit split. The second is the connector where the right and left tail light wires split. The other possibility woud be the ground connection, but since the brake and turn signals work correctly I put this as a less likely condition. Where PHYSICALLY are these connectors located. A quick check this afternoon after returning from a weekend out of town was not productive.

Thanks

Larry
58A
Larry Hallanger

The connector where the left and rear tail lights split is at the back of the car, near the right rear spring hanger. You'll see a big bundle of connectors. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the front and rear parking lamp circuits (red wires) are separate and are fed separately from the switch in the dash.

Mark
Mark

Had a related problem this weekend on my 1500. The left rear turn signal would not work if the running lights were on. Similarly, the left hand brake light did the same. If the running lights were off ,then the turn signal worked. Everything else worked fine. I got out the wiring diagram and determined that the only way this could be was to have the ground circuit disconnected. So I went to the bundle Mark mentioned looking for a loose ground. No avail.

So back the the tail light. I found that the soldered connection on the bulb (not the socket) was defective. Replaced the bulb..... everything was fine. Resoldered the small wire on the bulb base and it checked out fine. Without the ground, when the parking lights were off, then the 4 running lights provided the return path for the turn signal. With power applied to the running lights, they would not allow current to pass thru the turn signal bulb.


I think Mark is correct in the wiring. Each of the wires in the harness has two ends. There are no internal connections within the harness itself. I don't have the wiring diagram at hand. The 1500 wiring diagram clearly shows each of the bullet splices. Don't remember if the 1600 diagram is similar. If I remember correctly, there are 3 wires connected to the parking light termination on the light switch. The two parking light circuit wires and the gauge lights.(1500) They are difficult to get all to fit. You may find that one has pulled loose.

Chuck

Chuck Schaefer

As a general rule check the integrity of the solder between the bullet connector and the wire. The wire can look firmly connected inside the bullet and does not slip out, but still have a bad connection (wire will turn or move slightly inside the bullet .) This has had me fooled more than once. -M.S.
Martin Straka

Problem solved. After much searching and checking under the dash, which included correcting a bad connection left over from when the car was restored as a High School auto shop project, I finally found the front-rear split connector in the engine compartment, right side, below the brake line union and brake light switch mounting. Pulled it apart and the lower connection (to the rear) was corroded. Cleaned the bullet and replaced the female connector. Voila, taillights again.

Mark, Chuck. There are 3 wires coming off my switch on the "parking light" position. Two feed dash lights and only one that feeds tail and front marker lights (confirmed by testing). I assume that this is "correct" as the loom in the engine compartment looks "original" and has the dividing connector. The under-dash wiring has definitely been "worked over" as part of the restoration process and appears to have a number of deviations from original.

Thanks for the help

Larry
58 A
Larry Hallanger

This thread was discussed between 04/04/2005 and 11/04/2005

MG MGA index

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