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MG MGA - Lights and UK MOT Test

Hi

My 59 1600 has just failed it's MOT due to the side lights not operating when the ignition is switched off.

Is this the normal mode of operation? The car has been rewired many years ago but I have not changed the lighting circuit.

The annoying thing is that the car has been MOTd by the same garage for years and this is the first time this has been an issue.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks

Gordon
G Derham

There appears to be a problem with your sidelights.Yes they should work even with the ignition off. Perhaps they have been wired into the ignition on fuse by the previous owner.
From the MOT point of view how would you put side/parking lights on when you leave the car at the side of the road at night?

I can probably understand why the previous owner did this mod as normnally MGA lights are not fused and so will set fire to the whole car if faulty. However he could have fused them with an on all the time fuse.

Equally I think originally the lighting circuit was connected to the terminal on the live side of the ignition switch. Perhaps someone has changed the ignition switch and accidentally wired it to the switched side of the switch. You need to check all that.
Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

Thanks for that Bob.
G Derham

Presumably the headlights also do not work with the ignition off. When I've observed an MoT, all the tests are done with the engine running. It may be a new test requirement.

Generally lights work as their own fuse i.e. if there is a problem, then the light itself burns out. This is likely to be the time when there is extra current in the circuit and you probably don't want to lose all the lights when one blows.
Dan Smithers

Hi this might be of interest if you have to rewire anything


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2f3zkMzuUY



gordon
g c pugh

The concern about non fused circuits can be addressed by doing what modern cars have. A main fusible link. I have added a circuit breaker in between the battery cable connection at the start switch and the, I believe, brown wire. I used a 30 amp self resetting circuit breaker. They are available at any parts store. If a direct short occurs it does turn off Everything and the car quits working. But at least it wont let all the smoke out of the wires.
R J Brown

This thread was discussed between 12/06/2008 and 14/06/2008

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