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 - Turn-signal switch takes a dive!

Yes, literally took a dive , right out of the back of my dashboard, as the threaded plastic nose broke away from the body of the switch....(leaving the loose knob, knurled ring, washer and nose, in the dash).
I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but this is the second , apparently, new switch that came apart in the car....The first was the headlight switch, (that I also rebuilt, which I mentioned in my thread "Yet another crappy part")....
Anyway, not wanting to spend $130 or so , for a replacement, (that might also take a dive), I did come up with what I think is a permanent "fix", and the switch is back in the car , and working fine.
So, before you toss this expensive piece of you-know-what, send me an email, and I'll tell you how I fixed it.
I just cannot understand how such a heavy switch is expected to hold together, with a plastic (or bakelite), threaded nose, being the only support...I'm thinking there should be a bracket on the rear, attached to the dash support, and I may do that too.

Edward
Edward Wesson 52TD

My original switch has been repaired there too, so it is not an issue with the new ones. I picked one up for 10 usd but the thread is stripped on the nose.
dominic clancy

My original switch (with 400,000 miles) is still doing well, never broken. That's why they have a knurled finger nut for panel mounting, no wrench allowed.
Barney Gaylord

Barney
I think there was more going on here than overtightening of the nut...Personally, I think it might have been too loose, and hit one-too many bumps and it snapped off....
I will never know, but I do know that it never really worked right, so it might have been a combination of problems....
Anyway, it is back and working.
These cars are always "giving" us something...Kind of like a stray cat that keeps bringing you surprises in the form of dead critters! That's why we love 'em.
Edward
Edward Wesson 52TD

This thread was discussed on 19/06/2013

MG MGA index

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