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 MGB Technical - Dipped headlamps electrical problem

Dipped headlamps only work if indicators (flashers) are on. Hi beam is fine when indicator-horn-beam stalk is forward, or pulled back to flash (this is a 75 BGT, by the way), but lo beam only functions when stalk is up or down.

Stalk switch is obvious candidate, but since HLs were last used (months ago) the electrics have been thoroughly gone over to fix another problem, which was solved by changing fuse box. Could a wrong reconnection of wires cause the symptoms I've got, and if so which ones?
andy cross

Andy: Sounds to me like the copper contacts inside the switch are either dirty or weak. Usually the problem is that the switch wont stay in the high (main) beam position because the contacts wont hold. Possibly the wires were mixed. Blue and red is low beam (dipped) and blue and white is high beam (main).
Andrew Blackley

Does sound like contacts, since they do light in some positions. None of the connections at the fusebox are anything to do with the headlights - sidelights, yes.
Paul Hunt

I have exactly the same problem. Its caused by the wire breaking off the colom switch. I solder it back on ,but it breaks off every couple of months
Paul Hollingworth

This thread was discussed between 06/09/2002 and 12/09/2002

MG MGB Technical index

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