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MG MGB Technical - Fog lamp wiring

I went to use the 80 BGT today after a 3 week bad weather break, to find 2 fuses blown. I put this down to old age as they had internal paper labels with LUCAS 35 A printed on them. Replaced with new ones & everything came back except the reversing & fog lamps . These may never have worked since I got the car as I don't use it in fog or after dark. The other things in the green fuse circuit all work, so I'm guessing the reverse problem is in gearbox switch.

After some poking around I've managed to get the fog light panel switch to light up, so there is power thus far. All the connections to the lamps are clean and bridging the earths does not light them up. None of the wiring diagrams in my manuals or on the websites I've looked at show wiring diagram for the fog lamp circuit.
Would be grateful if anyone can point me at a wiring diagram which includes the fog lamps.

Thanks in advance
Vic
V Todman

Have you checked the diagrams offered by Advance Auto Wire (http://www.advanceautowire.com/schematics.htm)? Good news: They are excellent resources for all years and they're free. Bad news: I've just looked at my copy and they don't show fog lamp wiring.

Another option is "Prospero's Garage" (http://www.slash5.com/index.html). These 11" x 17" laminated sheets cost about $20.00 but show optional fog and driving lamp wiring. Good luck.

Rick
Rick Stevens

The reverse problem is actually more likely to be connections rather than the switch, they are very robust. Before you go grovelling for the switch check that 12v exists on the green wire going to the switch in the gearbox harness with the ignition on and is coming back up on the green/brown where it conencts to the rear harness. These connectors are in the mass by the fusebox. Check the actual bullets both sides. If on the green but not the green/brown then you will have to grovel, lowering the rear crossmember on a jack and removing the tunnel carpet and little plate under it will help. If on the green/brown there then check the 4-way bullet connector in the boot by the right-hand lamp.

Fog lights are similar, check the connector coming out of the main harness going into the rear harness, and again in the boot. Looking in the boot will tell you what colour it should be. It is not the two reds (running and number plate lights), green/brown (reversing lights), green/purple (brake lights), or green/white and green/red (indicators). On a 1980 I rewired it was red/blue. I'd be grateful if you would post under what conditions the repeater on the dash lights - could be with parking lights, or only when the headlights are switched on, or something else. Thanks.
Paul Hunt 2

Suggest you start the reverse light battle at the rear. I've never seen '80, but if it's the same lights as the rest, the trouble is usually in the lamp(s) or the connections in the boot. US cars didn't have fog lights as factory, are the UK cars different? Are they front or rear foglamps?
FRM
FR Millmore

This thread was discussed between 04/09/2006 and 06/09/2006

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