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MG MGB Technical - Headlight switch

Greetings
I went out to my 79B last night and tried to flip the headlights on and the switch fell apart like a cheap toy. Is this a common problem? I can buy a new one but will I go through this again? Has any one fixed this with another, better make of switch? I want something that still looks good but works good as well. Thanks very much for your time. Mark
MLS Somers

I won't try to answer your question but I caution you to be very careful until you fix/get a new switch. If a hot wire touches ground, you may burn the much more expensive stalk switch that dims the lights, etc..
Dan

Hi,

If your after a cheap headlamp switch see http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27380&item=2430441715

Frank
Frank Amey

Mark: it's a common problem on late model B's but not a chronic one. Get a new stock type switch and it will last many years. I got 16 years out of my last one with a dailey driver.
Terry

Frank
I think that switch is for an early B I have a later steering column mounted toggle type. I did see a NOS listed.
Dan
I'll go out and disconect the battery.
Terry
I was thinking outloud again! I don't like seeing cheap plastic parts made to last just a few years. Good quality toggle switches can't be that much more to install on a new car. To me a ten year old car is too new. With all of the plastic body panels on vehicles today can you imagine what a collision with an old plastic paneled car will be like? Please excuse my Ranting.
Thanks to all for your input. Mark
MLS Somers

It fell apart like a cheap toy,hmm
I'll think you'll find it fell apart like an extreamly expensive toy. In OZ we pay $60.00 for the flimsy things. They've got you cause there's nothing around that will fit into the hole in your dash.I ended up repairing mine (good old supa glue)
Peter

Was the switch recently replaced? If so send it back.
If it was original, heck it was 24 years old, time for a new one, ya know?
TDHoward

MLS:

I was just at the All British Field Meet in Portland, OR this last weekend and apparently Lucas has reissued their range of MGB headlight switches, as opposed to using a cheap aftermarket substitutes. Try contacting http://www.bpnorthwest.com/ or http://www.lbcarco.com/ for the genuine Lucas replacement. FYI
Bob Muenchausen

Lucas? There is no Lucas. They were split up and taken over by TRW some years ago, themselves subsequently taken over by someone else. Whoever owns the rights to the Lucas name now is just as likely to produce dodgy repros as anyone else. I doubt if the original specs survived all that management turmoil ... or am I being cynical? Or maybe they are better than original. Joe Lucas will be turning in his grave if someone has destroyed his 'dim, flicker and off' switch.
Paul Hunt

Paul,
that may be true in England, but after seeing the packaging and the products inside (on display), they do look to be the "real" thing, even to the moulded in part numbers. And the overall quality looks to be the same as OEM vs. the lower and sometimes shoddier offshore repros from asia we here in the US are often used to. You may be right about the demise of "Lucas", but this does seem a bit much work by someone for a lousy product knock off.
Bob Muenchausen

This thread was discussed between 01/09/2003 and 08/09/2003

MG MGB Technical index

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