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MG MGB Technical - IGNITION SWITCH

The fun never ends. Took the 79 B to work today. Absolute gorgeous day. After a 10-1/2 hour day it's time to cruise home and chill out. Get in the car put the key in the ignition, dash lights up and no start. The headlights are bright - battery good. Turn the key again, no lights. Turn the key to off and the starter engages momentarily. My boss comes out, the 2 of us are jiggling wires, making faces to each other. The whole back of the ignition switch broke off from the cylinder. Tiny ball bearings fell out. One of our techs removed the column cover and jumped the wires for me so I could get home. Weird stuff.

Cheers,

Gary
gary n. hasnen

It sounds like you may have to replace the ignition switch;)
R Donovan

Gary. This is a fairly easy job with the only problem being getting the snap off bolts out of the switch holder (the one that goes around the column). Use a cut-off wheel in a Dremel tool (the heavy duty wheels work the best because they are thicker and stronger) to cut a cross slot, then take a screwdriver and carefully grind the blade to fit the slot. Three of the ones I have removed used a standard UN thread, the other was metric. In either case, standard machine bolts, socket head cap screws and button headed cap screws will all work as replacements and make the job easier for the next guy. Les
Les Bengtson

The ignition switch is now totally dismantled and the wiring was cut to facilitate a "hot wire". Will order a new complete assembly tomorrow. Got it home safely in spite of the switch failure and a tailgating gardener truck.

cheers

gary
gary n.hansen

UPS delivered my igition switch asy yesterday. It came with complete with two BL keys. The former unit had a Volvo key blank and would upon occasion, "bind" when turning from the OFF position. That too is now in place and the car is back on the road - again

cheers

Gary
gary n.hansen

This thread was discussed between 25/08/2004 and 29/08/2004

MG MGB Technical index

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