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MG MGB Technical - Intermittant Electrical Problem

Hi,

Hopefully someone can help me, I have a 1980 MGB which is running quite nicely (it has stood for 10 years). I have an intermittant problem whereas it looks as if when I accelerate hard(ish) to over 3000 rpm the red light comes on and both my fuel and temp guages die, if I keep my foot down (ie accelerating) the car will eventually die (maybe this is affecting the fuel pump as well) but if I keep my foot gently on the pedal it will carry on a while. I then stop turn off the ignition leave it for about a minute start it up again and it will br fine. This has happened about 5 times in a week now. All other guages and indicators work fine while this is happening i.e. I can indicate and slowly coast to a halt!!
I have been told that this may be the alternator beginning to 'go' - any clues?

thanks

Andrew
Andrew

the red light is your alternator lamp, perhaps the voltage regulator in the alternator is going. But why your guages would die is beyond me. If you take the car to Advance Auto Parts they should check your alt. for free(they did for me). You will have to tell them where to find the battery because they will to get to it but won't have a clue where it is.
Robert

Loose connection. You are losing the 12v feed from the ignition relay to the fusebox. This also feeds the warning light, pump and other ignition powered circuits but not the engine, which is why the engine doesn't cut immediately. It could be the brown feed to the relay, a bad relay, or the white/brown from the relay to the fusebox.
Paul Hunt

Andy,

you might want to replace your fuses. I had an odd electrical problem that turned out to be a problem with one of the fuses. It's quick and cheap to eliminate them.


Garreth
Garreth

There are no fuses for the warning light or fuel pump.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 09/05/2003 and 13/05/2003

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