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MG MGB Technical - Running Lights... not running

I'm in the final stages of the rehab of a 1977 MGB. I'm having a problem with the reliability of the running lights. This is the situation:

- all running lights work on first position on the lighting switch
- second position headlights are on, running lights off... most of the time
-just got the driver side headlight working, was a poor ground
- using halogen headlamps
- light switch heats up when headlamps are on
- just replaced directional switch, but this problem is the same with the old or new directional

I suspect the light switch because of the heat and when the running lights do work, I seem to be poking around the cowl replacing the directional switch.

Please offer any other ideas, thanks for your help.
Brian Denis

Just to be clear, by running lights I mean the side markers.
Brian Denis

The main light switch is toast - literally. I have started putting relays near the front of the car for the headlights. The relays relieve the main switch (and dipswitch) of the majority of the load, and they are cheaper than one switch. Also, they eliminate about 20 feet of wire and 10 (bad) connections from the power side = much better lights! Email me if you need instructions.
FRM
http://www.usachoice.net/gofanu
FR Millmore

The side-markers on a 77 should be connected to the same circuits and the front and rear parking lights, so if the side-markers are going out with the headlights on these others should also. You may not immediately notice the fronts being in the headlights. I'm with FRM, knackered main lighting switch. Replacing the switch will probably fix it, but may well fail again soon. Fitting relays (and fuses) for the headlights will probably allow you to use the existing switch.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed on 11/07/2004

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