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MG MGB Technical - Side marker lights

i have a 74 chrome bumper b.The headlights and tail lights work fine, however the right front and left rear side marker lights do not work. The left front and right rear marker lights do work.

Does anyone have any ideas why the right front and left rear side marker lights do not work? Is there a ground wire that could be loose?
Has the Prince of Darkness only partially struck?
rick baranyi

Rick; I assume you have checked the bulbs. Sometimes the bulb sockets will corrode and prevent the lights from working. Another possibility is the ground bullet connectors. Each light goes to a different connector. The front connectors are behind the grill and the rears are inside the rear of the boot. Good luck, Clifton
Clifton Gordon

Rick,

Check your fuses. If they're all okay, try removing them and cleaning the contacts. I had the same problem on my '74 (coincidence?....I think not!) a while back and this cured the problem.

I found out the the side lights are wired opposite to each other (LF-RR & RF-LR, like you described). Go figure... If I remember correctly, all the other lights were still operating so I stood there looking at the car somewhat confused.....or maybe I'd been drinking.

Hope this helps.
Simon



Simon Austin

I checked the fuses,all are ok, but I found 4 black wires in the trunk that were not connected to anything.
The wires are crimped together with the type of connector the goes over a screw/bolt. I tried to put it on the bolt that holds on the licenese plate bracket but nothing changed. I suspect this has something to do with my problem. What should these wires be attached to?
rick baranyi

I had a similar problem to yours, I still have not cured it but only one back light was working and it was because the fuse was loose, I thought it was because of the earth wires but it was not. I would really like to know how you cure your front light problem, I have tried everything too.
Stephen Lewis

Rick; The ground wires in my cars are attached to the license plate bolts. All of the side marker lights have the ground lead and the power lead connected to double bullet connectors. In the rear the bullets for 12 volt power are shared by the tail lights, the fact your tail lights work indicates tha power is passing through one side of the connectors. Sometimes the double bullet connector sleeves will get brittle and break. If broken they will not pass enough current for the lights. The ground bullet connectors in the rear are shared by the back up lights, do your back up lights work? When I have a problem like yours I remove the bullets from the connectors and connect a battery charger accross the terminals, if the light works you know you need to look for a missing ground or 12 volts supply. You can use a multimeter to check the 12 volt supply and use the ohm scale on the multimeter to check the ground circuit. If you haven't replaced the double bullets in the front and rear wiring it may be a good idea to replace them. I replaced them on my 74 a few years ago, several of them collapsed with finger pressure. No light problems since. Good luck, Clifton
Clifton Gordon

This thread was discussed between 21/09/2003 and 22/09/2003

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