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MG TD TF 1500 - Short somewhere?

In an earlier post, I reported my flashers weren't working well. I've been chasing bad grounds etc ever since.
Right now they look good. However, I had to charge the battery, because at about half battery power the flashers were slowing down and wouldn't work at all when running lights were on. After half an hour's battery charge they work fine again.
Now maybe the battery was pretty weak (I haven't been running the engine for a week and the battery has been in use a lot) but here's the other thing...
When I turn the key the ammeter immediately deflects to about 5 amps usage, even when NOTHING is on. The only lights are the gas tank low indicator lamp and the ignition lamp, everything else is off (including the fuel pump, which I have disconnected).
Seems like power is being drained somewhere... or is this just normal behavior for the ammeter?
Suggestions?
Geoffrey M Baker

Did you fix that wiper problem? Are you sure you fixed that wiper problem?
Lew Palmer

Lew, yes I'm sure I fixed it... AND the wiper motor is not on the car right now anyway :)
Geoffrey M Baker

Ignition points closed will cause draw
George Butz

The ignition is on, so the coil is drawing 3 to 4 amps. Disconnect the coil and see how much you are drawing. IF none then your ammeter is off, not surprising (+/- 20 % )

The coil should be about 3.5 Ohms, so at 12 V should draw 3.43 Amps

V= IR

Don Harmer

Thanks Don; I disconnected the coil and it was drawing about nothing. With the coil on, just under 5 amps, so this is standard behavior and I don't need to worry about it.

Well, I'll let the battery charge and maybe - just maybe - I've fixed the flasher problem (bad grounds on both front indicators). If not, I'll keep looking for ground problems.
Geoffrey M Baker

I had the same thing when fitting my rear turn signals. Went bonkers trying to figure out why they wouldn't work.
Turned out that all that was needed was to re-charge the battery.

Start the car and they should start to flash nicely...


Dave
D Moore

We forget these are 21w bulbs and have a significant draw :)
Geoffrey M Baker

This thread was discussed between 13/05/2014 and 14/05/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.