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Electrical Problem

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Y

young MG enthusiast

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Hey Everybody,

I have a quick, but probably very common, question. I was driving my 76 mgb yesterday and someone yelled at me that my tailights and turn signals weren't working. The fuel gauge also had gone out, and the windshield wiper motor wouldn't run. Upon further investigation, the hazard lights work, headlights work, and the car drives like a champ. I checked all the four fuses at the box and they seemed to be just fine. If anyone has any ideas on what to check, I would certainly appreciate it. Thanks!

-Matt
 
I am not sure of any wireing differences between yours and my '72 but my tailights were out on mine Saturday night and I drove home 10 miles without realizing this. It turned out to be the second fuse from the top in the fuse box not making good contact. The fuse was good but the holder wasn't making good contact. Cleaning up the contacts and the fuse then applying a little silicon grease fixed it.

My headlights had also been intermittant so I replaced the light switch today after that incident.
Bob
 
One of first things that I did when I got my 69 was to replace the fuse box with a new one. Its cheap and easy. Just disconnect the battery and do one wire at a time. The old connections can be cleaned well enough, but the holders seem to lose spring tension over time, and that contributes to the problem.
 
I checked the second fuse from the top, and when I took it out again, it fell apart in my hand. Hmm... could be part of the problem.

Andy, I'm going to take your advice and order a new fuse box and set of fuses (of course with a couple extra). I looked at it today, and the fuse box isn't holding the fuses all that well. Plus, as you said, it's not that expensive.

I'll let you all know how it turns out once the parts come in the mail.

[ 04-06-2004: Message edited by: young MG enthusiast ]</p>
 
when my stuff stops working(always in the worst posible place) i just pull over pop the hod and jiggle the fuse box and the wires and im good to go for aobut 3 or 4 months
 
Adam - while you're sorting out your current problme, buy some electrical contact cleaner & clean every connection you can see....also, retighten all your grounding points-to the extent of removing the screw from the body to break the rust free from it!
 
Not sure if Tony would agree, but after cleaning the contacts I also put a thin layer of dialectric grease on the contacts to keep them from oxidizing.
 
Right on, aerog! Keeps you from having to go back to that circuit for some time!
 
Thanks again to everyone who helped me out on this problem. I received and installed the new fuse box and fuses yesterday, cleaned the 28 years of dust and oil off the connections (apparently, they had never been cleaned), put a little dielectric grease on the terminals, crossed my fingers and turned the key to the accessories position. The fuel gauge jumped up right away, my windshield wipers worked again, and best of all, I now have all my lights again. Let's hope they'll stay burning bright for a while now.

So I had the chance to feel the elation of finally getting my MG to work again, as many of you have experienced in your many years of motoring. It's was great feeling to get back on the road with the top down (even if it was only 40 degrees out). Thanks again for everyone's help.

-Matt
 
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