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LED light bulbs : One thing leads to another

vivienz

Freshman Member
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I have a 1960 Austin Healey Sprite with the orginal 948cc engine. Amongst the modifications it has had an electric fuel pump, electronic ignition and an alternator. It is also negative earth. The car had been running reasonably well when I decided to fit LED bulbs with an electronic relay.

Although I had surppressed leads for the electronic ignition the LED bulbs were not functioning properly and I was advised to fit a fully suppressed set and this led to an unforeseen problem. The electronic distributor was based on the 25D model, or at least I assume the internals were but the main body was the 45D model with a 'modified' 25D cap fitted. I decided to fit the correct 45D distributor cap with the new leads but it made no difference. I then called in an auto electrician to see whether he could solve the problem but if anything he made matters worse as the car now won't start.

The symptoms are as follows;

When the ignition is switched on the fuel gauge needle shoots up to beyond maximum. The side and dash lights work including the indicator warning light but the indicators do not. I have so far tried 2 sets of fully suppressed HT leads and a new rotor arm with the new distributor cap. All the spark plugs have been cleaned and checked to no avail. I am wondering whether the electronic relay might have been fried with all the changes and ditto the electronic distributor which is accounting for lights not working and engine not starting but I am flailing around in the dark as I really don't know where to go with this.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated.
 
Although it's quite possible that someone here can advise you about this - a general auto electrics issue - note that there is also a "Spridgets" Forum in the British Car Forum and you might want to post the same message there as well. Good luck.
 
I believe that fitting LED indicators typically requires a change to the flasher relay, that might explain why your tell tale light works but the indicators don't.

Ian
 
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