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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Electrical Issues

Can anyone help with a couple of electrcal conundrums? First the panel lights do not flash with the indictors, I have 21w bulbs in the indicators and 3w panel bulbs, the flasher says 2 x 21w plus 5w. I had the issue with the original flasher unit and have subsequently tried a new unit giving same problem. I have connected the panel wire and indicator wire direct to battery wires and everything then works through the indicator switch. Any ideas?
Second issue is the horn, this gives a barely audiable growl, think it is the connection on the slip ring to the switch as if I bypass the switch the horn works fine, is there anything peculiar in the steering column to look for, also it seems to sound when I release the push! I'll stop now before this turns into War and Peace! Thanks Andy.
A Potter

It would be useful to know what year car you have, as the indicator switches and wiring to the indicator tell-tale lamps are different.

If you have the collapsible steering column, it could possibly be poor connections between the different sections of column. My brother had that problem on his MGB - there was no continuity between the middle and lower sections. I had to add a bit of solder to the joint before it would work.
Dave O'Neill2

which model and year of Spridget for flasher and have you got the horn pencil right way round with short petrution to horn ring

I think the panel bulbs are 2.2w on mine

ETA; Dave posted whilst I was typing

why not put your car profile up then you don't have to remember putting details in each post (well for some anyway)
Nigel Atkins

The car is a 1966, 1098cc model. Non collapsable steering column. Is the bulb size that critical? I think I'll update my profile now :)
A Potter

I don't know about crtical but they are 2.2w not three

if your indicators work brigthly on the car but not on the warning bulbs and all other electrics are working fine then that suggests to me (a non-electrician) that it could be the wire to the warning bulbs, the bulb holders or the bulbs

just a thought, have you got the round three pin flasher unit ?
Nigel Atkins

Horns like a lot of power so start at the beginning – obviously you need your battery and connecting leads all in good condition and wires and connections all clean secure and protected

check fuse, fuse holder springs and fuse box spades are all very clean no fur or green, and that they are secure and protected

check spade connectors are clean, secure (tight to connector and wire) and protected fully

check bullet connectors are clean, not furred up, particularly if behind rad grill and that they are secure and fully protected

wires and connectors to horns are all clean, secure and protected

spades actually on horns are all clean, secure and protected

connections to horn push and horn push, pencil and slip ring
Nigel Atkins

Yes Nigel 3 pin flasher unit. I think the wiring and switch are ok as when I connect the two green wires (paired together) from battery to green/purple (panel) and green/brown (indicators) everything lights correctly when I operate the switch, therefore bypassing the flasher unit. The mystery is that I have the same fault with old and new units. The bulb sizes are the only slight anomaly.
A Potter

well I do know 4-6 years ago the modern made flasher units were rubbish I swapped back to s/h units on two different cars, I thought they were better made now but don't know for sure

I've changed to a electronic relay type unit and that doesn't run slow when at idle or engine off so I prefer that, you just have to add an earth wire but I don't know if you can get them for +earth
Nigel Atkins

I have converted to negative earth so may try a solidstate unit. The new flasher unit only cost £1.50!
A Potter

A '66 with 3-terminal flasher unit has the early indicator switch. This switch has two sets of contacts - one set to operate the indicators and one set to operate the tell-tale lamps on the dash.

The third terminal on the flasher unit supplies 12v to both tell-tale lamps. The lamps are earthed through the second set of contacts on the column switch, so you need to check that the black wire to the column switch has a good connection.
Dave O'Neill2

I thought the third flasher terminal might be for dash bulbs but didn’t know/realise they earthed thorough the switch

you certainly want to check all wires and connections but if now or later you want to swap to the electronic unit, I’m pretty sure you’ll find a lower price or different unit make or style but here’s an example - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400274719195?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

just noticed it says this on the link so I probably picked up the info when I was looking for my 2 pin electronic unit - 'in fact all applications where the warning lamp is fed directly from the flasher unit'

Nigel Atkins

Yes this is not a bulb size issue it is the way they are wired up that is the problem.

Obviously the tell tale lamp in the dashboard is not in the circuit that is flashing (after the flasher) but is connected into the circuit somewhere before the flasher unit. Thus it is powered continually.

The question has to be who has modified the wiring and where and why?
IMO
Bob Turbo Midget England

This thread was discussed between 01/06/2012 and 02/06/2012

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