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MG MGB Technical - Indicator Switch Failure (Turn Signal)

I took the B down to Mallory Park on Sunday, as the Bentley Drivers' Club were holding a sprint meeting. I was only spectating, I hasten to add.

On the return journey, I noticed that the indictors weren't cancelling after turning left.

I've just had a look to see if I could identify the problem, and it would appear that the plastic moulding has cracked. ISTR that at one point, I had difficulty operating the switch when turning right. I think what happened is that the cancelling arm was in direct alignment with the peg, which prevented it from operating and put too much stress onto the 59 year old plastic.

I suppose now could be a good time to fit the switch I have which has the optional headlamp flash function. I might also fit my VW headlamp relay which means I would be able to dip and undip the headlamps just by pulling the stalk to the flash position, rather than stamping on the footswitch.





Dave O'Neill 2

Nice closeup photos Dave--I see you've been a bit slack doing your dusting in there -- lol
Just a thought, something I did with a MGB I had with a flashy lever. Wired the lights so that when the headlights were turned on Lo beam was on all the time so when flicking to Hi beam the Lo's were on as well, nice spread of light when on high beam with Lo on as well----

willy
William Revit

LOL, Willy.

Yes, I could at least have dusted before taking the photo 😊
Dave O'Neill 2

I like that idea. With the small amount of power drawn by LED lights, I'm considering rewiring mine so that the Lo beams and tail lights are always on when the key is on and having the switch and flashy stalk work only the Hi beams. Thoughts??

Thanks.

Jud
'72 MGB
J K Chapin

I’ve unearthed my replacement switch. It would appear that I’ve had it for fifteen years, although it was manufactured in 1968.

I think I will leave the VW relay conversion for another day.

Dave O'Neill 2

Probably better than 'new'.
paulh4

I’m pretty sure I also have a ‘new’ one, in a white box, but I couldn’t find it.
Dave O'Neill 2

Dave
The vw relay has got me intrigued --on my Vw the headlight stalk is basically the same operation as a flashing to pass B stalk with high beam towards the dash ,lo beam back up to wards the wheel and then spring loaded towards the wheel to flash---I was thinking your relay was like some Japanese cars with a flip flop type relay where the driver flicks the lever the same direction each time to change beams,(might have overthought that a tiddle) but rethinking these cars,they do have lo beam on all the time and the flasher just turns hi beam on and off. I got off course there a bit.

When I did my light conversion I stuck a diode in to feed the Blue/white(Hi beam) power into the Blue/red(Lo beam) This keeps lo beam operating when Hi beam is on. Diode was easy but you could do it with a relay if you wanted-----It does give a decent spread of light on Hi beam.

willy
William Revit

Willy

Yes, the VW relay effectively uses the flash to pass as a dip switch.

As my car is a Mk1, it has the dip switch on the floor.

Here are the details from Barney’s MGAguru site.

https://mgaguru.com/mgtech/accessories/at113a.htm
Dave O'Neill 2

My Mercedes has non-latching dip/main where you push it one way and release for main beam and pull it the other way to go back ... and to flash. So by feeling the lever as on 'proper' cars you can't tell which is beam is lit in brightly lit streets and can flash when you think you are putting it on dip. Easy to get it on the wrong one as to operate the rear wash/wipe buttons you have to reach round the back of the wheel and that can move the stalk and in daylight you might not notice.

Mind you at least it doesn't have non-latching indicators! To cancel those you have to half push it the other way, and many times I have seen cars driving along flashing right left right left until they manage to cancel it.
paulh4

Thanks for the link to Barney's site Dave---fully explained--thankyou. different setup to my Golf.
Cheers
willy
William Revit

This thread was discussed between 28/04/2026 and 04/05/2026

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