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1994 Mini Mayfair - Back Drivers Sidelight Not Working


Best Answer davidbond007 , 29 November 2019 - 01:32 PM

Cheers - sorted and all is working now.

 

The short on the boot must have fused two fuses -the 4th on the main fuse block plus the back lights red / white in line fuse behind the carb.

 

I replaced both fuses, adapted the 2 x number plate light bulb holders by putting soundproof felt inside the housing plus on the metal bulb strips, I cut the copper strips down and re drilled the holes futher up so that there is no chance of catching. Also soldered the bulbs in so they cant come loose.

 

All lights sorted now !!!! Result !

 

I still intend to swap out the main fuse block and clean the contacts next.

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#1 davidbond007

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Posted 20 November 2019 - 04:16 PM

Hi - apologies if I am being a bit thick but I'm a recent classic mini owner with limited car knowledge (learning a lot tho!)

 

My 1994 Mayfair drivers rear sidelight is not working;

The brakelight works on both sides, number plate light is fine, passenger sidelight is ok. Just the drivers side sidelight not working.

 

i tried replacing the bulb and taking the connector off and cleaning the contacts. The earth is connected as the brake light works.

 

What are my next steps please ?! Replace the light unit / bulb holder?


Edited by davidbond007, 20 November 2019 - 04:17 PM.


#2 unburntfuelinthemorning

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Posted 20 November 2019 - 04:35 PM

Next step:  take the offending bulb out and test the contacts to see if they are live.  As the brake light works, that contact will be live when the brake pedal is pressed, the other should be live when the sidelights are switched on.  You'll need a simple test light; either buy one or make one from a working bulb and a length of wire.



#3 davidbond007

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Posted 20 November 2019 - 05:14 PM

thanks - if they are not live then I should test the contacts on the plug ?  If they aren't live it must be the light bulb holder?



#4 KTS

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Posted 20 November 2019 - 06:06 PM

to test if it's the bulb, just swap it with the other side and see if it works...

 

fyi - sidelight circuit uses red/green wire.  take a close look at the connector between the loom and the lamp to see if there's anything obvious going on - loose wire etc



#5 davidbond007

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Posted 22 November 2019 - 01:38 PM

Tested bulb - not that.

 

Can't see any breaks in wires. Fuses look ok. Earth is fine.

 

I put a voltage tester on the feed (4 wire connector) from the wiring loom and the red/ green wire has no power.

 

I'm thinking a quick fix would be to run a feed from the number plate lights to the drivers side sidelight wire (using a spade piggy back connector on the number plate light)? 

 

View please ? Any other ideas?



#6 KTS

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Posted 22 November 2019 - 06:32 PM

the wire comes from the connector to the passenger side lamp (..assuming a RHD car O_O ).  you've got power on that side so the break is somewhere in between; check the loom between the two lamp clusters for damage and the passenger side connectors for a loose wire



#7 cal844

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Posted 22 November 2019 - 09:56 PM

I had this with my 1993 Sprite.

When you check glass fuses, remove them and twist the ends, if they twist with gentle force replace the fuse.

Iirc (maybe incorrectly, I'm willing to be corrected) there is 4 inline fuses behind the speedo binnacle, check these too using the check I listed above. Also check for melted plastic on the inline fuses.


I ended up remaking the number plate light bullet connection with spades and a piggyback spade, well wrapped with insulating tape, tucked under the reinforcement structure of the boot.

The third connection went to the other side, spliced Into the loom so the factory connections were saved. (I hope you can do the same)

Hope this helps
Keep us posted

Cal

Edited by cal844, 22 November 2019 - 09:57 PM.


#8 davidbond007

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Posted 26 November 2019 - 01:07 PM

so the plot thickens.

 

I started to wire a connection from the number plate light to the drivers sidelight that was not working. Passengers side light was on as were number plate lights.

 

Now the drivers side light has come on and i don't have the passengers side light or number plate lights !???

 

Thinking that I need to take the strap off the fuel tank and see what is behind it - connections from wiring l loom to passenger side lights and number plate light?


Edited by davidbond007, 26 November 2019 - 01:16 PM.


#9 davidbond007

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Posted 26 November 2019 - 01:33 PM

Weird - changed the bottom glass fuse on the fuse box and all working now !!!!!! Still not sure how I fixed it but pleased its all sorted !!!! Yeeeeeees !



#10 cal844

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Posted 26 November 2019 - 01:45 PM

At least it was a cheap and easy fix, grab the fuse you replaced and twist the metal ends, if they twist theres the issue

#11 davidbond007

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Posted 28 November 2019 - 05:55 PM

so now i went to swap the number plate / boot handle for a chrome one and found the number plate lights were earthing out. It was blowing the 4th fuse which I have replaced twice .

 

Now I have a passenger side lamp working but no drivers side light or number plate light ?

 

Thinking I should make sure the number plate light is ok and fit a new fuse box?



#12 cal844

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Posted 28 November 2019 - 08:36 PM

No, you still have a short somewhere, look at the wiring, check in the rear bins too as the wiring goes through them. If that doesn't highlight an issue

I'd now lift the fuse box off the car check the terminals and connections on the back for corrosion then go from there.


You want an NOS fusebox as the new items are very poor quality imo.

For the record I usually remove and clean my fuse boxes (3 minis) then refit, I even have a small book with hand drawn diagrams just to get everything right

Edited by cal844, 28 November 2019 - 08:38 PM.


#13 davidbond007

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Posted 29 November 2019 - 01:32 PM   Best Answer

Cheers - sorted and all is working now.

 

The short on the boot must have fused two fuses -the 4th on the main fuse block plus the back lights red / white in line fuse behind the carb.

 

I replaced both fuses, adapted the 2 x number plate light bulb holders by putting soundproof felt inside the housing plus on the metal bulb strips, I cut the copper strips down and re drilled the holes futher up so that there is no chance of catching. Also soldered the bulbs in so they cant come loose.

 

All lights sorted now !!!! Result !

 

I still intend to swap out the main fuse block and clean the contacts next.






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