13 replies to this topic

[mayfairman]

Am having a problem with a 1986 Mini Mayfair 998 engine.While driving with the lights on after a short while, the illumination on the 3 clock dash goes out obviously am then unable to see what speed etc am doing not good at night .Then both indicator lights on the dash come on and stay on,although the on looking at the indicators outside theyare actually off.If you use the indicators the lights on the dash work fine and flash on and off.Also the blue high beam dash light comes on and stays on as well allthough the high beam lights them selves are off.If you flick the high beam on or switch them on the blue dash light goes out and the instrument illumination comes back on switch them off and instrument ilummination goes off.
Also the fuel gauge will shoot to the full mark although your tank is definatly not full and the tempreture gauge shoots in to the red "Panic" although engine is not overheating.
HELP wHAT IS HAPPENING
Confused i certainly am

[CharlieBrown]

err??? emmm????

Call the Gostbusters?

[Jordie]

Then both indicator lights on the dash come on and stay on,although the on looking at the indicators outside theyare actually off.If you use the indicators the lights on the dash work fine and flash on and off.

If you have a centre type binnicle (is that right word, speedo thing) there is only 1 indicator light. Its the top middle green light, the 2 orange ones which most people mistake for indicator lights are oil and battery if i remember correctly. The blue one is High beam light.

Ofcourse if you do not have this type, this information is irrelevant. Just 1986 is a pre 1990 car and most came with centre type binnicle.


Sounds like ur switches for the lights are backwards, ie blue light on when normal, blue off for high beam. Have you got a haynes manuel, check in there.

Mini Docs, may be able to help you later. Good luck, sure is a weird problem.

[mayfairman]

Thanks for your reply it is a 3 dial dash with the 2 indicator arrows seems weird that it only happens after a while and not when you first switch on the lights. Might take you up on the ghost buster idea but i think it is a mini thing does what it wants when it wants bless it love it really and my chick does kiss and stroke it regulary to keep it happy all for now all ideas gratefully recieved

[andyps]

I would suspect a bad earth somewhere - it they occasionally work properly the plug on the back which connects all the lights and gauges must be plugged in properly. I can't remember how it is actually earthed, but a manual may help - try pulling the front cover off, unscrew the bolts which hold the instuments in place an see what is there - main problem you will have is that without disconnecting the speedo you won't be able to move the instruments very much.

[clubman katie B.F]

having the same problem at the mo....have a look at your printed circuit on the back of the clocks....if this looks dodgy, ie loose connections etc then change it. mine at the moment is fun as if you switch the lights on then the indicator lights cfome on and the rev counter drops by 500 revs....minis eh?!?!

[cowboy]

katie did you get the curcuit board i sent you,

secondly for mayfairman it does sound like you have a dash problem i will have a look at the new 3 clock dash i have just got and see where earths are, but i think you might need to change the dash or circuit board

[thorpey]

if nthe back of the clocks is anything like mine then its an easy removal,4 screws in total 2 either side..bit of a git to get at but not to bad..then pull out electrical plug from the r/h side then go to the left to get at speedo cable which you just push the white nylon holder to one side to release it..then you can pull clocks out band inspect the back...check for any green or brown looking marks on printed circuit board and check plug connection for corrosion..good luck

[Dan]

Yup, sounds like time for a new printed circuit. Since it's an '86 though you won't get a new one and might have trouble getting a NOS or good second hand one. If you can't repair the printed circuit then you may need to change the binnacle as the post '89 cars used the Nippon Seiki binnacle instead of the Smiths one which has a different circuit layout. That's why it is hard to track down the smiths circuit, it's just old.

Centre Binnacles are a lot older than '90. I don't think thay've been in any car officially since '84 at the latest.

[clubman katie B.F]

just bought a second hand smiths circuit....cheap as chips...will try again

[mayfairman]

Many thanks for your ideas i will give them a try next week as am away at the weekend. Ithink there is a bit of confusion as to the type of dash it is a walnut dash with the three smiths dials infront of the driver not a center mounted one.The printed circuit board one sounds a bit awkward to do.Thanks to Clubman Katie for looking out for one.
Anyway you all have a good bank holiday weekend and i wil be back next week.

[tom]

It might just be damp.

[mayfairman]

Thanks Tom for that idea ref damp as there is water leaking in sometimes nothing new for a mini there mind you.Iwill whip out the dash to have a lookat the circuit and see what it looks like ,if it is knackerd i might be able to pick one up at Silverstone for Mini 45 as there should be plenty of stalls there.
We are looking forward to that weekend due to work we will be going up on the sunday.So i will let you now how i get on with the dash.Will there be a mini forum prescence at Silverstone?If so will see you there.Any way i have a mini to look at so will be back soon. :grin:

[cowboy]

hi mayfairman, look forward to meeting you at MITP, check out the meets and events section, the post is pinned, the stand is being run by, myself with sunshine, charlie brown, brawlinox, nicola and my kids( who will keep us all in line) hahahaha

see you there