5 replies to this topic

[decampos]

Model: Mini Sprite 1275
Year: 1993

Driving today I noticed the fuel gauge and water temp gauge were not working. After about half an hour of busy traffic driving the car cut out and died bigtime right in a busy junction. Nightmare!

Managed to get the car to side of the road. As well as those two gauges not working, the alternator light and oil pressure light don't come on when the key is turned to the on position suggesting that cluster of things are all part of an incomplete circuit. Called out the RAC, he confirmed this and checked everything he could including all the fuses and even took the cowling off the steering column to have a poke about but ended up just scratching his head off.

Any ideas?????

Any help very much appreciated.

[jif2006]

If the alternator has given up then it will slowly come to a hult so by this I mean the basics will most probably function up untill the last moment e.g.g engine and then the others like lights will begine to fade until no operation. Engine would more than likely begine to become sluggish and electrics would become slow and dim is this the case with your fault?

Have your alternator checked but sounds like it could be at the heart of the fault

Pm me if you decide to reply as I wont be checking back on this thread

Brad

[Dan]

If the charge warning lamp doesn't work, the alternator cannot switch on. There may be nothing wrong with the alternator, it simply isn't turning on because it isn't getting a signal through the warning lamp. As above, if the alternator isn't working then everything else will slowly fail. Make sure the instruments are properly plugged in to start with. Check the instrument panel fuse, try unplugging the wiper motor and check everything again. The two minor gauges and the warning lamps are powered by the same track on the instrument panel so it could be an internal failure there.

[bmcecosse]

Could be ignition switch problem, or wiring to that switch - is the battery now completely flat - do the head lights come on at all ?

[decampos]

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate it. I don't think the alternator is at fault based on a new peculiar problem: Today I switched the car to the II position and the warning lights came on as they should and the fuel gauge appeared to work. Upon taking the car for a drive the alternator light would come on, then it would go out and fuel gauge would stop working, then it would come on again and the fuel gauge would be back and so on it went. I'm guessing a faulty/intermittent electrical contact?

I unplugged, cleaned re-sat the various cables and sockets under the steering column but it's made no difference. I have no clue where to look and I'm starting to picture a massive bill from my local mini specialist (again)

Any ideas??

[2lrminivan]

take the dash out and have a look and see if the blug in the back is in place and have a look at the printed circuit on the back of the dash and see if any are burnt.