12 replies to this topic

[pusb]

A friend of mine has just bought herself a 1989 Mini Mayfair.

 

Seems in good original condition. However she asked me to help find a problem as she was complaining about the wipers occasionally refusing to work. Also the heater would sometimes not come on.

 

I managed to locate the problem, the fuse. It wasn't blown, but it was very loose in the holder, so moving about and losing contact. The fusebox is only about a year old according to the big pile of receipts that come with the car.

 

Is the best thing to do just use a pair of pliers to squeeze the holder clamps together?

 

[Stu1961]

Had the same with a new fuse box very recently, I just closed the contacts up a bit with a small screwdriver problem sorted. I found the problem was actually the fuse's I purchased (Minispares) the fuses in the box I replaced were 6.4mm in diameter where as the new fuses were only 6mm.    

[richmondclassicsnorthwales]

CONTACTS,

 

All ways an issue

[KernowCooper]

If the problem return after closing the contacts then its most likely due to the bad connection causing a high resistance and weakened the contacts

[jabos7]

How about fuse box location on a '73 MK3?  After a total teardown and paint I'm beginning reassembly with a new loom.  My old loom

had the fuse box mounted on the right inner fender well, above the solenoid.  -Even had a little 90 degree bent metal shelf that it sat on.

 

My new loom seems to favor spacing above the same spot, (a little less slack to work with) but a thorough picture search keeps showing

my 4-fuse box should be back on the firewall/bulkhead, just right of the speedo hole?  If I go back that far with the loom I'm concerned the solenoid

wiring will come up short, along with finishing out the end of the loom around the grille.

 

Your ideas and observations would be greatly appreciated!

[richmondclassicsnorthwales]

If your loom favours the fuse panel on the bulkhead, and not on the inner flitch, you could have the later loom

 

A 73 model had a 2 fuse block on the inner flitch, 

 

You could still fit the loom I suppose. Do a dummy run, and place the loom in situ, and have a look how it all works out.

[jabos7]

Looks like the loom wants it in the flitch.  Everything else seems to be fitting up nicely.  I do have an extra hot to the rear that appears to be

for a rear defroster or fuel pump.  -It'll be handy for whichever comes up.

Someone before me must have switched to a 4-fuse box.  I'm not sweating authenticity

so I'll duplicate the setup, but with the box up off the inner fender well.

 

I'm probably going to need some research for splitting a circuit or two,what to group together, and proper choice of fuse size.

 

Thanks for the reply!

[jabos7]

The wiring diagrams don't usually break down to fuse sizing for each circuit.  -Anyone ever see such a printout on that?

Edited by jabos7, 02 May 2017 - 03:16 AM.

[cal844]

This any use??

http://www.theminifo...s-covered-data/

[jabos7]

Fantastic!  That's just the ticket.  I can eliminate fears of overloading a fuse when I need it most ( probably flashers and wipers, my luck)

 

Many thanks on that, CAL844  -I'm off to the garage!

[tiger99]

You may want to consider fitting a new box with blade type fuses, as the contact design is much more reliable. From what we know nowadays, the old Lucas design was about as bad as it is possible to be.

 

Remember that blade fuses are rated by continuous current capacity, while Lucas fuses are rated by current to blow in about 1 second. A blade fuse wants half of the rating of the old Lucas type.

[cal844]

Fantastic!  That's just the ticket.  I can eliminate fears of overloading a fuse when I need it most ( probably flashers and wipers, my luck)
 
Many thanks on that, CAL844  -I'm off to the garage!

No worries mate, have you removed and cleaned the fusebox connections?

[jabos7]

New loom, new fuse box, everything fresh.   -Might smear a touch of No-Oxidation paste in a couple places just to be safe.

I'm going to double-check my amp choices and routing, based on the info you sent, and after the steering column goes in

I'll be able to start some testing.

-Eager to see if some of the LED replacements for the dash will be too bright or look ridiculous.  -fingers crossed