6 replies to this topic

[308]

Hi, I am new to the site, having just purchased a 1993 Mini Cooper for a bit of fun. (My first car was an orange mini back in 1973). Anyway I seem to have an earth on the power supply to the rear heater, and before I start ripping off head linings etc I would be grateful on any advice as to the normal route of the cable run.

 

 Many thanks

[cal844]

I believe the cable is run under the carpet (it is on my 1993 sprite)

[stuart bowes]

on mine ('88 mayfair) there is a bundle of connectors near the wiper motor under the bonnet, thats the start of the rear loom.  goes back through the bulkhead to the right (looking from the front of the car), via the left end of the dash (looking from the inside now) up over the passenger door (behind roof lining) and down behind the C-pillar stiffening plate. 

 

The + for the heating element cable comes out at that point, and then the rest of that part of the loom carries on into the boot

 

the - for the heating element I believe is on the other side of the car, same position but obviously just connects directly to the bodywork

 

It would be good if they did start running the cables under the carpet later on because it's a real pain in the arse, in fact I might even run mine that way when I put it back together 

Edited by stuart bowes, 04 October 2022 - 07:22 PM.

[cal844]

Mine goes from the bottom dash rail, down the passenger side toe board, through the seat crossmember and underneath the passenger rear companion bin, then into the gap between the seat back and rear quarter.

[imack]

My '72 factory fitted hrw wiring runs the same as stuart bowes, except my toggle switch and warning lamp are mounted on a bracket on the lower right hand side of the lower dash rail.
Never seen factory wiring running under the carpet.

[stuart bowes]

I believe that's where my switch was as well yes to be honest though at that point I was very eager to get it stripped down most of it came out in a day so I'm only going by vague memory.. Will most likely be making a central switch panel with everything in one place

Either way testing the earth should be a simple case of doing a continuity test from the drivers side end of the heater strip to any known good earth. Actually from either end should work?

 

probably worth testing from one side of the heater strip to the other as well in case it has a break in it somewhere (possibly where it joins to the window at each end)

If that's all good then test from the pos side (or again, either side?) to the back of the heater switch, one of the pins should ding even when it's switched off. That ruled out a cable fault and you can look at the supply to the switch

Probably more likely to be loose connection, fuse, earth or dead switch than a cable issue

Edited by stuart bowes, 04 October 2022 - 09:53 PM.

[308]

Thanks very much for the info, a job for the weekend