5 replies to this topic

[JonnyAlpha]

There doesn't seem to be many good guides on dealing with electrical fault finding on a classic Mini? 

 

Anyway, I am trying to get ready for an MOT on my 1982 HLE 1000, which I have just finished putting in a 1310 A+ Engine from a 1989 Metro.

As part of the install I stripped the engine bay and my DIY dashboard and labelled everything. 

I stripped the loom and repaired extended the fuse box connections (moved the fuse box) and extended the front to rear loom connections.

Replaced the dizzy with a Lucas 65D electronic ignition

Viper 12v low Ohm Ignition Coil

New 45 Amp Alternator

 

It's all back together (apart from brake test connections on the MC lid, wiper motor and washer pump) but I have a couple of problems, which will result in an MOT failure.

 

What Works

Car starts and runs OK (switched to a pre engaged starter and did the solenoid mod retaining the wing mounted solenoid)

Indicators work front and rear

Headlights (new switch and loom repair), come on dim on first click, and brighter on second click

Rear lights work when headlights are switched on

Oil Pressure and Temp work

Horn works

Facet Fuel pump (new installation) 12v feed via a relay from the battery, relay switched 12v from Fuse Position I.

 

What Does Not Work

The side lights (bulb at the bottom of the headlight (Red and Black Wires) don't come on at all

The dim dip lever / switch on the steering column does not work 

The main beam flash on the steering column does not work (stopped working before the engine swap)

Don't think the instrument illumination is working?

Hazards don't work, I bought a new relay for the bulkhead in the engine bay, old one was rectangle, new one is round, all three of them work when I connect them to the indicator relay wires under the dash.  

 

Whats Wierd

When I switch on the headlights to second position, the fog light switch illuminates, I don't have a separate fog light, unless its built into the rear lights on the MK4 Mini?

 

As far as I can tell all four fuses in the four fuse box seem ok and I get power on both sides of the switched supplies when the ignition is turned onto position II.

 

I can post up some pictures / video later, but for know any help on fault finding this will be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

  

[KTS]

Tackle one problem at a time and resolve that issue before moving on to the next

For each problem; familiarise yourself with how the circuit should function, how it should be wired and the cable colours that are used. Without this knowledge you will not be able to diagnose the likely causes

Remember that earth's are just as important as power feeds

[68+86auto]

There is a good chance the steering column switch is bad but you need to test it. For all these issues you will need to follow the diagram and test at each connection point until you find what is wrong.

 

The rear fog light should be attached to the rear valance panel. 

[JonnyAlpha]

Well, after a couple of hours of methodical fault finding I have solved all my electrical issues.

I started with the Hazard Lights, I traced the wiring diagram to one of the two Inline Fuses the one with the Brown wire on one side and Purple / Orange on the other.

 

 

I opened up the fuse and hey presto blown.

 

 

Swapped out the fuse and the hazards sprang into life.

 

Next onto the Headlights, more specifically the Side Lights and Dim Dip.

This took a little longer, but I started by confirming power or not. There seemed to be power at the side light wire but they weren't coming on.

Then I checked the Headlight Dim / Dip and Flasher at the Steering Column and by fluke, I found that the contact had been bent (probably whilst the steeing wheel was off).

 

The one in the picture below, pointed out with a philips screwdriver.

 

 

This did not resolve things straight away as after fixing this the headlights were acting strangely, after double checking the wiring connections at the front grill, I found that the passenger side headlights and sidelight wires were mixed up.

After sorting these wires out, not only did I have Dim / Dip, the headlight flasher also worked, this was not working at the last MOT.

 

So HOORAH.

[KTS]

Result - you've fixed the problems and gained some knowledge that'll help the next time it breaks 

 

one piece of advice though;  in the last photo, those wires in close proximity to the cowling screw is asking for trouble.  i'd suggest you use a small tie wrap to hold them away from the end of the screw just in case...

[JonnyAlpha]

Result - you've fixed the problems and gained some knowledge that'll help the next time it breaks 

 

one piece of advice though;  in the last photo, those wires in close proximity to the cowling screw is asking for trouble.  i'd suggest you use a small tie wrap to hold them away from the end of the screw just in case...

 

Noted, i'll sort that, thanks