Something in my water told me it wasn't dirty contacts - and it
wasn't. Everything went swimmingly for about a week and then on Friday
night it was back again to left hand flasher winking at all engine
speeds, and right hand staying on only at idle and three blown
headlamps - bang bang bang, just like that!. Something amiss? You bet
it was!
Out with the digimeter first thing yesterday morning and check the
feeds. 13.7 volts at the alternator, 13.7 volts at the main lighting
and indicator switches. All is well with earths doing what they
should
Rip out radiator grille, remove all lenses, blubs and check contacts.
9 volts on the headlamps, 8 volts on the RH indicator 11 volts on LH
indicator and 12 volts on sidelights. Hmmmmmmmmm
Loom?
Yes.
Have we got a spare? Yes - fortunately. Test. OK at all opposing ends
In a word - the original was knackered. Lots of dirty grey brown crud
had got into the cables and insidiously crept along their lengths over
the last 30 years. So no option but to rip it all out.
Front parcel shelves our, instrument panel out and all profanities
acquired over last 50 years comprehensively rehearsed. But I also
encountered the hazards of what can best be described as 'tidy
engineering. Who had forgotten the front loom goes down the RH inner
wing assembly which in itself denies all access from the wheelhouse or
from the engine bay? Situations like this give you plenty of time to
truly appreciate the term 'sealed for life.'
Before finally closing down for the night and with everything back in
place, and all contacts blasted with some brilliant anti-damp fluif
that was comprehensively and impressively demo-ed to me a week back.
Thoroughly spray a household mains powered lamp holder with fluif, fit
sprayed bulb, immerse in a bucket of water and turn on power.
IMPRESSIVE! A check was done on the rear looms as well, no voltage
drops there at all and happy earths. Big sigh of relief. Only
outstanding work tomorrow (I'm on a week's leave) is a gurt big heavy
duty rocker switch alongside gear lever to kill the fuel pump supply
should the need arise.
Must say the sight of two fire extinguishers now nestling at the base
of each 'A' post gives a comfortable, re-assuring feeling. Something
also tells me I got perilously close to losing the car in an
impressive roadside conflagration and if I hadn't used the digimeter
when I did, one or both extinguishers would have been needed on the
Queen's Highway - which wouldn't have been much use, as they woould
have been in storage boxes at home!
Suppose the moral here is that even if you aren't petrol injected and
your wiring hasn't been fully replaced in recent years, one
extinguisher is a wise investment - and put it where you can get at it
QUICKLY.
Jonmac
MG 4305 DLO 1970 2.5PI
"Fools rush in - and grab all the best seats"
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