hello! it's me again!
thing number first: im having electrical difficulties lately, i reckon i've got a short somewhere. its on-and-off, but my alt lioght comes on (just a faint glow) but when i use brakes, indicators, windscreen wipers, or reverse lights (they're on a manual switch...) eall the electrics die except head and dash lights. is it a short, or is my alt not working properly?

thing number second: my interior light hasnt worked for ages no, but this morning when i got in at 6am (in the dark) i got a big shock o find it worked!!! the switch at the light also turned it on, so it's not the door switch (unless its buggerred, i know the passenger side switch was bust so i took it out ages ago (could it be shorting here??????)

so when the interior light came on, i decided to check if the horn was working again too (there isnt much on armageddon that DOES work at the moment...) and i got a very small parp out of it before it died. after that i couldnt get the interior light or the horn to work.

is it new loom time????

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

if ur horn is not connected ur interior light wont work!

as for the other stuff, sounds like ur alt is dead to me. or perhaps u have a dud batter that is just not charging anymore/.

Hi Dylan, put the headlights on and then crank the engine. Do the lights dim [i]really badly ? If yes probably a knackered battery.
Before you rush out and buy a new one find out whats causing it. Might be the alternator, might be the starter motor taking too much juice.

A short normally blows a fuse, it won't keep shorting.
Sound like a quick trip to an auto electrician is reqd

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'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

nah its not the batt, mine is 2 years old and one of those ones with an insane amount of CCA. plus, no light dimming whencranked. but i'll have a good look tonight after work.

going to atke it to a local mini guy next friday,so we'll see what he says

EDIT: so why isn't my horn working? it is busted, or is it my interior light thats busted? how can i test them?

EDIT AGAIN: but the wierdest thing is, why would it just randomly kick in? and why would my electrics be so tempermental?

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

cos its a mini?

Have you met the Prince of Darkness?

It is also possible that some of the Lucas smoke in the wires is escaping intermittantly
Some one had some geniune NOS replacement smoke for sale on ebay previously.
But yeah, as Chris said, cause it's a mini.
KB

hahahahaa yeah that's fair enough :D:D

pretty unsafe though....

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

Sometimes hard to trace the gremlins as there are only a couple of fuses in the system. Sounds like a dirty or loose connection/s. If you are prepared to put in a new harness would you look at replacing the fuse box with a 6 or 8 fuse box? This would at least isolate the circuits. If you are comfortable with vehicle electrics start at the fuse box and check wiring for loose, rusty connections, rubbed through wiring that might short out. Dont forget to check the earths as well. Horn can be checked by jumping from the main power terminal, disconnect harness wire first. Jump the earth as well if necessary. Light can be checked the same way. Light comes on when you supply an earth to the purple and white wire. This sound more like a supply problem though so jump power to it as well to check. A multimeter can also be used and is a bit easier, trace the power supply or earth towards the light/horn and you should find where you loose voltage or have a large voltage drop (below 9-10 volts), this would indicate the source of the problem. Check both sides of each connector to find a dodgy connection. Check the power supply side to the switch as well (probably first).
If you haven't found it by the time you are finished all of this it will probably be next Friday and you can handball it to someone else.

Try this link if you dont have a manual.
http://www.minimania.com/images/wiring/ ... ring12.pdf

(link added)

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Michael N

I had the same problem as your number one about two weeks ago. Chased it back to dirty fuse. So have a go at cleaning the fuses and terminals in the fuse box before you spend any money.
Cheers Pete

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A recent study found the average Aussie walks about 900 miles a year
Another study found Aussies drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year
That means, on average, Australians get about 41 miles per gallon

Kind of makes you proud to be an AUSSIE

update:

as of last night, my horn and interior light work fine. i dont do anyhting to them.

lights dim only slightly when engine is cranked.

speedo still doesnt work, nor do high beams (but i think the high beams is a result of a damaged indicator stalk, i think i did that 4 years ago...)

i've been looking at the fuses every now and then for a few weeks now, but my luck = i've lost the cover. again poo

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

Just a thought mate, what's the condition of the engine earth strap and it;s mountings.
If the circuit between battery motor body isn't good might be the cause.

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'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

i'll ahve a look but i think its one of the few things that is actually in good nick on my car...

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince