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drmini in aust
PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:28 pm 
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Minis have a history of burning out parking lamp wiring... it is all unfused.... because the headlamps usually are too.

Driving home yesterday I put the parkers on, then shortly afterwards I noticed a bit of Lucas fog in the car, then a slight smell of barbequed PVC..... :shock:
Turned them OFF again, quick smart. :lol: The fog etc dissipated. <phew>

Today, after a bit of electrical investigation I found that the problem was the number plate lamp.
The red wire had shorted to the metal flap, where the 2 wires do a tight turn behind the lamp base.
I've since tested the red wire from switch to Molex plug, and the rear loom, it is all still OK.

It will be an easy 10 min fix by shortening the wires- I'm sharing it here because this is probably a disaster in waiting for many old Minis out there, with original 40 year old wiring still.
So please go have a look at yours...

As I already have a New Era fused headlamp relay in the car (fed direct from the battery cable), I will now move the lighting switch feed cable to the fused side of the fusebox, or put a line fuse in it. So this can't happen again..

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Wombat
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:39 pm 
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I am told some of the red liquid I sent you is very good a neutralising any after effects of inhaling Lucas smoke. It replaces the Lucas fog with a more pleasant fog.

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Austin850
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:46 pm 
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I bought a MkII Cooper 'S' harness for my car. It includes the inline fuse in the red wire from the lighting switch. Mind you, it's 35 Amp fuse. Probably too high to be really useful.
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drmini in aust
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:47 pm 
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Wombat wrote:
I am told some of the red liquid I sent you is very good a neutralising any after effects of inhaling Lucas smoke. It replaces the Lucas fog with a more pleasant fog.

Thank you for shipping the 2 tall vials of imbibing liquid, as it is my birthday I may well go test your theory.... :D

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Austin850
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:48 pm 
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Happy Birthday!!
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Wombat
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:49 pm 
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drmini in aust wrote:
Thank you for shipping the 2 tall vials of embalming liquid, as it is my birthday I may well go test your theory.... :D


HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOC

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Austin850
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:50 pm 
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I think that the good Doctor just hijacked his own thread! :)
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drmini in aust
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:55 pm 
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Austin850 wrote:
I think that the good Doctor just hijacked his own thread! :)


Haha...

Wombat, I have had some health problems lately, I do hope this isn't embalming fluid.... :lol:

Back on topic- I reckon a 10A line fuse would work just fine for the parkers & dash lights... but a 35A would probably still blow without burning the wires up.

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Austin850
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:01 pm 
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drmini in aust wrote:
Austin850 wrote:
I think that the good Doctor just hijacked his own thread! :)


Haha...

Wombat, I have had some health problems lately, I do hope this isn't embalming fluid.... :lol:

Back on topic- I reckon a 10A line fuse would work just fine for the parkers & dash lights... but a 35A would probably still blow without burning the wires up.


Unfortunately, it wasn't on mine the other day. I think because the number plate flap was so badly earthed that it didn't draw quite enough current to blow the fuse. :(

Luckily the fuse holder melted and the fuse eventually blew. The wire between the switch and the fuse needed to be replaced and there is a little bit of melting at the connection where the number plate sub-loom connects to the rear harness.
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Blunder
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:42 pm 
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ok, now my clubman has the 'P' switch on the lower dash rail, but as daft as this sounds i have no idea which lights it is supposed to light up!?!? So a little info would be great!

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Mini Mad
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:24 pm 
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It's just a dimmer switch for the dash lights ;)

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Bubbacluby
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 10:01 pm 
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never understood the reason for the dimmer switch.

Why would you want to dim them in the first place?

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drmini in aust
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 10:11 pm 
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So that when you park in a spot without street lights with your parkers on (as was/is the law) you could turn the dash lights off. It saves the battery, don't you know...:mrgreen:

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Morris 1100
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 10:20 pm 
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Bubbacluby wrote:
never understood the reason for the dimmer switch.

Why would you want to dim them in the first place?

When you drive on country roads in the middle of the night it can be very dark outside (city people are not used to this as they have streetlights and city glare) :wink:
When it is really dark outside the dash lights can be very bright by comparison, so it can be very usefull to be able to dim the lights a little to reduce the strain on your eyes.
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drmini in aust
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PostPosted: Fri May 01, 2009 10:33 pm 
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Morris 1100 wrote:
Bubbacluby wrote:
never understood the reason for the dimmer switch.

Why would you want to dim them in the first place?

When you drive on country roads in the middle of the night it can be very dark outside (city people are not used to this as they have streetlights and city glare) :wink:
When it is really dark outside the dash lights can be very bright by comparison, so it can be very usefull to be able to dim the lights a little to reduce the strain on your eyes.

No need for dash light dimmers in middle of China, they drive about at night with the headlights (and parkers) off. Just turn on now and then to see. True story, I worked in Chengdu back in 1994.
Pushbike technology, it saves the battery they say.. :lol:

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R. :mrgreen:


Last edited by drmini in aust on Fri May 01, 2009 10:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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