I dunno whats up with my little car, but for some reason i need to turn the lights switch on and off twenty odd times before the lights actually turn on.

Original 75 wiring loom, no mods.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

Most likely your switch, wiring faults don't usually repair themselves by flicking the lights on and off.

You should probably be happy that they do eventually come on...everything else seems to leave you by the roadside....

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

definately not the switch, tried the demister toggle switch, tried a standard toggle switch just as a test and same thing.

I might be by the roadside, but im not lost, i do manage to get everything back on track without to much hassle.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

Bad contact somewhere - I vote switch - dip switch, then connectors somewhere - better hope you don't let the smoke out - that is more expensive to get back into the wires. - reread you reply - check earth contacts ( one up near the fuse box for start)

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

That's good. That you can keep going.

Look for a relay that might have been fitted (Just in case)), a relay's contacts can carry on just as you have described. Have a look at the fuse box, a fuse not making contact might give you a dirty connection. If you find one give the copper contacts a wipe with sandpaper to make them shiny again and squeeze them closed a little with the fuse out to ensure a tight connection. If it is both lights playing up, then check the hi-low beam contacts in the dip switch, and common connection points for the low and high beam (like in the center of the bonnet catch panel) including the black ground wires.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

No relays, which i am looking at putting in at some stage.

Ive checked all the wires, and the dip switch on the steering wheel is new.

The strange thing is once they are on, everything works fine, high/low.

When they dont work, indicators still work, brakes work etc. Just the headlights that go funny.

Have to retrace all the wires down to the front again, and put some relays in i suppose.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

If the high and low beam both function well once they are working , this excludes any wire which is blue/red or blue/white...that is from the cabin to the back of the headlights...
This makes your job easier as it is then only the black ground wires and the blue wire going back to the switch from the dipping mechanism, and the wire from the light switch to the supply (brown/blue or brown yellow).

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

it's like using an arc welder.... sometimes it takes a bit to get the arc started, but once you've got it going it'll keep going till the stick runs out

so you're probably welding the switch closed by flicking the switch, eventually it welds and presto the lights stay on

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

It's a Clubman... so being a Clubman, it means it's the switch.

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check the headlight fluid it might be getting low

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Mate your not have much luck at all

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

have you paid your power bill lately.........

my$20 is on a faulty earth.

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

Check the contacts to the fuses in the fuse box but more than likely it is the headlight switch......what are the contacts like on the indicator stalk switch? burnt?

Check for broken wires (blue with white trace and blue with red trace on the stalk switch assembly for broken wire or contact.

Check the plug under the dash (i think yours will be a rectangular plug) for crap/dust built up in the plug (poor contact) or if its overheated in there and melted the plastic, etc

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

probably best to drain and refil with the more expensive halogen fluid.

Good point Grasshopper

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