Hey guys,

Having a problem with the mini at the moment!

Much to my despair the other night when i was comming home, tapped my highbeam switch with my foot, as i do every night, and all my lights just cut out! so i crapped myself, hit it again and they came back on! Previous to this they were cutting out very briefly when i was driving around, like it seemed id go over a bump, they'd cut out then come back on but only when highbeams were on!

Now the HBs wont work at all! If i have the lights on, hit HBs, the lights cut out. The parkers stay on, but there is no blue light on the dash as normal when the HBs are on. Have checked the fuses thinking that could be a problem, wiring seems fine, cause the LBs work fine so do parkers. Only thing i could think of is that maybe the globes blew? But both going at the same time? I havnt actually pulled it apart and had a look at the globe yet but it seems like an electrical problem to me...

Any ideas?

Probably burnt contacts in the switch - they are not really designed to carry the full current to the headlights so you are best installing relays to operate the lights and the switch just supply the small current to the relay coil. Do a search on here for lights and relays.

Is it a column switch or floor mounted dip switch?

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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!

Its a floor mounted dip switch

i had a similar issue to this once, actually the same issue. take wombats advice and act asap.
i left mine and eventually the wires started melting etc nuff said

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real men race downhill - keiichi tsuchiya

Not easy to overhaul - I have one I have done - it was the "practice" one I did before I did the one from my car. It works and is quite OK just cracked some of the plastic (bakerlite) posts in the back that you won't see when mounted. You can have it as an exchange for yours plus postage, but I advise that you still use relays as well - i posted a diagram of how I think they should be done - I can send you a copy with the switch if you like - send me a PM

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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!

Trust me it is the connections on the floor dipper..I have the same.
Yep get a some relays for both your head lights and fix the connection to the dipper as they with be up crap (melted I'd Guess ((like Mine))

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

Yep, take a close look at it, there's a very thin gap between the dipper and the bare metal beneath it, the dip switch may have carked it, but it may be that the spade connections are loose as well..

Two screws to take it out.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

but arn't those two screws impossible to get back in again I just have mine wire tied up now Don;t use the high beams in the city anyway

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

Inside these switches is a rotating copper wave plate and brass contacts. Over time these become oxidised and along with some of the grease used to lubricate the plunger and spring mixed with eons of dirt the crud gets built up and they cease to conduct as efficiently. A good clean out restores them good as new - the trick is in replaceing the hollow rivets used to hold it all together and provided mounting holes for the screws - I have the gear to do that bit now.

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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!

Sounds like im going to spend my saturday pulling my car to bits... my door just stopped working and so did my window for my drivers side, plus the dipswitch... the joys of old cars....

Only problem this far is im no auto elec so i dont know EXACTLY what im doing so ill have a play around and see what i can do.. hoping it will be as easy as cleaning it out and presto! But will see how i go..

Bummer, same thing just happened to me... Hadn't even tried the high beams in the months since I bought the car until tonight. No, I don't drive it that much! Especially not at night. I hit the high beam switch (69ish Deluxe, floor dipswitch), and the headlights went out. Don't know about tail lights, dashlights were still good. Didn't try Parkers - didn't want to completely fry the switch, if it's salvageable. I know I need to install a relay - I have Halogens to install, too, so it'll be two relays. Never done it before, so I'll get a mate to check what I'm doing. But the switch doesn't sound like fun... Maybe I should get a Clubby column instead!
How did you go with it, Draff?

ive had that problem since day one that i bought tiny, its definately a switch problem but for some reason the auto elec told me it also could be a earthing problem. i dont like touching electricals since they can burn a mini quite easily so im more then happy to pay the dollars to have an expert look at it

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oil leak?..what oil leak..that puddle under the car is just sweat from all that horsepower

Behind the switch is a rubber 'washer' to isolate any wiring from the floor - mine had perished and had a hole in it and the whole thing was brittle. I cut another one out of a old inner tube

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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!

Ta for the help guys, ill pull it apart and see what i can do with it, wombat ill shoot you a PM later for that stuff if i come up short and cant get it all workin!

Cheers

If you don't feel like trying to rebuild the switch or it is just too far gone, supercheap or autobarn or any generic auto place have cheap universal dipper switches almost identical to the original unit. This might be a better alternative.
I would also strongly recommend relaying the headlights as well. You'd be amazed at how much resistance there is in any non relayed headlight system.

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Mister White Keys
"He who has the most toys, Wins"

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