Hi guys,

My mini has lost lights all over the place and its not bulbs. Ive got indicators, headlights, interior light front parkers and nothing else! No rear tail, brake, number plate light or binnacle lights.

Ive attempted to check the wiring points but i cant seem to find the issue. I tested for power but i got nothing. I slacked off and re-tightened what i think is the rear earth (looks after market [behind l/h tank]) but no solution.

Anyone have any ideas?

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'63 850/1100 + more cooper goodies

Let us know what model mini you have, it may make a difference.

On the Clubbies, there is a connector between the front and rear harness. It is a 9 pin Molex Connector behind the passengers side parcel tray (the trim) on the later ones or just above the wiper motor on eariler ones. Sometimes the plastic in these turns to dust and they fall apart.

On the earlier cars, these are more robust bullet style connectors and rarely give trouble. These are above the wiper motor from memory.

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yes 63 850. Theres a few bodgy patch ins so it could be anywhere.

With the time i had i could only trace power to the front but no where else, like above the wiper motor. Theres no splits at the switch so i dont know how to trace the lines without opening the coverings.

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'63 850/1100 + more cooper goodies

Your post is a little bit unclear, but I think your rear indicators are working ok?

If so, then the problem for your rear park lights is found in front of the speedo binnacle in the engine bay (up near the window wiper actuators).
There's a 4 way bullet connector up there which has three wires going into it. One is from the light switch, the next is goes to the front park lights, and the last goes to the rear park lights and number plate illumination via the plug GT speaks of. One of your wires is loose up there. Its the only source for the rear parks and number plate. If the front is working then the light switch is fine.

I'm unsure of the brake light problem, but check the brake light switch to be sure of the connection there. It might have been like that for a little while and unnoticed.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

Check too that the harness is not crimped under the fuel tank.

SNAP - What have you got rattling around loose in the boot?

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ok so further investigation tonight,

Yes i do have working indecator front and rear.

I DO have brake lights, but i need alot of pressure on the pedal.

I tried checking all the bullet poinst and coulndt find a loose one, but poking around with the test light i couldnt find power there at all.

Again i will double check it once more tomoro.



BUT i have a real wiring mess further forward. One of the p/o s have bundled a group of about 5 original wires [beige colour] all soldered together. They just come to a point and it was covered and strpped below the harness. It runs into the harness where the brake switch line does. its also constant live.

Ther is another similar pairing there aswell, a orig wire to a yellow, then back into the harness. But i didnt spend much time there to figure out what circuit it was.


What on earth are these meant to be? For such a simple harness someone has sure made there mark. There is patch ins everywhere.


I also found a switched light in the boot powered off the parkers, good but very poorly executed idea

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'63 850/1100 + more cooper goodies

Try and equip yourself with a decent test lamp and try and narrow where the power to the lights stops. Just follow ot from the switch. Always start where the supply originates from (fuse, switch, connector.....) and work your way through checking all connectors etc. It should not be difficult.

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DID I MENTION THAT I AM THE BEST SUPPLIER FOR MINI ELECTRICAL PARTS AND REPAIRS?
"Let us remove your "SHORTS"

if u have to press really hard on the brake pedal to get the brake lights on it could be ya brake sender is on the way out i replaced mine a few weeks back because of the same issue

Yep. They all do that when they get old.
Buy a good one, don't get a cheap one.

Or you can fit one to the brake pedal like the late cars had.

ok well i got it all figured out today.

I couldnt trce it for the life of me so i tried something a little different. I unhooked the battery and hooked it up at a rear connection so power was running the opposite way. It turned out pretty easy to trace it behind the switches.

I dont know if its standard but my mini has 2 feeds coming from the switch, [front and back] but the back was connected to a point on the ign switch! Put it back on the light switch and where all good

hopefully ill get someone to look at the front harness crap this wknd or Hay to tell me where everything should be.

I think i will buy a new pressure switch for the brakes, does anyone recomend a particular item?

Thanks everyone for your input

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'63 850/1100 + more cooper goodies