Electrical Failure or My adventure in the electrical wasteland.

Hi All

I don’t post very often, I mainly just read, enjoy and learn. But I would like to share my adventure of the last few days in the hope that what I found my help someone else.

I have been unable to drive for the last 2 weeks due to surgery (Gall Bladder removal), so I’ve just been starting up the MG every other day, all of a sudden – NOTHING! All electrics gone.

Hmmmmmm I thought flat battery so I put the battery on charge for a day – next day still nothing, but the MG does have an Auto Watch immobiliser (http://www.autowatch.com.au/), and this was flashing away happily until I turned the key to the 1st position which it stopped flashing until the key was returned to the off position, so there was power there somewhere.

So off to research – using the search function I found similar but not the same issues being discussed, most were power to instruments, but no start, or no power at all. Checked Rick Astley’s MGB Electrical Systems, good stuff but nothing the same as I had.

I had metered the battery and found it ok, checked the path from the battery to starter and relay to fuse box and to ignition switch – all good with no voltage drop. Must be the ignition switch I thought, pulled the switch out, stripped and cleaned it - looked good, put it back – nothing.

Ok must the earth(s) – removed and cleaned back to bare metal both the point of contact on the chassis and the cable lug – nothing. Pulled the fuse box and voltage regulator, (after noting which cable went where!) cleaned and dielectric greased all – reassembled – nothing!

Stumped and sore from bending most of the day I stood looking at the battery, waiting for a new idea to form and I got it! The Positive lead from the battery to the starter looked a bit strange – pulled it apart and found that where the cable was attached to the Clamp was rather grungy – cleaned and reassembled – Success!. Now the beast starts at the 1st turn of the key.

Thanks for reading – I hope it helps someone down the Track.

Cheers
Greg.

I had exactly the same issue a week ago last Tuesday. Went through practically everything you did before I found the problem. My positive cable has an end that gets crimped by a plate and two bolts through the terminal. I could not see that there was some corrosion in there, but once I took it apart, bingo. Glad you found the problem and are up and running again.

Thanks Ron

My Positive cable end is the same as you describe.

Cheers
Greg

Greg,
Your local heavy equipment or truck parts house can swedge an end on the cable. You won't have to worry about that again for a long time.

Or just buy a replacement cable.

Hi Clay

A new cable is on the list.

Cheers
Greg