12 replies to this topic

[LUFC1992]

Hi everyone

 

I'm hoping someone could help me please. I have a strange problem with my 1991 Rover Mini Cooper interior light, it's just stopped working altogether. I have never had any problems with it before but it doesn't work with the switch in any position. I have changed the bulb, checked the fuses and the line fuses and the connectors and no luck. There is also a slight problem with my hazard lights although I think that might be down to the actual switch as it works when the switch is halfway between on and off but only on the passenger side. So I have ordered a new switch that should arrive in a day or so.

 

I recently changed the hazard and indicator flasher units to get through the MOT,the indicators and all the other electrics work fine.

 

Any help anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated,

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Thomas

[KernowCooper]

Do you have 12v up to the interior light is my first check? and back track from there, its unlikely the earth on the light to manually switch it on and both door switches are all faulty at the same time, my moneys on the 12v feed to the light

[LUFC1992]

Hi Dave

 

Thanks for your reply.

 

It's a good shout that and it did cross my mind, I'll check it out and let you know,

 

Cheers

 

Thomas

[Poppet2]

Sorry for bumping this post but while on the subject of the interior light, is there any way the light can be made brighter?

[black olive]

LED festoon bulb, available on ebay. much brighter than filament bulbs

[KernowCooper]

Don't be tempted to put in a 21w festoon they melt the light, led is brighter

[Mini Manannán]

An LED festoon light will make a massive difference. Don't just buy the cheapest you can find though.

[LUFC1992]

Just an update,

 

I haven't had chance to check the volts on the interior light yet because I have had to order a new multimeter as my other one had packed in.

 

But the new hazard flasher switch arrived and it's still doing the same thing as before, only works half way between on and off and only flashes on the passenger side. I'm guessing there must be a link between the two problems.

 

Any ideas?

[LUFC1992]

Another update guys.

 

I got the multi meter on the problem of the interior light and the hazard lights and both are putting out 12v.

 

I have had 3 hazard light switches in but it only works with the switch half way between on and off and only flashes on the passenger side and interior light doesn't work at all, I have had 4 different light bulbs in it and still nothing.

 

I am running out of ideas here so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Thomas

[KernowCooper]

Ok if you have 12v up to the interior light, look at the construction of the light and see the way the switch works, it just provides a earth by bending down a copper strip to contact the earth point where the lamp is screwed to the body, then check for a earth through your door switches. The door switches are known for having a dirty contact so either clean/replace as required.Do a continuity check on the earth wires to the door switches from the lamp while your there

On the indicators your going to have to probe with the hazard switch out the full circuit of the indicators.

Edited by KernowCooper, 22 November 2015 - 10:28 PM.

[LUFC1992]

Thank you for the advice.

 

I'll look into what you said and let you know what happens.

 

Cheers,

 

Thomas

[black olive]

its a distinct possibility that the line fuse is introducing a high resistance into the circuit due to dirty connections. if this is the case, you will measure 12V at the interior light without the light on, as your multimeter isnt loading the circuit as it has a high input resistance. what happens if you earth the other side of the interior light bulb with a piece of wire ?. Im betting the voltage reading will drop dramatically. if this is the case, all the contacts in the line fuseholder and the fuse ends will need a proper clean.

[LUFC1992]

Thanks for your post.

 

I shall also have a look at what you said and hopefully have some luck and report back.

 

Cheers

 

Thomas