7 replies to this topic

[Christopher_K]

Hi.

 

My mini has a short somewhere between the lights and the indicator circuits on the RHS of the car. The behaviour is as follows:

 

1. With the lights off, the indicators work fine

2. With the lights on, the front right headlamp is dim relative to the left (maybe 70%). The front indicator lamp and side light are on slightly (very dimly)

3. When the indicator is switched for the right-hand side, it flashes but flashes fast (i.e., like with a bulb is blown and the circuit resistance is therefore high)

 

So there is a short in here somewhere which seems to be putting my headlamp and indicator circuit partially in series with one another. Is this most likely in the column switch? Or is it somewhere else in the harness (that would be a pain)?

 

I'll have to get out with the multi-meter and have a root around, but before I pull the steering wheel off with the airbag wanted to check if this was a known switch problem.

 

Thanks!

 

Chris

[cal844]

What I'd be doing is looking for burnt and cut insulation on all visible wiring(under the bonnet and in boot) then remove the fusebox and check the contacts etc for corrosion

[minimans]

More likely a ground problem, check the ground paths at the lamp units dim one first.

[Homersimpson]

+1 for earth (ground) problem, sounds like a classic case to me.

 

I think the headlight and indicator share an earth connection to the loom.  Always a good idea to put an extra earth on.

Edited by Homersimpson, 05 June 2017 - 08:40 PM.

[Christopher_K]

Great. The earth sounds right, esp. if its shared. Going to check that out - and I think the idea of an extra ground is a good one. 

 

Thanks!

 

->c

[tiger99]

Definitely an earth problem, causing what is called a "sneak circuit". While you are fixing it, I strongly advise separating the left and right headlamp earth instead of joining them at the bullet connectors behind the bonnet latch. Take each one to a separate earth point. It greatly improves safety for not much cost and effort, and makes fault diagnosis much simpler. You can do the same at the back with the tail light clusters too.

[KernowCooper]

Classic bad earth where one circuit has a bad earth and finding a earth through another path, check all the bullets connections behind the grill, Black is earth and also check the other main connection on the drivers inner wing bracing bracket, where they all earth for all the front lights.

[jamesquintin]

If yours is the MPI, its the earth behind the expansion tank. You can move the tank out of the way without draingin the system (there is enough flex on teh rubber)

 

Take it off and clean it all right up!