Hi all. I couldn't find a thread here that had lights not working in various combinations. My mini Mayfair, 1984 1000cc automatic (appears to be the Haynes wiring diagram 16 or 17) has light issues.
The low beam headlights do not come on (ie, when the light switch is pressed to the halfway position). The back lights do not come on at all. And the right-rear indicator light does not come on both when indicating and with the hazards on.
Everything else works (the 3 other indicators, reverse lights, brake lights, main front lights and full-beam front lights). The horn also works. No fuses are blown anywhere, and the lightbulbs work. I do not think any modifications were made to the wiring in the car's history.
This all happened at once with the car not used for a while (heating issue I need to road test, but not with lights in this condition). It got me thinking there could be an earth issue.
I have removed the brake/rear light-bulb and with a multimeter connected to the brake light "positive" and the other multimeter lead to the negative of the battery, a reading is measured present when the brakes are applied. But doing the same this time with the rear lights expected to be on, no reading is detected. Not very good with wiring, but I thought this test might help rule out a lost earth, yet would this suggest no power actually reached the lightbulb at all (so isn't an earth issue)?
I find the wiring diagrams rather confusing and tried to trace these 3 affected lights to a common place. I expect there's just one loose connection somewhere. I have already inspected visible under the bonnet/boot connections and given a good wiggle n giggle. All look clean and well connected.
What else can I try? What is the common connection all these lights have?