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Faulty Ignition Relay and Symptoms - MGB GT 1980

Coming home on Tilt Tray

Related posts ==> Other Repairs

After picking up my new MGB GT LE it was revealed there were some electrical issues, resulting in the car coming home unceremoniously on the back of a tilt tray truck.

I first checked the alternator and voltage regulator but that was ok. 

I then took the car to a local auto electrician. The problem was eventually tracked down to a faulty and burnt out ignition relay. In my MGB GT that relay also controls the blinkers and some dash gauges, hence the other odd electrical symptoms were also resolved.

This was an interesting learning curve as this little $5 part caused a lot of grief and some unexpected

$5 part that cause a lot of grief

costs (new battery, tow truck and auto electrician).

Knowing now what the problem was I checked the symptoms of a faulty ignition relay which described almost exactly what the car was doing. Symptoms of a faulty ignition relay include:

  • Car suddenly stalls while operating - yes
  • Car not starting - yes
  • Dead battery - yes
  • Intermittent issues starting the car - yes
  • Starter stays on after engine started - no
  • Clicking sound coming from the starter - yes

So if your MGB displays any of these symptoms then check your ignition relay. The issue of the blinkers failing and dash lights coming on were caused by some of that wiring in my MGB also passing through the ignition relay.

RECOMMENDATION:

Search online for symptoms and how to resolve. If I had known what the cause was I could have saved a lot of grief AND money.

 

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