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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Courtesy Door Switch

Hello,

I've been reading the threads, but am new to this forum. Great information sharing!

I went to replace the courtesy door switch in my 1979 midget, driver's side. I took out the old, non-working switch. It had three wires soldered into the switch. My new switch only has a place for one or two wires to attach. I thought I would only find the purple with white tracer wire. However, whatever combination I try, the switch does not work. The purple with white tracer wire is live at 12 volts. Another wire (I can't remember the color since I worked on this problem some months ago) is also live. The last wire is not live.

Any advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance!
Todd

Todd, mine is simply a switch to earth. In other words power goes permanently to the light unit which is isolated from the body. The earth connection from the lamp then feeds +ve to the door switch. when the door is opened this switch then earths direct to the body, turning the light on. I cannot see why yours should need 2, let alone 3 wires!

My 2 interior lights are wired in series so that they both come on together, but I only put a switch on the drivers door since I never have passengers in my car when I am not there.

Guy
Guy Weller

Guy

Wired in series? Do you have 6 volt bulbs in them?
Dave O'Neill 2

Could it be that a PO has taken a live feed to another piece of equipment, or is it some kind of immobiliser feed/trigger wire.
brian

As Brian says, most likely to be a trigger wire for an alarm system for one of them. I don't think I'd like to use a wire off there for feeding something else. Far too close to the elements just outside the door for my liking. Corrosion aint my friend
Bill

Dave, no I probably mean wired in parallel don't I? There e are two lights, one in each footwell, and they go on and off together, both controlled by the driver's door switch.

Guy
Guy Weller

Thanks for everyone's input. I need to pull the wires again this weekend after it stops raining and see what is going on. There is no alarm system and the switch actually had all three wires soldered into it. When I played with the wires and touched the metal of the car, I could get a buzzing sound. Does anyone know if a 1979 Midget ever had a "door open" buzzer? Maybe that's what the extra two wires are for. I'll report if I get anywhere this weekend. Thanks again!
TVW Wells

This thread was discussed between 02/06/2008 and 04/06/2008

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