QuestionWhen charging my battery, the battery charge connector accidentally touched a bare wire on the car's positive wire and sparks flew.
None of gauges work now. Headlights, radio and emergency
flashers still work. Are there only 4 fuses in the MGB?
Thanks for your help.
AnswerHi Danny,
When you have several failed circuits in an electrical system it is a waste of time to try to diagnose the problem by symptoms. The only way to correct the problem is by testing and you should pick the easiest circuit to test and only one circuit. Most of the time when you correct that one circuit, it will fix the others if they are related.
The tools necessary are, a wiring diagram, a 12v test light or a volt meter and in some cases a jumper wire.
In your case the head lights are the easiest to test. On the head light switch you will find a large 12ga brown wire that is the power supply and hot all the time. So first test to see that there is power to that wire.
I usually like to start at the load (head lights) and work my way toward the source (battery) but in this case you can just start in the middle at the head light switch.
If there is power then turn the switch on and test the blue wire for power and the red w/white tracer wire too. If there is power at each, then the switch is good and proceed to the blue wire on the dimmer switch on the column. Then flip the dimmer and test the blue w/red tracer wire and flip the dimmer to the other beam and test the blue w/white tracer wire.
If you didn't have power on the large brown wire go to the starter solenoid and check the see that all the brown wires are tight and powered. That is the battery cable connection to the whole car.
If you just follow the trail (using a wiring diagram) you can not fail to fix any electrical problem.
If after you fix the head lights the other items still don't work pick one more circuit and follow the diagram like I just did for you with the head lights.
If you don't have a diagram let me know and I will post one on my web site for you to copy.
Howard
